Utah Celesta C12PC-3C and Lafayette 5" paper speaker crossover question

[Querymethis]

Just joined this awesome info gathering and dispensing website! I have a question for you audiophiles with WAY more knowledge than I. I was gifted a pair of vintage DIY speakers and opened the boxes to find 12", 3-way Celesta speakers by Utah paired with a 5" Lafayette, (I'm guessing), mid-range speaker. I see no crossovers in the boxes. The leads to the 5" speakers come straight off of the 12" speaker terminals. Do I need crossovers to do this right and, if so, please recommend a product I can grab. I can solder and do a bit of repairs as I learn them on YouTube. I do have a vintage tube amp to drive them. Thank you!

 

[squirrelnest]

Welcome to the forums from Virginia.

 

[mea2112]

Hello and welcome to Audiokarma!
For your questions you should start a new thread in the "Speakers" forum.

 

[UncleAng]

Welcome from Canada

 

[Hyperion]

Welcome to AK!

 

[Querymethis]

Thank you all for the welcome. I'll figure this stuff out! Digitally impaired as I am.

 

[avionic]

Welcome aboard.

 

[Mr.Heatsink]

Welcome!

 

[jbrainey]

Hello and welcome to Audiokarma.org

 

[dfoulk]

Just joined this awesome info gathering and dispensing website! I have a question for you audiophiles with WAY more knowledge than I. I was gifted a pair of vintage DIY speakers and opened the boxes to find 12", 3-way Celesta speakers by Utah paired with a 5" Lafayette, (I'm guessing), mid-range speaker. I see no crossovers in the boxes. The leads to the 5" speakers come straight off of the 12" speaker terminals. Do I need crossovers to do this right and, if so, please recommend a product I can grab. I can solder and do a bit of repairs as I learn them on YouTube. I do have a vintage tube amp to drive them. Thank you!View attachment 3098949View attachment 3098952View attachment 3098953View attachment 3098955View attachment 3098957View attachment 3098958View attachment 3098959

Welcome, and see you soon over on the "Speakers" forum!

 

[electronjohn]

Welcome!

 

[hjames]

Just joined this awesome info gathering and dispensing website! I have a question for you audiophiles with WAY more knowledge than I. I was gifted a pair of vintage DIY speakers and opened the boxes to find 12", 3-way Celesta speakers by Utah paired with a 5" Lafayette, (I'm guessing), mid-range speaker. I see no crossovers in the boxes. The leads to the 5" speakers come straight off of the 12" speaker terminals. Do I need crossovers to do this right and, if so, please recommend a product I can grab. I can solder and do a bit of repairs as I learn them on YouTube. I do have a vintage tube amp to drive them. Thank you!View attachment 3098949View attachment 3098952View attachment 3098959

Yes, you DO need a crossover to get all the drivers playing together, and - I notice the white connector on your Celesta Coaxial driver is not connected. It feeds the center mounted horn part of that driver. That said, I never found them a particularly good sounding pair of speakers, and recently sold my pair of those drivers in cabinets.
But, they do look VERY cool ...

 

[OBMG74]

But, they do look VERY cool ...

You inspired me to dig out my pair that I bought new in 1967 from Allied Radio and hang them as wall art in my basement listening area!

They always struck me as sounding harsh.

 

[dfoulk]

Yes, you DO need a crossover to get all the drivers playing together, and - I notice the white connector on your Celesta Coaxial driver is not connected. It feeds the center mounted horn part of that driver. That said, I never found them a particularly good sounding pair of speakers, and recently sold my pair of those drivers in cabinets.
But, they do look VERY cool ...

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I remember having a pair in earlier times, but only used the 12 inch part having removed the tweeter. Can't recall how they sounded, but obviously
didn't care for the tweeter

 

[hjames]

I remember having a pair in earlier times, but only used the 12 inch part having removed the tweeter. Can't recall how they sounded, but obviously
didn't care for the tweeter

Yeah, I had my pair stashed in our storage space, found them again last summer when I was on a downsizing kick and sold them off last fall in the cool cabinets for $100. I have 3 pairs of JBL/UREI coaxials (based on the JBL 2214) that I use daily that make those Utahs sound like whoopie cushions. I was never impressed with the Utahs - tho, as I said, they do look cool! Pix is from just before I redid the surrounds on this pair.

 

[dfoulk]

Just joined this awesome info gathering and dispensing website! I have a question for you audiophiles with WAY more knowledge than I. I was gifted a pair of vintage DIY speakers and opened the boxes to find 12", 3-way Celesta speakers by Utah paired with a 5" Lafayette, (I'm guessing), mid-range speaker. I see no crossovers in the boxes. The leads to the 5" speakers come straight off of the 12" speaker terminals. Do I need crossovers to do this right and, if so, please recommend a product I can grab. I can solder and do a bit of repairs as I learn them on YouTube. I do have a vintage tube amp to drive them. Thank you!View attachment 3098949View attachment 3098952View attachment 3098953View attachment 3098955View attachment 3098957View attachment 3098958View attachment 3098959

Do you hear sound coming out of the center tweeter? If the tweeters are not working or hooked up might be the reason for the additional 5 inch
speaker to add some higher frequencies. Often there will be a level control attached to the tweeter to control the sound it puts out, but don't see one
of those either.