Shock-Late

Hi guys! I'm adressing to the x-over gurus here: in my small bedroom, I'd like to use a small set of loudspeakers with a simple passive sub. But there's no passive x-over provided. What's the easiest way to do it? I guess I need a simple, passive x-over around 100Hz or something. the satellites are 8 ohms I think, the sub is a dual speaker/4 ohms design. It doesn't have to be "real hi-fi". Could someone give me a simple schematic? thanks guys! Frans

When i installed my Beyma CP25 tweeters (supposed to be 104dB) in place of my K77M, the treble was better but also way too loud. You might be experimenting the same problem with the JBLs, more than a "metal vs phenolic" problem. Numbers aren't everything and I doubt that the K77 is a real 104dB tweeter. I had to lower the tweeter tap on the autotransformer in order to get a balanced sound. I'ev got the stock AA networks, wonder if it's possible to change the tweeter setting on the AlK network...

I agree with the NAD comment. I owned many amplifiers, no one of them giving me complete satisfaction, until I bought my little cheap NAD C320BEE amp. It blows every other amp I've tested away. From time to time, I try another, more "esoteric" amp, but I always come back to the NAD. It simply sounds better. Some amps do better, but then just in one or two parameters; there were always trade-offs. With the NAD, i just stopped listening to the amp and started listening to the music itself. It even made me give up my multi-amp project. It has everything: sweetness, delicacy, balance, deep strong bass, warmth, clarity, and ooh-my-gawd dynamics. It just doesn't impress physically; no guest turning around in admiration, until they hear the sound. I belive hearing such a sound from such a small and humble amp is part of the magic ...speaking of the new updated drivers, what are the difefrences between K55V and K55x? any real improvement, or just fashion? Is there any picture available?

yep, they are. cheap, good looking, damps vibrations.

that's...me

Thanks for the comments, guys! that's how i wanted them to look: industrial. Here are two more pics...

I've got a pair i would eventually sell. I first need to test them, and the other problem is: i live in Belgium. But it shouldn't be too expensive to send. I'l let you know...

and the last one...

another pic...

hey guys, here are a few pics of the tops I just finished building for my "pro" scalas. Before some of you scream out loud "scandal!" I have to tell you the original enclosures were in quite bad condition (easy to see on the bass bins), and the previous owner had them already painted in grey. I'm happy with the result, was quickly built, i like the functional looks, and the mid horns sound more substantial and solid now that they're attached in a box (they were until now just sitting on top of the bass bins). Probably because it damps some vibrations of the plastic horn. The foam is there to absorb primary reflections of the tweeter on the upper lip of the mid horn. Difference is easy to hear. One thing is sure, they look very BIG compared to the stock LS

Thanks guys, i bought a matt grey spray-paint in an arts store; I'll see what it looks like. Should be good enough. I'll post some picts!

Lol... thanks John

---------------- On 7/9/2004 8:59:34 AM Maron Horonzak wrote: Barbaric ..heresy ---------------- what you mean?

I'd like to paint the new top cabs I built for my Scalas (around the SM120A mids and the Beyma tweeters). I like my speakers to look "pro" and would like the same grey finish as Altec's Voice of the Theatre line. What kind of paint is it? Years ago I saw bass cabs painted with a grey "sanded" paint, but that paint isn't available anymore. ("IML paint" or something) I'd like a matt, sand-textured finish if possible. Any ideas?

...just wondering: doesn't changing the tweeter circuit tap on the autotransformer modify the x-over frequency as well? 5i know, I'm always anxious...lol)

The problem IMHO with the heritage serie is the midrange horn. It tends to produce a "bend" of sound rather than spreading it around evenly; when I had my stock K400 horns in my Salas, I was all the time playing with them, positioning them once toed-in, once straight, and I was never really happy with the result. For me, they sounded better "straight", but then there was a "hole in the middle" ( i'm not using any center channel speaker). Since you're using a center speaker you could let your scalas straight. Since about one year now I'm using EV mid horns with a smooth 120° horizntal pattern, and i'm happy; the Scalas are slightly toed-in, but not directly at my ears. Note that I recently changed the tweeters as well (Beyma CP25) and this improved the horizontal dispersion even further.

Further listening impressions: the most amazing thing about the CP 25 is the way it actually lets you hear more of the music. With the K77, you sometimes get the impression the duty of the tweeter is just to add some brightness and "tizz" to the sound. With the CP25, you suddenly hear the tweeter has a very important role and reproduces a great part of the "informative" range of the sound. It almost feels like it has twice the CP25 bandwith and actually reproduces some mid frequencies as well; wich isn't the case of course, it's just better articulated and doesn't sound like "just treble". Frankly, it's a HUGE improvement for not much money.

Thanks guys! i now have a "balanced" pair of speakers I'm still thinking about maybe bi-amping them. I'd keep the AA x-over for the mid-high section; I suspect I need to place a resistor on the woofer output of the AA? The bass horn would run connected directly to another SE-A5 amp, the active x-over would be a Behringer i think. The goal here is to be able to boost a little bit the range covered by the bass bin (my room is very "clear" and reflective and the sound is rather cold and analytical) and maybe also to use an equalizer only on the bass section. i'm not sure i will do it; I like the ability of "playing" a little bit, tho

Al, what do you think about that mod? It works great in my case, but is there any theorical issue of having both the tweeter and mid networks on the same transformer tap?

Thanks Gil, did the mod, was easy to do and works great! i chose the 3dB attenuation. Now the sound is far better integrated, with better stereo imaging and depth. i bet it's far better sounding that if I had used a L-pad. frans

Would be interesting to know what drivers, woofers and x-overs he's using. That is for sure a beautiful looking LaScala, but I think I prefer the "rough" look of the real one.

---------------- On 6/29/2004 8:19:19 AM TBrennan wrote: You guys are buying Beymas from Belgium? Image Communications in Rockford Illinois sells them as of my last Image catalog. ---------------- Tom, i actually LIVE in belgium, that's why i buy my stuff in... here. lol

OK so while I abolutely love the sound of the Beyma CP25 compared to the K77, it's quite too "loud" for my taste and/or room. Is there any way I could add an L-pad in the tweeter circuit without impairing the sound too much? should i mod something in my AA x-overs to do so? What parts should i buy? what type of L-pad? etc, etc...

Actually, theorically speaking, bi-amplification using two identical power amps for the bass and the mid-high section, having the same input sensitivity, shouldn't be too much of a problem to set up. What i would expect, but without having experienced it yet, is a gain in micro and macro dynamics, along with a more controlled bass due to the absence of coil between the amp and the woofer. What is also appealing is, yes, the ability to fine tune the level of the bass horn relative to the mid-high section. Now, all that is only theory. But I'm tempted to give it a try... The guy could sell the Technics SE-A5 amp and the JBL active x-over for 600 euros.... quite a lot of money, but...

there's another technics SE-A5 power amp in my favourite shop. As i really love the one I already have, i was thinking about buying the second one and then use them both in active biamp mode, with an electronic cross-over at 400hz. Would it be interesting for the sound, or wouldn't it add anything worthy? if so, what kind of x-over should i use? there's a pro JBL electronic x-over in the shop... thanks