Onken Dual 15" "Onken W"

[hifiapart]

Hi,

Considering the lower frequencies (below 300hz) was looking at the Onken W with dual Altec 416 (a, 8a or b (not GPA)) and would to know if anybody here as any experinces with these. It would be to replacve VOT boxes that have qualities I like, yet lack the lienarity and lower frequencies that the Onken W is said to deliver.

From what I gather they were developped in Japan to suit 4 way system, the 3 upper frequeniceis with horns. Plots I have seen give a flat below 300hz all the way down to high 30's.

The construction is straighforward in 30mm plywood.

Views on drivers (416's) will be welcomed, my amp (tubes) only has 8ohms output tap and that could be an issue as the 2x416's at 8 ohms will give me 4ohms (parallel).

Any comments/experiences are welcomed before I make more sawdust!!!

[stephane RAME]

Audiophile N°38 - printemps 1986

Stéphane

[stephane RAME]

More

Stéphane

[Earl K]

:thmbsup:

Thanks Stephane for posting those scans .

<> cheers :)

[jf65]

Hello,
i'm using the traditional Onken with one driver and never had the opportunity to listen to Onken W.
Anyway i imagine that this solution has a few issues.
First, are there not directivity problems when the drivers are parallel? i read in a forum that the TAD 2401 have a very small sweet spot.
Then i read in the article that the drivers must be matched.
Looking at the graphs the Onken W doesn't go lower (even slightly less), just louder. Altecs are good for bass and mid-bass; in a 4 way system, mid-bass being made by a dedicated driver, i would chose a different bass driver which goes down lower.
Not mentioning the price and volume, is it worth the trouble to gain 3 or 4 dbs (from 96/97 to 100) when the compression drivers are around 110 dbs anyway and the difference of efficiency remains big?
But as i said i never heard those beasts ( i suspect that there are not too many around) and i'm ready to bow before a person who is using them and says i'm wrong.
Best regards,
Jean

[Cosmo]

Here's something on the Onken W, someones review

http://twogoodears.blogspot.com/2009/12/goto-again-visiting-my-friend-toni-and.html