"Arny Krueger" wrote in message
...
"Chris Hills" wrote in message

Hi

I was careless in transporting a pair of 3-way speakers.
I am looking for a pair of 80mm/3" mid-range drivers to
repair it, ideally 40W/16Ohm but I will take anything as
long as the size matches.

Speaker manufacturers usually supply replacement drivers for only somewhat
inflated prices.

Who made your speakers? Contact them!

If you don't come up with exact replacment driver(s) the sound of your
speaker will change and it will be less useful in a stereo pair.


But will it matter at the end of the day? Just putting new drivers into
(presumably) old 3-way speakers is going to alter things even if only
slightly and it will only take 20 minutes to absorb the changes.

In article ,
Keith G wrote:
But will it matter at the end of the day? Just putting new drivers into
(presumably) old 3-way speakers is going to alter things even if only
slightly and it will only take 20 minutes to absorb the changes.

Hmm. Might explain why you were so happy with your various 'firewood
horns'? No memory of the last one?

Feel free to correct me if I've not understood your statement.

--
*Make it idiot-proof and someone will make a better idiot.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article , Dave Plowman (News)
wrote:
In article , Keith G
wrote:
But will it matter at the end of the day? Just putting new drivers
into (presumably) old 3-way speakers is going to alter things even if
only slightly and it will only take 20 minutes to absorb the changes.

Hmm. Might explain why you were so happy with your various 'firewood
horns'? No memory of the last one?

Feel free to correct me if I've not understood your statement.

What seems surprising to me is someone who seems to think that amplifiers
often "sound different" enough for it to matter, yet doesn't think a change
of drive unit would matter!

Slainte,

Jim

--
Please use the address on the audiomisc page if you wish to email me.
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Armstrong Audio http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/Armstrong/armstrong.html
Audio Misc http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/index.html

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Keith G wrote:
But will it matter at the end of the day? Just putting new drivers into
(presumably) old 3-way speakers is going to alter things even if only
slightly and it will only take 20 minutes to absorb the changes.

Hmm. Might explain why you were so happy with your various 'firewood
horns'? No memory of the last one?


'Were so happy'?? Three pairs of the six pairs of firewood horns I made (and
kept) are in daily use here - OK, two in *daily* use, one frequently used!

You (or someone else) may be interested to know one of my 'local enthusiast'
friends is just about finishing a pair of 'Needles' and another (ex poster
here) says to me in an email today he is tempted to build a pair.

(Ain't just me, me auld china! ;-)

In article ,
Keith G wrote:

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Keith G wrote:
But will it matter at the end of the day? Just putting new drivers into
(presumably) old 3-way speakers is going to alter things even if only
slightly and it will only take 20 minutes to absorb the changes.

Hmm. Might explain why you were so happy with your various 'firewood
horns'? No memory of the last one?


'Were so happy'?? Three pairs of the six pairs of firewood horns I made
(and kept) are in daily use here - OK, two in *daily* use, one
frequently used!

Think you missed the point - as usual.

You (or someone else) may be interested to know one of my 'local
enthusiast' friends is just about finishing a pair of 'Needles' and
another (ex poster here) says to me in an email today he is tempted to
build a pair.

(Ain't just me, me auld china! ;-)

All that proves is there are plenty like you. Who obviously can't hear a
difference between speakers - or don't care.

--
*Atheism is a non-prophet organization.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Keith G wrote:




But will it matter at the end of the day? Just putting new drivers into
(presumably) old 3-way speakers is going to alter things even if only
slightly and it will only take 20 minutes to absorb the changes.



Yes it matters.
There is the Thiele Small parameters of the enclosure, the cross over
network and how many drivers in each enclosure and how they are
configured to seamlessly intergrate etc. Then there is the "load" that
the driver represents to the amplifier. And the sensitivity of each
driver and the enclosure as a whole etc. The wrong mid-range driver
will result in either a mid-range suck out if too insensitive, or an
overall drained and stressed sound if too awkward a load. Conversely
an over sensitive new drive could result in dominant mid-range and a
percieved premature roll off in HF and LF.
Fitting a drive just because it fits the baffle cut-out is not a good
idea.

"No Win No Fee" wrote in message
...
Keith G wrote:




But will it matter at the end of the day? Just putting new drivers into
(presumably) old 3-way speakers is going to alter things even if only
slightly and it will only take 20 minutes to absorb the changes.



Yes it matters.
There is the Thiele Small parameters of the enclosure, the cross over
network and how many drivers in each enclosure and how they are
configured to seamlessly intergrate etc. Then there is the "load" that
the driver represents to the amplifier. And the sensitivity of each
driver and the enclosure as a whole etc. The wrong mid-range driver
will result in either a mid-range suck out if too insensitive, or an
overall drained and stressed sound if too awkward a load. Conversely
an over sensitive new drive could result in dominant mid-range and a
percieved premature roll off in HF and LF.
Fitting a drive just because it fits the baffle cut-out is not a good
idea.


Yes, yes. yes! Agree with all you say, but if you contact a 'certain
well-known supplier' and just describe the speakers without any brand names
or spec. that supplier will almost certainly be able to recommend and supply
a 'safe bet' driver.

