The Legatia X3 is a 93mm (3.7-inch) “small format” wide-bandwidth midrange/full-range driver to compliment both two-way and three-way system designs, where a point-source midrange and/or full-range driver is required. The following are the X3’s design attributes.
The basket of the Legatia X3 is complimentary in dimension to the Legatia L3SE, L3V2 and the original Legatia L3 for easy upgrade potential; the L3, L3V2, L3SE, and X3 are interchangeable in mounting topology. The basket is a proprietarily-tooled high-quality cast aluminum design and contains a 93mm flange providing for the mounting of the driver via four screw holes (the use of 3mm cap head screws is ideal). The overall dimensions of the driver are very amenable for use in the car audio environment, and in locations typical of the standard “3-inch” driver, or in custom locations at the discretion of the end-user, boasting a depth of just 43.5mm (1.71-inch), 0.5mm shallower than its Legatia X3 counterpart. The basket features larger openings behind the cone to eliminate chuffing and other aerodynamic-based noises, as well as provides adequate communication to the back of the cone for acoustic suspension and proper operation.
The motor of the X3 is paramount to the performance of the driver, providing for a flat and wide BL curve (as a learning note, BL is the equivalent of torque in a car; a car with a flat and constant torque curve provides much better acceleration and performance than a car with a peaky, non-constant torque curve). The BL curve is flat and extended, yielding 6mm of two-way linear excursion, resulting in the X3 is able to accurately track the input signal. Reduced distortion and greater dynamics are the immediate sonic benefits. The motor of the X3 includes an opposing double-stacked NdFeB magnet to improve restorative force, compliance, motor strength, displacement, and power handling. The magnet assemblies are fully surrounded by the voice coil.
The voice coil diameter of the X3 is a large 25mm (1-inch), which is the proper balance between size and moving mass in super high-end mobile audio midranges/full-range drivers. The voice coil diameter serves several key functions: elevated power handling, dissipation of heat (thereby lowering power compression), and maximizing the size of the magnet assembly for enhanced motor compliance. The voice coil is high-purity aluminum, which is superior to copper for heat dissipation, as well as significantly reduced moving mass. The result is an extremely lightweight winding with good power handling and low inductance.
The progressive “double-S” surround is a fine fabric which is highly consistent, and terminates mechanical vibrations as well, having a low stiffness for positive damping of resonances. The spider material was chosen for optimal performance; the spider is a 90/10 cotton/Nomex blend with single-dip low viscosity phenolic. This material provides the stiffness desired without being overly brittle or stiff, where vibrations in the spider are well damped and do not translate into the former or the cone.
The Legatia X3 is a cone-type driver consisting of an optional proprietary hybrid paper or carbon fiber diaphragm with extremely low moving mass. Paper is widely acknowledged as the best-damping material, as it provides the near optimum balance of strength and weight. Carbon fiber is widely acknowledged as a more “forward” and “lively” sound. The end-user can select which cone topology best suites the desired end-result.
The cone designs offer a wide dispersion pattern to make for flexible installation and speaker location. The Legatia X3 has an outstanding extended frequency response; the usable frequency range of this driver exceeds seven complete octaves of usable bandwidth on-axis (~140 Hz – 20,000 Hz). Even off-axis, the X3 faithfully recreates more than six full octaves of information, for the ultimate “small-format” midrange/full-range driver.
The X3 comes equipped with an end-user choice of phase plug pole piece extension at the center of the cone or dust cap.
The phase plug design topology features an aluminum pole piece and, by design, ensures enhancement of the total inductance profile, providing much of the inductance reduction benefits noted. The phase plug is plated with matte gold, which by design does not negatively reduce eddy current, and adds thermal dissipation potential, not to mention sleek, class-leading cosmetics. The phase plug extends well down inside the pole vent and acts as a very large and efficient heatsink for any heat that radiates into the pole. The highest frequencies of audio emanate from the area around the center of the cone and the lower frequencies are produced by the area of the cone that is farther from the center. The phase plug pole piece extension improves the X3’s performance and clarity by deflecting delicate midrange and treble tones forward of the driver while minimizing distortion and improving bandwidth.
The dust cap design topology features an option for a carbon fiber cone/carbon fiber dust cap combination or a hybrid paper cone/hybrid paper dust cap combination. Generally speaking, the dust cap adds moving mass to the diaphragm (particularly in the carbon cone and dust cap topology), oftentimes lowering the resonance frequency of a similarly-equipped phase plug driver. The dust cap midrange drivers behave more like “traditional” drivers, where extended bandwidth may be partially sacrificed in favor of a more traditional driver topology in certain installations.
The X3 uses a copper shorting cup. The shorting cup consists of an optimally sized and plated copper (Cu) cup to create a total inductance profile that is not just low but flat over stroke, frequency, and power. Inductance is the number one limiter of high-frequency extension and modulation of inductance with stroke, frequency, and power, and is the primary source of intermodulation distortion (IMD).
The tinsel leads for the X3 are terminated on one side of the voice coil. The tinsel leads are stitched into the spider and bonded directly to the former and brought out to the terminals, which completely eliminates tinsel lead slap and does not compromise the structural integrity of the cone.
The Legatia X3 comes equipped with heavy-duty nickel-plated spring-loaded push terminals for both positive and negative, which is an enhancement over the L3V2 model. The terminals optimize contact and give the end user flexibility in tinned wire or binding post terminations.
Mechanical and electrical parameters are amenable to a variety of different installations and speaker locations. This driver is intended to be used in an infinite baffle configuration; a simple, solid baffle, solidly attached to the car’s chassis with available airspace at the rear of the baffle is all that is required for optimum operation. The size of the X3 allows it to be mounted in typical “3-inch” midrange locations within a vehicle, or in custom locations at the discretion of the end-user, as long as there is adequate airspace behind the driver to allow it to maintain proper damping and acoustic suspension.
At home in virtually any arrangement, the X3 is Hybrid Audio Technologies Legatia X high-end small-format midrange offering, boasting exceptional performance and a design philosophy that goes hand in hand with true high-fidelity playback.
