High Efficiency Speaker Asylum

Need speakers that can rock with just one watt? You found da place.

Return to High Efficiency Speaker Asylum

Message Sort: Post Order or Asylum Reverse Threaded

Alternative drivers to WE 555?

89.191.7.26
Posted on April 26, 2016 at 01:47:24
pix
Audiophile

Posts: 411
Location: sweden
Joined: March 18, 2006
 I understand that the WE 555 is a quite unique driver.
But it is far beyond my Money to spend.

How would a SATO/WE-horn work with newer drivers like JBL 2441-45, Altec 288 etc?

 

Hide full thread outline!
    ...
RE: Alternative drivers to WE 555?, posted on April 26, 2016 at 17:38:43
Mr_Steady
Audiophile

Posts: 2042
Location: North Florida
Joined: August 19, 2014
 The SATO horn shouldn't be used that high, and the modern drivers listed won't go that low.

The whole WE 15A/555 was meant to go down to 120Hz. Is that what you want? I see on a Google search guys are using them from 320Hz to 2000Hz. Personally I wouldn't use a WE style horn above 350Hz. Unless you like horn honk.


-------------------------------------------------------
Big speakers and little amps blew my mind!

 

RE: Alternative drivers to WE 555?, posted on April 26, 2016 at 22:37:27
pix
Audiophile

Posts: 411
Location: sweden
Joined: March 18, 2006
 Actually, I have no experience in that WE type of horn at all, and thats why I was curious to try it.

I am using a 200Hz straight Trixtracs horn today between 350-16kHz, with a modern Radian 2" driver. And if those big WE horns doesnīt expand the frequency range down, I donīt see any piont using them.

What was so unique about the WE 555 driver anyway that couldīnt be matched by modern drivers?

 

RE: Alternative drivers to WE 555?, posted on April 27, 2016 at 18:51:35
Mr_Steady
Audiophile

Posts: 2042
Location: North Florida
Joined: August 19, 2014
 Sorry, all I know about 555's is what I read in the newspapers.

I'm running my tweeter horn almost same as you, 400 to 16kHz with a Faital Pro HF204 2". Using an ALK extreme xover which is brickwall filter at about a 140db slope. It's out of convenience only. If I got off my ass I would go back to a three way.

Edit: Maybe you could appeal to the Scandinavian in Kloss to tell you about the sonic virtues of WE snail horns, and the 555. :)


------------------------------------------------------
Big speakers and little amps blew my mind!

 

RE: Alternative drivers to WE 555?, posted on April 29, 2016 at 08:03:37
Hornlover
Manufacturer

Posts: 2529
Joined: March 8, 2002
 They possess no magic. They perform well considering their age, but many modern drivers are better IMO.

 

Alternative drivers to WE 555, posted on May 2, 2016 at 07:05:21
Kloss



EV DH1A is a good choice for sato it can run lower. I used WE555 LM555 Goto Ale RCA and many many others I have a pair of WE 13A that I run no networks on and get 80hz out of with the WE drivers, horn shout is not in the bass and the WE 555 does have wonderful sound. I do wonder if others had any hands on with them before commenting since my findings differ so.

 

RE: Alternative drivers to WE 555, posted on May 2, 2016 at 10:49:12
Mr_Steady
Audiophile

Posts: 2042
Location: North Florida
Joined: August 19, 2014
 Show him the 13A Kloss! 555 and all. Right side up would be nice. Pix makes his own horns too, and he's pretty good.

You make the fourth person to post to this thread, and I disqualified myself about knowing anything about these horns and drivers, other than to say the horn honk from snail horns would be in the mids, 350Hz on up, but if I'm wrong then please let me know.


---------------------------------------------------------------
Big speakers and little amps blew my mind!

 

3" vs 4" diphragm in 2" drivers?, posted on May 3, 2016 at 06:23:27
pix
Audiophile

Posts: 411
Location: sweden
Joined: March 18, 2006
 There are 3"-diaphragm-, and some 4"-diaphragm-drivers out there. And I guess the bigger the diaphragm, the lower it will play (but often to the expence of less high frequency extenssion).

But there must be more to it than just the WE555 big diaphragm surface, such as diaphragm suspension and/or back chamber volume.

Does the v-max of the driver come of interest in frequences as low as 80 Hz? Or is it the Q-value? And what back chamber wolume does a WE555 has?

I mean all drivers would generate sound when feed by a 80 Hz signal, And a horn big enough would load the membran from being teared apart. The principle of dome air-vents is simmilar in most drivers. So what makes the WE555 so special?

Of course, modern drivers often has a wider exit angle, bu that could be taken vare of by the shape of the horn throat connection.




 

RE: 3" vs 4" diphragm in 2" drivers?, posted on May 3, 2016 at 07:24:39
Kloss



WE designed for low power use no networks and for long path horns is why its special. On sato a EVDH1A 2440 2441 TAD etc all work very welL. The FC supply greatly effects sound I know it shouldnt and I didnt want to have to shell out big $ for tungar FC but without the trungar might as well use any other driver. I do think people confuse the desirability of classic 1930s cinema gear as meaning its the best available option. While these older horns do sound amazing you can do very well with modern options. I had a collector over he has a mirophonic system all the best WE kit and he recently bought my RCA MI horns drivers but he came over for a listen and I installed EVDH1A eminence woofers fostex tweeter in the RCAs and he just shook his head saying why much better it sounded than his WE system sure his systems not set up so well and I am helping him this summer but all he could say was cheap EV and deltas. Sure it did sound better with the RCA drivers but even gutted it sang.

 

RE: Alternative drivers to WE 555, posted on May 4, 2016 at 03:53:04
rahman
Audiophile

Posts: 16
Location: Dublin
Joined: June 17, 2009
 Hi Kloss

How low will the DH1A go if properly loaded? Did you try it on the 13a for instance?

Cheers
Adrian

 

RE: Alternative drivers to WE 555, posted on May 9, 2016 at 11:14:13
Kloss



I run them as low as 250hz have not run on my 13a since would need different throats at the time of this pic the RCA shearers are using a DH1A.

 

Page processed in 0.024 seconds.

[ Top Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]