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Soundcraftsmen Lancer Speakers

sbeineke

sbeineke

New Member
Bought a yard sale set of Soundcraftsmen Lancer speakers on the cheap. Kind of burnt orange grill covers. Cabinets are perfect. Holds a University 312 Coax with built in whizzer cone. In other words, two voice coils. Below that is a 12 inch passive radiator using same cast frame (at least from the outside). From what I read, the 312 is a great speaker. I have not broken into them yet but I did pull the grills off and both of the foam dust protectors between the tweets and whizzer cone are severely deteriorated. They didn't use cloth like Altec or EV. Initial view is they are sweet but a heavy in the muddled bass. I have them about 3 feet off the floor. I cabinets are not huge but very well built with great attention to detail and quality. Very heavy speakers. WAG dimensions ID are approx 25.5T X 14.5W X 10.5D. OD is of course larger especially the deep measurement. I question whether the cabinet is too small for these drivers and relying on the passive radiator to increase bass albeit not accurate bass. A offshoot of the Japanese kabuki thing of stuffing oversized woofers in the box for marketing purposes...not sound reproduction purposes. While listening I held in one of the passive radiators and the bass tightened up. Would it make sense to remove the passive radiator and port the unit? If so, what do you recommend for the tube diameter and depth?
 
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6.3 cu. ft. Cabinet with a 2x5" inchesh rectangular port in mine. Bass is nice without the passive. The capacitor inside the bell housing is a 2uf. I replaced with a Mundorf Evo Oil 2.2 uf. The University 312 diffaxial is a little different animal. There are t/s parameters if you do a search from someone online. Use a port calculator with that info to determine port size. I drive mine with a small set tube amp that distorts with less efficient speakers so I believe the sensitivity is fairly high.
 
CopperWizard said:
6.3 cu. ft. Cabinet with a 2x5" inchesh rectangular port in mine. Bass is nice without the passive. The capacitor inside the bell housing is a 2uf. I replaced with a Mundorf Evo Oil 2.2 uf. The University 312 diffaxial is a little different animal. There are t/s parameters if you do a search from someone online. Use a port calculator with that info to determine port size. I drive mine with a small set tube amp that distorts with less efficient speakers so I believe the sensitivity is fairly high.
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Figured around 2 cubic ft 2 X 1 X 1. Way too small I feel under the best of circumstances. These cabinets would potentially be good for repurposing but I think probably these are a terrible match for the University 312. I have larger cabinets laying around that I can put the 312s in.

Also, was there a noticeable improvement of horn performance after cap replacement?
 
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Again, those are not 312. They are Soundcraftsmen 2640tx made by University. The improvement was noticeably smoother and I feel better knowing the horn is better protected. Pictures with grills off would be good.
 
audiocrzy said:
Leave them alone, Use them as they came.

If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.
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I will definitely change the caps out and replace the deteriorated foam between the horn and the whizzer. But there is nothing wrong with experimenting when anything I do is very reversible to original. In other words, remove passive and screw on wood panel using existing holes and put the port in that panel. No plans to cut up the cabinet or modify it in anyway.
 
CopperWizard said:
Again, those are not 312. They are Soundcraftsmen 2640tx made by University. The improvement was noticeably smoother and I feel better knowing the horn is better protected. Pictures with grills off would be good.
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Just like these.

DSC00290-2.jpg
 
CopperWizard said:
Ported or passive, the size of that cabinet won't change.
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So I pulled out a Rialto equalizer I had in the garage (been sitting there for years) and I was able to dial these things in pretty darn good for my ears. I am not a huge fan anymore of big bass. I also determined one of the speakers L-pad pot is dirty so I need to de-oxit. Will R square the caps and install cloth dust aka Altec/EV material which goes between the horn and whizzer cone. The highs on these speakers are much more refined than my little Heresys I was using before these.
 
sbeineke said:
So I pulled out a Rialto equalizer I had in the garage (been sitting there for years) and I was able to dial these things in pretty darn good for my ears. I am not a huge fan anymore of big bass. I also determined one of the speakers L-pad pot is dirty so I need to de-oxit. Will R square the caps and install cloth dust aka Altec/EV material which goes between the horn and whizzer cone. The highs on these speakers are much more refined than my little Heresys I was using before these.
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Just curious if you ever tried replacing the PR with a port and if so what was the result.
 
I have a pair of these. My Grampa bought them in 1970 at Fedco. I have the receipt and cancelled check for them as well, lol. Be happy to sell them if anyone wants them.
My audiophile husband had his eye on them, but he has enough stuff, trust me.
 
mowmow said:
I have a pair of these. My Grampa bought them in 1970 at Fedco. I have the receipt and cancelled check for them as well, lol. Be happy to sell them if anyone wants them.
My audiophile husband had his eye on them, but he has enough stuff, trust me.
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Curious if what you have are the ones with the soundcraftsmen 2640tx coaxial with the wizard cone and the cabinet with the passive radiator. If those are the ones you have I'm curious how much they sold for and when? I have a pair and I am considering using them for a diy project. I think they were like lancer S6 or S3 too lazy to run downstairs and look. They are big and heavy made with old school particle board I think. Where R U located?
 
mowmow said:
I have a pair of these. My Grampa bought them in 1970 at Fedco. I have the receipt and cancelled check for them as well, lol. Be happy to sell them if anyone wants them.
My audiophile husband had his eye on them, but he has enough stuff, trust me.
Click to expand...
Welcome to AK! All the women on here must hide. I might be changing the subject but I would love to hear about your interest in audio (if any). My wife has zero interest. To her my hobby is the same as rebuilding engine blocks. She's a TV person.
 
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