The Celestion Owners Thread

[IMF_Pioneer]

Oh, thanks for that DW, yes I've enjoyed many of the upper level of Pioneer products for many years now and have always felt that those two brands were a good match sonic-ally. I do swap out the Spec 4 Power amp every now and again for an Adcom GFA-5500 that I have on hand, but I hate the power bleed down that is fed to the speakers when one switches off the power. There's no output cut out when the power is switched off and thus you get a whole lot of squealing of tweeters and bass drivers thumping around for a couple of seconds.

 

[ditton works]

Latest project.
Big refurb on a pair of Celestion SL600’s.
One blown tweeter and bass driver.
Cabinets are fine but the paint is coming off etc..

considered stripping my SL6’s to rebuild the 600’s. As my 6’s are mint I e decided not to do that..

got some other ideas though..

 

[Lavane]

Latest project.
Big refurb on a pair of Celestion SL600’s.
One blown tweeter and bass driver.
Cabinets are fine but the paint is coming off etc..

considered stripping my SL6’s to rebuild the 600’s. As my 6’s are mint I e decided not to do that..

got some other ideas though..

I wish a list of the later models that were considered good speakers existed. It seems to be easier to find the later models with vinyl veneer and the like. I have a pair of Ditton 250 series ll's waiting for the last two caps to arrive to finish recapping them. I know they aren't great, but knowing what to look for in other models would be a big help.

 

[ditton works]

I wish a list of the later models that were considered good speakers existed. It seems to be easier to find the later models with vinyl veneer and the like. I have a pair of Ditton 250 series ll's waiting for the last two caps to arrive to finish recapping them. I know they aren't great, but knowing what to look for in other models would be a big help.

Hi.. ok imho Celestion’s that are worth a listen..
Ditton 33
Ditton 44
Ditton 25
Ditton 66
UL6
UL8
UL10
DL4
DL6
DL8
Celestion 5
Celestion 7
SL6
SL6s
SL6si
SL600
SL600si
SL700se
Kingston
Ditton 10 15 ohm
Ditton 551
Ditton 442
Ditton 662

Celestion A compact
Celestion A1’s
Celestion A2’s
Celestion A3’s

Ditton series you have are pretty good, I liked them.

 

[Lavane]

Hi.. ok imho Celestion’s that are worth a listen..
Ditton 33
Ditton 44
Ditton 25
Ditton 66
UL6
UL8
UL10
DL4
DL6
DL8
Celestion 5
Celestion 7
SL6
SL6s
SL6si
SL600
SL600si
SL700se
Kingston
Ditton 10 15 ohm
Ditton 551
Ditton 442
Ditton 662

Celestion A compact
Celestion A1’s
Celestion A2’s
Celestion A3’s

Ditton series you have are pretty good, I liked them.

Thanks!. I'm guessing the SL600's are reissues or newer versions of the
SL6's.

 

[ditton works]

Thanks!. I'm guessing the SL600's are reissues or newer versions of the
SL6's.

SL6 has wooden cabinets and copper tweeters so does the
Sl600 but uses Aerolam cabinets. Circa 1982..
SL6s has wooden cabs with aluminium tweeters as does the SL6si Sl12si (1982-1989) last run of Sl series in wood were the 100 and 300 (transmission line)

top of the line was SL700 Aerolam cabs with aluminium tweeters and the SL600si Aerolam cabs bi-wire capable and copper tweeters.

finally the Kingston, aluminium tweets and Alfa crystal cabinets.

 

[IMF_Pioneer]

Hi DW,

I've never been much of an Aerolam Cabinet fan, I've always preferred timber cabinets. The SL600 and 700's sound so dead to me. I've had all the different models and feel the SL12 is the standout but holds no reputation as they were the last variant and by then the SL series had run it's course.

Now finding a new voice coil for that 600 will be like pulling hens teeth as there are just none around. I reckon I had the last set of BNIB 700 bass drivers some years back now that I sold off, which looking back I shouldn't have done.

Anyway I'm really enjoying my SL6 speakers that I refurbished and am still wondering if I should re-cloth the grilles with the original brown or update to black ?

Opinions ????

 

[ditton works]

Hi DW,

I've never been much of an Aerolam Cabinet fan, I've always preferred timber cabinets. The SL600 and 700's sound so dead to me. I've had all the different models and feel the SL12 is the standout but holds no reputation as they were the last variant and by then the SL series had run it's course.

