How big are the woofers in your main system?

If you aren't happy with them, vote with what you think are the ideal size in a main system.

I realise there are lots of variables......... but maybe theres a sweet spot somewhere in woofer sizes.....

Just curious...why did you add the "or less" part to this equation? With this pretty much everything is 15" or less.

That being said I have 18, 15, 10, and 6.5" woofers. They all do the job just differently. I can't decide between the 10" and the 15" although it's usually the latter that I'm listening to.

Just curious...why did you add the "or less" part to this equation? With this pretty much everything is 15" or less.

That being said I have 18, 15, 10, and 6.5" woofers. They all do the job just differently. I can't decide between the 10" and the 15" although it's usually the latter that I'm listening to.

Good question....... I just thought if i put 4, 6, 8, 10 etc, someone with 6.5" would say Doh! .
But what I should have said was less than 4", 4"-6", 6"-8", 8"-10" etc etc
Anyway, I hope the intention is obvious.

The thinking behind the poll is that I am looking for new speakers and my first thought was "how big"...... do I need at least a certain diameter to not limit my volume options. My system is running an sx-1250 at the moment. A pair of my favorite speakers have only 6.5" woofers so I am not size crazy, but the sx-1250 may want some more leg room than those offer. :yes:

Currently, my mains are DCM TF-600's with a 6.5 driver. These are a transmission line cabinet, and you would not think that the drivers were that small by the sound of them. I've heard some folks say they thought the DCM's were a little bass shy, but I think they sound fantastic. The bass is there, it's just not in your face. I listen to mostly rock music, and I have a bunch of Cerwin Vega's in the house, so that ought to tell you that I like it loud, and with a good bass kick! The DCM's will never have that slam, but that's a good thing! When I need to shake the walls, I just crank up one of the other systems in the house that have the Cerwins on them! The DCM's do everything else very well, with much better imaging and a better soundstage than the Cerwins. These are in my will, delihaus gets 'em when I go!

My mains are Polk Monitor 11T's, each with two 6" woofers and two 8" passives. Surprisingly good sound. Waiting in the wings are the big Macs with two 12" woofers each.

I bought into the more smaller woofers is better than one big woofer a couple of decades ago. I like my bass tight and I'm willing to give up a little extension for it. But if you add my subs into the equation then I'm in the 12" or less and not the 8" or less that I voted. To me that sweet spot is between 6" nad 8".

No cone woofers here. :nono: But each bass panel is equivilent to 3+ 12's.

The Onkyo speakers have two 6". I could stand bigger speakers from a sound perspective, but I rather like the small footprint the Radians have.

My main speakers are ADS L810s. They each have two 8" woofers and the bass is outstanding.

You left out over 15" (there will be someone...)

Also, It would have been better as a multiple choice, as I have 2 main systems. (With kids competing in the FR for space for TV and game time, its required...)

So while I voted 8" I also have my second system with a 15" dedicated woofer (Not a sub. its an older Motorola 3 channel tube amp) along with the R?/L Wharfedales with 6" woofers...

Then you will have guys that run subs, is that there woofer? (I don't think you care about that, but...)

10" x 2 per side. Next DIY will use 15"s.

4 Mach Twos in your face on my main setup. So four 15" blasting out the tunes for me. Major chest whopping and creeping up thru the couch into your back, spine and other body parts. So the music moves round here.:rockon: :guitar: :banana:

I'm waiting for an EV Patrician owner to chime in here and ask why there's no 30" option.

klh and my advents do just fine. tight bass...yummy

Presently 12", but I heard some mighty impressive bass from smaller drivers at the fest. :scratch2:

(4) flawless 12" JBL 123A-1's from four Century L-100's (with new caps), each with a Kenwood L-07MII attached. Cranked up it feels like getting tapped in the chest with a boxing glove.

The actual size of the wooofers in my Mach Ones ...is around 14 and some chainge!.... they got like 1 1/4 inch foam surrounds ...instead of the regular 3/4 inch jobbies....

15.

Well, my main speakers have (2) 6.5" per cabinet with a 10" passive (POlk Monitor 10B's). My EV's have a 10" per. When I get the bigger set of Polks, I'll have (4) to (8) 6.5" drivers per side (with a 12 or 15" passive). I don't have the Altecs anymore. Nice but not for me. So there went the 15's. lol

Wow, alot of 15's out there!

