Speaker sizes

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I bought a small PA a couple of days ago for wedding speeches with a couple of 8" speakers, and it got me to thinking about speakers sizes.

I have 8", 10", 12" and 15" cabs of different sorts and I know they go to 18" and beyond, but....

8, 10, 12 then 15 and 18. Why not 14 and 16"?

Perhaps there is a technical reason for this and someone could explain?

This is really a thinking aloud thread, so I apologise, but it really is bugging me now!

[Have a disco]

I always thought that please someone answer this poinient question

[A1DL]

Daz

I'd recommend you post that question on the squatjuice or speakerplans forums, there's some good guys who will probably have the answer!

Tony :beer:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Daz

I'd recommend you post that question on the squatjuice or speakerplans forums, there's some good guys who will probably have the answer!

Tony :beer:

They could be a bit technical for me though! :sad: :beer:

[Shaun]

That's a great question..and one I have no clue about. I'd be interested in the answer.

[CRAZY K]

Daz, this might be simple enough to explain :teeth:

When I was a young lad playing in a very bad band in the 60s-- :omg:

Discos hadnt been invented you understand.

Speakers for PA and guitars were ALWAYS 12inch Goodmans or Celestions and for the Bass players 18inch speakers. Also you had American Gear but I think they had the same sizes.

I dont recall we had any 15inch speakers back then---but maybe someone knows better?

However at some stage later --dont remember when--- the 15inch Speaker appeared.

It fills the "gap" and with the advancing technology and design allowed good bass response from a speaker smaller than 18 inches, PROBABLY BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE POPULARITYOF MOBILE DISCOS rather than Bands.

I wonder if the speaker designers consulted Carol Vorderman and said---

errr Carol love whats half way between 12 and 18? We need a speaker for these Discos to use thats got good bass but is not too heavy and big.

Scratch Scratch Scratch - thats Carol calculating it now---

Ahhhh yes errr its 15 Des ( or whatever his name was) :teeth:

Speaker Designer----Excellent thats the size we must make our mid way speaker.

If anyone has another explanation let me know :teeth:

CRAZY K

[Paul James Promotions]

I actually don't have a clue. I will post your question elsewhere :D

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I actually don't have a clue. I will post your question elsewhere :D

Ta!

I like Crazy K's story too! :)

[pdarnett]

did my answer get removed for a reason, or was i just rambling too much?

[CRAZY K]

Just post it again then Paul,

Is it as good as mine? :teeth:

CRAZY K

[Corabar Entertainment]

did my answer get removed for a reason, or was i just rambling too much?Nothing has been removed.... so I guess it may have been too long and got rejected????????????????????????????

[CRAZY K]

Surely its not that complicated :teeth:

CRAZY K

[pdarnett]

The pressure is getting to me, i actually did post an answer but not on this forum!!!!

[Thames Valley Discos]

The pressure is getting to me, i actually did post an answer but not on this forum!!!!
AND the answer is???????????? :omg:

[Corabar Entertainment]

Surely its not that complicated :teeth:

CRAZY K
The pressure is getting to me, i actually did post an answer but not on this forum!!!! :zip: :D :D

[pdarnett]

spoke to mate who does reconing of speakers and he says that many manufacturers used to do odd ball sizes like 9 inch drivers, but eventually dropped them when the cost of mantaining the spares got too much.

[Thames Valley Discos]

spoke to mate who does reconing of speakers and he says that many manufacturers used to do odd ball sizes like 9 inch drivers, but eventually dropped them when the cost of mantaining the spares got too much.
is this the long answer?

[pdarnett]

as long winded as i'm gonna get tonight!!

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

It still doesn't explain why the standard isn't 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18.

Where did 15 come into it?

[BeerFunk]

Well, I would imagine that at some, the major loudspeaker component manufacturing plants opted for these sizes as the standard, and everyone else followed their lead. It makes it easier for everyone I suppose.

[Candybeatdiscos]

i prefer CRazy's version

[CRAZY K]

Hmmm still nothing very inspiring then?

Perspiring maybe--phew its hot!

Daz-use my theory--you know it makes sense :teeth:

CRAZY K

[Corabar Steve]

AND the answer is???????????? :omg:
42 :teeth:

[Paul James Promotions]

A couple of responses from elsewhere....


i personaly would think that maybe the in between 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17" sizes wouldn't have that much of a diffrence when it came to output. going from a 10" to a 11" wouldn't give much advantage.

say for example, you hear a diffrence from a 15 compared to an 18. now think about it, would you REALLY hear a diffrence at all between a 15 and a 16? i think not, the SD diffrence would be too little and would have little effect.

for another example, the MTX JackHammer, it's a 22" drive. the most likely reason for this is to make up for the low sensitivity by adding a little more SD to move a tad bit more air, but barely a diffrence from you'r normal 21".



id think they just dont produce diffent sizes due to no need. The metric sizes they come in already have been used for years, and provides the right size for the job. there is little point in manufactorers making new inbetween models where there is no real market for them!



Some manufacturers will use an 'odd' size driver to ensure that customers cannot go elsewhere for replacement units.

Jamie

[Have a disco]

OK then why did they not do it in 3's ie 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 etc etc

[dj_ags]

Lets deal with one question at a time Badger :D

[Have a disco]

no still related to same thread why the sudden stopping at 12 - 18 and putting 15 in yet all other measurements are based in a 2 ratio???? bucks the trend?? hence my addition to the question if there is no real diference then why not 3's than 2's for an increment???

[dj_ags]

Ok, point taken Badger :)

So have the "techies" among us got any answers for this?

[BeerFunk]

I think, from what 'speakerplans' said, it comes down to a size to efficiency ratio. You must get a generally more efficient sound from 15" as opposed to 14/16".

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

no still related to same thread why the sudden stopping at 12 - 18 and putting 15 in yet all other measurements are based in a 2 ratio???? bucks the trend?? hence my addition to the question if there is no real diference then why not 3's than 2's for an increment???

This was really what my question was to begin with, but obviously no-one understood what I was getting at!

[CRAZY K]

Except me of course :teeth:

Frankly the "other" explanations are without any real logic :sad:

CRAZY K

[Have a disco]

lets face it a smaller disco would have been happier with a 14" and a larger one with 16" but more didnt buy these upper speakers and a 15" must have been built to please both ends of the market place hence 14 & 16 got abolished and only those truly needing more power then went up to 18"

[CRAZY K]

Sorry to labour this on a hot day.

I dont recall 14inch and 16 inch speakers being readily available to Bands and Discos through the usual branded makes---or did I miss that :sad:

My DJ Shop in Nottingham say more or less what I say--first you had 12 and 18 speakers then Discos expanded and with the need for the accent on the "bass" end due to a lot of new Disco music and the fact that no one wants to lug 18inch speakers around then the 15inch was the perfect solution--smaller lighter with good bass--and EXACTLY bewtween 12 and 18.

Time for a Bar B Q ---byeeee---------

CRAZY K

[Have a disco]

there use to be 15" about before disco music, bands were using these as well but does not resolve why it was not kept in size sequence of 12 14 16 18 20 22 or 12 15 18 21 24 ie segments of 2's or 3's rather than a mish mash of both