something a little different

[saeman]

I've been playing around with this project for a couple of years. I've always liked the 4315's and wanted to experiment with some variations. This is the second pair in this configuration I've built. I got talked out of the first pair so I regrouped and made a second.

I had a pair of 2410/2301 horns sitting around for years with no perceived use so I decided to use them in place of the 2105 cone mid range drivers. They're too hot for this configuration and need to be toned back 3db or more. After doing that the whole configuration sounded better. The stock 3114A network is the biggest drawback to the project. The plan is to get custom designed networks built but this will take some time.

The potato mashers and mirror imaged baffles are obvious. The interior is not 4315 stock. The woofer sits in a 1.5 cubic foot sealed chamber packed full of insulation and the intended end configuration will be the 121H; to be reconed soon. In the first pair this woofer pounded out good tight base and was a noticeable improvement to the low end missing in my stock 4315's. Filling the holes now is a spare pair of 124A's. Also as fillers are a pair of 2108's. In the end they will hopefully be changed to 112H's but these baskets seem to be in the Unobtamium category.

I built the steel stands years ago to get my 4315's up off the floor. I recently drug them out of storage and put them back into service. They're 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 square tube steel with 1/4" wall and weigh near as much as the speakers.. The frames bolt on using the factory hanging mounting holes so no cabinet mods were necessary. I had them finished in Navy Blue wrinkle powder coat to match the grille cloth.

This has been a fun project so I thought I'd share it. Please keep any laughing to yourself so I don't feel bad.

Rick

[Earl K]

Hi Rick,


This has been a fun project so I thought I'd share it. Please keep any laughing to yourself so I don't feel bad.

Real Nice Rick ! :thmbsup: ( I can't imagine someone laughing at those beauts )

I've always liked the look of the chrome ring as found on the 2301 masher .


FWIW, the 2108 ( cone assembly / "software", to use a Giskard phrase ) is ever-so slightly more dynamic than the 112 ( according to my calcs.) . That would be why ( in my mind ) it exists ( in the first place ) . It's meant to be mated with the more dynamic Pro Sound components such as you've done ( & , as found in the 4315 ) .

- ie ; I wouldn't be so quick to dump those 2108s ( I'd suggest transferring the softgoods to ferrite motors if you ever get the chance ) .

just my 2 cents <> EarlK

[spkrman57]

I think that is a great project, not just a few drivers thown together to end up as whatever!

I think this is the type of JBL DIY projects that we need to see more of.

Great set of speakers!

Regards, Ron

[saeman]

Thanx Earl and Ron:

I've talked to Giskard at length about this project, including the short-falls. Without reasonable attenuation the potato masher's scream at you. The temp fix before a custom network was to place a 16 ohm resistor across the 2410 leads. This along with a small L-Pad tweak tones it down enough to get decent results. I will never sell short the 2105 and it's cousins as it's a fine cone driver. My desires were rooted in making use of a dust collecting pair of 2410/2301, in a small compact monitor and a 4315 variant was an easy target.

Putting the 121H in a sealed box yielded a night and day difference in low end response. I hope to get one of our forum wizzards to run me some curves in the future.

I won't dump the 2108's. I have a fresh pair of cones waiting for the day I find a pair of 112H/2108H ferrite baskets. Never say never but I'll likely be using the alnico 2108's for a long time.

I hope to keep these as living room monitors but my wife has already raised her eye brows over the black ash cabinets and dark blue grille cloth. The first pair was white oak with brown grilles - a better match for her furniture. :banghead:

[saeman]

For anyone interested in pursuing a similar project I'll post a bunch of pics on the construction.

Pair #1 started from a pair of baffles already cut for standard 4315 layout. I overlaid the 2301 cutout template over the 2105 hole and modified the baffle. The hole already cut for the port tube was enlarged to allow my hand thru it to reach the network mounting screws and was covered with a grain matching plug afterwards.

The woofer chamber top had a removable hatch in it to allow getting the 3114A network into place - hatch cover mounted after installation. This design was poorly thought out and required a ton of extra work. On pair #2 I made the partition between woofer chamber and upper cabinet solid and cut an access hatch into the cabinet back.

The studs mounted in the cabinet divider allow connection between rear terminals and the network and between the network and the 121H - bolted in solid, sealed and thread locked.

I braced the hell out of the woofer chamber, not knowing for sure what the minimum might be. Braces were left over baltic birch fab'd into 1 1/2 x 2 1/2 form. They cost me so much internal volume that I had to pack the chamber full of insulation to make up the difference.

All in all they sounded pretty good - but - they were still running on stock 3114A networks. Before I could really complete the project they left town. I said they were keepers but money talks and bull poop walks. Thus - pair #2.

[saeman]

more pics

[saeman]

more pics

[saeman]

I didn't take any pics of the inside details of pair #2 but they are similar. Also there are no plans so if someone wants to something similar you'll need to do what I did - build the boxes and fill in everything inside.

[JeffW]

What treatment are you using on the blue baffles, is it stain or dye or...?

