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Realistic NOVA 6 crossover schematic -- another look

Stuart Pedaso

In too deep
Subscriber
Some classic speakers are fabulously documented while many are shrouded in mystery. Which must frustrate hobbyists, judging by frequency these forums are peppered with unanswered requests seeking crossover data.

Feeding my own curiosity about vintage Optimus and Nova products has unearthed several inquiries for Nova-6 crossover info. They all lead to the same schematic. Which seems to be the lone example -- and in circulation for years. Though nicely illustrated it has a few issues that are worth addressing, especially if it's being used to guide service/repair efforts.

Here is the schematic as found:
Nova 6 crossover.JPG

Resistors are labeled "1 watt," which is extremely unlikely. They are actually rated 5W. The author apparently misinterpreted characters printed on these resistors to mean "1W" that are actually part of the manufacturer's brand name "IWAKI."

iwaki xover res.jpg
As in this other example
iwaki_resistor-3.jpg

The HF compensation switch is labeled "DPDT," though it clearly has three position settings.

N-6 xover detail.jpg

Because its two poles are strapped together, it functions electrically as a single pole switch in this circuit.

Components are drawn how they're physically oriented and connected to the switch, which makes a useful wiring diagram. But electrical pathway changes from different switch settings are not really shown at all.

Don't want to beat this up too badly -- it's a good effort -- which seems to have long served as all that was available. Any refinement offered here is built upon this prior work.

Here's a revised approach:
Nova 6 xover _rev.jpg

The switch doesn't switch "IN" additional series resistance for greater attenuation; it rather creates paths to bypass resistors in Normal or High settings, thus lowering series resistance attenuation.
 
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I have a pair of Optimus 2B's that are the same as the Nova 6's. Maybe there is a better schematic floating through the Interebs somewhere? Nice job on the updated schematic! :thumbsup:
 
I have a pair of Optimus 2B's that are the same as the Nova 6's. Maybe there is a better schematic floating through the Interebs somewhere?
There is the start of one for Optimus 2B in an Optimus 2 thread from about a year ago. I update it as new data is found.

2B xover.png
It's nearly identical to Nova-6 except the only (barely) legible image of the cap I've found shows 6.8µF rather than 4.7µF.

cap closeup.jpg

Though I seem to recall a report of 4.7µF used in Optimus 2B also. Maybe there were changes made between 2B models 40-2023 and 40-2023A?

And for that matter there may be differences between Nova-6 40-4019 and 40-4019A.
 
There is the start of one for Optimus 2B in an Optimus 2 thread from about a year ago. I update it as new data is found.

View attachment 2751872
It's nearly identical to Nova-6 except the only (barely) legible image of the cap I've found shows 6.8µF rather than 4.7µF.

View attachment 2751875

Though I seem to recall a report of 4.7µF used in Optimus 2B also. Maybe there were changes made between 2B models 40-2023 and 40-2023A?

And for that matter there may be differences between Nova-6 40-4019 and 40-4019A.
I think so. I recapped my 2B's and another AK'r near me has a pair of Nova6's and they used the same value cap.
 
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