Early Hybrid Audio Technologies xmas for AVIDEDTR
50 Watt CAFz'r
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 73
No, the L1 Pro SE is a completely new design that I have been working on personally for over 12 months. Please see the design drawings here:
http://hybrid-audio.com/Legatia%20L1%20Pro%20SE.pdf
The Vifa model you mentioned doesn't compare (and you have to excuse my ignorance when I admit that I had to google the driver to see if the specifications were "near identical"). Resonance frequency, off-axis response, DC resistance, sensitivity, effective piston area, wave guide type and geometry, etc. The L1 Pro has usable response to 18,000 Hz at 60-degrees off axis, and beyond 20,000 Hz at 30-degrees. At 60-degrees, the Vifa model begins rolling off at 2,000 Hz. <shock> The L1 Pro SE also has a much lower resonant frequency, a rare-earth magnet with tuned chamber (the Vifa has neither), much higher sensitivity (almost 3 dB), a larger diameter wave guide, has a solid machined aluminum housing, and a host of other less notable differences.
No, actually, the only simularities are the fact that they're both radiator ring designs and are both 25mm diaphragms. Oh wait, the moving mass is about the same between the two drivers!
Scott
http://hybrid-audio.com/Legatia%20L1%20Pro%20SE.pdf
The Vifa model you mentioned doesn't compare (and you have to excuse my ignorance when I admit that I had to google the driver to see if the specifications were "near identical"). Resonance frequency, off-axis response, DC resistance, sensitivity, effective piston area, wave guide type and geometry, etc. The L1 Pro has usable response to 18,000 Hz at 60-degrees off axis, and beyond 20,000 Hz at 30-degrees. At 60-degrees, the Vifa model begins rolling off at 2,000 Hz. <shock> The L1 Pro SE also has a much lower resonant frequency, a rare-earth magnet with tuned chamber (the Vifa has neither), much higher sensitivity (almost 3 dB), a larger diameter wave guide, has a solid machined aluminum housing, and a host of other less notable differences.
No, actually, the only simularities are the fact that they're both radiator ring designs and are both 25mm diaphragms. Oh wait, the moving mass is about the same between the two drivers!
Scott
Goalie Man
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,412
thank you scott......... just wanted clarification for the masses on this lovely looking driver........ i see all to often "CLONE" speakers claiming the best of this and the greatest of that..... i already knew your drivers were significatly different as i have specs for both drivers, i just wanted you to confirm for "EVERYONE" what makes your driver different than its look a like competitors.........as you know CCA has a very strong Hybrid following and i just wanted to keep the momentum going forward! i look forward to hearing these drivers in the near future....
Last edited by goalie 35; Dec 17, 2009 at 03:46 PM.
Yankee
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,599
A good question and one every expensive line of speakers must satisfy. I do not think much difference exists on paper to justify the difference but it is in the listening or use of a product that a difference becomes noteworthy. And who makes this judgement? The purchaser of course because thats who has to justify the cost difference. $300 or more is a lot of bones, some people just dont have it to spend (but thats why there is eBay with lightly used equipment so eventually you can see how the other half lives). For those that do have the money then you owe it to yourself not to get ripped off, so auditioning is equally important. I dont think Hybrid is necessarily a status symbol (in other words I dont think it or CDT will show up on Unique Whips) but CDT and Hybrid are both lines aimed at the serious listener. Hybrid also has a trade up program so Hybrid may have used drivers available but personally I like new stuff when I can afford it.
I cracked them open last night and powered them off a Zapco DC ref 750.2 and a cascade PSU.
I began by play them from 500hz to 20000hz @24db at very low volume just to get an idea of what I was expecting.
I decided to unplug my reference ribbon tweeters and replace them with the L1 Pro SE's - still powered by the zapco 750.2 DC. I bumped up the crossover to 5k@6db and was completely floored. The detail was quite frankly awesome. Reminded me a lot of the ScanSpeak 2904 rev home tweeter, but with a bit more clarity. Sound quality exceeded my expectation and by far it was the sound I was looking for - Smooth is probably the best term to say.
After listen to some of my favorite tracks, I finally found the nuances I've only heard in high end home speakers. IMHO, Hybrid has an Ace in the hole with the L1 Pro SE.