Vandersteen Model 4 speakers 4 X 12" total, 2 each.

6.5"s work well, but I like 8" and 10" better. Although once I have my AR 9LSis here, there'll be a 12" in my main system.

For now, however, I'm finding 6.5" to 10" to be all good, adequate sizes, with 8" and 10" being my favorites.

If the question was 'how big is your xxxx" i bet the graph would be reversed

Pioneer HPM 100...12".

I have 12" woofers in my Sansui SP-2500 speakers, hooked to a Pioneer SA-5800 amp

Francesco

I edited your poll to provde one more choice... and voted for it!


***If you object, I can remove it, just PM me. There are a fair number of 18" subs out there, and a fair number of AKers who have them.***

I edited your poll to provde one more choice... and voted for it!


***If you object, I can remove it, just PM me. There are a fair number of 18" subs out there, and a fair number of AKers who have them.***

You should have made it over 15" as you know there are guys with the 30" EV's...

I edited your poll to provde one more choice... and voted for it!


***If you object, I can remove it, just PM me. There are a fair number of 18" subs out there, and a fair number of AKers who have them.***

Thats fine. I'm astounded by the number of 15's out there!

15" JBL 2225H in my JBL 4671 system.

Ron

2 18" jbl 2245 and 8 12" jbl 128H

Hi all,
My 4 Altec 3154 15" woofers in 2 separate 400lbs custom made boxes 60"X31"X22" can really shake a house...:banana: :tresbon: :music: (ask my ceiling... it fell down a few years ago...):no: I also have 2 sets of Altec 6X9 4A used as mids and tweeters on a 4ch amp:thmbsp:
Happy listening to all
Maurice:banana:

12"s here in my L100s.

HPM 100's = 12"s..

mine are 15"the cerwin vegas pd9's

15' altec 19's here.

15' altec 19's here.

15 feet is a big speaker. Where do you live, Carnegie Hall?

dlk 4's - dual 12" per cabinet

KEF 104/2s = 8 inch

Harbeth 30s = 8 inch

large advents, one pair with 12" woofers (crappy ones, should be changed once) second pair is being restorated, original 10" woofers in them...
it will be a while before the second pair will get it's place, SimplySpeakers decided to send the new surrounds by USmail, which will take approx. 1-3 weeks (international) one week has already passed, so another 2 maximum...

Peace,
Bert.

4 12"'s in total. Seems plenty for 960cuft :yes:

15" Jensen woofers for now, keeping my eyes peeled for 18"s. :D

All 12" -----NS-1000/1000M's ------Soon to be a 15" sub?:D

Dave

I voted 18" or less because my main system includes an 18" sub; but the poll doesn't say whether a subwoofer should be considered. If the sub should be considered, then I voted correctly. If not, my vote belonged in the 15" or less category, with the majority.

Anyway, the drivers are:

(2) JBL LE14H Active Drivers
(2) JBL PR15C Passive Radiators
(1) JBL 2245H Subwoofer

Peter

15" in my Cornwalls, 8 or 10" in my Bose sub!

Metregon 205 Series 130A's X 15"
EV Georgian (KD2) BC1526 X 15", switched JBL 2220H X15"
VMPS Larger Sub (1 X 15" & 1 X 12")...
and a few others.

I had to list 8" or less because my Infinity Overture 3s run four 6 1/2" woofers per side. Probably the functional equivalent of one 12".

Greg

0"
FE206E's in FLHs

I'm kinda the odd man out. Voted 12" only because the diaphram (bass) in my Ap's are listed as being equivilent to 3 12'' woofers, each side.

I Love my 18's and 15's.. but I'd much rather have this one... woo woo wooooo... 60"

From the site... "For earth shattering bass you can't beat this custom made 60-inch subwoofer which has the ability to produce SPL levels above 180 dB. This monster has ouput displacement comparable to 160+ ten-inch woofers! "

http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/3739/60inches8de.jpg

Mine are 10" sansui woofers...they sound decent, I think they are my best set yet!

12" woofs in the main rig. Eight of them to be precise.

15" now, 18" soon.

