MarkAudio Alpair 12P 8" Paper Cone Full Range
Volume Pricing
10% off
Overview
Markaudio Alpair 12P Full Range 8" Paper Cone
High Efficiency Paper Cone - Generation 2 Audio Driver
The recommended Max usable excursion = 5.4mm X 1 way (non linear bass load) and Max power handling = 30 Watts (Nom). Running in: Carefully run the drivers at low volume using light music (NO artificial signal generation of any-kind) for the first 100 hours. After this period, gradually increase to normal listening volumes with the introduction of music that contains some bass. The driver will reach optimal performance at around 800 hours of play time.
The Alpair 12P is the largest full-range driver produced by Markaudio. This driver is a development unit following on from the original metal coned Alpair 12 produced in 2009/2010. Several major design changes make this Alpair radically different from the original in terms of its operation and performance.
Brief
Markaudio Alpair series drivers are completely custom designed and built. All components (apart from the magnet) are individually designed and engineered with their own tooling and mould making sets. Alpair drivers are made by highly skilled engineers; they are not “mass produced”.
Key Features
The change to a custom paper cone with a more shallow profile reduces mass and increases dispersion performance. The new cone is only 21-mm deep compared to the metal unit at 26- mm. The 12P employs a new custom CCAW coil with an aluminum/paper wrap, vented, low mass thin-walled body. The spider is particularly special. Designed by Matsubara San, it employs a new long throw profile set together with a ribbed body to maintain linearity. The front suspension remains the same as the previous model; designed by Lu Yi Ping, its ultra thin wall doesn't support the cone. In terms of mechanical load performance, the 12P remains a single semi-free to air driver, possibly a unique design in its class (see description and picture below).
Performance
The 12P remains pure to designer Mark Fenlon's current criterion which is to make purist, single cone drivers that are full-range capable without the use of phase plugs, co-axial centre tweeters or whizzers. The 12P is 92dB efficient (1w/m2), operating to 22-kHz (-3dB) and having a resonance frequency of 42Hz (+/- 2Hz). The 12Pʼs power-train (cone, cap, coil and suspensions) is mechanically efficient and linear, requiring only modest powered amps to make it perform well. This driver is aimed strictly at the “audiophile” end of the market. Its cone is highly-resonance sensitive so clean low-distortion amplification and source components are advised.
For those listeners who value absolute detail, dynamics and clarity, the Alpair 12P is an excellent candidate. I'd like to thank all those who assisted in the design and development process, especially existing Markaudio driver users, whose feedback was instrumental in the 12Pʼs final incarnation.
Link to MarkAudio PDF Enclosure Plans
Alpair 12.2P Small Reflex Enclosure Plans (PDF)
Alpair 12.2P Pensil & Super Pensil Enclosure Plans (PDF)
Quick Connect QC250R & QC205B fit the tabs on this driver
Follow this link to Alpair 12P discussion at diyAudio.com
The recommended Max usable excursion = 5.4mm (non linear bass load) and Max power handling = 30 Watts (Nom).
Running in: Carefully run the drivers at low volume using light music (NO artificial signal generation of any-kind) for the first 100 hours. After this period, gradually increase to normal listening volumes with the introduction of music that contains some bass. The driver will reach optimal performance at around 800 hours of play time.
Take great care not to touch the cones, or use any cleaning agents on their surface. Keep the drivers away from strong light as the UV may damage the cone's structure.
Very Pleased!!
The price point was right and the cabinet designs were simpler than the very complicated fostex designs. I started the build for the Super Pencil design and purchased the drivers from Madisound (who were very helpful with the many questions I would call up and ask.)
The cabinets took me a while to build as I am not a woodworker. So after many trips to various friends with workshops I finally put my Alpair 12ps in about a week ago, I let them "burn in" in my basement office connected to an old solid state amp with cheap speaker cables.
I thought the directions on the "burn in time of 100hrs was a bit ridiculous but I spent like 6 months an a lot of sweat equity building these things, so why stray from the plan now. Brad Meldhau and some nice piano seemed perfect for the job, good recordings but not too dynamic. The first 50 hours they sounded a bit bright playing light piano so I changed the music to some bass heavier music (Ozric Tentacles) and added some volume (still relatively low) closed the door when to bed.
60 hrs later (now at 100 hours I came home from work and checked the sound at a higher volume. The speakers had opened up dramatically, lots more bass. The next day I moved them up to my living room and attached them to my Tube amp (a DIY Stereo 50 Bruce Herran KT88 design) with good cables. The sound is amazing. Its so different than my Dalquists. Don't get me wrong, I love my Dalquists but the change to full range is dramatic. I'm able to switch the cables back and forth between the two and going back to the DQs immediately I can hear the crossover points on the DQs and how full and detailed the Alpairs are.
As my ears are getting used the the Alpair 12ps in the Super Pencil cabinets I'm blown away at the detail and crispness they deliver to the music. ANYTHING acoustic sounds as if it's live in my living room. The reviews out on the interweb are not wrong, music with a lot of complexity, heavy music specifically does seem to struggle to get the same detail, but this is also a symptom of my tube amp and is only magnified a little with the Alpairs.
I'm currently having a deep love affair with these Mark Audio drivers, my DQ's are sadly feeling neglected. This was a perfect DIY experience and speaker upgrade. Thanks Mark Audio and Madisound!!!
Pleasant surprise
These are smooth detailed transducers. Very revealing- an @2000 hertz whining sound was coming out of them, unnoticed previously in my Neo10/ Neo3 pairing.
The Altairs 12P ought to be considered to be bargain priced.
These play as loud and well as I wish, running with a 300B SET, equally well with a single end wired 6CA7, even with a home made EL84 SET (my first try at amp building .
It plays well with a first generation NAIT 5, Flatcapped, and easily reveals differences between CD players and a NOS DAC, so choose your sources wisely.
Vinyl is fantastic, even with my modest rig.
Having made and sold 5 or six dozen speakers the last few years , as a hobby, I can hardly recommend this driver highly enough.
Very very easy to attain great results.