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Newbie Build:Retro cabs (8)JBL 18s, (4)JBL 15s & |
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Roman 
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Joined: 01 April 2017 Location: New Zealand Status: Offline Points: 66 |
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 Topic: Newbie Build:Retro cabs (8)JBL 18s, (4)JBL 15s &Posted: 18 September 2017 at 5:54am |
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Greetings from New Zealand.
I have been fortunate to have some PA equipment gifted to me. So far I acquired (2) JBL 2245H 18 inch drivers, (4) JBL 2226H 15 inch drivers, and (5) JBL 2445H 2 inch compression drivers with big fibreglass baby cheeks horns. I need to get 6 more 2245H 18s for my intended configuration of (2) quad reflex ported 18 boxes, (2) double 15 boxes and (4) horns. I have (4) Markus Klug 1005B 10 cell wooden horns flying my way from Germany. I am going for a vintage look like Axis, Sounds and Pressure and Dub Specialist Sound. All posters on this forum. I want the double 15 box to be the same width as the quad 18 box with (2) wooden horns on top. That's the configuration each side. Recessed grills etc just like Axis and Dub Specialist Sound. I intend to personalise the style with an original routed grill design. The 18s are 600W 8 Ohm. 15s are 600W 8 Ohm and the 2445H 2 inch compression drivers are 100W. I'm thinking 3 way or if enough people recommend/argue for added tops, then a 4 way system. As my title says, I am a total newbie except for a bit of reading on this site. I have a music studio with analogue and digital recording and mixing. All reggae oriented instruments and gear. I am passionate about good sound. I define good sound as pre 1995 mastering levels, preferably quality vinyl and not too loud. Warm dynamic music that is pleasurably loud and not louder than that. I think I may fantasise of a wooly bass sound that doesn't hurt your ears. Big and pillowy. Maybe that can be overdone. I'm thinking tape recordings bass whether synth or bass guitar. But that softer sound. I am even considering being an unwise hipster and get tube/valve amps made. I have to research further if that is possible, sensible or worth the investment. Maybe tube phono pre amps to get to line level and solid state amps. My Dad has a full wood working shop and me choosing quad reflex ported cabs instead of rear loaded horns (he has made a couple of rear loaded horns for a friend before), will make the cabinet making easier He just needs to make (2) quad boxes and (2) double 15 boxes. The horns are done. I only need the power to have a big friendly sound for 100-200 people in a small club to medium sized hall, I'm thinking. In NZ we have a few reggae sound systems. Lion Rockers Hi Fi has 8 scoops, Jafa Mafia has Band Pass Horns etc. I wish I could compare to a reflex cab sound system. I like the look of reflex cabs and people say that although they need double the amplification of scoops, they go lower and have a more even frequency response. This sounds good to me. Taking into account I don't like painful SPL levels. I need to figure out a bunch of stuff. Maybe some factors I am currently unaware of. How much amplification do I need for my sound system configuration? Is valve amplification feasible and worth the extra weight and expense ands fragility. I like how Paul Huxtable and others are doing it all valve. Anyone care to describe the sound experience of Valv A Tron or S&P etc? I need speaker box designs and knowhow for the recessed grill vintage look quads and matching width double 15 boxes. Can I stay all analogue with amps, crossovers, limiters etc? Is it worth staying all analogue. I would like to keep digital conversions to a minimum IOW none. I don't think I need a custom reggae pre amp. I'm thinking an Allen and Heath Mix Wizard 16 channel rack mount mixer taking all the inputs. Correct me if I am wrong: Tube phono pre amp output, crossover outputs to a channel each, CD/Laptop outputs, mic, FX etc. An experienced friend claims limiters are essential in case somebody drops a needle on a record or something. I'm not so sure it is essential. But I have no experience. Because I am producing rhythms and recording people. I could take an Alesis HD24XR multitrack digital recorder like Mad Professor and do live dubs of original tunes on the Mix Wizard. Probably 8 tracks format for dubbing. So considering that I am pursuing sound excellence in a warm pleasurable dynamic sound style what do you more knowledgable blokes recommend for the ultimate reggae sound system? Thanks, Roman.
Edited by Roman - 18 September 2017 at 5:55am |
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Roman
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Joined: 01 April 2017 Location: New Zealand Status: Offline Points: 66 |
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Posted: 18 September 2017 at 6:03am |
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Are bullets the preferred tops tweeters?
Can bullets be added to the horns frequency range keeping the system 3 way? Does the addition of bullets or other tweeters mean another crossover frequency?
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bob4
Old Croc 
Joined: 29 February 2004 Location: Finland/Germany Status: Offline Points: 1843 |
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Posted: 18 September 2017 at 9:21am |
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yes you can add bullett tweeters with a passive crossover. Old JBL systems had this feature. I've used a vintage JBL rig with 4520 scoops, 2350 horns and 2405 tweeters on top, with a passive crossover unit, crossover freq was 7 kHz fixed I believe. It should be a manageable task to get custom-made passive crossovers in case you can't source original units.
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Roman
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Joined: 01 April 2017 Location: New Zealand Status: Offline Points: 66 |
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Posted: 19 September 2017 at 6:00am |
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What is the opinion on the quality of JBL 2245H 18s, 2445H 2 inch compression drivers and the 15s I've got?
Should I add any other speakers? 2445H compression drivers start rolling off at 10khz on the chart. Maybe this is fine. Or maybe I need some extra high frequency tweeters. Where in the pecking order do the JBL drivers I've got rate?
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fatfreddiescat
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Joined: 15 October 2010 Location: N.E.Wales Status: Offline Points: 1083 |
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Posted: 19 September 2017 at 8:15am |
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Looks like you have found some very nice cone drivers for your project, hard pushed to find better, jbl have a pdf for the 2245h showing a 280L box tuned to 30hz which should work very well for you, make sure it is very well braced. A quad box will be fine if for install but if you have to move it then at least spit it into two duals, should still be able to make it look retro.
The 2445 will need some extra sparkle, ditching the bum horns is a good move, possible upgrade would be to do for something like the BMS coax 2”. If you build the 15’s as large reflex boxes also tuned low then they would work for smaller events without the 18’s. Search the forum, there are some nice retro builds on here, including some valve driven systems. |
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Roman
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Joined: 01 April 2017 Location: New Zealand Status: Offline Points: 66 |
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Posted: 19 September 2017 at 11:03am |
I like the dramatic look of the quad. And the dramatic idea of moving them, should be ok with two men and a hand truck. Getting around stairs with corners and stuff may not work though. [/QUOTE]The 2445 will need some extra sparkle, ditching the bum horns is a good move, possible upgrade would be to do for something like the BMS coax 2”.[/QUOTE] What is the best way to add some high frequencies to the JBL2445H? [/QUOTE]If you build the 15’s as large reflex boxes also tuned low then they would work for smaller events without the 18’s.[/QUOTE] I'm just thinking of keeping it simple and always using the same full rig. How much amplification is needed for (2) quad boxes of JBL 2245H 600W 8 Ohm speakers, (2) double 15 600W and four JBL horns 2445H? What are the best warmest amps? I don't want to play overly loud, but nice fat clear sound. [/QUOTE] Search the forum, there are some nice retro builds on here, including some valve driven systems.[/QUOTE] So far I have found 'Dub Specialist Sounds' build of the quad box with recessed grills like Paul Axis's quad.
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fatfreddiescat wrote: