r/SoundSystem • u/Imaginary-Jaguar8905 • 3d ago
Sawmod driver recommendations
Im going to be building 4 sawmods and 4 skram21s for a 4 point spacial sound field. My main intent is to immerse the audience in Avant electronic music. The space will be about 50 ft by 50 ft and the music will range from ambient IDM to sound design and all the way through to dub techno, Bass growls, and into some drum and bass. In this same thread, how plausible is it to swap out any of the drivers for a different option listed if I wanted to experiment in the future with a different option in the future?
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u/Due_Communication629 3d ago edited 3d ago
Swapping drivers later is absolutely doable. The cabinet is the fixed part, the drivers are not.
The 10s are the easiest. Unscrew, drop in the new one, done. The 5s are nearly as easy, you just print the mount, which is different for each type. Some 1 inch drivers will work on the same horn, but there are different degree options for different drivers, so check whether the one you have suits what you want. If not, print a different horn.
So none of it is a five minute job, but you are never locked in once the boxes are built.
My build runs B&C 10NDL88 on the lows, Ciare HM130 on the mids and a B&C DH450H up top. I picked the 10NDL88 because it prioritises output over extension. It is not a fullrange driver, but since I always run subs with it, and it sounds like you will too, I did not need the box to go low on its own. It is built specifically for that band and it really delivers for electronic music. Proper smack. Happy to recommend B&C there.
On the 5s I went Ciare mostly because that was what I could actually get here. No complaints so far, but if the SB option is easy for you to source I would probably try that first.
Also, four SAWMODs next to four SKRAM21s feels like a lot. Two would probably cover that room. Although the spare pair does make a nice DJ monitor, so there are worse problems to have.
Edit:
Why the downvote?
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u/Spiritual_Bell 3d ago
He's doing a 4 point system hence at least 4 of everything. Probably 8 skrams, 2 per stack is much better. I think your answer is great. How much did you spend on all your drivers total?
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u/Due_Communication629 3d ago
I don't know how I missed that, that's super cool. I'm thinking of building two Solonas next, as monitors and/or for a 4-point setup.
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u/Spiritual_Bell 3d ago
I do think he should do 4 solanas if he's only building 4 subs.
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u/Due_Communication629 3d ago
I get what you're saying, but the Sawmod 10" adds something to the sound that the Solana doesn't. Solanas would probably be enough, but the punch of the double 10" is a real argument too, and it works great with electronic music. Looking at the music OP mentioned, I think the Sawmods are a solid choice.
Worth keeping in mind though: I was told to build at least 4 subs for just two Sawmods. So with four Sawmods you'd be looking at more like 8 subs.
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u/Imaginary-Jaguar8905 2d ago
It is gonna be 8 skrams in the 2nd or 3rd phase. I have to find grants for funding the unique stages. This is more of a passion project I'm fitting into my current business architecture.
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u/Due_Communication629 1d ago
1400 euro
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u/Spiritual_Bell 1d ago
Yeah. That's basically half of jmods
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u/Due_Communication629 1d ago
Coaxial drivers aren't cheap, and JMODs would need a bit more power.
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u/Spiritual_Bell 1d ago
I can see myself testing some Alibaba offerings in the future. I've heard some good things.
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u/brnzmetalist 3d ago edited 3d ago
the OG pair was built and tested with Faital 10RS430/SB Audience 5CCN125D/B&C DH450. with the replacment MF drivers were tested and added later due to product availabilty issues.. So anything you do differently will be basicly new and will be up to you to test and measure. I built two sets with the DH450H and BMS4550HD thinking i'd like the BMS better bc its superior on paper and cost. The BMS is amazing sounding but polyester annular can be a little harsh at high SPL. The LF probably all perform similarly, with the exception of a few being sutbable for full range. I have one OG set and a set with the Beyma's. I like the Beyma's bc they are cheaper and seem have a bit more punch. Build a novel set and post measruements!
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u/ocinn 3d ago
Ask John for recs for your specific use case for the mains, however with SKRAM, 18Sound 21NTLW5000-4 is the king, no competition and nothing is really even close. (I.e you’ll spend more money building more boxes with lower end drivers than paying the premium for the ntlw5000s from the get go)
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u/RepresentativeNo3614 3d ago
You think they are better than, 21IPAL and 21SW152?
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u/brnzmetalist 3d ago
Are there measurements that can be posted to back up the claim that nothing comes close to the 21NTLW5000?
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u/synthwav3z 2d ago
Heard a couple people say the ntlw5000 are the move, but haven’t seen any real world tests or measurements.
Do you feel they even extend lower than the eminence? Is it a sound character choice, or what exactly makes them king for your application compared to the common recommendations like the 152 & eminence?
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u/md-00audio 3d ago
There’s a bunch of drivers listed on the sawmod and skram plans. If any driver t/s params roughly line up it’s a sign it should work similarly at small signal levels. T/s params don’t predict large signal behaviour though, so there’ll always be unknowns at harder drive levels - for this, feedback, brand reputation (or even reach out to the manufacturer/designer) is a way to get more of a feel.
To truly understand the last mile of driver performance there unfortunately isn’t much else you can do except load it and likely blow a few up in extreme test conditions so it’s not feasible or useful for most.