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So Sue asks “Why is there a big silver dildo coming out of that black thing?”

Posted by Scholl (S) on May 27, 2008 at 16:26:41

And I reply “Silly woman, that’s not a dildo that’s the phase plug on my new AE TD15M woofers.”

And she replies with a disappointed look on her face “Oh…if you say so.”

Yup, the DT15M arrived. I installed them into 4.5 cubic foot boxes tuned to 45 hz. The numbers come out to 50hz F3.

The first thing I did was disconnect the tweeter on the existing Cerwin Vega\2118J system for some mono A/Bing. Running the TD15M wide open they matched the other system in mids and was a little louder. Being that the CV 15 was 4 ohms vs. the AE at 8ohms I’d guess the AE was about 4db louder with the same power. Next I replaced the other CV with the AE for matching stereo and added an Altec 902 driver on the B&C ME10 horn with just a 2.5uf cap and L Pad on the horn. I’ll be a son of a gun if I didn’t have a good sounding system with just that. I ran though some songs that I know rip up crossovers starting with the Reverend Horton Heat “Big D Boogie Woogie” followed by Lee Rocker “Black Cat Bone” and “Free Bass”. And much to my amazement no yack but a little bit a blare.

Next I whipped out my trusty function generator and ratshack spl meter and eye balled the response. Wide open, in room a foot away the TD15Ms measured 3DB down at 45hz to a little over 4Khz with remarkable smoothness and a few db lift above 1Khz. DAAAaammb!! Some people might be able to find a sweet spot and enjoy these speakers as a wide range. But not me. I farted around with a few chokes and found 1.25mh rolled them off just at 2Khz and improved the smoothness and lowered the lift. So we’re talking 45 to 2Khz plus or minus a few DB in room, about as good as any speaker I measured in that room.

I ran though some male and female vocal songs and some more rockers, fiddled around with the tweeter levels and toeing. These are excellent sounding woofers, nice fast punch. Very articulate. Surprising mids and good integration with the tweeters. They are a little lighter in bass than the CVs but faster and more sensitive with better articulation. More than a class above. The 6.5 cubic foot box project will start any day now to get that little bit deeper bass. The iron laws are doing their thing.

Break in… these bad boys sounded great right out of the box. None of that 3 year break in bull shit here. A few more days use should do it. If they could be played at high levels one evening would be all they need.

Driveability…. One of my concerns with a new woofer purchase was that I use the Panasonic XR45 and XR70 for HT and MCH listening. I’ve had three other 15s that brought those receivers to their knees with just 3-10watts. I didn’t have any trouble with considerably more than 10watts with bass heavy Prince’s Musicology. I have a quick disconnect to switch in a 12B4 driven pair of MAC40s.

I’ll keep ya’s posted.

Scott

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