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Re: Difference between ScanSpeak 18W8545 and the 18W8546

Posted by Thorsten (M) on March 11, 2002 at 17:37:38

In Reply to: Difference between ScanSpeak 18W8545 and the 18W8546 posted by Branwell on March 11, 2002 at 16:54:13:

Hi,

I assume that your qustion relates to the main midrange behaviour, as near the bottom end either of the new 18W's is better. Sadly for the midrange either new driver is utter crap. The old plain paper cone version of the 18W (8542 IIRC) has a great midrange, on par with the CA/CB17RC/RCY Drivers from Seas, natural, unforced and pleasant. THe 8546 with the Kevlar cone is unbearable while the 8545 still makes me want to scream and run away, even in Wilson Watt/Puppy's.

So basically Scan Speak traded a subjectively begnign cone breakup in their polypropylene and/or paper cone for a drivers with wider pistonic range but much natier, subjectiveley more objectionable breakup modes. The 18W8545 is a great Bas Driver belowq 250Hz with a 1st order filter or below 350Hz with a 2nd Order Filter. I heard about someone who made it work up to 1.5KHz with a 3rd order lowpass, but I never heard that speaker. In the Wilson Watt Puppy 5.0, 5.1 and 6.0 it sounds just plain offensive to my ears. The Pro-Ac Speakers (like 3.8) with the same driver do no better. The midrange is hopelessly FUBAR.

And compared to the 8546 I'd charaterise the 8545 as being pleasant sounding.

Ciao T

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