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Picked up a Paragon...

The wires in these old speakers is never anything but small gauge and common. Folks using $200 8ga speaker cables that lead into corroded 18ga is more common than anyone cares to think about. And the terminals are often just as bad.

I don't believe you can impart anything special with wires. But you can certainly bring the old circuit up to snuff! I usually use 12ga for runs, 14ga is my usual in the box size. Tends to fit the old terminals.
 
loudnoises said:
The wires in these old speakers is never anything but small gauge and common. Folks using $200 8ga speaker cables that lead into corroded 18ga is more common than anyone cares to think about. And the terminals are often just as bad.

I don't believe you can impart anything special with wires. But you can certainly bring the old circuit up to snuff! I usually use 12ga for runs, 14ga is my usual in the box size. Tends to fit the old terminals.
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My concern is they were all super brittle. I certainly don’t think I’m going to help the sound any by replacing, but I might as well since it’s such a cheap component.
 
cicada_shell said:
My concern is they were all super brittle. I certainly don’t think I’m going to help the sound any by replacing, but I might as well since it’s such a cheap component.
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Brittle and i can't imagine they aren't fully oxidized at this point. With all the effort we place into the rest of the chain, there's no reason to skimp out on a few bucks worth of new copper and connectors!
 
cicada_shell said:
Ah yeah the 55a is a good idea. Tough finding a stereo pair and especially ones that are in the condition I’d prefer. But will keep a lookout. Marantz 8 in triode… I forgot that’s something people do. Great idea. Whatever it is, I agree that low damping is a must.

My understanding is the guy who makes the replica of the Hartsfield has a 077 in his own Paragon and a different crossover rather than the N7000. And like you say, he puts it on a riser.
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John Wolff's Paragon and discussion with him.

 
Crossovers are now out and will be sent off to North Reading for inspection and discussion of our needs.

Seeing as there are some 076s available locally, I am pretty tempted… does anyone have any experience with them vs 077? Cost is about the same. Sadly can’t admire them from within the cabinet…

Lastly, regarding the LE15a, I know that the Paragon was available with the later ferrite magnet LE15H. The H seems to be pretty uncommon, or at least there aren’t any for sale currently. Worth refurbishing the -a, or perhaps should I look for the -H woofers as I have plenty of time?
 
cicada_shell said:
Seeing as there are some 076s available locally, I am pretty tempted… does anyone have any experience with them vs 077? Cost is about the same. Sadly can’t admire them from within the cabinet…
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I have never heard a JBL 076 "cat's eye" tweeter. That would be an interesting one to audition.

As for woofers — personally — I like Alnico magnet ones.

Good luck on your resto! :)
 
cicada_shell said:
Crossovers are now out and will be sent off to North Reading for inspection and discussion of our needs.

Seeing as there are some 076s available locally, I am pretty tempted… does anyone have any experience with them vs 077? Cost is about the same. Sadly can’t admire them from within the cabinet…

Lastly, regarding the LE15a, I know that the Paragon was available with the later ferrite magnet LE15H. The H seems to be pretty uncommon, or at least there aren’t any for sale currently. Worth refurbishing the -a, or perhaps should I look for the -H woofers as I have plenty of time?
Click to expand...
Of the three I've always preferred the 076. To me much smoother sounding in any application, more pleasant sounding.
 
spicer said:
Of the three I've always preferred the 076. To me much smoother sounding in any application, more pleasant sounding.
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Curious. How does the 076 compare (tone-wise) to the 077? The 077 is pretty smooth to me and projects a good image — compared to many other tweeters.

Do you know why JBL stopped making the 076?

Thanks!
 
Mr Boochie said:
Todd, have you ever heard an 076 in a unit?

Thanks!
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Not that I can recall. They would have been used in the "disco" series.

But I have seen pictures/comparisons of the three diaphragms on the JBL Forum.

I guess that the baby cheeks came along and were considered the better unit, or perhaps, more economical to make ;). The 076 body is quite substantial compared to the 075/077
 
toddalin said:
Not that I can recall. They would have been used in the "disco" series.

But I have seen pictures/comparisons of the three diaphragms on the JBL Forum.
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I haven't seen a 076 in person, let alone heard one. I think I read about it online about 25 years ago.

Maybe another audio "Bucket List" thing? :idea:
 
Many people would buy roached out L-220’s and L222’s just for the 076’s in them.
There was a guy who reproduced just the horn and throat for the 076’s to convert 077’s,and o75’s into an 076.
Obviously not the diafraghms.
Bobhorn
 
Nyjblbob said:
Many people would buy roached out L-220’s and L222’s just for the 076’s in them.
There was a guy who reproduced just the horn and throat for the 076’s to convert 077’s,and o75’s into an 076.
Obviously not the diafraghms.
Bobhorn
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Interesting. I wonder about the sound of that 076 horn and throat on the 077.

:idea:
 
Mr Boochie said:
Curious. How does the 076 compare (tone-wise) to the 077? The 077 is pretty smooth to me and projects a good image — compared to many other tweeters.

Do you know why JBL stopped making the 076?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
To me and others in the shop it was smoother, less bite than the others, 077 and especially 075. We used to convert some Altec two way systems to three way using the 076, tried all three and the 076 was much smoother, lack of better term but that is it, less listener fatigue. We were a JBL warranty station, had access to their drivers. Used them in sound reinforcement systems too, three way electronic cross over systems. They just sounded better any where we compared. This was a long time ago, raw drivers were $125 each for the 076. I have no idea why JBL stopped making them, was surprised when they dropped them from the line. They had a professional number but forgot what it is.
 
spicer said:
To me and others in the shop it was smoother, less bite than the others, 077 and especially 075. We used to convert some Altec two way systems to three way using the 076, tried all three and the 076 was much smoother, lack of better term but that is it, less listener fatigue. We were a JBL warranty station, had access to their drivers. Used them in sound reinforcement systems too, three way electronic cross over systems. They just sounded better any where we compared. This was a long time ago, raw drivers were $125 each for the 076. I have no idea why JBL stopped making them, was surprised when they dropped them from the line. They had a professional number but forgot what it is.
Click to expand...
The more I hear about it, the more I'm interested.
 
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