BP102 vs Beta 10a 2x10

You have the difference in bass correct, and, with the tweeter, you don't have to worry about the lack of high end i the BP102. There is also a modest difference in sensitivity and thermal power handling. As a result, the Beta will play a little louder. There is also some peaking in the 2-3 kHz range in the Beta that is not present in the BP. This may have been corrected in the crossover, or may have been left as to impart tone to the cab. There may also be some difference in the bass response profile below about 200 Hz (especially if the cab is tuned the same for both drivers). The Beta may have a few db of peaking. That would give the Beta a 'richer' bass tone (not deeper, richer). Bill (or someone on his forum) could confirm if this (and the beta 2-3 kHz issue) is the case. Then it's just a matter of deciding which meets your needs (kinds of music played, venue size, typical volume, etc.) best.

 

You haven't gotten opinions from the place where you should have, http://billfitzmaurice.info/forum/viewforum.php?f=32

The BP102 will play 6dB louder than the Beta 10, 6.2mm versus 3mm xmax. The Beta isn't more efficient below 100 hz, and it doesn't go as low either.

 

We call it bass, but most of our time is spent playing in the mids, and most of the energy delivered by the amplifier is in the mids. Therefore sensitivity in the mids is the determining factor in perceived loudness. From that point of view, the Beta is more sensitive and louder... but not by a lot.

Their performance below 100 Hz depends strongly on cab volume and tuning. There is not much to be said about the Beta and Bp performance below 100 Hz without knowing this. What can be said is that the Beta will have a fairly deep excursion limited power handling trough above Fb, and will have some upper bass peaking with any usable alignments. The peaking can be used to create a richer bass tone. The power handling trough will not likely be an issue if bass boost is avoided. Those who prefer a more mid-based tone will have no problem. Any driver/cab/tuning combination is a compromise. I'm sure that if BFM recommends the Beta in his Simplex 210, that he has made some good decisions. When a lot of energy in the deep bass is desired, the bP is the best of the two. IMO, questions regarding the choice of bass driver in a Simplex cab are best directed to BFM and to the forum on his website. It doesn't hurt to ask here, but there is more knowledge and experience regarding these cabs on the BFM forum.

 

You should choose from among the drivers that BFM recommends (it's his design), but there are better drivers for your intended use, budget permitting. These all have a little more Xmax and sensitivity: the Eminence S2010 and Deltalite 2510 II, and the Faital 10FE200-4. If he is using a full high pass/low pass crossover you should ask about their suitability.

 

I had a sealed 210 with the betas. 16 ohms so it got like 120w from my head. and man, that thing was loud enough to carry a small room. in a too small, sealed cab! go for the betas, you won't regret it.

 

I don't know whose telling you that, but it sure isn't Bill.
This is what it says in my copy of the plans:

A lower cost woofer is the Eminence Beta 10. It doesn’t have as much low frequency capacity as the above drivers, but that’s OK if you put less than 100 watts into it.

When considering woofer low frequency output capability the least important spec is watts. The limiting factor for output is the cone excursion, xmax. The xmax of the Beta 10 is 3mm, the S2010 4mm, the 2510 4.2mm, the BP102 6.2mm, the 3010LF 8.5mm. Maximum low frequency output grows progressively louder as you go through those models.

 

+1 Thank You!

An additional factor is the TS parameters, which govern the possible alignments. The Beta produces substantial upper bass peaking and is highly excursion limited in the mid-bass when used in a ported cab. It performs much better in a sealed cab, though it still has very excursion limited power handling in the mid and low bass. The S2010 and 2510 are not nearly as excursion limited in the mid-bass, and do not exhibit excessive peaking in the upper bass. The BP102 sacrifices significant sensitivity (and high end extension) for deep bass extension. It is far and away the best choice if deep bass is a prime tone goal and (in a 210) if high spl's are not required.

For BFM designs (or other specific designs; Greenboy, etc.), its best to follow the designers driver choices.

 

Potential subsequent Zombie resurrection may be upon us. Happy 4th everyone! Need a mid and/or low freq tweet x-over & driver(s) for a 210 SWR Goliath i retrofitted with BP102's. If anyone has any of the parts i may need PM me.

 

I always chuckle when somebody tries to second-guess Bill on one of Bill's designs.
Bill has a thorough knowledge of T/S, and he tests hell out of his designs.

Substituting a driver to save the cost of a pizza is shooting yourself in the foot.
Build it to the plans, and it will work to the plans.

Simple.

 

Didn't mean to second guess anyone bg. Unless you are referring to another response.

 

Nope.
I'm not trolling anybody... I just get a laugh because this topic is almost as prevalent as "which cab should I buy".

I consider Bill to be the Thomas Edison of wildcat cab designs. He is a tireless experimenter and developer, and he knows his T/S theory and how it works. All his plans are very well tested and work properly, when built EXACTLY as described in the plans, and with the driver recommended in those plans.