Alternative drivers for DIY Orelo (BD-Design)

by RB, Tuesday, May 12, 2020, 17:46 (1417 days ago)

Hi Bert,

I am about to start a new build of half sized Orelo's with two 15" drivers per side.
Since the BD15 is no longer available, can you please recommend other candidates?
I have been looking at the Faital 15PR400, this is cheap and get's alot of positive reviews for use in open baffle. Would this be as good as the BD15?

Alternative drivers for DIY Orelo

by Bert @, Tuesday, May 12, 2020, 18:14 (1417 days ago) @ RB

Would this be as good as the BD15?

I can't compare but it looks like a very good option within de Orelo's...

Bert

--
BD-Design - Only the Best!

Alternative drivers for DIY Orelo

by RB, Tuesday, May 12, 2020, 19:20 (1417 days ago) @ Bert

Thanks Bert!

Do any others come to mind?
Top priority for me is an articulated, punchy and dynamic bass/midbass.
What would your top pick of current production cost-no-object drivers be for Orelo's?

Alternative drivers for DIY Orelo

by Wilson1, USA, Wednesday, May 13, 2020, 02:40 (1416 days ago) @ RB

@RB… I have some history with this driver in both the reference compact and OB uses. I like it quite well, and was really surprised at how good it is. I has better a more upper base extension that the BD and it's available in both 4 & 8 Ohm versions so easy to parallel or serial to get a desirable impedance.

Alternative drivers for DIY Orelo

by RB, Wednesday, May 13, 2020, 19:30 (1416 days ago) @ Wilson1

Hi Wilson,
thank you for sharing your experience with the Faital drivers.
This really is encouraging and I think I will settle on these.

Did you use them with a waveguide in front of the OB?
I was a bit skeptical about loading them in a horn, thinking they may not be strong enough, but then again I guess Orelo is more a waveguide than a horn.

Were there any areas where you felt the BD15 did better than the Faitals?

Alternative drivers for DIY Orelo

by Wilson1, USA, Thursday, May 14, 2020, 00:04 (1415 days ago) @ RB

Hi RB... You will have no issue with the wave guide, the neo motor structure is quite powerful and the lower impedance makes them easy to drive to very high output levels.

My story is that I used the BD15 for a long time and when upgrading the enclosures I dropped one and the magnet shifted and trapped the voice coil. In the interim to finding some BD15's on the used market I purchased the Faital on the recommendation of a speaker specialist. I sent him the BD15 specs and graph and he recommended 3 different drivers with the Faital 15PR400 being his strong preference. He had personal experience with the driver and indicated that the midrange 100 - 800Hz was outstanding. So... I ordered and installed and really like them and they do have a much better & stronger +3db midrange. I later did find some BD15's and installed, went back and forth between the two for a few weeks and decided to stay with the Faital.

I think the BD15's may be a bit flatter in response below 50Hz as I get a bit of energy with the Faital at 45Hz that I attenuated via crossover change. For me a good trade off for the improved >100Hz midrange performance. It's much easier to take energy out than add energy (boost) at a certain frequency.

Have fun and do let me know how it comes out. If you want a listen I'm in NJ-US.

Best regards

Alternative drivers for DIY Orelo

by RB, Thursday, May 14, 2020, 17:06 (1415 days ago) @ Wilson1

Thanks again Wilson for providing excellent information!
I have decided to go for these, they are available for as little as 110 euro a piece here in Europe. And thank you very much for the invite, it would be a long joruney though since I'm in Norway:smile:

Only one more thing I have to decide on now, 4 ohm or 8 ohm version:blush:
Two 8 ohm driver per side can be either 4 ohm or 16 ohm total, while 4 ohm drivers can be either 2 ohms or 8 ohms. I think the 8 ohm choice may be the more versatile, as I would not want to load my amp with 2 ohms..
Thinking ahead, if I choose to make passive crossovers for these and using a tube ap to drive them, a 16 ohm configuration may be desirable.. Not sure about this one.

Alternative drivers for DIY OreloWow

by Wilson1, USA, Friday, May 15, 2020, 02:28 (1414 days ago) @ RB

Wow great price. They are $270 US here. An absolute steel at 100 Euro.

Alternative drivers for DIY Orelo

by Wilson1, USA, Thursday, May 28, 2020, 00:54 (1401 days ago) @ RB

RB... How did the drivers work out?

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