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Topic: Speakers cabinet replacement (Read 2657 times) previous topic - next topic
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Speakers cabinet replacement

Hello all,

I just need an advice. I have some vintage WHD Precision 3-way speakers, bookshelf, I think model is 2109 or something along that line. They are compression boxes, not bass reflex, and they sound OK when using them as nearfields, but when I turn up the volume a bit and move away, there is lack of bass. Very, very nice mids and highs, though.
As they are very old, I guess that is by design - compression boxes were a bit less boomy. Now, I have an idea: I have a bit larger boxes where speakers are fried, so i thought to move drivers over, to make new front and cut holes for three drivers and bass-reflex holes, and move everything over. Now, I guess I will get quite less than perfect sound, but I need a bit more bass, and I think they can play it.
So - will these drivers work? Are there drivers that are specifically designed to work in compression boxes? New boxes are not much bigger, old ones are, IDK, 30 liters, these are 40.
I got them for 15 dollars, so not much harm is done.
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Speakers cabinet replacement

Reply #1 –
Before... opening the boxes, have you tried to get what you want with equalization and/or a helping wall?
... I live by long distance.

Speakers cabinet replacement

Reply #2 –
I'd say it's worth a try!  It's a bit of work, but if the sound is worse you can always put the drivers back in the original box.

The tuning of a sealed box design tends to be less critical than ported speakers.  You could even try adding a port to the "new" box.  Experimenting "randomly" can be tricky because the port diameter and the port length are both variables.  But again, if the sound is worse you can always block the hole.

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Are there drivers that are specifically designed to work in compression boxes?
Correct.  If you have the Thiele/Small parameters for a driver, you can use WinISD (FREE!!!) to predict performance in a particular sealed or ported design, or to find the optimum design for that driver.  With that, you could model the two sealed designs or various ported designs.

The bad news is that if you don't have the published parameters, you need a $100 gizmo (or some expensive test equipment) to test the woofer.    Sometimes it's cheaper just to buy new woofers with known parameters.  (And I seem to remember that you don't live in the U.S., so maybe it's not practical to order that gizmo from parts express.)

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...there is lack of bass. Very, very nice mids and highs, though.
Maybe you need to add a subwoofer.

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I guess that is by design - compression boxes were a bit less boomy.
Yes.  But, a ported design doesn't have to be boomy.    Ported designs often have an intentional bump in the response, but that can be controlled (or eliminated).  For example, a 1, 2, or 3dB bump can make the -3dB point lower to extend the bass a bit deeper than a ported box with no bump.  A sealed box tends to be smoother and the bass doesn't drop-off as steeply below the resonance.    A ported box tends to be stronger near resonance and above resonance for "more bass" overall.

Speakers cabinet replacement

Reply #3 –
Quote from: hlloyge on
Now, I have an idea: I have a bit larger boxes where speakers are fried, so i thought to move drivers over, to make new front and cut holes for three drivers and bass-reflex holes, and move everything over. Now, I guess I will get quite less than perfect sound, but I need a bit more bass, and I think they can play it.
So - will these drivers work? Are there drivers that are specifically designed to work in compression boxes? New boxes are not much bigger, old ones are, IDK, 30 liters, these are 40.

Drivers that are designed to work in small sealed boxes would normally have a very floppy suspension and use the air trapped in the box as the main spring. Drivers for bass reflex boxes tend to have much stiffer suspensions to provide the main spring. So it is not usually a good idea to put an acoustic suspension driver in a bass reflex box.
 

Speakers cabinet replacement

Reply #4 –
OK all, I will try to put them in those bigger boxes and see what will change. If it won't change much, I will look out for passive subwoofer.
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