Figuring out horns? Cause I'm not that smart...

ICTWoody

No longer a junior member
Yo yo yo. Happy Friday ya'll.

So I have been really loving my baby Altecs. Those would be the ones that started as JE Labs clones with the 614 cab, 414-8 woofs, 32C horn and GPA 802-8G CD. I swapped out the 32 horns for the baby Jabo's I picked up, the KH-30s.

I had them offered up for sale (cause I'll sell anything for the right price) and @OldNuke has pried the Jabo/802/414-8's out of my grubby hands and I'll be shipping them out by the first of the week.

My plan is to install my green 414-16ohm drivers into the cabs, and then pair my new-to-me JBL 2441 2" drivers up top, which are also 16ohm. I'm going to go back to the simple high-pass network with the L-Pad config for crossover. What's up in the air is the horn. I think I've narrowed it down to these three, but I want to make sure I'm not overlooking something. Am I correct in understanding that horn loading effects how low the horn can play, but upper frequency extension is determined more by the compression driver itself? My 2441s are rated as 500hz-18k, but using the 414's natural roll-off I will be bringing in the horn much higher... probably in that 2500hz range.

Am I oversimplifying this? My listening distance from the speakers is about 12ft right now with about 10-12ft between them.

Educate me, aaaaannnddd GO!

- Woody

Eighteen Sound XR2064

417N97o8qqL.jpg

Goldwood Sound GM-450PB

51Xe0wrcBnL._SL1000_.jpg51uU2Zo1Y-L._SL1000_.jpg

Eminence H2EA

419i2RY8hZL.jpg



IMG_4533.jpg
 
As you're planning on crossing ~2500hZ, I would choose a ~1" throat driver and horn, you will tend to get better hf extension. As to the 2441, I think 18k is generous, though that is a bit of a guess, tbh.

From your list of horns, and a very cursory look at their specs:

I would pass on the Goldwood, I don't like the look of the throat, and the diffraction slot sound may not suit you well. Especially as you've been enjoying the Tractrix ( I think ) Jabo horn.

The Eminence and 18 Sound look like contenders from that list. The Eminence, especially considering it's low cost, is likely the horn I would try first.
 
As you're planning on crossing ~2500hZ, I would choose a ~1" throat driver and horn, you will tend to get better hf extension. As to the 2441, I think 18k is generous, though that is a bit of a guess, tbh.

From your list of horns, and a very cursory look at their specs:

I would pass on the Goldwood, I don't like the look of the throat, and the diffraction slot sound may not suit you well. Especially as you've been enjoying the Tractrix ( I think ) Jabo horn.

The Eminence and 18 Sound look like contenders from that list. The Eminence, especially considering it's low cost, is likely the horn I would try first.

Thanks for your thoughts, Gable. I know that @mhardy6647 and @Redboy have both touted the 2441 to me in a 2way. Heck... that's why I bought them. I've read of people using a super-tweeter with them, but many do away with that and just run the 2441. I use a 288C on top of my Onken's in a 2way and I don't find them lacking on the highs for that use, and supposedly the JBL reaches a bit higher.

I was leaning toward the Eminence also...

- Woody
 
As you're planning on crossing ~2500hZ, I would choose a ~1" throat driver and horn, you will tend to get better hf extension.

I have a pair of minty Altec Green 802D's mounted to my Altec 32A horns. I could pull them if I want to, but I'm looking to play with the 2" CD for now.

- Woody
 
Thanks for your thoughts, Gable. I know that @mhardy6647 and @Redboy have both touted the 2441 to me in a 2way. Heck... that's why I bought them. I've read of people using a super-tweeter with them, but many do away with that and just run the 2441. I use a 288C on top of my Onken's in a 2way and I don't find them lacking on the highs for that use, and supposedly the JBL reaches a bit higher.

I was leaning toward the Eminence also...

- Woody

My 288C in 1505 doesn't leave much lacking for me either, I have a supertweeter with it, but barely bring it in. Two way with 2441 on the right horn would likely work very well.
 
I would pass on the Goldwood, I don't like the look of the throat, and the diffraction slot sound may not suit you well. Especially as you've been enjoying the Tractrix ( I think ) Jabo horn.

Can you explain the diffraction slot? I don't really understand, and the point of this thread is for me to learn.

I'm not actually sure the Jabo is Tractrix. I feel like in my reading of Jabo's early on they actually touted they weren't a Tractrix flair. But speaking of Tractrix, I did think about a Klipsch K-510... the little horn that could. But I think it's better suited for a modern pancake 2" driver and not my long throat JBLs.

- Woody
 
Horn loudspeaker - Wikipedia

That will give you a bit, basically a method for controlling directivity. My 2360's are a bi-radial with diffraction slot to control directivity. I like the sound, but not as much as some other horns. Coming from a round ~tractrix might be hard to adjust to a diffraction slot design. It may not, but was the first thing that struck me about the Goldwood.
 
Horn loudspeaker - Wikipedia

That will give you a bit, basically a method for controlling directivity. My 2360's are a bi-radial with diffraction slot to control directivity. I like the sound, but not as much as some other horns. Coming from a round ~tractrix might be hard to adjust to a diffraction slot design. It may not, but was the first thing that struck me about the Goldwood.

Thanks. I also like that the Eminence are aluminum vs. the ABS of the Goldwood. I am a sucker for solid stuff.

- Woody
 
Absolutely, makes me feel better about mounting for sure.

In the reviews on it on PE there are a couple of dudes who are or have used the Eminence with JBL 24XX series drivers and left good reviews. It's rated 5-stars on 9 reviews on there. That's pretty good. PLUS, PE just sent me a coupon for $10 off my order of $100 or more. I think I'll grab a set so I won't have much downtime with the speakers.

- Woody
 
The Eminence gives you the option to tune lower if you wish. The metal horns will be better structurally for top mounting. I enjoy watching your explorations in sound.
 
For ~$40 you might as well try them, that could be a hell of a deal.

I might. But being the impulsive person I am I already ordered a pair of the Eminence along with some 16ohm L-Pads from parts express. I had a coupon (not a great one) and free shipping. So for ~ $150 for the pair including the L-Pads I figured they were worth a try.

Good thing I call this my "tweaker's system."

- Woody
 
For ~$40 you might as well try them, that could be a hell of a deal.
I might. But being the impulsive person I am I already ordered a pair of the Eminence along with some 16ohm L-Pads from parts express. I had a coupon (not a great one) and free shipping. So for ~ $150 for the pair including the L-Pads I figured they were worth a try.

Good thing I call this my "tweaker's system."

- Woody

If you guys lived closer to Reno, you could borrow the ones I bought to see how you like them. :)
 
Back
Top