REPLACING 8 OHM TWEETER WITH 16 OHM HORN

[PROJECT 2501]

What would be the expected results of replacing a 8 ohm tweeter with a 16 ohm compression driver and horn?
Since there is double the impedance, should I expect lower output?
Could someone please give me a crash course in basic speaker design and break it down for me?
Thanks

P.s
Im aware that designing speakers requires a significant amount of knowledge and experience, but if at all possible id appreciate any info which might lead me in the direction of enlightenment.

 

[stillspin'n]

Output may be lower but not necessarily depends on the SPL rating of the driver,if its higher than the one your replacing, the main concern would be the change in crossover frequency. Would need to change the LC values to keep the same crossover points. If it just uses a simple cap for the tweeter, then just look online for a chart or calculator to find the cap you need, if there is an coil you will need to know its value to work out your new crossover.

 

[markn2wae]

Try it!

If the horn is more efficient than the (non horn) speaker, try and place a 16 Ohm resistor across it and connect it to the existing crossover.

I know this is rather "UN-scientific" but it may get your project working.

Mark T.

 

[PROJECT 2501]

Try it!

If the horn is more efficient than the (non horn) speaker, try and place a 16 Ohm resistor across it and connect it to the existing crossover.

I know this is rather "UN-scientific" but it may get your project working.

Mark T.

What do you mean by placing the resistor "across" the driver?

 

[shelly_d]

You have ventured into the world of working with amp power and dB output. The power of an amplifier can be measured in dB and the output of a speaker can also be measured in dB. Fortunately, even though you are measuring 2 different things, changing one of those things up or down will change the other by the same amout. In your case you are doing two things. By swapping in a speaker with twice the impedance in the speaker system you will cut the amount of power delivered to the speaker by 1/2. That equates out to a 3 dB drop in power delivered to the speaker. That is the only part of the swap that we can predict with the information you have posted so far. What we also need is the sensitivity of the two speakers to tell you anything further. The sensitivity of each speaker is given in the value of xx dB per Watt per Meter. What you will need to do is take the spec of the horn tweeter, subtract 3 dB from it and compare that answer to the spec of the original speaker you are removing. The difference between those two numbers will tell you the difference between the volume output of the two speakers.

Having done all that, I am going to make the assumption that you are not familiar with how to interpret the results of that little exercise. Here is the rule of thumb as established by many researchers into how we normal humans perceive sound levels. Typically a sound level change of 3 dB is the smallest change in volume that we will be able to identify as louder or softer. Smaller changes will usually get the kind of response as "fuller" or "richer" or "thinner" or "not as satisfying" or some other subjective term that is basically an emotional based response. To be perceived as twice as loud a sound needs to be 10 dB louder.

So, if your change is 3dB or more, you will be able to perceive a difference in the volume. If it gets to 10 dB it will be twice or half as loud. Having done an experiment on a pair of speakers I built that had a 7 dB difference in the tweeter and the woofer, the tweeter being louder, as soon as I played the speakers for my wife and son, the both asked "Where's the bass". They noticed that instantly. I then wired in the resister network that equalized the outputs and that corrected the problem.

I hope this helps you understand the issue you are dealing with.

Good Luck.

Shelly_D