Open Baffle Epiphany!
- Thread starter cptnCanada
- Start date
Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
If you look at this Zenith baffle up close you'll notice an almost tooled leather look. It's covered with a thick textured wall paper found at Lowes which has some nice relief ( projecting detail ). It came in off white and I painted it the color you see. Wall paper is easy to apply to a flat surface and allowed me to use inexpensive MDF rather than plywood. Had I chosen the right color these would have looked like they were covered in leather ( an idea for future baffles ).
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jelly_bean
Active Member
Ok guys, here's the "Magnavox for Wurlitzer" alnico 12"ers from eBay. They have the same outer mounting points as the Zeniths, but they are not as deep. But the cone looks IDENTICAL to the 49CZ852,802,703. I'll be connecting them soon and playing some music tonight.
Should be able to post some impressions tomorrow after they loosen up a little.
It cracks me up that they only weigh maybe 2 pounds each.
Magnavox on the right, Zenith 49CZ1048 on the left.
Should be able to post some impressions tomorrow after they loosen up a little.
It cracks me up that they only weigh maybe 2 pounds each.
Magnavox on the right, Zenith 49CZ1048 on the left.
jelly_bean
Active Member
Well, they are playing music. But they really don't sound good at all. Again, no highs, and sound very very flat and thin. I'll give them some time to play for a bit and blow a signal through it overnight we'll see how they fair. I had high hopes for these guys though.
essNeff
Active Member
I had some Maggie 12's that needed a tweet to sound good.
I just replaced them with 2 CZ 49's and left the tweet's in.
These sound much better!
I really like working with Vinyl wrap now.
I started with Paint, then veneer, now Vinyl.
I find it easiest by far, not very costly and they make some nice patterns
I just replaced them with 2 CZ 49's and left the tweet's in.
These sound much better!
I really like working with Vinyl wrap now.
I started with Paint, then veneer, now Vinyl.
I find it easiest by far, not very costly and they make some nice patterns
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Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
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Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
Hey Neff you got some fine looking gear.
bigaltx24
Super Member
You guys got me to thinking. I looked at the backs of my Zenith's and got the EIA code (343184). The 343 tells me they were indeed made by Zenith, the 1 tells me they were made in 1961, which is correct because that's when the console they came out of was made. The 84 is supposed to be the week they were made, but I can't figure that one out. Here's a link to a list of EIA codes courtesy of toxcrusadr.
http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/speaker-manuf-eia-codes-the-big-list.491925/
http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/speaker-manuf-eia-codes-the-big-list.491925/
hnash53
Super Member
Poultry... I don't have grass in my yard...lucky me. No grass means no lawn mower which means no mowing.
Living in a temperate rainforest provides all the green I need and want up in the trees. I put out wood chips on the ground and it keeps the weeding to a minimum.
If anything, I have to "mow" my trees. Every few years I have to hire a tree cutter to come and limb up the trees... and it's spendy to get a guy to climb way up these conifers and cut the limbs off. But I'm much more willing to put in that effort than a weekly mowing exercise
. I have literally cut tons of organic matter out of my trees during the 7 years I've lived in this house... and chipped it all up and spread it over the yard.14 feet of rain is too much. We average "only" 6 feet of rain per year. It will be ok with me if we don't get that much for the next 7 years.
hnash53
Super Member
Sweet looking vinyl!! I might have to check that out.
ABSOLUTT
New Member
jelly_bean >
Hi! having warmed up a sound of loudspeakers (training) takes rather long time. After that loudspeakers get the voice. Old loudspeakers lose the indicators from long storage. Lose also impregnation of the diffuser. Practice showed that very good restoring impregnation is propolis. Stradivari used this circumstance too. I used propolis for impregnation of loudspeakers. The sound was more articulated. Propolis infuses on alcohol, for impregnation only transparent tincture is used.
Hi! having warmed up a sound of loudspeakers (training) takes rather long time. After that loudspeakers get the voice. Old loudspeakers lose the indicators from long storage. Lose also impregnation of the diffuser. Practice showed that very good restoring impregnation is propolis. Stradivari used this circumstance too. I used propolis for impregnation of loudspeakers. The sound was more articulated. Propolis infuses on alcohol, for impregnation only transparent tincture is used.
cipriano
Well-Known Member
This is very interesting! The Ebay listing where I purchased my 49CZ852's had "Russell" in the auction title, and said that the code stamped on the back of the cone indicated it came from Russell Speaker. I had no idea what he was referring to so I ignored it. As long as it said 49CZ852 on the magnet I was cool!
But now I wonder if the really good sounding drivers are all coming from the Russell Speaker Company in Chicago, IL? Poultreygeist, could you please check yours to see if they have a code on the back of the drivers beginning with 226?
edit: it appears 226 is not Russell's EIA code. I'm not sure where the seller got the idea that Russell made these speakers (or maybe just the cones).
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Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
I have the code 226-337 and under that ZC12161 stamped on the outside of the rear cone.
On the rear of the magnet cover in this order:
Zenith
49CZ802
343738
The codes on the magnet cover are upside down.
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Is that the Black Carbon Fiber style Tolex from Parts Express on the Sub in pic #4?
https://www.parts-express.com/parts...vinyl-cabinet-covering-yard-54-wide--260-7612
I have some PA cabs that need the ugly torn up Carpet covering replaced and I really like the look of that one.
essNeff
Active Member
Hi Valve,
No, it's ordinary Vinyl wrap that I bought on Amazon.
Tolex need contact cement but is more durable. Probably a better choice if you are wrapping Road Gear that takes a beating.
This Wrap is easily removed like the Auto Wrap Vinyl.
cipriano
Well-Known Member
Thanks for checking your codes PG. I contacted the seller and asked him where he was getting the connection to Russell? He wasn't sure and thought he read it somewhere. So I think that mystery has been solved - no connection between these Zeniths and Russell Speaker Co.
jelly_bean
Active Member
FWIW, I too have the 226 code on the 49CZ1048
Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
I tried a high gloss vinyl wrap on some box speakers but it requires a really smooth surface to look decent.
essNeff
Active Member
Agreed. the surface must be prepped as if spraying paint.
I seal with a couple of coats of shellac, sand lightly then clean with a Tack cloth thoroughly.
The material is very forgiving if you have some application problems. It can be peeled back and corrected using a Hair dryer or heat gun.
If you don't like the look, it peels right off.
They also have "peel off" paint you can try. I've sprayed chrome bumpers on my Ford Expedition for that "Blackout" look.