2203 or 2235 - advice needed

[jerv]

Hi.

I plan to build a new 3-way. I will use the 2425H with the 2344 horn, and the 2123H midrange. All crossovers will be electronic, with separate amps for bass, mid and treble. Crossovers will be specially constructed, with filter slopes, notch filters and unit eq as required.

I intend to use multiple small subwoofers, with separate bass management and eq.

I am unsure of the mains bass unit. In my setup, the mains bass units will handle about 80-350 Hz. I have both the 2235H and the 2203A. Which unit do you think will be best for my application?

[pos]

I intend to use multiple small subwoofers, with separate bass management and eq.
This is Earl Geddes' approach
eg: http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=130494

He uses woofer that do not go very low for the mains, because he feels the range below 200Hz is too dependant of the room (hence the many subs) in a typicall "small room".
Maybe 2206H would go low enough, and still maintain a good sensitivity?...

[jerv]

This is Earl Geddes' approach
eg: http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=130494

He uses woofer that do not go very low for the mains, because he feels the range below 200Hz is too dependant of the room (hence the many subs) in a typicall "small room".
Maybe 2206H would go low enough, and still maintain a good sensitivity?...

Yes, that is exactly the approach I had in mind. The woofer for the mains does not have to extened very low.

Which of the 2235 or the 2203 do you think would be best? In this application, they (roughly) have about the same sensitivity.

[Robh3606]

Hello Jerv

Use the 2203's. You can get them into a very small box and they are really nice woofers. Turn the 2235's into subs.

Hello POS


He uses woofer that do not go very low for the mains, because he feels the range below 200Hz is too dependant of the room (hence the many subs) in a typically "small room".


200Hz is Bose satellite speaker range for a crossover. Way to high for me. You certainly will be able to hear where they are. I would think below 100hz would be the minimum, maybe 80Hz and lower. You could certainly do that with 2203's.



Rob:)

[pos]

Which of the 2235 or the 2203 do you think would be best? In this application, they (roughly) have about the same sensitivity.Really? I thought the 2203 was more like 91dB
You could try your 2235H in a closed bow, or even turn it into a 2234?

EDIT: the 4315 spec sheet states 89dB: http://lansingheritage.org/images/jbl/specs/pro-speakers/1977-4315/page3.jpg

[jerv]

POS and Rob: thanks for good advice.

I have not measured this - but if the published t/s parameters for these two units are correct, the sensitivity for the 2203A is 92,6 dB/1W and the 2235H 93,2 dB/1W.

If I use the 2203A's, I intend to build closed boxes of about 22 litres for them. This gives a -10dB frequency of about 44 Hz with a nice, smooth rolloff. And a nice, relatively small speaker.

The same type of approach with the 2235H's will give closed boxes of about 66 litres and -10dB frequency of about 35 Hz. But somehow I feel that using the 2235H's in this way (and with subwoofers) is overkill.

But the most important thing to me, is the sound quality in the 80-350 Hz region: will the 2203A be as good as the 2235H??

[johnaec]

The biggest problem I see doesn't even have to do with sound - it's the possibility of repairing the 2203's if they ever go south. I'm willing to bet there will be many more options for keeping 2235's up to spec in the future than 2203's, unless someone actually puts the effort into some kind of quality repair kit for the 2203's...

John

[Russellc]

Hi.

I plan to build a new 3-way. I will use the 2425H with the 2344 horn, and the 2123H midrange. All crossovers will be electronic, with separate amps for bass, mid and treble. Crossovers will be specially constructed, with filter slopes, notch filters and unit eq as required.

I intend to use multiple small subwoofers, with separate bass management and eq.

I am unsure of the mains bass unit. In my setup, the mains bass units will handle about 80-350 Hz. I have both the 2235H and the 2203A. Which unit do you think will be best for my application?
Interesting post to me, I have the same drivers ( 2425H and 2123H along with 2344 horns) and plan on doing something similar. For woofers I have both 2225H and 2235H pairs. The 2235H really sound good with deep bass. The 2225H have incredible midrange slam.

Best of luck, I'll keep watching.

Russellc

[Robh3606]

For woofers I have both 2225H and 2235H pairs. The 2235H really sound good with deep bass. The 2225H have incredible midrange slam.


Hello Russell

I used to have a similar set-up using 2035's then E-145's using the 2123 2425/2344 combo. Then I built up a pair of 4344's that use the 2235's to about 300Hz, the same basic configuration. If you don't want to run subs under your mains go with the 2235's. You get pretty good slam with an extra octave of bass response. Try it both ways to see what you like best. I still have the E-145/2123/2435 PTH1010 as my mains with subs. That 15 and 10" combo can lead to a really nice sounding systems. Just add the compresssion driver horn comb of your choice.

Rob:)

[subwoof]

2203's are (A) rare, (B) expensive, (C) absolutely NOT repairable and for your app. a waste of LF extension. Given the motor type in the other components, use the 2204.

You would be quite surprised at how low it can go in the right size box and the added efficiency makes matching amp / speakers a bit easier.

I did a custom project for a friend that was similar and used a crown USM810 from ebay - with a boatload of filters and 10 outs, it made crossover design a snap ( and very editable! )

sub

[jerv]

2203's are (A) rare, (B) expensive, (C) absolutely NOT repairable and for your app. a waste of LF extension. Given the motor type in the other components, use the 2204.
sub

Thanks for good advice!

Well, they may be expensive, but it is what I already have. :)

(Anyone willing to trade 2203's for 2204's?)