Like in automobile engines: there's no substitute for displacement. !2" is the minimum for me. Equivalent to maybe a 327 cu in V8.

:scratch2: I never counted before, but my main system actually has up to eleven 12" woofers connected to it, because of speaker-selection choices, but I usually only listen to four at a time (two per side, either from the Infinities or the Gradients). I've tried running eight of them at once, but it was overkill; I prefer only four. I'm not into chest-rattling, window rattling bass levels with interference pockets; I like full-range bass, but tight and balanced, musical.

Now if I could get those columnar arrays in the IRS Vs.... Aaaah, that I could live with!!!

Main system (current): 10" Realistic car subwoofers
New Transmission Lines cabinets (future main system): 7" Vifa's
Computer speakers: 4" (Monsoon MH-500)

I Love my 18's and 15's.. but I'd much rather have this one... woo woo wooooo... 60"

From the site... "For earth shattering bass you can't beat this custom made 60-inch subwoofer which has the ability to produce SPL levels above 180 dB. This monster has ouput displacement comparable to 160+ ten-inch woofers! "

http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/3739/60inches8de.jpg

That's not a speaker it's a weapon!

My main system has a 10" woofer in a KLH 20 speaker in the center channel suplimented by a 8" powered sub woofer adjusted to only activate for LFE information below 60hz not needed for music.

No cone woofers here. :nono: But each bass panel is equivilent to 3+ 12's.

Yep, I'm with him. :thmbsp: Let's see each woofer panel is 369 square inches which is, if my math is correct, equates to a 21" woofer but is presented with much more style and sophistication. :D :music:

'Nuther planar guy here with the same problem. I'm running two Magnepan Tympani bass panels per channel each with 510 square inches of surface area. That makes for 1020 square inches of woof per channel, which is roughly equal to somewhere between 12-14 12" drivers per channel if my math is right. (Admittedly with very low displacement, so Vas for the Sd is much lower than the Vas for the Sd of pistonic drivers.)

Guess I'll go select the 18" option for lack of a better choice.

- JP

Main system (current): 10" Realistic car subwoofers
New Transmission Lines cabinets (future main system): 7" Vifa's
Computer speakers: 4" (Monsoon MH-500)

Some changes have taken place. My TL speakers have a 8" driver now (upgraded to current system :D)
10" 3-ways have been taken apart, components stored. Old cabinets disposed of.

Vifa's will go into a new set I'm designing for the upstairs (smaller space, smaller speaker).

Klipsch Legend Series KLF20's Dual 10" woofers in a 3-way set up.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e127/flyingpatricio/000_0267.jpg

15", Sony SS850II Speakers

Gohan

Twin 12" in each of my Symphony cabinets.

Main system in the living room are 12" HPM-100

Main system in the computer room as of Jan 27/2008 is 15" Realistic Mach II

10's.... couldnt figure out how to vote though?

My main speakers are still using 6.5" woofers, but now there are sixteen of them plus two 15" passives. :music:

Actually my 107 KEFs have a total of four ten inch drivers connected via a steel rod......talk about bass?............flat down to 18Hz!

They say it's quality and not quantity that counts....

10" in the Polks. Plenty bass. Just ask the neighbors.

EV 15" woofers in 2 way speakers EV horns Nakamichi amps

I feel so overwhelmed with my puny 4" full range drivers in my Almarro K 303A's. :)

Mike

My mains (Boston) have two 6" woofers each. My tremendous Paradigm sub has a 12".

12"s x 4, but wouldnt mind trying some 21"s ;-)

My mains now have only 6" woofers but they 16 of 'em. Plus two 15" passives.

15"s in the main music listening system (bi-amped JBL 4333As), 8"s (Canton Karat 20s) and a 10" sub (NHT SW10) in the main surround theater system.

je (with a couple more Lansing 15"s in the basement...well, OK, eight more Lansing 15"s in the basement)

My B&W 683's have 2x6.5" aluminum/kevlar/paper woofers per cabinet. With big 'mushroom" caps for stability.

Aren't 2x6" drivers equal in area, yet more controllable than 1x12"?

