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8″ Dayton DA215-8 with Swallow-BC

June 17, 2023Drivers Evaluation, HIFI DRIVERS, ,


Dayton DA215-8

Continuing my evaluation of 8″ woofers with the Swallow-BC is a Dayton DA215-8. This woofer has a beefy magnet like the Thruster THW835 but the cone is aluminum instead of paper. Currently it’s $55 at Parts Express.

Manufacturer’s Thiele & Small Parameters

Dayton DA215-8 Thiele & Small Parameters (DATS)

I was quite disappointed when I measured the T/S with DATS. My Qts registered 0.46 whereas Dayton’s is 0.37. I honestly dislike Qts above 0.4 let alone one that is close to 0.5. My preferred Qts is about 0.32.

After testing the DA215 with different boxes, I finally settled on a 20 liters bass reflex. The System Q of 0.79 is a bit high but it’s manageable. I was hoping that with a smaller box, I’ll get a better bass punch.

Sound of Dayton DA215-8 with the Swallow-BC

This Dayton DA215-8 will appeal to many people. The bass is punchy and has more weight. It lacks the articulation and “speed” of high-end woofers like the Seas U22REX but I’m working on a budget system here. 

I threw all sorts of music at her and the DA215 was frankly quite enjoyable to listen to. From slow ballads to disco, the DA215 delivered. In the opening track of Can’t Get Enough (Taylor Dayne), the low bass came out strong. The DA215 reminds me of the bass from tube power amplifiers. Thick, full-bodied lower bass. Upper bass is not as tight as the Silver Flute W20RC38. 

I did pick up a strange issue with the DA215 though. When you play loud, the bass character changes, not for the better. Bass notes became bloated and in fast bass tracks, she couldn’t keep up and gets all blurry.

I’ve never encountered such a behavior before. It’s not the woofer that is damaged. Give her a rest and the next day, just play at a lower volume and you’ll find she’s back to her previous self. It’s like a woofer with two personalities. The Dayton DS215-8 exhibits the same behavior.

The DA215 and the DS215 sound alike except the aluminum cone version has a stronger bass punch. I grade them as 7/10, same as the Silver Flute W20RC38. Of these three, the one I like most is the Silver Flute.