My new favorite thing...

[m8o]

JBL 2432 Lenses mated to the newer generation 2407J Drivers. Using the standard tweeter crossover unaltered, and I'm loving the sound. I'd been using some mini-Smith horns with JBL 2402 drivers before. These are a lot more efficient and give a dramatically wider and smoother dispersion around the room. I didnt realize I was missing so much high end until now (though I have the gear to measure it in the form of a great updated Terrasonde Audio toolbox, and I should have)

I like the combo so much, I'm looking to buy another set of 2342s as I was going to use these in the sides, and just bought two more pairs of 2407H drivers (the H is the 8-ohm version). I'm curious to see if I like the 8-ohm or 16-ohm better with the stock crossover. Of course all of this is before I move over to tri-amping every horn [F/C/R] using a Crown USM 810.

I'm also hoping to win a set of 2344 Lenses. After which I'll have the "whole set" of butt cheeks! A whole bunch of the 2404s, these 2342s (and maybe antoher set) and then the 2344s 12" square butt-cheeks [i.e., almost life-sized! <lol>].

[Daddy Dee]

Very cool.

Using them as a drop in replacement, the sound level of the tweeter sounds about right blending with the mids and LF?

I love it when easy works.

[Marvel]

Hmmmm, did you try the 2407 on the smith horn? The 2402 is only rated up to 15k and drops off. The 2407 goes a bit higher.

But it is nnice when it just works.

[m8o]

@ Daddy dee... I think they mate really really well. I imagine some others might like 2 or 3db attenuation. But for me they're pretty spot on with what I'm wanting out of my La Scalas presently. Un-equalized, the 2407 have about 15db more output @ 2K than 15K (and then they have a spike-up @ 20K), [ http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=21754 ] so even crossed over rather high with the la Scala's x-over relative to its capabilities in the high-mid-range , it still develops a good amount of presence from the unit, as opposed to the JBL 2402 or 2404 drivers, or original tweeter.

If anything I wish the tweeter was closer to the mid as the separation distance is noticable given the size of the lens, the mid horn's center is about a foot away vertically from the tweeter's center. And the 2407 being as diminutive as it is, I can't just lay the driver on the cabinet's top as I did the 2402 and mini-Smiths and have the weight of the driver hold the lens there. If I don't weigh it down the weight of the lens pulls the whole assembly forward. (presently the lens is angled back on top of the cabinet ever so slightly to keep it there near vertical) I didn't make anything permanent as I was expecting all of this to be temporary.

@ Both: case in point... I use a Onkyo 939 as my processor, with treble, mid-bass, and bass controls from -12db to 12db. When using the 2402 + mini-Smith, I found I usually needed to set the tone control at +4db bass, -8db mid-bass, 0db or -2db treble for the most enjoyable tone. I just didn't like 'boost' on the treble as it would sound sharp and edgy to me. And that's a 12db difference between bass and mid, and 6db to 8db difference between mid to tweeter.

Now, with this setup, I am running +8db bass, -2db or 0db mid-bass, +2db or +4db treble for the most enjoyable 'tone'. Yielding only a 8-10db diff between mid and bass, and 2-4db difference between mid and treble: And if the music ever warrants it, I can crank the treble all the way up, and the 2407J driver + 2342 lens just sizzles in the sweetst of ways.. And smoothness around the room is dramatic. My treadmill is at about 120 degrees (or more?) and eliptical at about 90 degrees from the face of the speakers. With this setup there's a whole lot more upper midrange to treble when I'm working out.

@Marvel: I don't have a 1" threaded throat to 3 or 4 hole adapter as of yet. I've been wanting to find a pair of JBL 2426 drivers at a good price just so I'd also have the 3 hole adapter too. However wiht that said, there's a phase plug that I think plays an important role on the mini-Smith and it's conical throat. There wouldn't be a way to use any of that with the 2407. And the mini-Smith's throat entry hole is much smaller than the 2407's exit. I may give it a try if the adapter holes line up with the mini-smith's mounting plate, but I'm thinking it may not mate well. TBD tho... []