12" 1200FE vs 15" E145 / 2235 +2123

[frank23]

For years I have had a setup that I have improved over and over and I am quite content with it. It is an E145+2123+2420/2344 combination. Crossed over actively using a modded M553. Sources, cables and pre- and power amps are high end stuff. i also have a pair of 2235 that I used before the E145.

I am now offered a pair of 12" 1200FE and having read the opinions about those here I was wondering...
- could I make a 2-way system using the 1200FE+2420/2344, the 1200FE does seem to have breakup problems starting at 1kHz, peaking at 2,5kHz
- would the 2420/2344 go down to 800Hz, the crossover used by JBL themselves in their applications of the 1200FE?
- or would the E145+2123 give me a better midrange up to the 1600Hz crossover I am using now

Does anyone know how the 1200FE distortion graphs I have seen here compare to the E145 and 2123 for the range up to 2kHz? The 2123 goes up problem free to at least 3kHz as I see in the graphs, whereas the 1200FE is only problem free until 1kHz. But as far as I know there are no distortion graphs available for the older drivers?

I'd love the 1200FE as they are a little less room consuming than the current 15", but if I have to stay with 3-way for the best 500-1500Hz, why not just go all the way like I am doing now with a 15"+10" instead of 12"+10".

Btw I also have a pair of 375, but do not have the right horns for them. Damn, should have never sold the 2360 last year, that would be a great combi with the 1200FE!

[grumpy]

Subjective-ness and opinion follow:

Having only heard the 1200 in conjunction with a 476Be driver on a vertical horn
(that I believe was run down to ~750Hz?)... a pairing which sounds fabulous, I think
I can say the issue would likely be getting the 1" driver/horn combo to still sound
good going that low.

Whether the 1200 could be used a bit higher, allowing your driver/horn to remain
in its comfort zone is not a question I can answer. My expectation is 1500Hz
would be pushing it, regarding its best usage and pattern matching.

That said, it'd be fun to have a pair of 1200FE's to find out :)
But I think you nailed the main tradeoffs (real estate and complexity)
Entertainment-wise, I think your current system might win.

[frank23]

Ok, I bought them. You only live once! And if they don't work for me, I'll put them here on the forum again.

Would anyone know if the 1200fe-12 have the same thiele/small paramaters as the 1200fe-8 of which they have been published here on the forum? I could take the 4429 cabinet dimensions as a start.

Here are some pics from the seller:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152456381313182.1073742175.260773528181&type=1

If anyone has any suggestions for the application, please let me know.

[frank23]

I received the 1200fe yesterday. They look fantastic. But they're brand new, so need running in. I have a pair of cherry veneered cabinets from a previous project that I can use for a first try. I'll put the 1200fe in together with the 2420/2344 combination. Do an active crossover at somewhere between 800-1200Hz and see what this brings. I find the right midrange damping is critical for keeping "energy" in the sound. Too much damping and the energy is sucked out of the music. Better be light on the damping.

[frank23]

I found the E145/2123/2420+2344 combination more to my liking than combining the 1200fe/2420+2344 at about 800-1000Hz. And since I decided to remain 3-way, why not go with the full 15" and keep the E145 in business. So the 1200fe have been passed on to forum member Thomas from Paris.

In experimenting with the 1200fe though I also discovered some things that made my current setup even better. So it was nice to try them out and bring my setup to a new level.

[ivica]

I found the E145/2123/2420+2344 combination more to my liking than combining the 1200fe/2420+2344 at about 800-1000Hz. And since I decided to remain 3-way, why not go with the full 15" and keep the E145 in business. So the 1200fe have been passed on to forum member Thomas from Paris.

In experimenting with the 1200fe though I also discovered some things that made my current setup even better. So it was nice to try them out and bring my setup to a new level.

Hi frank23,

You are , now, ready for 2245/2269 subs pair

regards
ivica

[pos]

So the 1200fe have been passed on to forum member Thomas from Paris.:bouncy:
The plan is to build G.T. Array 1200 clones...


In experimenting with the 1200fe though I also discovered some things that made my current setup even better. So it was nice to try them out and bring my setup to a new level.Interesting! Could you elaborate?

[frank23]

It had to do with changing port tuning and cabinet tuning by lowering the Qts by inserting a resistor. Because I had everything apart because of experimenting with the 1200fe, I have tried a number of configurations for the E145 and finally changed to a closed cabinet, strange but true:

http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?361-The-purpose-of-JBL-E145/page5

[pos]

On the 2123?
What resistor value did you insert?
By inserting a series resistor you are partially driving the woofer in current mode (low damping factor), which tends to substantially reduce distortion in midband :)