High sensitivity 18s

[BrentEvans]

I'm looking for a high sensitivity 18" driver I can drop into some existing cabinets as a temporary fix to get a few more db. The existing drivers are lightweight stamped frame 3" VC generics, and they just aren't enough. Adding or changing cabs is out of the question for the moment due to budget and space (they're in an organ chamber with restricted access). We'll rework this whole system in a few years, but the client doesn't have the budget right now to do more than change the drivers.

The best I can find on the usual sites is about 99db 2.83v sensitivity for 8 ohm drivers. Anything higher than that is a 2 ohm driver, which won't work, or way out of the price range ($600-$700 for a pair). Is this as good as it's going to get or am I missing something?

[sine143]

what are they tuned to? (assume they are vented).

[BrentEvans]

Don't know precisely. I assume they're in the neighborhood of 40hz cabs based on response and cab size.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

The best I can find on the usual sites is about 99db 2.83v sensitivity for 8 ohm drivers. Is this as good as it's going to get or am I missing something?

That's as good as it gets, unless you go with a very low Qts driver, and if you do its bass response will be choked off.

[sine143]

faital pro fh500 for 3" vc, 99db sensitivity 9.5mm xmax .35 qts 30hz fs, or faital pro hp 1020 for 4" vc, 99db sensitivity, 9.5mm xmax, .27 QTS, 35hz fs

Honestly, just about any of the 18" faital pros are pretty efficient. the FH510 is a tad less efficient, but has a bit more motor (and is cheaper due to the ferrite magnet)

[CoronaOperator]

I'd at least measure the volume of the cabinet minus approx driver volume(10-15%), port area and length, then download WinISD or equivalent software to model your proposed driver. Sensitivity doesn't help if you run out of xmax or the response is out of whack.

[LelandCrooks]

Sine beat me to it with the faitals. Eighteensound 18w20000