Now finding a new voice coil for that 600 will be like pulling hens teeth as there are just none around. I reckon I had the last set of BNIB 700 bass drivers some years back now that I sold off, which looking back I shouldn't have done.

Anyway I'm really enjoying my SL6 speakers that I refurbished and am still wondering if I should re-cloth the grilles with the original brown or update to black ?

Opinions ????

Hi. One of the advantages of working for Celestion in the 90’s, I have a few spares left.
I’m not rebuilding the SL600’s the way they were. I have some ideas once I’ve finished the cabinets..possibly Sl600/700 hybrid :0

regarding Aerolam cabinets.. what you have described as dead sounding I would say was a lack of colouration... although I do agree with you, sort of.
.I actually prefer my SL6 in this house..
They are much more musical (coloured) than my SL700’s and I rather like that.
Sl12’s are great...
covers!? Black or Brown.. humm brown, I think.
I’ll post some pics when the SL600 Mk2’s are finished.
By the way SL12 was the official last run of SL series but isn’t actually the very last.. 100’s,300’s and Kingston marked the end of that line..
Thanks for the reply.

 

[ditton works]

Hi DW,

I've never been much of an Aerolam Cabinet fan, I've always preferred timber cabinets. The SL600 and 700's sound so dead to me. I've had all the different models and feel the SL12 is the standout but holds no reputation as they were the last variant and by then the SL series had run it's course.

Now finding a new voice coil for that 600 will be like pulling hens teeth as there are just none around. I reckon I had the last set of BNIB 700 bass drivers some years back now that I sold off, which looking back I shouldn't have done.

Anyway I'm really enjoying my SL6 speakers that I refurbished and am still wondering if I should re-cloth the grilles with the original brown or update to black ?

Opinions ????

Do you prefer the SL12 over your SL6? Or have you not A/B them yet?

 

[IMF_Pioneer]

Hi DW,

I personally don't own a SL12 set, my brother has 2 sets and I've always been rather impressed with the sound from them, especially the bass extension from them. I know the SL6 will never get that low, but remembering it has a much smaller cabinet.

As a near field speaker though I'm more than impressed with the sound produced from the SL6.

So to answer your question, no I've never A/B'ed the two systems against each other.

As far as colourisation is concerned I totally understand what timber does to sound opposed to metal (Aerolam). To me the SL600 etc. just sounds dead without any real life in them as my brother had a set of 600's many years ago and I just couldn't warm to them at all.

BTW do you remember Clive in Spare Parts at Celestion ?

 

[Granite]

Well I'm certainly glad you two Gentlemen " met " as you've got lots in common!.. You are Da Man DW when it comes to all things Celestion. I'm gonna keep hunting for those stands but in the end will probably make a set up as we go along..Cheers!

 

[Lavane]

The 60uf film caps arrived for the Ditton 250's I was given.I decided to recap them after testing the originals and found some that had drifted.
I got lucky and found some nice film motor run caps for under $5 each on a closeout deal. Better than the list price if around $100 for both. They are huge though. I'll have to glue them to the bottom of the cabinet.

 

[IMF_Pioneer]

Well I'm certainly glad you two Gentlemen " met " as you've got lots in common!

I guess if it wasn't for us two as you suggest this Celestion thread would've died long ago.

PS. I guess as it's my thread that I created it's a bit like that song, "It's my Party and I'll................." you know the rest.

 

[Lavane]

I finished up the Ditton 250's this morning. I wasn't expecting much, but they aren't horrible. The bass was the biggest surprise. Deep and tight.
The midrange has cleared up with new caps. My only complaint really, is the midrange is a bit shouty. They seem to play nice with my tube gear so far. If thses are considered to be bottom feeders when it comes to Celestion speakers I think I need to hear more and better models.

 

[ditton works]

Raw Aerolam.,
One down one to go..

 

[ditton works]

I finished up the Ditton 250's this morning. I wasn't expecting much, but they aren't horrible. The bass was the biggest surprise. Deep and tight.
The midrange has cleared up with new caps. My only complaint really, is the midrange is a bit shouty. They seem to play nice with my tube gear so far. If thses are considered to be bottom feeders when it comes to Celestion speakers I think I need to hear more and better models.

