sundownz

* Put a small pad on as the double leads can make a small tapping sound at high excursion. Probably not audible in-box but it makes me feel better!

Had a customer send in a pair of BTL 15s for me to re-build -- first time seeing the new UFO style BTLs in person. Very large and heavy motor on these guys -- also looks like they started using four separate magnets on these rather than a single large slug; presumably to prevent potential defects in the big slug. In any event -- on to the to re-build... the original failure was a burnt up tinsel lead on one of the drivers... so I am using our double lead Z v.2 spiders on the re-builds. * Original Failure Point * I am using a Z v.3 coil -- it is similar in dimension to the BTL stock coil but it is 8-layers vs. 4-layers on the BTL coil... it is 60mm WW vs. 64mm WW on the original. Performance should be very similar in the end, though. * I used a rear triple joint ring from the Z v.3 line on these. * Original rear triple joint - just a bit dusty. * Original basket spacers - these are here to make room for the extended top plate neck on this driver. * Using these nuts to get the spacing right while waiting on the machined spacers. ----- They are made of Delrin -- a super hard resin material : Acetal Resin | DuPont ™ Delrin ® ----- Based on customer input these will have two Z v.2 spiders and a Nightshade cone to go with the Z v.3 coil and triple joint ring The new spacer was needed to make clearance for the triple joint ring so it will not hit the extended neck on the top plate. --- * Double Leads * Spacer installed. * Split magnet * Going to poke leads through, solder, and finish top triple joint this morning. This is the first one -- second one will be the same. --- T/S specs measured after short break-in period - should extend nice and low for the customer : RE: 2.0 ohms Fs: 31.8 Hz Qes: 0.33 Qms: 7.66 Qts: 0.32 Le: 2.59 mH Vas: 64 L BL: 18.3 NA Mms: 267g Cms: 93 uM/N Sens: 89.76 dB 1w/1m

Yes. Mechanically power handling will be down slightly due to the softer spider... but in box still easily 400+

SA-8 v.2 is going to be just a few dollars more than the SA-8 v.1 -- you are thinking of the X-8 -- in which case the 8W7 is 50% more expensive at MAP still.

The softer spider is in -- when Sean comes up again testing will be done to make sure we are where we need to be on it. In the mean-time I am making another production run of SA-8 v.1 as so many are still being sold.

The main update is bad news guys. The factory that was producing our surround, cone, dust cap, and spider for this driver was destroyed in the disaster in Japan. As this is an ultra high-end unit we were utilized some of the more specialized technology available from this supplier in Japan for these parts. That explains why I have not heard anything in a while. From what I was told by my contact several workers were killed, some are still missing, and the building is completely wiped out. The frame, motor, magnet boot, and coil are made in China so should proceed normally. I should have more on the frame within two weeks as things are getting back on track in China. Of course the soft parts set-back will delay the product overall significantly.

The old units are the only ones that even resemble one another (they are not identical motors even still)... the new DP and new NS v.2 are VEEEERY different even in appearance.

* Push terminals * Printed box * Dust Cap Logo

I do not know - have never had one on hand.

Thanks for sharing

It's taking forever for me to get information at this time -- but I will post when I get something.

There are only so many letters in the alphabet that sound cool I use the letter Z as in SAZ line of amps... the Z letter in our line is right next to Nightshade. So... maybe there will be an NS amp ?!

Yes, please do.

