• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Bargain DIY drivers that don't suck

bobcruz

bobcruz

Mar 10, 2004
2,531
1,830
CA
#1
I’m always pleased when a product exceeds expectations at a decent price. So I wanted to share a couple of my favorite bang-for-the-buck drivers for DIY projects and ask others to share theirs.

I recently picked up an Eminence Beta 12A woofer, normally $80 street, currently on sale at PartsExpress for $72: http://www.parts-express.com/eminence-beta-12a-ii-12-driver--290-408. The specs are better than what PartsExpress reports, particularly the weight, which is only 7.5 pounds--not much more than many 12-inch neo woofers. Full specs are here: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]. Considering the 250 watt thermal power handling, 98 dB sensitivity, 4.4 mm Xmax (11 mm Xlim) and price, this woofer has a lot going for it. And it sounds quite good! Kringle77 built a sealed 212 with a couple of these and his YouTube clip sounds great (search YouTube for Chris Cole 212 Beta 12a). Duke has also said he likes this driver for bass guitar.

For a tweeter, how about a pair of these for $5: Invalid Link Removed. They weigh 4 ounces each and sound great when high-passed at 3500 Hz. Efficiency is good at 94 dB and with a high pass filter, there is no harshness at all—they sound sweet with recorded vocal music, for example.

Those are my candidates for low-cost DIY drivers that not only don’t suck, but sound very good. But I’ve tried very few drivers and would like to hear from others who’ve had good success with bargain drivers (Dayton? Goldwood? Other Pyle drivers?).
 
#5
will33 said:
Invalid Link Removed



Compact 112, 212, or 412 "one driver does It all" bass cab. No tweeters, mids, crossovers, etc. needed for probably a majority of us.
Click to expand...

The 15 inch version (PA380-8) is also an excellent value, and works very well in compact, ported cabinets.

I would also recommend the Faital 10FE200-4 in compact ported cabinets. Works well 'full range', and even covers the 'forbidden' band between most woofers and tweeters.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PawleeP
#8
re: Bargain DIY drivers that don't suck

Speakers all suck, and blow. Air.

The Eminence Beta 12A gets a lot of good reviews as a replacement speaker in Ampeg SB-12 amps. The Alpha 15A is a close match for the original CTS speaker in B-15N amps. In general, Eminence offers some affordable speakers that perform well.
 
Last edited:
#9
Ha ha, beans, you're right. After reading some of the reviews on MCM speakers at the MCM site, I'd shy away due to the discrepancies between advertised and measured specs. I'd have more trust in an Eminence alpha or beta speaker to meet its specs.
 
#10
I get really good results from MCM drivers. Now with that said, everything has it's "price" when it comes to saving money. With the MCM's it appears to be sensitivity. For that big price savings, you may end up down 3dB from an Eminence driver, but you'll pay 1/4 of the price, too.
 
  • Like
Reactions: lossfizzle and bassmeknik
#11
This thread did start with "Bargain DIY drivers" imo and ime MCM and PartsExpress are both very nice for the bargain hunter or the DIY person. I have used lots of products from both suppliers (both in southern Ohio) and rate both suppliers A+

PartsExpress maybe geared more to service the performing musician as the "Pro audio" offerings from MCM are mostly Pyle and Pyramid brands. MCM has great prices on replacement parts for some MI gear. PartsExpress has much more Pro audio stuff that really is pro level quality (including Eminence, Celestion, and Crown), and has a larger selection of MI stuff. I shop both often and am always satisfied, both companies have top notch customer service departments.

I am not affiliated with either of these two companies, I just shop there a lot (using the web) and like them both.
 
Last edited:
#13
My DIY subwoofers have MCM Audio Select 18"s in them and have taken a beating for 6 years now with no failures. My monitor wedges ROCK with cheap drivers in them (some MCM some PE)(before going IEM my singer would constantly ask me to point my wedge at HIM as his brand name powered monitor wedge could not deliver). I am presently building a 2-15" cab for a pair of 55-2953's I got for 19.99 each a while back. I stay within their limits and have been very happy overall. I will have a 2-15" bass cab for about $100 that will handle 400 watts. It will be just fine for stage use where I need a slightly louder cab than my 1-15" can do but can't justify (or don't want to) schlep the fridge (8-10) to work.
 
Last edited:
#14
+1 about PartsExpress having top notch customer service. Two times that there was an issue with my order (1st time shipping damage, second time wrong part delivered) they shipped out replacements ASAP and I didn't even have to return the stuff they originally sent.

I fully believe that MCM's products don't suck, and they're total bargains, but I got nervous about the honesty of the specs after reading some reviews.
 
#15
Bobcruz,
Hey, I don't blame you for being a bit skeptical. I took a look at the reviews listed under the 8" driver. I noticed a couple of things. The only two reviews I saw that were negative both threw a red flag up, IMO. There was one where plain as day in the title said woffers. OK, typo, can happen to anyone. Then he goes on to explain that he tested it with a 1000 watt amp and it started farting. Well, duh, it's a 100 watt 8" with 3mm xmax. What would one expect? The other one mentioned clearly that the driver magnet assembly was all screwed up. Hey they're budget drivers, there are bound to be manufacturing failures. Send it back. No mention of sending it back for a replacement. Goes ahead and uses it, and is totally disappointed with the performance. Once again, duh.
Just my two cents there, but I have easily been 100% satisfied with all of the MCM brand drivers I have used. Three different 12" models, and a 10" model so far. For 1/4 or less than a similar Eminence driver, I'll take the MCM's every time, 3dB down, some even 6dB down (from the ones that cost 5 to 8x as much) is OK by me. I'll recommend them all day.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bassmeknik
#17
The negative comments on MCM's specs were mostly among the 12 inch drivers, if I recall correctly. More than one reviewer claimed to have tested TS parameters with the PartsExpress testing kit and found large variations. They posted the parameters from their own test results. One big discrepancy was sensitivity that measured 90 dB for a driver that was spec'ed at 96 (again from memory, I didn't go back to check exactly but that gives you an idea of the variance).
 
#18
OK. Well that's disappointing. I hope it was just a bad example, and not typical. I love my experiences with them. Win ISD will usually call me out over numbers that don't match, and I usually get all kinds of errors with Dayton Audio specs, I never get them with MCM's numbers. :wacky: Hmmm.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back