Overview:
The SB Acoustics Satori MR16P-8 is an 8Ω 6.5″ mid-range from SB Acoustics. The mid-range has a 35.5mm voice-coil with a 6.2mm (p-p) linear coil travel. It’s fitted with an extende copper sleeve on the pole piece for reduced distortion.
Key features:
- Vented aerodynamic cast aluminium chassis for optimum strength and low compression.
- Proprietary cone material with EGYPTIAN PAPYRUS™ fibres made in-house.
- Soft low damping rubber surround for optimum transient response.
- Advanced BIMAX spider for improved linearity.
- Powerful optimized low distortion neodymium motor system.
- Non-conducting fibre glass voice coil former for minimum damping.
- Extended copper sleeve on pole piece for low inductance and reduced distortion.
- CCAW voice coil for reduced moving mass.
- Long life silver lead wires attached 180° apart for improved stability.
- Vented pole piece and coil former for reduced compression.
- High piston to chassis diameter ratio.
- Gasket and bolt hole protrusions for reduced coupling to speaker cabinet.
- Mode balanced cone for reduced break-up.
SB Acoustics Spec sheet: 6.5in SATORI MR16P-8 OHM
T/S Parameters:
Impedance:
(click on picture to zoom)
Blue: Mid-range sample #1
Green: Mid-range sample #2
A resonance issue can be seen around 1.2kHz.
Frequency:
Frequency measurement conditions:
The mid-range is measured mounted on a baffle in an 14 liter closed enclosure with the following conditions:
Baffle size (WxH): 24,8×35,8cm with 18mm round-over on the baffle edges (r=18).
Driver position: Mounted on center-line with driver unit center 19,5cm from the top of the baffle.
Mic position: 1m distance, on mid-range-axis.
Smoothing: 1/24 octave smoothing applied.
(click on picture to zoom)
Left: Frequency response on-axis (Blue=sample#1 Red=sample#2).
Right: Frequency response 15deg off-axis (Blue=sample#1, Red=sample#2).
0deg = Blue
15deg = Red
22.5deg = Green
30deg = Blue
45deg = Red
60deg = Green
Smooth and extended frequency response. Usable up to about 3kHz.
Distortion:
Measurement setup:
- Mid-range near-field measurement at 18cm
- Frequency Range Mid-range: 200-10000Hz
- Baffle size WxH: 24×35cm
The distortion measurements are done in near-field and the amplifier output level was adjusted for each driver so that the fundamental is 90dB and 95dB at 1m. This setting simulates medium-high and high listening levels.
(click on picture to zoom)
90dB @ 1m
Left = Sample #1
Right = Sample #2
(click on picture to zoom)
95dB @ 1m
Left = Sample #1
Right = Sample #2
The Satori MR16P-8 mid-range is overall a very low distortion driver. However, the resonance issue shown in the impedance plot around 1.2kHz is shown here as a spike of second and odd order distortion. Because of the overall very low distortion profile, the narrow banded odd-order distortion spike at 1.2kHz look worse than it is. The rise in the second-order distortion around the same frequency might contribute to some coloration or unique sound character.