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Western Electirc 26A horn driver options

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Posted on July 10, 2017 at 02:35:20
goldjazz
Audiophile

Posts: 32
Joined: January 21, 2015



Hi All,

I've got a WE 26a Horn. I really want to hear it play, but I'm not gonna be able to get a 594a driver (that it was designed for) anytime soon. I might be able to get a 555. If I got an adaptor for a 555 would this work? I think the 555 is 1" while the 594a is 2". Otherwise can anyone suggest any other compression drivers that would also work with this horn (JBL, Altec ,TAD?)

Thanks

 

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RE: Western Electirc 26A horn driver options, posted on July 10, 2017 at 08:05:50
lokie
Audiophile

Posts: 1988
Location: Georgia, USA
Joined: January 28, 2003
 I would start with an Altec 288 variant and appropriate adapter and go from there.

Finding the optimum room is going to be a challenge.


 

RE: Western Electirc 26A horn driver options, posted on July 10, 2017 at 08:26:12
je2a3
Audiophile

Posts: 308
Location: PA
Joined: July 15, 2003
 The Renkus-Heinz SSD3301 2" exit, 4 bolt (fits JBL large format) sound quite nice, still easy to find, affordable and has an Altec heritage. I just don't know if the 4 bolt pattern is the same as the WE594A.

Happy listening!

JE

 

RE: Western Electirc 26A horn driver options, posted on July 10, 2017 at 14:19:24
goldjazz
Audiophile

Posts: 32
Joined: January 21, 2015
 Thanks Guys, both good suggestions. I think I may need to make an adapter. I think I can do this ok. I can CAD one up and get it sandcast in Aluminium probably.
Yes my room is not ideal, I suspect the best room for this horn is a 1000 seat theater ha.

 

RE: Western Electirc 26A horn driver options K55, posted on July 10, 2017 at 21:58:52
Iain42
Reviewer

Posts: 895
Location: Arcansaw
Joined: February 10, 2004
 The Klipsch K55 was based on the WE555. It even uses the same threads if I remember properly. I've seen them on WE horns. I tried to find a pic I had of K55s on a WE16 but just too many image on PC. Anyway this would be a cheap way to listen to them.












High sensitivity, wide dynamic range, low distortion, and smooth frequency response. Pwk

http://www.itishifi.com

 

I Can Tell You What Avery Fisher Did..., posted on July 11, 2017 at 14:48:21
Gerry E.
Audiophile

Posts: 2192
Location: Saratoga Springs, NY
Joined: February 19, 2000
 He had a pair of JBL 375s connected to a WE 26A horn via a WE 22B dual throat adapter. The drivers and horn sat on top of a JBL C55 "scoop" cabinet with dual JBL 140-R woofers.

I know this because I acquired this speaker from his estate.

Gerry

 

RE: I Can Tell You What Avery Fisher Did..., posted on July 11, 2017 at 15:05:52
goldjazz
Audiophile

Posts: 32
Joined: January 21, 2015
 Thanks Gerry, fascinating. Do you know what he used for crossover and amplification? I'll be using my jbl 4343's for the low end in my rig. Ive just got the single driver 22a throat. the jbl 375 could be a good option as it has the 4 mounting holes.

 

RE: I Can Tell You What Avery Fisher Did..., posted on July 11, 2017 at 20:14:46
EduardG
Audiophile

Posts: 284
Location: So. Cal
Joined: May 30, 2002
 you can just as well use JBL 2441 instead of JBL 375 at a fraction of cost for the latter.

 

RE: I Can Tell You What Avery Fisher Did..., posted on July 12, 2017 at 03:25:19
vinnie2
Audiophile

Posts: 4481
Location: North Carolina
Joined: September 28, 2013
 You forgot to mention how it sounded.

 

RE: I Can Tell You What Avery Fisher Did..., posted on July 12, 2017 at 12:28:07
Gerry E.
Audiophile

Posts: 2192
Location: Saratoga Springs, NY
Joined: February 19, 2000
 The crossover was a JBL N500. The best amp he had in the house (note that this was he weekend home in Connecticut), was a Fisher SA-1000. It may have been hooked up to it, I don't remember.

Almost as interesting as the speaker itself was a two-page letter from the president of JBL, William H. Thomas, to Mr. Fisher. In the letter, which is dated February 23, 1970, Mr. Thomas writes about the system being assembled and tested.

Noted studio design expert and JBL Technical Service Manager George Augspurger was mentioned in the letter and apparently was in charge of overseeing this order from Mr. Fisher. I still have the letter.

Gerry

 

RE: I Can Tell You What Avery Fisher Did..., posted on July 12, 2017 at 12:37:18
Gerry E.
Audiophile

Posts: 2192
Location: Saratoga Springs, NY
Joined: February 19, 2000
 Good question! Regrettably, I never got to hear it. It was too big to bring down into my basement listening room. Also, a friend wanted the 375s for a project, so that was that.

Eventually, I brought an amp and source upstairs to listen to the woofer section only. It, along with an early EV Patrician that I acquired, reproduced the most impressive bass I have heard from any speakers.

Gerry

 

RE: I Can Tell You What Avery Fisher Did..., posted on July 12, 2017 at 13:40:58
goldjazz
Audiophile

Posts: 32
Joined: January 21, 2015
 Very Interesting Gerry. So this was a mono system? So you still have the horn and the woofer rig? that crosocer looks to be huge. the fisher amp looks pretty sweet too. Must have sounded amazing, not a bad second setup for the weekend house.

on the hunt for a jbl 375 now.

 

RE: I Can Tell You What Avery Fisher Did..., posted on July 14, 2017 at 06:23:42
lokie
Audiophile

Posts: 1988
Location: Georgia, USA
Joined: January 28, 2003
 Good suggestion. There's also an upgrade path w the JBL's (including other JBL options here depending on 16 or 8ohm). And that's an aftermarket Beryllium Diaphragm.

 

RE: Western Electirc 26A horn driver options, posted on July 17, 2017 at 02:23:54
Steve Schell
Manufacturer

Posts: 1440
Location: So. California
Joined: December 16, 2001
 Hi JE!

As I understand it the bolt circle diameter of 594A and 375 are slightly different. A talented machinist to make an adapter is called for here, not a file!

The Wente experimental driver from the Bell Labs Fletcher horn system (later commercialized as the 594A) used a 4" diaphragm, but had a threaded 1.5" exit format identical to that used by Lansing and RCA in the mid to late 1930s. So in view of this history a number of drivers might be seen as appropriate for the 26A horn.

 

RE: Western Electirc 26A horn driver options, posted on July 27, 2017 at 03:41:26
goldjazz
Audiophile

Posts: 32
Joined: January 21, 2015
 Hi Guys, Well I've located a RCA 1428b driver. Same sort of era. Do anyone think this would be a good mate for this horn? I'd have to make up an adaptor but I think it would work. The opening in the horn is about 48mm in diameter while it looks like the exit hole of the driver is about 38mm.

 

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