cmarti
Well-Known Member
My two pairs are still stock, haha
Realistic Nova 8b Rebuild & Crossover Re-Design
- Thread starter videolady201
- Start date
cmarti
Well-Known Member
I have not haha, they are still 100% stock.
New to audiokarma here. I found a nice set of Nova8's for $60 recently and plan to do the vl crossover upgrade. Just wondering if there is still anyone here that can help along the way that has already completed the upgrade? Any advice before I order parts. Do these numbers confirm stock mids?
Attachments
woofercooker
Well-Known Member
Yes, it is the correct mid.
DonQuixote99
just give me some truth
I'm still here!
Poppop, you might want to reference my post on page 55 of this thread (post # 1101); I referenced the most relevant other posts throughout this long-running thread regarding the parts and process for this crossover rebuild project. The more I listen to my Nova 8's with this Mod, the more I appreciate them.
Outposter30
New Member
I have a pair of Optimus 5bs in good condition. All the drivers are working and in good shape....I'll keep this mod in mind for when I get some free time.....
Yak Shaving
New Member
Hi folks - I'm going to attempt this mod as a first crossover project. Found my 5B's for 20 bucks on Craigslist a year ago, listen to them almost every night, and have been curious about this mod the whole time.
Questions regarding the air coils (noted on the p-core replacement for 2.7mh 15AWG):
Any reason not to replace this:
https://www.parts-express.com/jantzen-audio-20mh-18-awg-air-core-inductor-crossover-coil--255-266
with this:
https://www.parts-express.com/dayto...erfect-layer-inductor-crossover-coil--257-834
and replace this:
https://www.parts-express.com/jantzen-audio-10mh-20-awg-air-core-inductor-crossover-coil--255-048
with this:
https://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-10mh-20-awg-air-core-inductor-crossover-coil--257-048
and replace this:
https://www.parts-express.com/jantzen-audio-035mh-20-awg-air-core-inductor-crossover-coil--255-030
with this:
https://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-035mh-20-awg-air-core-inductor-crossover-coil--257-030
I'm not knowledgeable on these parts or interchangeability of them, but they appear to have appropriate specs at lower costs than the current prices of the originally referenced parts by ~$15 total.
Thoughts?
Questions regarding the air coils (noted on the p-core replacement for 2.7mh 15AWG):
Any reason not to replace this:
https://www.parts-express.com/jantzen-audio-20mh-18-awg-air-core-inductor-crossover-coil--255-266
with this:
https://www.parts-express.com/dayto...erfect-layer-inductor-crossover-coil--257-834
and replace this:
https://www.parts-express.com/jantzen-audio-10mh-20-awg-air-core-inductor-crossover-coil--255-048
with this:
https://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-10mh-20-awg-air-core-inductor-crossover-coil--257-048
and replace this:
https://www.parts-express.com/jantzen-audio-035mh-20-awg-air-core-inductor-crossover-coil--255-030
with this:
https://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-035mh-20-awg-air-core-inductor-crossover-coil--257-030
I'm not knowledgeable on these parts or interchangeability of them, but they appear to have appropriate specs at lower costs than the current prices of the originally referenced parts by ~$15 total.
Thoughts?
Yak Shaving
New Member
Anyone around that can speak to the interchangeability of the above referenced parts?
Not much experience in this area, but I do know that throughout this thread historically, folks have uploaded picks of various interchanged parts. I think so long as the values are the same, you should be OK. Just wouldn't want you to be wondering after you're done if they would have sounded better with the specified parts; for $15.00 difference, you might just want to splurge and give yourself peace of mind.
DonQuixote99
just give me some truth
I say $15.00 is $15.00. If you care enough to do the research, you value saving the $15.00. I highly doubt if there's an increment of performance you'd ever miss. In fact, I doubt there would be any difference at all.
But my POV and JK's represent the two polls you must choose between. It's a value judgement thing on intangibles, the 'idea' of possibly giving up a little bit better performance vs the 'idea' of what saving $15.00 is worth to you. It's not like there's ever going to be an objective measurement of any difference in performance.
But my POV and JK's represent the two polls you must choose between. It's a value judgement thing on intangibles, the 'idea' of possibly giving up a little bit better performance vs the 'idea' of what saving $15.00 is worth to you. It's not like there's ever going to be an objective measurement of any difference in performance.
Welp, it finally happened. last Sunday evening I drove 190 mi. round trip, unexpectedly, to purchase a pair of Nova 8's and 8b's for a price I was extremely comfortable paying. Pretty decent shape to boot.
After restoring 7b's and Optimus 1's, they eventually left to live with new owners, I get to play with the speakers I really wanted to try. Still have a restored pair of Optimus 21's.
So far, I have only had time to set the 8's on top of my NLA's to give a listen.
Hooked to my Sansui G-2000 that I added pre-outs to, they are being driven by a Crown Com-Tech 200 that I recently repaired. Source is a Nak 480 for the moment. Subwoofer also online.
Seem to be able to handle more power than they're 7 series brethren, and I'm not getting the listening fatigue I was from the 7's.
Now need to order caps and decide whether or not to do the Videolady mods to the 8b's.
After restoring 7b's and Optimus 1's, they eventually left to live with new owners, I get to play with the speakers I really wanted to try. Still have a restored pair of Optimus 21's.
So far, I have only had time to set the 8's on top of my NLA's to give a listen.
Hooked to my Sansui G-2000 that I added pre-outs to, they are being driven by a Crown Com-Tech 200 that I recently repaired. Source is a Nak 480 for the moment. Subwoofer also online.
Seem to be able to handle more power than they're 7 series brethren, and I'm not getting the listening fatigue I was from the 7's.
Now need to order caps and decide whether or not to do the Videolady mods to the 8b's.
nmwhitneyjr
Active Member
Do the mod. You won’t be sorry. Now driving my modded 8Bs with a Voice of Music 1428 tube amp. It’s delicious.
woofercooker
Well-Known Member
As I'm listening to my beloved VL Nova 8b speakers, I was wondering if anyone has used different capacitors other than the Daytons that VL suggested in the crossover upgrade?
Thought I'd post that I was contacted by Videolady who contributed so much to this forum and created the Mach 1 mods along with the Nova 8b's but disappeared from AK. VL's last post was around 8 years ago. We on AK had thought something bad had happened since some of VL's last posts spoke of heath issues, but VL is still with us! 
VL did state that circumstances do not allow much time for visiting AK anymore, or devote time to the mods that VL created. VL was very pleased that the mods have been very popular and successful. Personally, it is a very positive outcome knowing VL is doing okay, hoping in the future VL can catch us up on things.
Pretty amazing news!
VL did state that circumstances do not allow much time for visiting AK anymore, or devote time to the mods that VL created. VL was very pleased that the mods have been very popular and successful. Personally, it is a very positive outcome knowing VL is doing okay, hoping in the future VL can catch us up on things.
Pretty amazing news!
