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JBL 1200hz crossover for 2225/2425

elitopus

elitopus

Addicted Member
I want to mess around with a passive crossover using some JBL components. Probably a 2225 and 2425 on a 800hz horn. Is there a popular JBL 1200hz crossover? Like the N1201 is for Altec.

It could be 8 ohm LF and 16 ohm HF, or 8 ohm for both. Does something like the 3120 sound good? Something else better I can build?

I’ve been using an active crossover but want to try something different
 
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the 4425's cross over at around 1250 FWIK. where as in the 4430's and 35's it's 1,000..
Obviously the 12"ers in the 4425's can go up cleanly to 1250hz.
the heavy 15" woofers can't! I still can't figure out why you like the 2225's???
the 2226's are Much better!
I happen to love the much maligned Dolly Parton horns!
So it all depends on where your horns are most linear.
 
I have 2225 and 2226. A couple pairs of each. I think they sound very similar. The 2226 was supposed to be a drop in replacement for the 2225 (with slightly more power handling) as I understand it.

Playing around with an active crossover in past I’ve run the 2225 and 2226 up to 1.2khz. I’d be fine with 1khz as well.

I’d like the added protection of crossing the driver over above the horn cutoff freq. Since I will be listening loud… Plus I think an 800hz horn sounds better crossed over higher anyways.

I wonder what the xover point is on the 4pi speakers. I think it’s at least 1khz
 
JBL box crossovers were designed for certain components to be used with them. Almost all of them have a 10db attenuation on the high frequency to match sensitivities of the woofers except the 3120 has 6 db of attenuation and designed for higher efficiency speakers running in the 100 db plus sensitivity.
A 15” can be used up to 1200 hz but its not an ideal situation as the speaker starts to beam or narrow dispersion characteristics. The 3120 first version crossover was only rated for 75 watts this will be a problem if you intend to push much over double the rated. Inductor saturation and resistor burnouts will occur. Yes for the 1” throat drivers the higher crossover point helps in lowering distortion. I had to add another Lpad to drop the output another 2 or 3 db when using your above components and this was with the 3110A/ 800 hz. Components that were used 2225H woofer 97db with 2425J coupled to a 2345 horn which gave it 110 db sensitivity. These were assembled in a pair of Altec Valencia cabinets. As you can see there is a 13 db difference in sensitivity between the two. Your high frequency sensitivity will also depend on the horn you use.
 
Also what will the speakers be used for SR or home listening. You could alway go 4 way and bi-amp the low frequency and use 2 box xovers for the other frequencies
 
Loud home use. The space I want to use them in has no room (I’m not allowed, lol) for an active setup.

Cabs will be 5 cuft. The 2425 will have Radian diaphragms. I want to stick with a 2 way speaker.

I have a line on a pair of 3122 (LX16) networks. What do we think about those?
 
elitopus said:
I have a line on a pair of 3122 (LX16) networks. What do we think about those?
Click to expand...
I never liked the LX16's. they have a weird circuit in them that Neutered the Le15B's in the L-200's
and was 800 hz to the horn
 
Looks like per this the LX16 is for 16 ohm HF drivers. With the simple parts list I could build a set for cheaper than I could buy them. If I decided to go that route.

IMG_8859.jpeg

So what are the JBL guys using for DIY builds? Like which crossover designs? If I wanted to build a 800hz or 1000hz crossover for a two way system.

There have to be some go to designs like there are with the Altec speakers.
 
I can't remember the model# Lx1200, N-1200? as was used for the 130a and dlh175's.
they had both 8 and 16 ohm versions. I would advise against the Lx16's.
I actually like the 3110's, Not the a version. you would need to pad down the horns a bit more
LX80's are almost identical, but use a regular L-pad instead of the 3 step used in the 3110
 
If I were you I would build your own version of the 4430 X-over.
Pretty sure Zilch did some work with them, they are 1,000Hz
 
Thanks. That looks interesting. I found info here about the N3134

Cheap and (Pretty) Easy JBL 4430 Upgrade

Last week I made an essentially free, reversible, and fairly easy modification to my 4430s that dramatically improved their sound. As a preface, I would say that if you've read many of my postings here, you may know that I'm pretty skeptical about the audible benefits of some changes involving...
audiokarma.org

And info here about the mods that Zilch did to it

4430 help!

I have been lurking around for a couple of weeks, and decided it was time to ask for some help. I have followed the 4430 quick and dirty thread but, it keeps going on tangents, and I have a couple of specific questions I would love to get answers for. I have made a pair of 4430 type clones...
www.audioheritage.org
 
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Following Zilch’s parts list, it looks like I could build a pair of 3134 for around $250. That’s not bad compared to the price of JBL crossovers.
 
I wish the 2344 horns were more readily available. I’d build something like the 4430.

I’d like to take a pair of 2225 frames and recone them into something like the 2236 kit that Edgewound sells. I know GordonW could make something like that.
 
Here's what I bought last week at a musical instrument store--old SR 4722 band speakers. 2416 driver on 2322 horn, 2206 woofer, 1200 crossover. Very well balanced and they kick ass. They image too. $500 and in excellent condition, I think they often go for less. Made in California. 2416 takes same diaphragm as 2425 but it's incorporated into the back cap for easier installation. Radian aluminums fit and Radian makes a separate back cap to use .

IMG_8856.jpegIMG_8847.jpeg
 
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Very cool Tom. That was a nice buy. I keep an eye out for older JBL pro speakers in my area. I’d take a pair of 2342 horns also. Haha

I picked up a pair of JBL SR4715 for 50 bucks last year. They were loaded with a quad of Peavey 1505. lol
I have since loaded them with 2226 woofers.

There’s a guy locally who has a quad of 2206J for sale. Trying to figure out what I could do with those.

I imagine they’re pretty close to the Altec 3127 woofers I have. I build some 8227 clone cabs for those
 
Have you considered mating your JBL 2425's to the Altec 811 sectoral and then using the N1201a crossover ( or Zilch version, Z19 )??

( don't you already have those Altec parts ? )

:)
 
I’ve been thinking about using Emilar bowtie horns. I need the speaker cabs to be under 25” tall. With the bowties the woofer can sit very close to the horn. Even with that I’m sure not I can fit the woofer/horn in that area. I need to lay it out and see.

I’m not a big fan of the 811 horn. I don’t currently own any 811/511.

I’d love to make a crossover that uses the LF circuit from a JBL xover, and something else for the HF section. I’m wondering if the HF section should be tailored more to the horn or driver I use.
 
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