Why is vintage/new JBL so expensive?
- Thread starter nick parkin
- Start date
Better than the 1970s era L-100, I restored a few years, ago. 
Ahh, the best made terrible sounding tweeter ever.
Actually, the trick is to listen to them slightly off axis. I'm thinking that they probably sound pretty good in a Paragon due to the way they are placed. Note that a bit off axis is much like adding the slant plate both for dispersion and reduction/flattening of the peak.
There are also simple things that can be done to the tweeter to increase its dispersion (a bit) while increasing and flattening its HF content, at the expense of the lower frequencies and volume.
An elastomeric filter (ala, rubber band) costs nothing and can accomplish this. It does take an RTA to monitor the application. Simply slide the band down the bullet, (evenly around) while monitoring with an RTA. Before the "hole closes up" the HF content is boosted (relatively) and flattened substantially. Of course there is some loss of volume, but there was more than enough to begin with.
In fact, I put a 2405 diaphragm in the 075, and with the elastomeric filter the frequency extended way above that of the 2405 on the RTA. The new diaphragm was provided, on loan, from a Lansing Forum member for this test.
I made a shim for the diaphragm to provide the necessary clearance and had OCS install it so there would be no doubt as to its installation. Know that JBL actually made a limited number of 2402s with 2405 diaphragms (2402-5) with the modified bullet spacing.
I documented all of this many years ago on the JBL forum. In fact, it was Zilch who came up with the term "elastomeric filter."
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I tried them every which way I could think of including backwards firing into a corner. I had an active crossover and could vary crossover frequency and driver levels. And I was driving them with a tube amp and it's "common knowledge" that all bad sounding horns need to sound good is a tube amp. ;-) I wanted them to sound good and they are gorgeous looking devices.
I applaud your efforts in modifying the driver but in stock form, and that's what I think a driver should be judged by, I think it's a wretched tweeter; harsh and fierce.
Regards
Nyjblbob
Hooked on Horn's and Tubes. Go big or go home
Don’t hold back now
Very entertaining informative exchange
Have a great Christmas All
Bobhorn
The only complaint I have when listening to these is when I'm streaming music some recordings volume levels are much too much and have to rush to the volume control.
Nyjblbob
Hooked on Horn's and Tubes. Go big or go home
Very nice vintage Speakers.
What did you use to soften the Landsaloy foam edge to soften them? Brake fluid? Or something else
DOT3 once a year,
so far so good.
Nyjblbob
Hooked on Horn's and Tubes. Go big or go home
Don’t overdo it as it could migrate to the cones making the inevitable foam replacement more
Difficult to glue to them.
Enjoy
No sh*t, that would be disastrous.
It doesn't take much.
A JBL Northridge guy once told he believed JBL was still selling Lansaloy surrounds as late as 1990.
Perhaps my Lansaloys had been replaced and thus not kaput yet.
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Leben
Super Member
Tom, I’ve always appreciated your candor. You always speak to your experiences and preferences, I respect that.
Nyjblbob
Hooked on Horn's and Tubes. Go big or go home
Getting back to Toddalins post, I was not aware that the 2405 has a different Diafram than the Bullit. I know about the blue color.
Are they still available? as I have a dead 16 Ohm 077.
Bobhorn
Actually, the bullet, cat eye, and slot all had different diaphragms, though you probably can't get the cat eye any more. Baby butt cheeks even used slightly different "nose cones" to accomodate their diaphragms over time.
http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulle...ng-Radiator-Comparisons&highlight=elastomeric
http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?1462-2402-2405-Diaphr&highlight=elastomeric
http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulle...Converting-2402-to-2405&highlight=elastomeric
BTW, the "blue color" was used in the 077 whereas the 2405's was a goldish.
Also note these threads also discuss the elastomeric filter, though the site that hosted my pics is long gone.
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MartinAudio
Young Collector
Hype.
Nyjblbob
Hooked on Horn's and Tubes. Go big or go home
Thanks never too old to learn something new
Are they still available? Hate to have to pay nyc prices for one
Nyjblbob
Hooked on Horn's and Tubes. Go big or go home
Elastometric filter?
I'll search those threads.