Hi..
They will calm down after a hours use..
Glad someone else is working with old Celestion speakers

 

[ditton works]

Hi DW,

I personally don't own a SL12 set, my brother has 2 sets and I've always been rather impressed with the sound from them, especially the bass extension from them. I know the SL6 will never get that low, but remembering it has a much smaller cabinet.

As a near field speaker though I'm more than impressed with the sound produced from the SL6.

So to answer your question, no I've never A/B'ed the two systems against each other.

As far as colourisation is concerned I totally understand what timber does to sound opposed to metal (Aerolam). To me the SL600 etc. just sounds dead without any real life in them as my brother had a set of 600's many years ago and I just couldn't warm to them at all.

BTW do you remember Clive in Spare Parts at Celestion ?

Hi. Totally understand what you’re saying regarding the SL12’s and the 600’s...

Clive? No sorry when I worked there. It was Ray,Jeff and Peter in the service dept. Late 80’s early 90’s.

 

[IMF_Pioneer]

Hi DW,

I sadly don't have any record of communication anymore between ourselves so my recollections are a tad vague I'd say. I always thought it was someone called Clive and it was very shortly before the company fell into Chinese ownership and many originals got the flick.

Anyway that's all history now isn't it as there are absolutely no bits and pieces left and the company fails to accept it's past as we knew it. It's all about where their next dollar is coming from rather than where it came from.

The one beauty about working with Aerolam is that you can utilise automotive body filler to rectify any sins that are visible and make them disappear opposed to timber cabinets which are much harder to work with if they've lead a sad existence in a previous life like my SL6's did. I'm really impressed with the eventual outcome that was achieved over around a 3 year period that these beauties endured, most of it sitting stripped and bare under old soft bath towels in my shed for 2.75 years until this Corona Virus forced us to take on self isolating projects like this one became.

I'm now taking on 4 sets of IMF Super Compacts to slowly release to new owners to continue on their esteemed lives, as they aren't doing much for me apart from taking up space and giving the wife more ammunition about clogging up the Lounge Room..............yep I get it.

 

[Lavane]

Hi DW,

I sadly don't have any record of communication anymore between ourselves so my recollections are a tad vague I'd say. I always thought it was someone called Clive and it was very shortly before the company fell into Chinese ownership and many originals got the flick.

Anyway that's all history now isn't it as there are absolutely no bits and pieces left and the company fails to accept it's past as we knew it. It's all about where their next dollar is coming from rather than where it came from.

The one beauty about working with Aerolam is that you can utilise automotive body filler to rectify any sins that are visible and make them disappear opposed to timber cabinets which are much harder to work with if they've lead a sad existence in a previous life like my SL6's did. I'm really impressed with the eventual outcome that was achieved over around a 3 year period that these beauties endured, most of it sitting stripped and bare under old soft bath towels in my shed for 2.75 years until this Corona Virus forced us to take on self isolating projects like this one became.

I'm now taking on 4 sets of IMF Super Compacts to slowly release to new owners to continue on their esteemed lives, as they aren't doing much for me apart from taking up space and giving the wife more ammunition about clogging up the Lounge Room..............yep I get it.

One thing about this virus mess, I've had plenty of time as others have to finish up all those projects that get pushed to the back burner. I've been wanting to thin out all the equipment I've restored and accumulated and so far I've made a big dent in the pile. I haven't seen my shelves so empty in a long time. Collecting this stuff is fine, but it reaches a point where your probably never going to use a lot of the stuff. You don't realize how many little projects you needed to finish until you have the time to get to them.

 

[ditton works]

One thing about this virus mess, I've had plenty of time as others have to finish up all those projects that get pushed to the back burner. I've been wanting to thin out all the equipment I've restored and accumulated and so far I've made a big dent in the pile. I haven't seen my shelves so empty in a long time. Collecting this stuff is fine, but it reaches a point where your probably never going to use a lot of the stuff. You don't realize how many little projects you needed to finish until you have the time to get to them.

Indeed. Sliver lining to this pandemic has been sorting out our stuff..

yes the metal cabs will need a smudge of car body filler. Couple of small dents on the back edge.
Still have no idea what finish I’m going to do really..
sorting crossovers tomorrow. I will need to experiment with wadding as the SL600 inner foam has disintegrated