15 replies to this topic

[anfs]

Hi, I was just wondering why no one uses 5.25 inch speaker.
Everyone's signature uses 6.5 inch speakers.
Are they superior in every way?
I've been told that 5 inch speakers allow for better upper range sounds but gives less bass than a 6 inch speaker.
Another said 6-inch speakers do everything 5 inch speakers can do and more.
If the first is true, since everyone uses 6 inch speakers, aren't they missing out on the upper midrange sounds (lower quality).
Assuming that most people can fit 6 inch speakers anyway, I'm assuming it has nothing to do with installation problems.
Of course, the above requires that only 2-way speakers are used as
3-way speakers do not have this problem. I'm also assuming that everyone uses a subwoofer for the low bass notes.
Any help on clarifying this issue is appreciated.

[icacha]

I've heard that the 4" is good for a female voice, the 6" is good for the deep male voice and the 5" reproduces the human vocals the best. 6" are use most of the time as people want to fill a whole and most cars these days come out with 6" holes so they then say why go smaller and make an MDF space to fit the 5" I'll just make it to fit the 6" and she'll be right (with a can of VB in the other hand). You know?

[paddles]

there are trade offs... 2 way system you want a 6.5inch (max bass) to go with a tweeter... if you have a three way system you use an 8inch plus a four inch for those upper level sounds just below tweeters. But for most ppl blending a 6.5with a tweeter is good enough. UNless you can only fit in a 5inch for mounting reasons i would always go with a 6.5 for 2-way splits

[icacha]

Why is that so paddles? If you set your system up so you can wind up the volume knob on your deck and not send below 100hz to the 5" driver it would sound bloody great. Do the same for the 6" and I don't think you will notice much of a difference in performace apart from more power handling (providing they are the same brand e.g. system 220 and system 240 Dyn's which respectfully handle from 100wrms to 120wrms from memory) which might not even be that audible in the end giving the 2 different speakers the same power.

[east_bay_punk]

1) Depends on what packages the manufacturer makes.

2) Most of us are running 2-way or 2 way with ambient tweeters due to installation confinements/cost that put 3 ways in the 'to hard basket' and 6 inches are a good trade off

3) The 2 size rule which everyone seems so fond about, running a sub 2 sizes larger than your mids

4) For the bass up front, you can run a lower x-over point.

[icacha]

Then you tend to distort the mids way before they need to. If the midbass isn't there then a dedicated midbass driver comes into the picture. I rather have my vocals nice and clear than have them distort with too much bottom end. It comes down to system planning (which I know people don't do) to get the most from their front stage.

[paddles]

im talking about a non subwoofer system... if the sub is there... by all means piss off all those frequencies hehe but yes 5.25's are fine and usually cost less with a sub go nuts!

[-DJ-]

aaah this is like the 10inch will always sound tighter than 15 argument...

in regard to speaker sizes you'll find most people opt for larger drivers simply due to the whole "yeah it fits and sounds good theory" just like ICACHA said...

however, you'll find that smaller drivers don't necessarily mean less bottom end... i know a bookeshelf home speaker quite intimatey having lived with and loved a set for aages (dynaudio contour 1.1s). they've got a 5incher and they have a deeper smoother and greater low end than many MANY larger/multiple driver'd speakers i can name... and floorstanders at that too!

i think you'll find the particular driver's main t/s parameters have much more of an impact on the sound than the diameter of the cone alone.

so on that note i say that driver size, while a factor, isn't much an issue between 5-6inch speakers in regard to the sound they produce based mainly on my listening devices (ears) and the experiences i've had!

d

[paddles]

isnt the frequency based on the radius of cone to rubber surround? 6inch will always be able to produce lower frequencies?

[icacha]

nah you dim wit its got to do with tuned enclosures derrrrrrrrrr

[paddles]

lol dont mess with me... i now have TWO headphones next to my name hahaha, about time
ok im off to bed, and i have nothing more to add to this thread.. good luck and go with the 6.5's more bass is bliss

[icacha]

I got there before you did. And for you sick puppies out there I was talking about the head phones not his bed :!:

[paddles]

lol another one for the context police

[magnetik]

Quote

Why is that so paddles? If you set your system up so you can wind up the volume knob on your deck and not send below 100hz to the 5" driver it would sound bloody great.

exaclty that the theory im working on. my previous setup had 5.25 inch JL's up front in the kick area with twin 10inch subs - all amped at 120Hz.

now my current setup (very tame) has currently only 4inch Kicker splits, since thats all that fits in the stock speaker spots in the front of my swift (not using kick panel spots this time - wanna keep foot space!) , which so far sounds excellent running direct off the HU (thus fullrange) - minus of course the low end reproduction.

gonna drop in a single 10inch sealed sub, amp both the 4inch splits and the 10inch sub and crossover at around 120Hz (depending on the amp I purchase of course) - since the 4inch kickers wont be getting all that bass below 120Hz they should go pretty hard (loud) and stay happy - certainly more than sufficient for the setup I want - nice bass, all over rounded setup.

when I posed this a few months ago I got a bit of feedback saying to definately go with 6.5's, but early listening of these kicker 4inch splits show that with a sub giving the low end it should all piece together nicely.... sure 6.5's are prob the best choice running fullrange, but if your running a full amped setup then you get these nice low/hi-pass options available to you.

[jas]

6.5inch + tweeter +sub is a nice simple setup which usually can be easily fitted into cars.

5 1/4 really lacks the up front bass in a 2way front setup + sub

dynaudio is one of the very few 5 1/4 mids that can have reasonable bass, but a 6.5inch or larger midbass would be better (for midbass at least) like a mw170


more complicated systems use a 3way setup up front + sub. Very costly and requires custom work to fit (tweeter, mid, midbass + sub...so realistically its a 4way setup)

the bottom line is that if you can only fit 5 1/4 in your install then that will have to do. But if you can fit 6.5inch in a 2way install you should always install that sized drivers.