Zilch's AK Design Collaborative - Econowave Speaker

[Zilch]

I'm about to do some work with 2408H's myself, and I'll measure them with MLS on the E'Waveguide and the HE filter for comparison.... :thmbsp:

 

[oldskl]

I fumbled a D220 TI while handling it attached to leads and now it's dead. Apparently when I dropped it the lead pulled the terminal lug. There's zero slack in the lead from the lug internally to the VC and when the lug moved the internal lead snapped. Sheared off where I can't even see the end of it. I'l lprobably tack solder the break and keep this for a 'spare' diaphragm. I don't usually break things. I'm surprised that a pro audio piece wasn't designed with a little tolerance for mishandling. I've seen pro drivers that were really hammered up and still worked.

The same thing happened to me. I couldn't see the end of the lead under the silver ring on the diaphragm, but I managed to push the other end of the lead back to the spot where it broke and using a meter to tell when the two were making contact I glued them together with some super glue. This actually worked for a couple months until I started to messing with them again and last week I replaced the Diaphragm with a new one.

 

[Bauhausler]

The same thing happened to me. I couldn't see the end of the lead under the silver ring on the diaphragm, but I managed to push the other end of the lead back to the spot where it broke and using a meter to tell when the two were making contact I glued them together with some super glue. This actually worked for a couple months until I started to messing with them again and last week I replaced the Diaphragm with a new one.

I've repaired a lot of open tweeter leads but this is a lost cause. can't even see the buried end and it's sandwiched between aluminum. I have 4 D220Ti here and 2 D210 Ti so I'm not mono. I'll just order replacement 'fragms with my next PE order.

 

[Russellc]

The first person who heard my ULA ewave 'protos' called me over and over until I sold them to him to use as monitors.
The ewave just works for me in my listening environment. It's a 900sf room that's 36' wide. I move around here a lot, and speakers with high directionality, no matter how 'accurate', just sound wrong and unbalanced through most of the area. Wide dispersion waveguides may have some downsides, but they excel at providing good balance across a large area. I'll sacrifice some straight ahead technical performance (though not much compromise is necessary in this case) for a speaker that's compatible with a residential living space. That's a feature that's not easily derived from specs and measurements.
I have a LOT of speakers in and out of here to listen to, including some costly and exotic ones. The bottom line is that I have some kind of ewave rig running 70% of the time because it sounds good to me.
I'm definitely open to following an upgrade path for better performance in the future though.

Yes the constant directivity thing is most attractive with the E'wave. I really enjoy not having to be dead center, my wife looks at me like I need to be put in a home if I just sit front and center and listen. Always comes up with suggestions of what I could/should be doing, "since I'm just sitting there doing nothing"....bless her heart!

Russellc

 

[Russellc]

You wouldn't believe the stuff we stumble across. Barons, Viscount, Harkness, Valencia, Madera, Bolero, Seville, 604s, 605s, etc. All kinds of Wharfedales, Bozaks, EVs by the carload. JBLs get noticed because they're a current brand but who wants a pair of old 15" Altec coaxials in 6 cu ft cabinets in their house?
Besides us, of course.

Good lord you get some good diving around there! I never find crap. Once I found a neat little stereo from western auto, two wooden boxes, one with a turn table in it that has about 6 different speeds, and a big receiver with a little tube amp in it. That's it.

russellc

 

[Russellc]

Russell, maybe I missed something here, but why can't you replicate/purchase Wayne's Pi 4 crossover? Need the L-Pad?
DIY is approx. $200 in parts from PE. Wayne's are $250 a pair.

I have the parts and have meant to try it, and eventually will. There are a few differences here, we use an L-pad, that one doesnt, its 3rd order, ours is 2nd, no real big deal, just when those here with measurement equipment get going, the results are killer. Also, Wayne's 4 PI uses the 2226H which is more efficient than the 2235H I'm using right now. Again not a big deal either, just wanting to see those that can put this diver through its paces in this thread.
Wayne has definately done his homework, I'll likely use his crossover with a 4 PI I have plans to build using DE 250 and JBL 2225H.

russellc

 

[Russellc]

I fumbled a D220 TI while handling it attached to leads and now it's dead. Apparently when I dropped it the lead pulled the terminal lug. There's zero slack in the lead from the lug internally to the VC and when the lug moved the internal lead snapped. Sheared off where I can't even see the end of it. I'l lprobably tack solder the break and keep this for a 'spare' diaphragm. I don't usually break things. I'm surprised that a pro audio piece wasn't designed with a little tolerance for mishandling. I've seen pro drivers that were really hammered up and still worked.

