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Gauss 2841 - any info?

M Jarve

M Jarve

Audio Geek and NGE Freak
As I was making my rounds today, I stopped by a used musical instrument store (as I usually do) and saw some interesting cabinets. They're a single-driver horn-loaded midrange, with a single 12-inch driver. They seemed heavier than hell, and for $79/pr, I thought I could at least use the interesting cabinet.

I got them home and where I expected to see some cheap Eminence driver there is a Gauss model 2841. From the looks of it, this is a business class woofer. As it turned out, 30-lbs of each 50-lbs cabinet was just the friggen driver!

The dust cap on one (aluminum) was loose, so I pulled it off the rest of the way. Hiding underneath was a 4-inch voice coil. This would put some EV M-series drivers to shame.

Basically, I’m wondering if someone may have some background on these drivers, or better yet, some specifications.

Thanks!
 
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On a whim, I decided to try the driver in the Maggie sub, in place of the JL Audio 12W3-D4 that was in there). Since the Gauss is apparently a PA speaker and thus more efficient, I also decided to take the amp out of bridged-mono mode, where it would provide the driver with 450-watts, and put it back to 2-channel mode, just using the one side, for an effective 225-watts.

I did not feel like moving things around too much, so I decided to keep the zero9's connected. I set the x-over for approximately 90Hz, so the Gauss would be reproducing all of the deep bass and a good amount of the mid-bass.

After everyting was ready, I decided to put on my bass tourture CD, which consists of re-mixed video game music. Tons of synth bass reaching down to below even 10Hz.

The CD starts with a quasi-classical piece (Death on the Snowfield from Final Fantasy VI). Starting with a piano gently plinking away, it then has a heavy, very dynamic typmanni roll that will bottom out most speakers. I didn't know quite what I was expecting with this Gauss driver, but it was amazing. The kettle drums rolled like a cannon with no sign the driver was being stressed too hard. Absolutely clean, and amazingly well defined!

I moved on to a piece with a synth'd stand-up bass and kick-drum (sort of a swing-style piece), and again I was floored with not just the dynamics, extension, and near perfect control, but the lack of distortion. I really had to push it hard to get any real distortion out of it- well past the point where the amp was clipping and the lights were dimming in beat with the music.

In every meaningful way, the Gauss driver far out-classes the JL Audio, and it may even edge out the zero9's... A stretch on that last point, but I'm still in shock over how good this driver is.

For those who may be wondering, I did try one unit as a mid-range driver. Amazing. I am deffinitely going to be on the look-out for another set make up a 2-way system.
 
Hey Mike,
I don't anything about that particular Gauss woofer other than they get decent money for them out there.

I remember reading about some comments on Gauss woofers the Lansing site. You might want to look there or AA.

The w60's sound great by the way! Thanks again.

RC
 
Thanks for the tip, Ron. I did a little research, and indeed, this is the real-deal woofer I've been looking for.

I just cannot believe that how dynamic this driver is. I think it's what I've been looking for this whole time.

When I actually did some basic measurements, I did find that the woofer does not have quite the same extension as the JL Audio driver did, but it has very solid response down to about 30Hz and is usable to the mid-twenties (as per the tone generator in WinISD, x-over set to ~100Hz).

I did eventually put the SMGa’s back in the system and I am very pleased with how well the revised Maggie sub blends with them. It’s actually able to keep up with them, which allows me to raise the crossover point (thereby reducing IM distortion in the SMGa’s and raising the effective SPL levels).

Going through some old ebay auctions I saw a version with a pleated/accordion surround (the 2481 has a two-fold surround) that I imagine would allow for slightly deeper bass. It may be worth looking into. That said, Ron was right in that these seem to fetch a premium price, but not as much as JBL or Altec (this driver, IMHYCO*, is superior to them (for my purposes, anyway)).

I am so impressed with the state of the Maggie sub with this driver that I think I may button her up and call it done!

(* In My Humble, Yet Correct, Opinion ;) )
 
most Gauss were 4" voice coils although they had some with 3" voice coils. all have dual spiders and short throw cones.
 
Gauss made top notch gear, it's quality equals that of it's best competitors. I'm not sure about your specific model, but Great Plains Audio services several Gauss models and might be a source for a replacement dustcap.

I've only ever owned a few Cetec/Gauss drivers, all of which were on par with the likes of Altec, JBL, McCauley, and Emilar/Renkus.
 
Pictures of the revised Maggie sub (and driver) as requested.

