Recapping Celestion 66 speakers

[Harvey/ Ga]

I posted this in the British Audio section...hope to find some insight here


Has anyone recapped the Celestion 66??
I have recapped my Wharfedale 60E and 70E and Smaller Advents with no problems,
mostly using Dayton Poly's and Solens.
I've seen a recap using 70Mfd caps (pricey!!), but methinks I can do it.

There's also an English outfit (amocomcrossovers) on Ebay that makes new crossovers for many hi-grade speakers. Cost is about 50% more then if I do it myself, but it includes air core or iron core coils as well.
IIRC, air core coils are supposed to be a bit better then iron cor, for reasons that now escape my ancient brain.

They also use some capacitors that supposedly mimic the resistance of the older caps. Never heard of these caps.
Please help me decide the best way to go. The extra money, while considerable on a retired income, would possibly be well spent if the (non-poly??)caps do a good job, along with proper coils.

Methinks that the speakers are the mkll version. They have a somewhat larger voice coil in the woofer and a higher power rated midrange.

Harvey/ Ga

 

[62vauxhall]

Don't own them but a friend did once a long time ago. His were the originals which I believe he said were 4 ohm. I remember him telling me the MK II were directed at the North American market and were 8 ohm.

Only mentioning this in case you obtain replacement capacitors from a parts list. I think it likely capacitors in a 4 ohm system would differ from those in an 8 ohm.

 

[gdmoore28]

There's also an English outfit (amocomcrossovers) on Ebay that makes new crossovers for many hi-grade speakers. Cost is about 50% more then if I do it myself, but it includes air core or iron core coils as well.
IIRC, air core coils are supposed to be a bit better then iron cor, for reasons that now escape my ancient brain.

They also use some capacitors that supposedly mimic the resistance of the older caps. Never heard of these caps.

Harvey/ Ga

Hi there, Harvey!

I don't have or have access to any Celestion Ditton 66 speakers, so I can't help you with your questions. Hopefully some other 66 owners with experience in these areas will be along soon to help you.

My interest here is the reference you made to the British company which makes new crossovers for the 66s. Could you please provide a link to their Ebay sales site? I'd like to see exactly what they are offering.

Thanks.

GeeDeeEmm

 

[Harvey/ Ga]

Don't own them but a friend did once a long time ago. His were the originals which I believe he said were 4 ohm. I remember him telling me the MK II were directed at the North American market and were 8 ohm.

Only mentioning this in case you obtain replacement capacitors from a parts list. I think it likely capacitors in a 4 ohm system would differ from those in an 8 ohm.

Try searching on this Ebay auction number
272650643195
Or Tannoy crossovers. You should find amocomcrossovers as you scroll down the Tannoy listings.
I tried to search on the seller name,but no luck for some reason,

 

[gdmoore28]

Thanks for the auction number. The gentleman seems to do quite nice work. Price may seem stiff at first blush, but they are actually bargain priced. There's lots of copper on those boards, and good quality caps. And labor. And, if you've ever built one, you know how expensive it can get in a hurry. I just built some decent quality simple two-way networks, and it took at least $100 per crossover once I had inductors wound for them. If the seller has done his homework and incorporated proper attenuation rates, crossover points, yadda yadda, buyers should recognize a notable improvement over their stock networks. Or, at least, one would hope so. (There are so many unpredictable elements in this hobby that making a blanket statement is a fool's folly. So, the usual disclaimers apply. )

GeeDeeemm

 

[BilboBaggins]

I've had them and did quite a bit of research before I moved them on. I was planning on recapping them, but I didn't have powerful enough amplification for them.

First, if you have the 4 ohm version ( mine were), you want a high current amp if you are ever going to hear your speakers sound the way they were designed. The best I had at the time was a restored Sansui 9090 and a MAC1900. Unfortunately, not nearly enough power for these speakers. I did get to hear mine the way they should, on a Kenwood Supreme 700 system. Very impressive!

There are a few threads in DIY Audio on recapping the 66s. The important thing to remember is use electrolytics where they were used in your speakers and I recommend you use the same values they did. There is enough evidence that they adjusted the crossover. Not sure if they were tailored to the individual pair, or if they made slight mods to the design over the lifetime of the product.

If the highs are harsh and the lows sound uncontrolled, then you need a higher current amp.

Have fun with them.