The 10" weighs 4.1 lbs

Until they arrive -- which is ~4 weeks

Got them all together... they are measured after ~5 minutes of break-in time. You will see the CMS loosen up another 33% after some serious play time which will both reduce the FS and Qts figures of the drivers. These are the latest versions with shorting rings (hence lower Le figures). Otherwise identical to prior SA models in T/S specs. Some Re variance is shown based on coil temperature from break-in period. D2 is closer to 4.0 in series and D4 7.0 in series at room temperature. ----- 10" D2 Re: 4.29 ohms Fs: 35.4 Hz VAS: 10.13 L Qes: 0.52 Qms: 5.41 Qts: 0.48 Le: 3.41 mH BL: 20.40 NA Mms: 230 g Cms: 87.8 uM/N Sens: 81.0 dB 1w/1m 10" D4 Re:7.08 ohms Fs: 36.6 Hz VAS: 10.66 L Qes: 0.54 Qms: 5.30 Qts: 0.49 Le: 4.71 mH BL: 24.82 NA Mms: 205 g Cms: 92.4 uM/N Sens: 81.6 dB 1w/1m 12" D2 Re: 4.57 ohms Fs: 33.71 Hz VAS: 21.21 L Qes: 0.58 Qms: 5.34 Qts: 0.52 Le: 3.40 mH BL: 21.64 NA Mms: 280 g Cms: 79.43 uM/N Sens: 83.21 dB 1w/1m 12" D4 Re: 7.07 ohms Fs: 33.96 Hz VAS: 24.63 L Qes: 0.55 Qms: 5.15 Qts: 0.49 Le: 4.84 mH BL: 25.67 NA Mms: 237 g Cms: 92.27 uM/N Sens: 84.22 dB 1w/1m 15" D2 Re: 4.61 ohms Fs: 34.88 Hz VAS: 54.69 L Qes: 0.72 Qms: 6.52 Qts: 0.65 Le: 3.39 mH BL: 21.76 NA Mms: 338.85 g Cms: 61.42 uM/N Sens: 86.81 dB 1w/1m 15" D4 Re: 7.75 ohms Fs: 36.95 Hz VAS: 52.35 L Qes: 0.85 Qms: 6.63 Qts: 0.75 Le: 4.98 mH BL: 25.87 NA Mms: 315 g Cms: 58.8 uM/N Sens: 86.68 dB 1w/1m ----- I made a one-page spec-sheet for them that should start showing up in our next production run as well -- should make life easier for everyone getting these guys! PDF

Static data doesn't show how it sounds either; in reality you would just have to hear it yourself -- but I will post a good FR graph from an American measurement company when they come in anyway. Or perhaps I'll just smooth the under 100 Hz response on my current graph to remove the baffle size error.

Coincidentally, my truck that will be at your shop on Friday happens to have an NSv1 12 in it that might like to be replaced by a Zv3 12...... We can try it out.

I am considering having a second line of these with the typical ultra high sensitivity for the numbers junkies out there that do not want any mid-bass output -- these have a much lower sensitivity and MUCH more mid-bass in IB than a typical PA type driver.

I am finalizing some of the tooling for the spacers and also a few more minor surround and cone details then we can start running some of these for production... it is looking like 18s and maybe 15s as well will come first. Once my new cone body / surround samples arrive -- if they are fully approved -- we can begin on these!

I built a Z v.3 12" with production coil -- with about 5 minutes of break-in : RE: 4.01 ohms (D2 coil) FS: 45.68 Hz Qes: 0.4995 Qms: 4.3798 Qts: 0.4484 Le: 5.54 mH Vas: 13.85 L BL: 24.50 Mms: 260g Cms: 46.64 uM/N Sens: 85.97 dB 1w/1m BL^2/RE: 150 Specs are not too far off the original NS v.1 model... basically a very well rounded daily sub with great SPL potential to boot. The linear x-max by 70% BL is 23.5mm one-way as well. I am very satisfied with this result... the coil is now an 8-layer flat coil with 60mm WW (20% longer than NS v.1) made in the USA and sent to our factory in China. So what we have here is a driver that will out-perform the NS v.1 thermally, be close to it in SPL, and cost less money I can't complain !

I'll get a better FR graph when they come in from a professional measurement company -- the one from the factory was done on an improper baffle size so has some jaggedness not actually present on the bottom end. Both drivers extend up to ~5k or so, though. Since the internet holds information forever I think it not wise to post up an imperfect graph.

Nah - ugly is loud

Generic ones should work -- I'll buy some and check when they arrive. I may produce some at a later date as well.

I'm going to post T/S specs *after* we get some more reviews up on them. I've mentioned a few times we have a higher Qts and lower sensitivity than is typical with this type driver in order to work the best for mid-bass IB in a car door. As for enclosure design purposes -- these are IB drivers. No need to use the T/S to model them