Well, its only a 40 dollar piece, I guess some corners have to be cut somewhere! Fortunately, new diaphragms are only 12 buck or so! somewhere in this thread someone, maybe Zilch or Skywave had to replace a diaphragm, and if I remember correctly, they can mount 4 different "orientations" and they are likely to play better one way than the other. That's really been a ways back, way back.

russellc

 

[Russellc]

I've repaired a lot of open tweeter leads but this is a lost cause. can't even see the buried end and it's sandwiched between aluminum. I have 4 D220Ti here and 2 D210 Ti so I'm not mono. I'll just order replacement 'fragms with my next PE order.

Let us know how the install goes, and if any tweaking is required.

russellc

 

[Bauhausler]

Good lord you get some good diving around there! I never find crap. Once I found a neat little stereo from western auto, two wooden boxes, one with a turn table in it that has about 6 different speeds, and a big receiver with a little tube amp in it. That's it.

russellc

I came home from work today and someone - I think I know who - had dropped off a nice Technics SA-500 rcvr. by my garage. 55 WPC. Seems to work. That's typical. I'm buried under '70s - 80s SS rcvrs.
I think I'll plug some headphones into that & see if the FM works.

 

[Russellc]

The same thing happened to me. I couldn't see the end of the lead under the silver ring on the diaphragm, but I managed to push the other end of the lead back to the spot where it broke and using a meter to tell when the two were making contact I glued them together with some super glue. This actually worked for a couple months until I started to messing with them again and last week I replaced the Diaphragm with a new one.

Did it require any tweaking or repositioning to get the same response?

Russellc

 

[skywave-rider]

Well, its only a 40 dollar piece, I guess some corners have to be cut somewhere! Fortunately, new diaphragms are only 12 buck or so! somewhere in this thread someone, maybe Zilch or Skywave had to replace a diaphragm, and if I remember correctly, they can mount 4 different "orientations" and they are likely to play better one way than the other. That's really been a ways back, way back.

russellc

Yea, I busted one a while ago. Could not solder it. On the replacement, I rotated the diaphragm to all its positions and measured. Picked the best spot and similarly tweaked the other one. Cured response problems I was having, so was a blessing in disguise.

 

[Bauhausler]

And Ijust got a call from my garage sale pal that he bought large Advents with boxes and packing for $20. Gotta go pick that up and see. I already have 3 pairs here, but what the hell.

*EDIT*

NLAs in boxes for $20. Gotta love garage sale season.

 

[Zilch]

And Ijust got a call from my garage sale pal that he bought large Advents with boxes and packing for $20. Gotta go pick that up and see.

:scratch2:

 

[oldskl]

Did it require any tweaking or repositioning to get the same response?

Russellc

The leads are connected to the diaphragm and have to go through openings on the cover on the back of the driver so they will only go in one way. The only way to adjust it is turn it 180% unless you start turning the back cover to each position of the screws. Do you really think it would make a difference?

 

[tubino]

I do wish there were a pair of econowaves with DE250s and sussed out crossovers on hand to show their real potential.

I have a pair of cabinets with DE250s, EW guide, 2226. I don't have optimized crossovers, but have a pair of Four Pi xovers that can be easily modified. Let's get together. You ought to hear what your old LE15Bs are doing now when hornloaded anyway.

 

[Ballylongford]

And Ijust got a call from my garage sale pal that he bought large Advents with boxes and packing for $20. Gotta go pick that up and see. I already have 3 pairs here, but what the hell.

In some circles they would call that guy an "enabler"


:yes:

 

[jrock7]

hello dc270, those woofers look like they can be used for my 2way PA, I tried ebay but not seeing anything come up with item # 380062277977. Can you tell me the name or brand model woofer you are using?. think I might have to order some

 

[Russellc]

I came home from work today and someone - I think I know who - had dropped off a nice Technics SA-500 rcvr. by my garage. 55 WPC. Seems to work. That's typical. I'm buried under '70s - 80s SS rcvrs.
I think I'll plug some headphones into that & see if the FM works.

That's it, I'm flying to michigan where you are, renting a car and driving around looking for this stuff!:thmbsp:

russellc

 

[Russellc]

And Ijust got a call from my garage sale pal that he bought large Advents with boxes and packing for $20. Gotta go pick that up and see. I already have 3 pairs here, but what the hell.

*EDIT*

NLAs in boxes for $20. Gotta love garage sale season.

Thanks a lot, just what I've been looking for. There must be more stereo crap there than anywhere I've ever heard of!

russellc

 

[Russellc]

The leads are connected to the diaphragm and have to go through openings on the cover on the back of the driver so they will only go in one way. The only way to adjust it is turn it 180% unless you start turning the back cover to each position of the screws. Do you really think it would make a difference?

see skywaves post on this. Both him and I believe Zilch measured differences. Skywaves abnormality (in the driver) was clearly audible according to him, and the response charts from his RTA revealed them well. It was really way back in the thread, but
Skywave was able to remove a response abnormality by moving it. They said four positions, but I have yet to open one of these buggers up yet. As ham handed as I am, I'm sure I'll eventually get the opportunity. In the mean time, I'm sure Skywave knows the drill.:yes:

Russellc