Soundlab drivers

[fonzoooroo]

Specifically the [color=#000000]L041D[/color]

[url="https://www.electrovision.co.uk/homepage.aspx?prod=L041D&idcode=015000300050"][color=#000000]https://www.electrovision.co.uk/homepage.aspx?prod=L041D&idcode=015000300050[/color][/url]

I spotted these on ebay and started wondering about a cheapie 1x12" build for practices etc. Snag is, the detailed specs don't seem to be available... So I found myself wondering if anyone had used them, how they'd used them, what the results were etc.

I don't expect anything that'll set the world on fire, but to save lugging a 4x10 to practices with a 3 piece (no drummer) band, and be more efficient than a RF car sub (my easily transportable option)

[Phil Starr]

If something looks too good to be true it usually is.

Having said that the magnet is a decent size and the Chinese are banging out so many speakers for other people that it wouldn't be surprising if something half decent didn't find it's way here.

there are three potential shortcomings, the first is that the speakers don't meet their specs. The power handling is probably right given modern glues and a 2.5" coil. Sensitivity is quite high for a cheapie but could be possible with a 50oz magnet.

What you can't get is an average magnet high sensitivity and lots of deep bass. Have a look at the Eminence delta [url="http://www.eminence.com/pdf/Delta_12A.pdf"]http://www.eminence....f/Delta_12A.pdf[/url] with a similar magnet and coil and you'll see that the sensitivity is similar but the resonant frequency is much higher at 55Hz. To get this sensitivity at this frequency I suspect the excursion has been reduced and this speaker will overload or compress at relatively modest levels. If you are lucky it will sound OK at low levels but overload at noisy rehearsals depending upon what sort of music you play.

Depends upon price really, you can get an Eminence beta12A II for about £50 which would probably be at least as good and has all the parameters available or you could pick up a used cab for under £100, but this might be a cheap way of dipping your toes into self building. It probably will beat your car sub hands down.

Edited March 7, 2014 by Phil Starr

[fonzoooroo]

Cheers for that!

I understand your point about a used cab - I know there're some corkers out there. IT's a case of finding a 12" rather than a 15" (2 birds with 1 stone approach - I've got a perfect gap in the music room for a 12" cab, where all the commercial 15"s I've looked at the specs of won't fit!) and because 12"s seem to be in fashion, they're more scarce and more expensive.

Good call on the Eminence though - spotted they do a dual cone one too (thinking click on double bass) ..

Giving me lots to think about over the weekend!