Mark Audio Pluvia 7.2HD Full Range Speaker Driver

The Markaudio Pluvia 7.2 HD is a highly regarded 4-inch full-range driver favored by audiophiles and DIY speaker builders.

 

The Markaudio Pluvia 7.2 HD is a premium 4-inch (70mm) full-range driver highly regarded in the DIY audio community. Designed to supersede the original Alpair 7 series, it is celebrated for its exceptionally linear frequency response, natural vocal clarity, and detailed off-axis performance.

 

Key Specifications

·  Driver Type: 4-inch (70mm) Full-range

·  Cone Material: Available in Soft Chrome or Vintage Gold magnesium-alloy

·  Nominal Impedance: 6 Ohms

·  Rated Power: 20 Watts nominal

·  Frequency Response: 40 Hz to 30,000 Hz

·  Sensitivity: 85.74 dB

·  Resonant Frequency (\(F_{s}\)): ~72.5 Hz

·  Mounting Depth: Extremely shallow (< 4mm) for easy surface or flush mounting

 

Design Highlights

• Cone Material: Features a shallow multiform cone profile available in Soft Chrome or Vintage Gold magnesium alloy.
• Suspension: Uses a long-stroke suspension with a progressive-rate spider for excellent mechanical control and linear movement.
• Frame: A low-profile, reinforced polymer, open-basket design that facilitates easy surface or flush-mounting and smooth rear airflow.
• Voice Coil: Low-mass coil designed for high efficiency and controlled upper-midrange to reduce listener fatigue.

 

 

Key Design & Sound Features

• Cone & Frame: Features a shallow, multiform cone profile with a glass-fibre mixed polymer basket for high rigidity and minimal distortion.

 

• Wide Sweet Spot: Users on generally agree the driver provides fantastic off-axis performance, preventing "beaming" until well past 30 degrees.

 

• Sound Signature: Highly neutral and detailed. It produces remarkably deep bass (down to 40 Hz) when built into a matching ported or horn-loaded cabinet.

 

Enclosure & Building Tips

• Cabinet Design: The driver works brilliantly in enclosures like the popular Frugel-Horn Mk3. For a more compact build, DIYers often use a 12L to 15L enclosure tuned to around 50Hz, which can provide strong bass without needing a subwoofer.

 

• Amplification: The Pluvia 7.2 HD is sensitive to the quality of the source. Audiophiles on Reddit emphasize that using a quality amplifier yields far superior sonic results compared to tiny, budget Class-D amplifier chips.

 

• Baffle: To minimize the "baffle step," keep the front baffle as narrow as possible.

 

For detailed Thiele-Small parameters, cabinet blueprints, or to purchase the drivers, check out the official Markaudio Pluvia 7.2 HD product page or browse specialized vendors like KJF Audio.

 

Acoustic Profile & Enclosure Tips

This driver is well known for its neutral and incredibly detailed sound with excellent off-axis dispersion. It is widely used in smaller desktop or bookshelf systems and pairs beautifully with transmission line (TL) or horn-loaded enclosures (such as the Frugel-Horn Mk3), which allow this compact driver to produce surprisingly deep bass down to around 40 Hz.

 

Key Characteristics

• Sound Signature & Voicing: The custom paper cone provides a vintage, controlled warmth. Users consistently praise its ability to image beautifully, providing terrific separation between instruments and incredibly natural vocals.

 

• Efficiency: With a manufacturer sensitivity of roughly 91.7 dB, it is noticeably easier to drive than other Alpair models, making it a great candidate for lower-powered tube amps.

 

• Mechanical Design: It features an unconventional "semi-free to air" suspension design without a traditional spider. This allows the lightweight, shallow cone to move highly freely, resulting in incredible transient speed and micro-detail.

 

Strengths & Weaknesses

• Strengths: Outstanding midrange transparency and vocal presence. It has enough high-frequency extension to handle treble duties on its own for most listeners, doing away with the need for a tweeter.

 

• Weaknesses/Limitations: Opinions on the bass and extreme highs are mixed. Some users on diy Audio report that the bass lacks deep sub-bass extension in standard enclosures. High frequencies can also sound slightly soft or "rolled off" to those used to metal-domed tweeters, and it requires clean, low-distortion amplification to prevent it from sounding fatiguing.

 

Enclosure and Build Notes

Because it is a full-range driver, the cabinet is everything. To maximize its capabilities, the driver demands a well-designed, acoustically efficient enclosure (such as large ported designs, folded Voigt pipes, or Pensil cabinets) to help bolster its lower-frequency response. Users note that break-in time is crucial; the rubber surround and suspension loosen up after a few weeks, which significantly improves both bass response and high-frequency resolution

 

Full Description:

The second-generation Pluvia 7HD is designed to supersede our original Alpair 7 series drive units. It employs many of the same components, and has a very similar balance of frequency response and Thiele / Small values to the old Alpair model, packaged in the more efficient and convenient Pluvia frame. With a mounting depth of less than 4mm, the Pluvia may be surface or flush-mounted, and the design of the mounting legs is very open, allowing good airflow to the rear.

The low-mass coil, suspension and shallow-profile cone are highly efficient. Frequency response extends beyond 30KHz, and the generous 4mm (1-way) Xmax and conveniently balanced T/S parameters allow 40Hz bass output in suitable enclosure designs. The sound character is neutral and highly detailed, with excellent off-axis performance. It is an extremely flexible drive unit for music, small HT and commercial AV applications, and offers exceptional performance at an affordable price point.

Availble in 2 cone colours, vintage gold and soft chrome.

Full Parameters:

FS	72.5494 Hz
VAS	4.4227 L
RE	5.4000 Ohm
QMS	3.1446
QES	0.7173
QTS	0.584
B×l	3.6297
dBSPL	85.7419
SD	0.0050 m2
CMS	1.2536 mm/N
MMS	3.8390 g
RMS	0.5565 WM
RAT	118590 WA
RMT	2.9963
MMD	3.6373 g
h0	0.23%
L1kHz	0.1652 mH
Pwr	20watts Nom
X Max (Mech)	+/-4mm

 

70mm Fullrange drive unit
6ohm double ferrite magnet

• 4in Soft Chrome or Vintage Gold magnesium alloy cone
• Operating range to 30KHz –very linear response
• Very shallow multiform cone profile –very broad directivity pattern
• Advanced low-distortion motor design
• Long-stroke suspension with arrestor and progressive-rate spider
• Low-profile surface-mount reinforced polymer basket