The four black blotches on the top of the cab are from some mastic compound that I use to keep the amplifier from dancing off the side of the cabinet. It also makes great gasket material (sticks to anything!).

I nearly passed out moving the thing! It was heavy before- now it's damn heavy!
 

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Thanks for the pictures Mike. Those voice coils are huge. I saw somewhere these things are rated to 400 watts and now I see why.

I really don't think heavy is the right word for that sub. Massive really sounds right to me.

Mike, did you get the new pre yet?
 
Not yet... The other fellow ran into some difficulty shipping it last week, so it didn't actually ship until last Wednesday (was supposed to be Monday, but oh, well…). Tracking via FedEx indicates it should arrive tomorrow sometime. I can hardly wait! In the meantime, I am using the L-07C I got from Ron which is a great pre in its own right. After I complete some other project by the end of this century, I plan to go through it and get it back up to speed. On that note, doucanoe, I have the parts for the L-07M’s… Just need to buckle down with a free weekend and tweak them up.

On another matter, though, you and some others should have an opportunity to hear the completed system when a certain someone manages to hold a particular get-together…:music:
 
M Jarve said:
Not yet... The other fellow ran into some difficulty shipping it last week, so it didn't actually ship until last Wednesday (was supposed to be Monday, but oh, well…). Tracking via FedEx indicates it should arrive tomorrow sometime. I can hardly wait! In the meantime, I am using the L-07C I got from Ron which is a great pre in its own right. After I complete some other project by the end of this century, I plan to go through it and get it back up to speed. On that note, doucanoe, I have the parts for the L-07M’s… Just need to buckle down with a free weekend and tweak them up.

On another matter, though, you and some others should have an opportunity to hear the completed system when a certain someone manages to hold a particular get-together…:music:
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Hey, How does Aug 18th sound?

RC
 
ejfud said:
No good for me. I'll be out'o'town on vacation.
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Ok then, any suggestions?

Im going to be out of town the at the beginning of Sept. and then again the third week.

How about Aug. 26th? Thats my B-day weekend though, I am going to have to check with the boss :D

RC
 
I was just giving you grief, Ron. No worries. I need some time to blow the driver up so I have an interesting yarn to spin when I get down there.:banana:

I dare say I'm going to have to come up with a better name than "Maggie Sub", though. I'll have to hold a contest or something.
 
M Jarve said:
I was just giving you grief, Ron. No worries. I need some time to blow the driver up so I have an interesting yarn to spin when I get down there.:banana:

I dare say I'm going to have to come up with a better name than "Maggie Sub", though. I'll have to hold a contest or something.
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Hey, I want to hear that beast in action! I read your post and showed my wife. She say's we are good to go whenever we want. She is actually encouraging it because that means her and the girls get to go up to the North Shore for the day or over night.

You guys will probably pass each other on the way :D

RC
 
M Jarve said:
Not yet... The other fellow ran into some difficulty shipping it last week, so it didn't actually ship until last Wednesday (was supposed to be Monday, but oh, well…). Tracking via FedEx indicates it should arrive tomorrow sometime. I can hardly wait! In the meantime, I am using the L-07C I got from Ron which is a great pre in its own right. After I complete some other project by the end of this century, I plan to go through it and get it back up to speed. On that note, doucanoe, I have the parts for the L-07M’s… Just need to buckle down with a free weekend and tweak them up.
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Hey Mike, That sounds great on the L07M front!

Keep a tally on any parts you are buying so that I can pay you for them. I'm looking forward to getting them back at some point so that I can try them out :yes:. Don't move them ahead of more pressing projects for my sake. I should have the HPM 100's done by that point for a trial run.

I checked with my contact on the Gauss. He has a 4 car garage with a 12ft ceiling that is filled to the rafters with amps, drivers and enclosures. He has tons of tasty audio equipment from audio dealership he owned in the 70's. He also has 2 storage buildings in addition to what I have seen in his "garage".

He didn't think that he had much in the line of Gauss available but he would check. He should have a pair or 12 somewhere in that menagerie :D

I told him about my next speaker project and he said that he had a very nice pair of Emilar 15's that should work out very well for me.
 
Hey Mike, I just landed myself a pair of Gauss 4583A 15" woofers. I ran some box calculations on them and it seems like I can get get what I want from them in a 7 cu-ft cab ported.

Not local so I'm getting tagged for shipping cost in addition to the purchase price. The JBL 2235's were going to run me much more so I guess I'm happy about that. Hopefully they turn out great for my application.

RC
 

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