The new Seas L18 versus the Dayton RS180-yet another 7" woofer comparison.

Thanks to Thomas K who was nice enough to donate a pair of L18's for testing.

Frequency response. 1" nearfield

Linear distortion

Nonlinear distortion.

NOTE-in the graph below, the RS180 is in black and the L18 is in red.

NOTE-in the graph below, the RS180 is in red and the L18 is black. This is the reverse of above. Pay attention to the legends for the remainder of the graphs since either color can represent either driver.

Conclusion

As usual, it depends on how you look at it. Recently, I've started looking at these numbers in 3 broad categories. First, nonlinear results below approximately 100 Hz, nonlinear results above 100 Hz, and linear distortion/FR. I've started to look at it this way because, in general, any given driver will test similarly within these categories. The spectral distortion test is a bit of a tweener, because it is heavily excursion based, but also has lots of higher order and IM products. I suppose if I could do only one test, this would be it.

Anyway, breaking it down, the RS180 is marginally better than the L18 on the spectral distortion test, but maybe marginally worse on the 80 Hz HD test. So, below 100 Hz, these two drivers are more or less tied. The nonlinear distortion testing above 100 Hz favors the RS180, because of its more advanced motor construction. On the other hand, the FR response is just smoother, and thus, all the linear distortion numbers are the same or favor the L18, though it is very close.

To simplify, extremely close overall. The RS has the superior motor and the L18 has the superior cone, but by small margins. Either is a winner.