JBL 2206H, 2118H, 2406H 3-way Project

[DualTriode]

Hello,

I am planning a JBL 3 ½ way project. I have acquired the following list of drivers:
(See the includes photograph)

(2) 2206H 12inch woofers
(2) 2118H mid-range
(2) 2406 Baby cheek tweeters
(1) 2245H Big woofer

This project is going to live in the shop during development. When development is complete then the finished speakers will come into the house.
The crossovers will be line-level; each driver will have a dedicated amplifier. To start the progress I have a Rane line level crossover and a Rane MA-6, 900 Watt 6-pack amplifier.
Along the way I will be asking questions and looking for you all to share your experience.

All just for fun!
DT

[speakerdave]

One of the advantages of a four-way is bandwidth limiting each driver to its best frequency band. In your selection of drivers I think you have a significant overlap with the 2206 and 2118 and a highly compromised reach between the 2118 and 2404H (?).

[Allanvh5150]

I would agree. Although JBL did use the 2118 and the 2404 in the Cabaret Series, these were the 2404-H1 version with the 2402 diaphragm.

Allan.

[DualTriode]

Thanks guys,

Your comments are right on about the “gap” between the 2118 and 2404. I have all the JBL cut sheets spread out on the kitchen table. I have not been able to put my eyes on a cut sheet for the 2404H-1. I do have a pair of 2402’s to also try. The 2402 is a little better.
Am I missing something? Is there a JBL cone tweeter that will cross over lower than this 2406? LE20? I do not want to be pushed into using a 2” throat horn. I am looking for something along the lines of a 2 cubic foot "bookshelf" speaker pair.

Just for fun!
DT

[Allanvh5150]

How about putting an LE5 of some type into the mix?

Allan.

[pos]

A 2407 or 2408 on one of the small 6" or 8" PT waveguides from the AC compact series would be a perfect match for the 2118

[DualTriode]

Hello All,

I am still studying this, “gap” between the cross over point between a JBL 2118H midrange and a tweeter. The JBL SR4735 uses a crossover frequency of 2.8kHz. Senior member, John W, uses ~ 4.2kHz as a crossover frequency between his 2119 (high power 2118) and 2404H with reported pleasant results. See post 14 in this thread, http://www.audioheritage.org/vbullet...21-Diy-Cabaret I suspect that there may be some narrowing of the off axis frequency response.

pos you suggest “A 2407 or 2408 on one of the small 6" or 8" PT waveguides from the AC compact series would be a perfect match for the 2118”, I believe that your idea has merit. I have a line on a pair of JBL 2425 compression drivers with 2371A horns. These horns are really too large for the compact speaker project. I also have a pair of 18sound XT1086 horns on the shelf that may mate well with the JBL 2425’s. The JBL 2425/XT1086 combo may fit the compact speaker project.

First off we will see how John W’s 4.2kHz crossover between the 2118 and 2404 works out.

Thoughts?

All just for fun!
DT

[speakerdave]

Study the JBL 4612B. Somewhere in these threads you will find an analysis of the crossover by Earl K.

None of the speakers you cite are hi fi. PA/SR speakers, for most people, are not what is wanted in the L.R.

You may be able to use the components to good effect, but the combination and the crossover will usually need redesign for music reproduction and long-term listening.

If you have all the stuff, the best thing to do right now is probably to build the boxes and see what you think.

[macaroonie]

You might do well to look at the Econowave solution above the 2118. Quite a small horn that will work with the 2425's.
Having said that the 2206 +2425 is quite a de luxe driver set for the Econowave anyway although the 1200Hz (?) crossover may be a little higher than the 2206 would ideally want.

[Champster]

If you have all the stuff, the best thing to do right now is probably to build the boxes and see what you think.

I would agree with the overlap comments from many of the responders, but agree that since you have the drivers, go ahead and make some rough cabinets and let us know what you think. I kindof went down this path already with a 2206/2446 and realized that there is a reason JBL used the 10" drivers (in my case the 2123) in between the larger drivers (in my case the 2206) and a 2" CD. Your system is a little different driver selection, so who knows, maybe it will be fine. Do you want Great or Fine?

What sized cabinet were you thinking of for the 2245?

[DualTriode]

Hello All,

Yes the drivers are in hand and the plan is to knock together some cheap boxes to see how combinations of JBL Pro parts sound cobbled together work out. Looks Like JBL may have stretched things a little transitioning from the 2118 to the 2404H, may be not. Some people post good results doing just that. JBL also transitioned from the 2118 to the 2426 at 2.8khz (this may be “better”) we will see.

The box for the 2245 will be somewhere between 7.8 ft^3 to 10 ft^3 tuned to ~ 30hz, down 3dB at ~ 31hz.

Thanks for the encouragement!

Next week there is a pair of 2425J Compression Drivers with 2370A horns/wave guides attached arriving at my house. I also have a pair of more compact 18sound horns/wave guides to also try out.

I am not entirely sure what an Econowave is but I think it was called a horn first. Now with reiteration and a series of mine is better than yours from various players, now Dr. Geee calls it a waveguide.

The best I can sort out of the vast number of post regarding Econowave I garner from this post, “…. For starters, the original concept was a modular HF driver/XO that would blend with a variety of woofers. This was also originally designed to repurpose older speaker cabs, Advents be most notable.”


All Just for Fun!
DT

[dezmond]

You might do well to look at the Econowave solution above the 2118. Quite a small horn that will work with the 2425's.
Having said that the 2206 +2425 is quite a de luxe driver set for the Econowave anyway although the 1200Hz (?) crossover may be a little higher than the 2206 would ideally want.

The 2206 is crossed at 1.2k for most pro cabs . Sounds great with sp222's and or 4731x's .

[cooky1257]

Have you considered using the 2206 in a 2 -way augmented by a sub?

http://www.audioheritage.org/vbullet...bl-Array/page2

[DualTriode]

Hello All,

Yes experimenting includes a 2450.
Plus a 2245 sub.

Just for fun!
DT

[DualTriode]

Hello,

There have been several iterations of this project over the last couple of months.

I do not like how the JBL 2118’s work out with the JBL 2406’s. In this combination the 2406’s are looking like a redheaded stepsister. The JBL high recommended crossover hz is 3K for the 2118. The JBL recommended low crossover is 3K hz for the 2406’s . Sometimes cleavage is a good thing. To my ears there is an unpleasant gap between these two drivers.

I have swapped between JBL 2226’s and JBL 2206’s . Eyes shut I cannot tell the difference. They both sound really nice to my ears. I much prefer the size and feel of the 2206 half the size cabinet’s in my listening room.

I tried a two way combination with the 2206’s with 2425 and 2450 compression drivers and much preferred covering the bulk of the 300 hz through 3000 hz voice range with the 2118 8 inch cone drivers. I also tried a 10 inch 2123. All things considered my preference is the smaller 2118 midrange.

I went looking for a smaller horn to bolt onto the 2425 compression drivers. Mostly due to size and shape I selected EighteenSound XT1086 horn / wave guides.

Hardly book shelf speakers, eyes closed in my smallish listening room these cobbled together speakers sound and feel like the speaker stacks at the outdoor Sleep Train concert venue here in northern California.

Rock On
DT

Comments?