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Help with compression driver replacement on RF7 ii


gago1101

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So you added two new drivers in each speaker? Or is the driver you placed on top of the cab the new horn? (and the painted horn is blank?). Can you do a few close up pics please.


Yes, I have added 2 new drivers to each speaker. First, I have taken out the original crossover and am using an active electronic crossover instead. I had added the Fostex T900a super tweeters in the past to cover above 8khz range. Now I changed the original 1" Klipsch compression driver to the Radian driver to cover 800Hz - 8KHz range. So no, the painted horns are not blank, they house the new Radian driver.

With this setup one needs to have 3 different ampifiers, one for each driver.

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Driver exit size and horn throat size are generally the sizes used to describe these devices. With compresion drivers the diaphragms are usually standard sizes of 2 inch, 3 inch and 4 inch but there are variations and other sizes these are the common ones. Best regards Moray James.

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Looks really cool would love to hear it. The original is a 1.75" driver. Have you tried listing to them with the same crossovers and just the new horn (- the super tweeter)?

The Radian 475PB also has a 1.75" diaphragm. I originally referred to the Radian's exit diameter, which is the same 1" as the original Klpisch.
here is the link to the manufacture's site & specs for the driver

http://radianaudio.com//index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=18&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=27033&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=40&vmcchk=1&Itemid=40

My original crossover is completely out with wires cut, no going back. If you decide to get the Fostex super tweeter's, which I have to say are amazing, you will need to have some kind of a crossover as they only function in >7KHz range. You need to have a new passive or active crossover. Passive maybe the way if you plan to drive them with a single amplifier.You can either build them yourself (many example in DIY audio) or buy from small DIY manufacturers

here is the spec sheet for the supertweeter.

http://www.fostexinternational.com/docs/speaker_components/pdf/t900a.pdf

I have to say that the sound is significantly more refined with this tweeter, no harshness at all, with lots of transparency and freq extension.

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It should work fine. The Radian's raw sensitivity is 111dB, I think that is pretty close to what the original Klipsch is. However, the original crossover may be specifically optimized, in terms of sound, for the original driver. It would be hard to say how it will sound.

Aluminum is not necessarily a step back , some people swear by them and pay lots of money to buy (i.e. vintage Altec drivers). I think it should be significantly better for the mids and mid-hgihs and mellower on the higher end. You can for example look at JBL synthesis 1400 array horns. They do use aluminum for the midrange horn (750Hz to 8Khz) and titanium for the high frequency horn.
http://www.jblsynthesis.com/downloads/products/prod_94_634484048356173879_Specification%20Sheet%20-%20Project%20Array%201400.pdf

The best way to answer your question would be to try and listen for yourself. Parts-express has a great retunr policy. You can try them out and retunr them if you don't like it. It is easy to change the drivers. It is almost plug and play. The only thing is to use shorter mounting screws as the ones that come with the Radian driver are tool long to fit the Klipsch's plastic horn.

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Yep, there is the Fostex D1400 driver ($1000/pr) and the TAD beryllium drivers that would cost about anywhere from $2500-$8000/pr. The latter is considered the best of the best. Both will be better than the Radian I think. If i had the money I would go for the TAD drivers, but there are a few other upgrades I would do before installing the TAD, such as increasing the heft of the speakers to decrease resonance and possibly change the tractrix horn to a lower cutoff frequency. The 10" drivers in the original Klipsch I think are amazing and, in my opinion, nothing will better them.

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Fostex d1400 has the exact same mounting holes, 3 of them. You may also look at the less expensive Fostex D1405.

Madisound.com has both and they also have the mounting diagrams and sizes. Since I have just replaced mine, I know the hole pattern and size is exactly the same. Check this out.

http://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/horn-tweeters/fostex-d1400-compression-horn-driver/

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