12 low/mid drivers

Jan 19, 2011
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Oslo, Norway, Norway
drbentsen.no
About a year ago I bought a pair of BMS 4590 off a friend and they have been sitting around waiting for something to happen.
Looking at using them with a BMS 2236 horn and a pair of 12" LF/mids crossed over in the 600hz range.

So the question is, what 12" to use for a front loaded BR box. Suggestions?
Extension down to around 50hz would be nice for using them alone without subs, reaching 80hz is a must for crossing them over to my subs.
 
Whatever you use I would try to select a new driver that has been designed with the use of Klippel measurements and FEA to optimise the magnet assembly.

The improvement in linearity of some of these modern drivers can mean that a new 12” will offer the LF performance of some old 15” drivers.

Here are a couple of examples – I have not heard the Beyma but it looks good on paper.

Bennett may be able to add some more info about some of the new drivers from B&C

https://www.beyma.com/getpdf.php?pid=12MC700Nd

https://bcspeakers.com/en/products/lf-driver/12-0/8/12ndl88-8

https://www.audioxpress.com/article/Test-Bench-B-C-Speakers-12NDL88-12-Woofer
 
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Bought two 12NDL88 recently for a fullrange project.
I did not need to spend much time with the driver, because first results were extremly nice.
My alignement played down to 60 Hz ( With some serious boosting :) )

In this project I had 700W into 8 Ohm and the driver showed no signs of stress at all, but was not loud either,
so I think another 3dB power should be fine.
 
12NDL88, 12NBX100, 12HP1060, 12MC700Nd ... these would all be good, basically you are trading effeciency for LF output. Do a sim using an 80Hz high pass at the rated power and see which one gives you the most output without Xmax issues.

FWIW I used the 15HP1060 for my drum fill - very happy with them, but the output above 500Hz is not great (I'm crossing @550Hz so its perfect)

Also have a look at the 12HP1020 and RCF MB12N405
 
I'm using a RCF MB12N405 with the same 4594HE and horns that are in the PM 90/60.
Same 650Hz crossover point too..
I always use it with a sub, 100Hz cross, and built the box to that spec.
So i don't know how well it would tune lower, but I think getting to 80Hz should be very easy.
It sounds great as a home setup. Goes loud as hell too.
Only complaint is the driver is crazy heavy for a 12"....otherwise I'd try a pair in the PM boxes...