Fullrange Drivers SB65 Vs. Vifa TG9 - Size Does Matters

As an audio reference, I often do a listening session with my friends in my home audio system. Most of them are shocked about how could a small full-range can produce marvelous mid-range without compromising the low and high frequency. I often told them about this Vifa TG9 is superior. I had do comparison the sound quality with the larger driver from Visaton here, and no luck for Visaton to beat this TG9 at all.

Another day, another chance to open up the battle again. This time the contender is coming from SB Acoustic 2.5 inch full-range drivers, SB65WBAC15-4 versus TG9-FSD10-04 install in the car audio system.

By looking the size, this SB65 is a 2.5 inch aluminium cone diameter, while TG9 is an inch larger with banana coated cone. The retail price for both drivers are almost in the same range. Both drivers has the same construction. They using plastic frame, which is very rigid for small driver. Both of them has open spider cloth in the core of the driver which you can see the piston and the coil it self.

The difference between both speakers is on the magnet that they are using. This TG9 is an new-old-stock version which has double magnet covered by steel plate for isolate the magnetic field. This type of speakers are commonly found on old CRT television. While on SB65 is a modern day drivers using alnico magnetic which offer light weight and strong magnetic power.

Today battle ring is the car that I've reviewed here. The owners is very happy with this SB65 but he very curious on how it will compare to the TG9. The installation is only changing the full-range speakers and the others remain the same. We will looking the mid characteristic involve to the overall music that we will play later on.

Car reviewed: 2015 Honda Jazz RS
Head unit: Alpine CDA-9887
Mid bass drivers: Oem speakers
Full-range drivers: SB Acoustic SB65, Vifa TG9
Power amplifier: 2 channel gainclone car amplifier
Cross-over: Series cross-over

This TG9 has bigger diameter and couldn't fit to the SB65 enclosure. That is what this TG9 is only put on the dash act like an open baffle speaker. The first thing I heard about this TG9 is really different that what I heard on my home audio system. This could be the enclosure design and others components surrounding this TG9 effected the sound. Despite of that, the characteristic of mid to high frequency are remain the same.

Compare to the SB65, size really does matters. The SB65 with aluminium and small cone diameter suffer from warm vocal. The sound is attacking the listener. The high is really harsh compare to the TG9 is soft and little bit airy. The sound stage for TG9 is laid back seems that the sound comping from the windshield but on SB65 you could hear more forward like on the steering wheel.

End of review, once again this TG9 win. My friend doesn't mind if this TG9 just put on the dash just like that. He love the sound. We both agree that SB65 is good driver as long as it not compare to this TG9.

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