[saeman]

These baffles are white oak with a water based blue stain applied after using a grain sealer coat. Finish coat is 6-7 coats of satin lacquer over the top. I have used white ash before which yields a lighter brighter shade of blue. The white oak is something I had that needed to be used up.

[BMWCCA]

Beautiful work, as usual! I love your creativity and willingness to explore alternate aesthetic schemes.

Got to say I'm happy to partial to your black-ash baffles. :applaud:

;)

[saeman]

I'm partial to the black ash on the baffle too. All told - 4 pairs of 4345's scattered between Japan, France and the U.S., and I've done a couple other models with black baffles also. It looks pretty cool on the exterior too.

[tweeter]

Saeman, nice wood work. :applaud:
I´ve learned pretty much about building cabs by looking the pics.

[yggdrasil]

Very nice work Rick. As always! Keep 'em coming.

Johnny

[LE15-Thumper]

People that can do that quality of woodwork make me sick..:barf:

Jealousy is awful thing isn't it ?

Freakin gorgeous, that's all I can say...

[saeman]

Very nice work Rick. As always! Keep 'em coming.

Johnny

Hi Johnny - My Norway Sovereign Friend

Thanks for your kind words as always. I've done a couple dozen projects over the past two years but kind of stopped posting all the stuff. I figure they all start looking the same after a while. If members can still benefit I'll keep putting the stuff up. The 4315 project was a different twist so I figured it might generate some interest.

Rick

[saeman]

People that can do that quality of woodwork make me sick..:barf:

Jealousy is awful thing isn't it ?

Freakin gorgeous, that's all I can say...

Thumper:

Thanks for the compliments. If I cooked up my woodworking skills over the course of a couple months I could understand jealousy, but I've been doing this forever. Any dummy should expect some level of perfection after nearly 40 years of chopping big wood into little wood. I wonder where I'd be today if I had spent all that time studying under Donald Trump!!!!

My first pair of JBL's came along in 1974 - Sovereign I's. There's been so many pairs since then that I could not possibly remember them all or where they went. It's hard to believe but every new project seems to be a tad better than the one before; if this is possible after doing it for so long. When the time comes that my quality starts to drop it will mean that the passion is gone and it will be time to do something else.

[dkalsi]

If members can still benefit I'll keep putting the stuff up. The 4315 project was a different twist so I figured it might generate some interest.

Rick

Rick,

Though it may be inconvenient for you to post all your projects - I still strongly encourage it because I find the DIY section of the forums the most enjoyable and educational. On top of that - I just love seeing pictures of your workmanship.

The 4345 build I am working on is my first woodworking/speaker project. I've assembled a subwoofer enclosure in the past but the wood was pre-cut. The 4345 build has been extremely challenging for me and I do wish I took on smaller project to start woodworking/speaker building. As I continue to work on my 4345 build, I frequently visit all the treads you started - they have proven to be very helpful and I thank you for sharing your expertise.

Cheers,
D

[Paul D]

This is DIYing at its best! I'd like to see this idea applied to the L220.:bouncy:

[Akira]

Excellent work...
I am a 4315 fan...due to my lack of skills and knowledge, I just live with stock originals but, still love the sound.

[Earl K]

This is DIYing at its best! I'd like to see this idea applied to the L220.:bouncy:

It has been done ( in fact, quite some time ago ) by Steve Gonzales . It was a good idea to boot ,( to use an old expression ) .

It was all documented / but unfortunately he removed his pics .

<> cheers :)

- It sure gives me ideas for my orphaned pair of 2410s . Trouble is, I'd have to buy everything else /though I do like the looks of those 2301 mashers with the chrome rings on the fronts . ( It's truly a sickness ) . :blink:

[Robh3606]

I've done a couple dozen projects over the past two years but kind of stopped posting all the stuff.

Hello Rick

Why it's always a pleasure to look at them. Keep them coming. They look great, I like the black faced ones.

Rob:)

[Cosmo]

Thumper:

Thanks for the compliments. If I cooked up my woodworking skills over the course of a couple months I could understand jealousy, but I've been doing this forever. Any dummy should expect some level of perfection after nearly 40 years of chopping big wood into little wood. I wonder where I'd be today if I had spent all that time studying under Donald Trump!!!!

.


Probably would say your "HIRED" !!!!

Absolutely Gorgeous as usual Rick Thanks Again for the cloth.Now if mine come out half as good as those I would be extremely Happy ! :applaud:

[tinnitus]

What are likely candidates to use as substitutes for either the 112s or 2108s in today's market? Is going up to a 212X too much? The M209 is an 8" driver but doesn't get much exposure.

Gary

[eso]

Thumper:

Thanks for the compliments. If I cooked up my woodworking skills over the course of a couple months I could understand jealousy, but I've been doing this forever. Any dummy should expect some level of perfection after nearly 40 years of chopping big wood into little wood. I wonder where I'd be today if I had spent all that time studying under Donald Trump!!!!

Very nice work. Built like the proverbial brick sh*thouse and cleanly so.

I can relate to wondering where one would be if the time where spent studying elsewhere. Ce est la vie... I can make anything out of just about anything else in the physical world and I'll have to settle for that.

Beautiful project.




eso