I have 15's in my main system (in my bedroom, its nice being single) and 6.5's downstairs in the baby advents. The 6'5 do a surprisingly good job when you give them a bit of power (and the loudness button)

Eight JBL 2245H (18") woofers in four Zilch designed (Thanks!) 4688 TCB clone enclosures.

:banana: The BROWN NOTE DOES EXIST :banana:

Eight JBL 2245H (18") woofers in four Zilch designed (Thanks!) 4688 TCB clone enclosures.

:banana: The BROWN NOTE DOES EXIST :banana:

You know this from experience? :D

Four twelves here...

10" here. Infinity RSa's, which sound deeper than the SM155's they replaced. *shrug*

-J

My B&W 683's have 2x6.5" aluminum/kevlar/paper woofers per cabinet. With big 'mushroom" caps for stability.

Aren't 2x6" drivers equal in area, yet more controllable than 1x12"?

No, they aren't. A 6" driver would have about 150 cm^2 of piston area. A pair would have similar area of displacement as a single 10" driver. A 12" would have about 40% more surface area, so for a given SPL level, it will need significantly less excursion than a pair of 6" drivers.

When you push drivers into big excursion, you get much higher distortion levels then using a larger driver kept closer to the motors center position. There are technologies that exist to keep a linear motor through a greater portion of a drivers excursion, but it's not yet commonplace. Give me a big driver over a little one just about any time.

A little over 2' long...

No, they aren't. A 6" driver would have about 150 cm^2 of piston area... A 12" would have about 40% more surface area, so for a given SPL level, it will need significantly less excursion than a pair of 6" drivers.
When you push drivers into big excursion, you get much higher distortion levels then using a larger driver kept closer to the motors center position.
Give me a big driver over a little one just about any time.

Thanks for the explanation. So, a driver with a larger surface area favors less distortion during the in-and-out piston motion, but wouldn't the larger driver be more prone to distortion caused by instability across its surface as it fires? (As the energy moves from the voice coil out to the surround?)

my ancient 'small advents' have 9" woofers and they're in good shape.
just right for my apt.

It's all in the signature, but I'll spell it out:

4 15" woofers (2 in the AT-15 pair, 2 in the VS-150 pair)

2 18" subwoofers (2 seperate Strokers)

Still on the lookout for a pair of E-715s and 380SEs to be run with an additional CS-1400. :thmbsp:

16" on my commercial altecs

16" on my commercial altecs

yaya :drool:

im going to steal those back some day :smoke:

6.5" drivers in my main speakers... subwoofer is a 10"...

but the question was the size of the woofers so i voted <8"

Don't know what you guys will think but I use 15" and 18" woofers in multiples per side and have tons of power to power them(2 Peavey CS 1200's)and that's just the low end power.All speakers are Peavey Black widows and give me awesome sounding tight Bass pretty much at any level I choose to listen at!I just love to feel that Bass thumping and shaking as well as sounding good....Hey but that's just me as a former Bass player in a band.....Rick

Don't know what you guys will think but I use 15" and 18" woofers in multiples per side and have tons of power to power them(2 Peavey CS 1200's)and that's just the low end power.All speakers are Peavey Black widows and give me awesome sounding tight Bass pretty much at any level I choose to listen at!I just love to feel that Bass thumping and shaking as well as sounding good....Hey but that's just me as a former Bass player in a band.....Rick

I use Peavey bass bins myself with the 18" black widows stacked on top of Altec A7s in my living room... I'm with you all the way here.. :thmbsp:

OH.. I'll plug my bass into this and play.. beats buying a bass rig..

6.5's, with a 12" sub.

What's more telling, though, is the enclosure used with the driver, not just the cone area itself ;)

My Klipsch Fortes have 12" woofers and passive 12" woofers. They're all I need in a 12' x 12' listening room!:music:

;2770844']6.5's, with a 12" sub.

What's more telling, though, is the enclosure used with the driver, not just the cone area itself ;)
Amen to that. :yes:

15's on my Kenwood Model Sevens, although I ocassionally run with 12's on my Kenwood LS-408B's and sometimes I run my Cerwin Vega 380SE's (15") just for kicks. I haven't had my D-9's(15") out for a long time and I am itching to get em out for a run! I would love to get my E-715's(15") for a run, but since I gave them to my brother, he won't let go of them, hehehe! :D

2 15" altec 515b