Just like I did.

Keith G wrote:

"No Win No Fee" wrote in message
...
Keith G wrote:




But will it matter at the end of the day? Just putting new drivers
into (presumably) old 3-way speakers is going to alter things even if
only slightly and it will only take 20 minutes to absorb the changes.



Yes it matters.
There is the Thiele Small parameters of the enclosure, the cross over
network and how many drivers in each enclosure and how they are
configured to seamlessly intergrate etc. Then there is the "load" that
the driver represents to the amplifier. And the sensitivity of each
driver and the enclosure as a whole etc. The wrong mid-range driver
will result in either a mid-range suck out if too insensitive, or an
overall drained and stressed sound if too awkward a load. Conversely
an over sensitive new drive could result in dominant mid-range and a
percieved premature roll off in HF and LF.
Fitting a drive just because it fits the baffle cut-out is not a good
idea.


Yes, yes. yes! Agree with all you say, but if you contact a 'certain
well-known supplier' and just describe the speakers without any brand
names or spec. that supplier will almost certainly be able to recommend
and supply a 'safe bet' driver.


That is impossible. And if such a dealer were to make such a claim
that they could supply a "safe bet" based on a description then that
is a dealer who should be revealed for ridicule. Name him?

This is a relatively easy load and high sensitivity drive that fits
the 80 mm requirement of the subject of thread:
http://www.adamhall.com/en/Faital_PR...FP5FE120A.html

This is an awkward load, low effienciency/low sensitivity drive that
would also fit the baffle cut out:
http://snipurl.com/27r2as

Both of above randomly plucked examples have very different specs
and demands, and cross-over and enclosure requirements.

This is a straightforward 3 way floorstander of medium sensitivity
and an overall nominal 6ohm load:
http://www.ultraaudio.com/features/p...01_spendor.jpg
The midrange drive is an 80mm as subject of thread.
If the mid-range drivers were to be replaced with either of the two
very different examples above, the results would be serious mismatch
and with the awkward load drive - possible hardware disaster!

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-speaker-sensitivity.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudspeaker
http://www.speakerimpedance.co.uk/
http://www.prestonelectronics.com/audio/Impedance.htm


Just like I did.


If that is true and you replaced drives based on a "description"
then at the very least you have unbalanced, non-intergrated
and disappointing sounding speakers.

"Keith G" wrote in message


"Arny Krueger" wrote in message
...

"Chris Hills" wrote in message


I was careless in transporting a pair of 3-way speakers.
I am looking for a pair of 80mm/3" mid-range drivers to
repair it, ideally 40W/16Ohm but I will take anything as
long as the size matches.

Speaker manufacturers usually supply replacement drivers
for only somewhat inflated prices.

Who made your speakers? Contact them!

If you don't come up with exact replacment driver(s) the sound of your
speaker will change and it will be
less useful in a stereo pair.

But will it matter at the end of the day?

Depends on whose day it is.

It has mattered for me - I've experienced a few driver failures over the
years and I *always* replaced them with proper replacmement drivers obtained
from the manufacturer.

Just putting new drivers into (presumably) old 3-way speakers is going
to alter things even if only slightly and it will only
take 20 minutes to absorb the changes.

That's pretty sloppy.

Drivers make the speaker, and drivers aren't necessarily that similar even
if they fit in the same hole with the same screws.

Thanks Keith for admitting that for all of your heavy breathing, your ears
musn't be very discriminating.

"Arny Krueger" wrote in message
...
"Keith G" wrote in message


"Arny Krueger" wrote in message
...

"Chris Hills" wrote in message


I was careless in transporting a pair of 3-way speakers.
I am looking for a pair of 80mm/3" mid-range drivers to
repair it, ideally 40W/16Ohm but I will take anything as
long as the size matches.

Speaker manufacturers usually supply replacement drivers
for only somewhat inflated prices.

Who made your speakers? Contact them!

If you don't come up with exact replacment driver(s) the sound of your
speaker will change and it will be
less useful in a stereo pair.

But will it matter at the end of the day?

Depends on whose day it is.


Truly does.



It has mattered for me - I've experienced a few driver failures over the
years and I *always* replaced them with proper replacmement drivers
obtained from the manufacturer.


I've swapped and chopped a few drivers here and those who have heard the
resulting speakers have all given them the thumbs up.

The one time I did contact a manufacturer for a tweeter (or pair) they
weren't able to help. (No longer used the same tweeter and said the tweeters
in question were uniquely voiced for only their use, in any case!)



Just putting new drivers into (presumably) old 3-way speakers is going
to alter things even if only slightly and it will only
take 20 minutes to absorb the changes.

That's pretty sloppy.


Possibly, but it's also very *real world*. I would like the OP to try my
suggestion and report back here, but it won't happen - heck, I'd even buy
the drivers off him if they didn't work out!



Drivers make the speaker, and drivers aren't necessarily that similar even
if they fit in the same hole with the same screws.

Thanks Keith for admitting that for all of your heavy breathing, your ears
musn't be very discriminating.


Sure they are - there ain't no *three way* speakers here!!

;-)