8 inch Midbass

[SpasticGramps 10+ year member]

I recently installed CDT EF-8s as my midbass drivers to go along with CDT HD4in components and 2 2 1/2 AVI center channels. These 8in drivers are in heavily deadened doors. I love the way vocals are percussion sounds on the top in of my front stage, but honestly I think the CDT EF-8s are poor midbass drivers. I have the Rockford Fosgate 360.2 EQ and am able to mute all the channels easily and seperate the midbass drivers (on a PG Xeon 200.2 amp).

The drivers sound very muddy lacking impact and tonality IMO. I feel my old CDT CL 61 series drivers offer a more pleasant sound than these. Anyway, these things are screwing up the sound of my system and I need some ideas on some good 8in. drivers that are designed for midbass. Any suggestions would be appericated. Thanks.

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[req 5,000+ posts]

got a budget in mind? mounting depth? impedance?

 

[SpasticGramps 10+ year member]

well the doors had to be fabricated to meet the CDT EF-8's mounting depth which was fairly deep. I'm having a hard time finding the exact number, but if I remember right it was around 4 1/2 inches. 4 ohm impedance (typical car speaker), and no buget in mind. I want to try and drop in the best 8in driver that I can without making major door modifications if I can possibly avoid it.

 

[SpasticGramps 10+ year member]

I was considering these.

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=297-066

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=297-056

I'm not exactly sure what the difference is. Does anyone have any experience with these.

 

[thehardknoxlife 10+ year member]

http://www.bcspeakers.com/index.php?sez=1&categoria=2&id_descrizione=44&prodotto=53 Someone suggested these to me a while back. 3.5" mounting depth.

 

[T3mpest 10+ year member]

what about these http://www.madisound.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi?cart_id=144860.2322&pid=1379 //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

Just kidding... Anyway, have you tried switching phase on your midbass? If not do that first. Other than that play with crossover points. Maybe they like a steeper slope than what your giving them? If you really can't make them work, try http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=295-376 maybe? They were all the rage in the DIY crowd a while back. Supposedly a very solid performer for the price. I'm sure someone on here has used them, if not try dimya.

 

[BlackMaxima 10+ year member]

http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=183830

 

[alteraudiousa 10+ year member]

i would play around the with the slopes and EQing it. I didn't like the EF-8 either with a normal slope. i think i had it crossed at about 250hz for normal music, 200hz with doing test tones and when playing at high volumes. Also these were steep slopes, 18db and 24db slopes. I would play around with it for a while. if that doesn't work try the Dayton Ref 8in.

 

[req 5,000+ posts]

well another is the critical mass MB82. its a 2 ohm neo motor that is front mounted for a shallow mounting depth. they work infinite baffle and do from like 40hz~2000hz. they are intended for strict midbass duty. they are on the top end scale of the prices you are looking for. so i dont know about that part.

http://criticalmassaudio.com/catalog/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=5

 

[SpasticGramps 10+ year member]

I'm gonna try and EQ it and see what I can come up with. The critical mass speaker looks pretty **** sexy. I'm not concerned about price I have a lot of money in the vechile already and want it to sound right.

Thanks for all the replies

 

[SpasticGramps 10+ year member]

I'm wondering if I were to replace the deep 4 1/2in EF-8 with the shallow MB82 if i could seal the enclosure somehow. Some kind of baffle perhaps. Would the MB82 benefit from that sealed airspace as opposed working IB. The driver would sit on a 2in thick MDF baffle and the doors have been built out some to accomadate the big CDT driver. The displacement difference would leave some airspace, but I'm not sure if it would be suffiecent enough to be benefitcial to the critical mass driver?

Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

[Oak244 10+ year member]

I will just say, do not rule out 8 Ohm drivers. I switched from 4Ohm to 8 Ohm drivers in my car, and the 8 Ohm drivers with the exact same amps, are actually much louder then the 4ohm were.

 

[expo5.0 10+ year member]

what sensitivity ratings we talking here- before and after?

 

[Trey803 5,000+ posts]

I will just say, do not rule out 8 Ohm drivers. I switched from 4Ohm to 8 Ohm drivers in my car, and the 8 Ohm drivers with the exact same amps, are actually much louder then the 4ohm were.

unless it was a completely different driver that was more efficient a 4 ohm speaker would be putting less resitance on an amp therefore making it loouder

 

[T3mpest 10+ year member]

unless it was a completely different driver that was more efficient a 4 ohm speaker would be putting less resitance on an amp therefore making it loouder

True, but most speaker manufacturers rate at 2.84v. 2.84 volts is actually 2 watts when dealing with a 4ohm speaker. A 8 ohm driver at 2.84 is actually being rated properly vs a 4 ohm driver. So if they both show equal efficiency on paper then they will actually be equally loud, with the 8 ohm driver putting less strain on the amp, since it's using 1/2 the power.