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The Flycatcher-VI is a continuation of evaluating woofer’s bass using the HiVi C3N-III. In this version, the woofer is an 8″ HiVi M8N-1B. I’m hoping that this model will be better than the M8a which I have. I started off listening to the M8N-1B in a 24 liters bass reflex. Honestly, the bass was disappointing. It was not tight and sounded rather bloated. With an EBP of 58, I decided to sealed up the port, effectively changing it to a closed box design. The bass improved tremendously after that. Clarity has improved and she is punchier. The closed box modelling is shown below.
I retained the 10.0mH iron core inductor that I used in the previous Flycatcher-III. And true enough, it was the correct inductor. The M8N-1B and the C3N-III integrated seamlessly.
I tested the M8N-1B over several days with different genre of music, all the while paying close attention to the character of the bass. What I’m really interested in is how articulate the bass is. The attack, decay and the “timing” between the woofer and the full-range driver. When they are right, the music will sound the most natural. One of the most difficult albums for bass is UFO Tofu by Bela Fleck. It was a delight when I played Magic Fingers. The bass was “fast”, clear and has weight. Furthermore, it kept pace with the banjo. In Life Without Elvis, the bass was punchy. Up next is believe or not, Toxic and Baby One More Time (Britney Spears). I don’t care much for the lyrics. It’s the way the bass is mixed. It draws you in and then releases. The M8N-1B is able to create that effect. Now for something slower, Alegria by Chris Spheeris Ero album. The bass in this track plays a supporting role in that it is in the background. It is not upfront and aggressive like the other tracks above. Nonetheless, the bass is still clearly heard and not muddy.
I never expected I would love this HiVi M8N-1B. More than that, in a closed box too. That’s a first for me. At only $39 USD at Parts Express, she is very affordable but don’t let the price fool you. She’s good. I have no problems using her as my first choice 8″ woofer for budget builds. Of course, the Seas U22REX is better but she cost $189 USD. That’s almost 5X more. Unless one is into high-end, it’s not justifiable to spend that much. Unless otherwise stated, all measurements were made in Full Space (4pi). Mic at 36 ins, tweeter axis. Impulse Window=5ms. No smoothing applied. |
January 16, 2024HIFI DRIVERS, Projects
