Long throw bass drivers with low power amp?

[Sobsey]

Thinking about a pair of EPI A70s that have been refitted with long throw woofers. I've read that long throw needs more power and I'm running a Marantz 2215B. Enough to drive the EPIs? Current setup includes Wharfedale W70s and Paradigm Atoms, just curious to hear what EPIs might sound like.

 

[SaturationPt]

Since speaker drivers, cabinets, crossovers, and the other drivers in the cabinet are a complicated engineering match, I'd say that these are now what most would consider DIY speakers and you get what you get.

 

[the skipper]

Sat is right. Simply put, you just can't drop in any woofer in any box and expect great performance. The mechanics of the woofer figure greatly in the size and design of the enclosure.

Google Thiele/small parameters.

 

[swechsler]

these are now what most would consider DIY speakers

Not only that, but the EPI woofer and tweeter were designed to work together as a "module". Substituting drivers in a classic EPI speaker is really a bad idea. I'll bet the original woofers had deteriorated foam and the owner didn't know what to do about it.

 

[Sobsey]

Points taken! Evidently the replacement woofers were designed and built by a fellow named Huw Powell who got his start working for Winslow Burhoe, the founder of EPI. That's why I thought this might be a worthy buy.

 

[swechsler]

Ah, that's different. If they're actually Human Speaker woofers designed for the A70 then it's a worthwhile purchase. I doubt the power requirements are any different from the originals. What makes you think that they are "long throw"? Is this the woofer they have?

 

[opnly bafld]

Huw lists his drivers as long throw or extra long throw.

 

[swechsler]

Huw lists his drivers as long throw or extra long throw.

Not for the 6", AFAICT.

 

[faber12]

Like I have any clue what size the drivers are in the speakers.
Actually only the 8" have an extra long throw if we want to get real specific.
It matters not, as long as the speakers have the correct drivers everyone should be happy.

Quick Google search revealed that the EPI A70 has a 6" woofer...

 

[opnly bafld]

Quick Google search revealed that the EPI A70 has a 6" woofer...

I don't care, that information adds nothing to the thread.

 

[Akustic]

In my experience .. more power is always better power with Acoustic Suspension boxes ..
They'll work with 15wpc, but I'm guessing that the bass would be much improved with upwards of about 50wpc ...

EPI's usually sound really good at low levels though, so power is not such an issue if it's a low level listening bedroom kind of arrangement ..