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60's speaker cabinets with Dayton USA PS220-8 drivers refurb

mjw21a

mjw21a

Super Member
After installing Western Electric 11ga tinned speaker cables in my Dayton USA PS220-8 based speakers and discovering they're actually the best sounding speakers I own (betterring my Aurum Cantus F620, B&W DM16, Pioneer CS-88A amd Polk TSi100's), I decided it was time to get rid of the nasty chipboard that was constantly flaking off everywhere and spiff them up a bit as they're no longer the temporary speakers I once thought they were. I run these paired up with a little 12W Oldchen SEP amp (2x Melz 6H9C, 2x Reflecktor 6P3S-E coinbase tubes & 1x RCA 5U4GB tubes).

Cut some MDF to (almost the right) size. Speaker wires now located lower so that there's a lower centre of gravity if yanked on (trying for kids). Glued it on and filled the gaps with sealant . Once dry tomorrow a few screws will go in and I'll test that everything sounds right. I'll paint the back grey and give the rest of it a coat of clear.

I'm actually delighted I have all fingers attached. Never used a circular saw before. :D

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Here's what these speaker cabinets usually look like from the front. Will be better after a coat of clear ;)

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Ok, the glue and sealant set. Put in 8x screws to further strengthen it

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Now that's secure I've painted the back black to further seal it

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Once dry I can put a coat of clear over the veneer and it's complete :)
 
I'm looking forward to getting a pair of P220 Dayton mid/bass woofers installed with a ribbon tweeter in about 2.0cu ft. I'm glad your enjoying the Daytons, they look to be so well built and super efficient. I've at least had the crossover professionally designed, I plan on using a set of Heath Kit A30 MCM cabs unless something more interesting comes along. Bravo
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Justgotohm said:
I'm looking forward to getting a pair of P220 Dayton mid/bass woofers installed with a ribbon tweeter in about 2.0cu ft. I'm glad your enjoying the Daytons, they look to be so well built and super efficient. I've at least had the crossover professionally designed, I plan on using a set of Heath Kit A30 MCM cabs unless something more interesting comes along. Bravo
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That should be an interesting combination. Many of the Dayton drivers are incredible, irrespective of cost. Which ribbons are you pairing them with?
 
Nice work. I really like the look and I'm sure they sound great.

Just an idea.
I usually don't put anything on raw veneer except an oil like linseed that is much easier to apply. I just re veneered a set of speaker cabinets with white oak and put on some medium dark walnut danish oil and like the way they turned out.
 
kaplang said:
Nice work. I really like the look and I'm sure they sound great.

Just an idea.
I usually don't put anything on raw veneer except an oil like linseed that is much easier to apply. I just re veneered a set of speaker cabinets with white oak and put on some medium dark walnut danish oil and like the way they turned out.
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I would though it's actually the original vinyl wood look veneer. I've found that a coat of clear goes a long way to making this fake stuff look real ;)

I hooked them up again after putting the screws in and tested. It seems that there is more and better defined bass.... I can't see a reason for this. MDF is more dense than chipboard, and these are completely sealed at the back now leaving just the front ports for airflow. I wonder if this can account for the change....

It's altogether possible the difference was just in my head too.... A placebo effect perhaps.
 
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I'm using some Aurum Cantus G2Si, they have the same 96db 1w1m specs. The fellow who designed the crossovers, Rick at Selah Audio, said they should deliver about 94db 1w1m which allows a 12 wpc tube amp to deliver ample power. I'm hoping a good 40hz from 2cuft, nothing that shakes the walls just hopefully a nice full sound, we'll see. You mentioned you liked the bass any more info or opinions on your experience?
 
I just found that there was details in the bass I hadn't heard before on that system. Interestingly I'm running Aurum Cantus F620 speakers on my main, living room system :)

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Fantastic speakers. Room layout and WAF are two major limiting factors for that system. They're fantastic speakers. I'll be interested to hear about your speakers when they're complete :)
 
I'll be glad to share my progress, I plan on mounting them open baffle crossed over just to test out the highs and mess around with baffle placement. Those F620's look fantastic!!
 
Justgotohm said:
I'll be glad to share my progress, I plan on mounting them open baffle crossed over just to test out the highs and mess around with baffle placement. Those F620's look fantastic!!
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The best 2.5 way speakers I've yet heard. They're unusual in that they're 4 ohms rather than the usual 8 ohms. Still work well with my Oldchen K3 amp though.
 
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