Drivers of W8S and W8 Martin system

Hi, I don't find the ATC product I just find a Hifi production... Do you have a web link??? And OEM is very expensive, I don't want to give 350£ for a 12"....


Edited by oer23 - 30 April 2010 at 12:23am

Yes I know for the bass. But I'm looking for the head drivers... Thanks.

Yeeees!!! Thanks a lot.....

It's not W8, it's F2 series...

That is not a W8. It is a custom-built box made of Martin components.

The tweeter brackets are from an RS1200 (made to fit a pair of JBL 2402's)

The HF horn is from an RS1200 (55 degree horn, 2" driver originally a JBL 2445)

The two 12" horns are probably also from RS1200 cabinets.

So in effect, it is the top half of an RS1200 that has been split into a two-box system, but with an additional 12" mid.
That's an excellent way to make use of an old RS1200 system, and will perform almost as well as an F2 Combi box. Crossover points are 1500 Hz for the 12"/2" and 7kHz for the 2"/2402's.
The single 12" horn (in an RS1200) was crossed over at 250Hz into a kick bin, but with that coupled pair of 12" horns you could probably go as low as 200 or 180Hz. The best bin to use would be a Martin 215Mk3 or an F2B, both very hard to find.

But it is definitely NOT a W8 and, having a 2" HF instead of the 6" hi-mid,  will not have the smoother sound of a W8 box.

If you wonder why somebody would split an RS1200 into a 2-box system, look up the weight and size specification (or ask somebody unfortunate enough to have had to move them around).




Edited by madboffin - 25 June 2016 at 1:01pm

The standard 12" driver in a late-production RS1200 was an M1233, a version of the Martin "Monster Mid". DLS233 was the factory stores part number.

It was made by ATC, and has a larger magnet than their standard drivers. It has plastic covers sealing the frame (basket) and the cone has a custom, very stiff, front suspension.

It should be possible to get them reconed by ATC although the parts may be "special order" items.

Earlier versions of the Monster Mid - M1230 and  M1231 - were used in older RS1200's. They all use the same chassis and magnet assembly and the differences are in the software (that's the term for the cone, suspension and voicecoil) and whether the basket is open or sealed.

If you experiment with other drive units, make sure that the cone profile and dustcap are similar enough to avoid hitting the phasing plug. You will need some kind of sealed rear chamber (with wadding) behind the unit, if the woodwork doesn't provide that already.