Why Crossoverless Single Driver Designs Offer Better Sound (Quality vs Quantity in High End Part 3)

The final video in a 3-part series where we define why quality matters in Audio reproduction. Most High End consumers are being presented with speakers employing multiple drivers and complex crossover designs. It goes to show how far are we deviating from producing optimal sound in favor of cost-cutting, driver array optics. High Performance Audio is different from mass-consumed products and the design approach must reflect a pursuit of authentic sound and highest form of listening pleasure. At SW1X Audio Design, we went back into the yester century and adopted the purist ideas of acoustically loaded, crossoverless single full range driver Horn and Monitor Loudspeaker designs.

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SW1X Audio Design is the home of extreme performance audio equipment with a complete range that suits audiophiles and music lovers looking to find the most authentic music experience. Our specialized designs deliver the highest musical performance possible in audio reproduction.

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[flertx]

For years, I listened to classic systems, powerful amplifiers, speakers with crossovers... Now I listen to a 2a3 SE amplifier, direct coupled, meaning no capacitor in the signal path, 99db speakers, single driver. I use TVC for volume control. I have never heard anything better!
And I rarely listen with more than 1W!
Yes, the DAC is R2R with transformers and tubes in the output.
To me, that's the way to f good sound. Of course, analog sources such as turntables and tape recorders are included in the system.
Greeting

[SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac]

I like what you're doing here, keep going!

[DN]

There are no absolute truths in complex systems. Calling crossovers evil is a belief akin to a religion.

[crossoverchef]

forget about not a power issue, its a performance to use a 6" cone to produce 5-20khz range is just silly.
Single driver follows, cone break-up, lack of speed, high distrotion, lack of extension, shrill and harsh high freuquency, uneven dispersion patern, intermodulation distortion from cone movement modulating the highs and many other issues too complex to get into here.

[scottwheeler]

single driver simply can not effectively cover the full audio range. You can't change physics

[EddyTeetree]

Agree that; been using 12” FRD in large bass reflex cabs c1955 for a year now wont go back!

[verbatim_transfer]

i am glad i spent more time learning about audio before spending my money on products.
now that i know the sound that i have always sought after comes from nos digital filterless DACs, low powered valve amplifiers with quality components, and high sensitivity speakers.. i can finally.. well.. start saving my money lol to eventually buy one of your systems.
there is a north american distributor about 4 hours from where i live. i hope to one day schedule a listening session to demo the sw1x products he has. hopefully by the time i go, he has more than just the DAC IlI. i think he now has the pre amp IlI as well. i would love to hear the CDT V, but at the very least the IlI, one of your amps and the alnico speakers.

[Soundapple]

Cube Audio Nenuphar is the best speaker I have heard. I drive them with single ended monoblocks of 6-8 W. Nothing compares.

[johnshaw]

They will work very well with some types of music where phase coherence is most important to the buyer and lack verve with other types of demanding music, especially at higher levels where they often break up. i.e. Simple speakers for simple music.

[oliverbeard]

Everything is about implementation to try and mitigate the negative aspects of the application. A well designed full range unit has advantages, but inevitably some disadvantages too. Which approach is "best" depends somewhat on the objectives and circumstances. Thunderous bass and "punch", or "slam" won't be so well served subjeively by a small full range unit, even with transmission line tuning for the low end.A multi way design utilising disparate drivers of differing polar distribution, all in differing locations and sonic flavours won't be able to match the coherency. One can work around certain aspects, but will always have some discontinuity from deliberately separating out the signal (which is not the case with a microphone when capturing the signal) and then trying to stitch it all back together again in a coherent fashion.

[mwizachavura]

Best is two or 3 drivers and simple crossover like a cap to protect the twitter

[odei]

Agree with you, Crossover is a kind of appendix, it is obsolete for humanity and many times it endangers the owner’s
health.

[antonsyd]

Big thanks for supporting the minimalistic approach
For those who wants to know more truth about audio or find some great ideas for old-school DIY audio stuff, I sincerely recommend this channel as well (trust me, there are tons of valuable information)

[matejpodlesnik]

Shit. What now? How do I get rid of all capacitors and inductors and resistors from CD player, amplifier, speakers, streamer, ....? I better just go and listen to rock concerts live! But wait...there are capacitors and resistors in electric guitars, and they need amplifier and speaker to work. I'm screwed.

[DddNnn-ry]

I have two drivers and six crossovers??? What do I do to get ride of them?

[Coneman]

Active is best imo. Separate crossover, amps etc

[siriosstar]

My speakers sound better than yours because i like them . 😎

[markovlasic]

single driver speakers, paper cone with ultra thin copper foil in transmission line boxes at 1 or 2 ohms are the future of sound standard. and those goes lower under 20hz and way above 20k hz. the sound is more then amazing with carefully made germanium amp. sound is very fast 1watt\7 meters. this is not BS.those hand made speakers exists and goes above 120 db of sensitivity.

[DrBroncanuus]

Audiophile Junkie has said that Source point Single speakers are 'Those are actually the worst sounding because they almost always have rolled off top end... Limited bass.. And no ability to play loud without distortion.'

[ericshutter]

there exists NO SINGLE DRIVER which can produce music well ... if you think otherwise .... 😂