UREI Speaker discussions

[hjames]

Just won a pair of UREI 809A speakers with bad surrounds for a good price.
Its a local sale, so I'll pick them up Monday after work. No grills.

The 809A system has a 12 inch coax assembly - its essentially a 2214 woofer
with a 2416H compression driver mated to it. I've got the spec sheet and will look into
updating the crossovers with some fresh caps -

Mike says the 12 inch in 809 *IS* the 2214 kit with a flex screen instead of a dustcap.
the same magnet/frame/driver is used in the 2152H but with a midrange type cone.

I've replaced a number of 2214 surrounds in the last few years, so I sent an
email to Rick Cobb to chase down a surround kit ...

I do have a spare pair of 2214 woofers - I may try to set them up as "Helper woofers"
if the coaxial drivers don't play deep enough.

http://www.jblproservice.com/pdf/URE...s/809A-L,R.pdf

[tinpan]

Very cool. What a steal. I would be very surprised if you have to use help woofers. The pair I heard sounded great full range.

BTW, what tubes are in your Jolida? EL 84's

Thanks

Tinpan

[hjames]

Thanks! of course, these are just the "little" 12 inch UREI Coaxials -
the pair I heard before had the larger 15 inch coaxials ...

I'm using a quad of the regular 6550EH (ElectroHarmonix) which gives me a rated output of 60w/ch
Its been plenty with the JBL L200 customs and the Von Schweikert VR-4s.
I "believe" the VR-4s are around 93db efficiency - and that's what these UREIs are listed as ...

Very cool. What a steal. I would be very surprised if you have to use help woofers. The pair I heard sounded great full range.

BTW, what tubes are in your Jolida? EL 84's

Thanks

Tinpan

[hjames]

The Jolida 502 BRC uses quad of the regular 6550EH (ElectroHarmonix) and has a rated output of 60w/ch Its been plenty with the JBL L200 customs and the Von Schweikert VR-4s. I "believe" the VR-4s are around 93db efficiency - and that's what these UREIs are listed as ...

I'm finding the UREIs with the helper woofers play much louder than the VR-4s.
Mike said adding the helper woofer would be a 3db improvement!

Anecdotally, I am playing some new agey piano stuff this morning (an old CD - David Lanz - Christofori's Dream)
and I'm listening at a comfortable level with the volume pot just below the 9 o'clock position.
My usual amp setting with the JBLs and VR-4s was often 11 or 12 o'clock position.

Pretty sure Rusty was using a superb SET amp with his 813Cs.
It was even pleasant with Daft Punk Discovery and Boz's Dig album yesterday!

Tho I haven't ventured into Classical music yet ... maybe I'll try Ode to Joy when I get home later ...

[hjames]

Been a long weekend but since its too cold to do much outside, I did get some listening time in over the last couple days.

Dug out my Furtwangler SACD of Beethoven's 9th (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001A72XOI/) looks like the price has gone up from the $20 I paid in 2011!
Anyway, played nearly the whole thing - magnificent!
Dropped through all kinds of other materials, from Yes, through Tom Waits, Incredible String machine, Beatles stereo remasters -
Joni Mitchell, Gary Burton - generally all were stunning - tho in a couple places the studio edits are pretty apparent - and that is flat amazing!

So far, the 809 with external helper woofers are proving to be small and light enough to move easily and yet very listenable!
I think these will be my main keepers - Unless I can find a pair of 811s to upgrade to!

Tho I haven't ventured into Classical music yet ... maybe I'll try Ode to Joy when I get home later ...

[BMWCCA]

I think these will be my main keepers - Unless I can find a pair of 811s to upgrade to!

And the half-life of a Heather James main-keeper speaker system is currently . . . ?





Can't wait to hear them.

[rusty jefferson]

So far, the 809 with external helper woofers are proving to be small and light enough to move easily and yet very listenable!

Glad to hear your experiment is working out. I'm looking forward to hearing them. Crossover rework the next step? It would be fun to do a 1 box cabinet, also.

I'll bring over a couple small tube amps to play with.

[hjames]

The blue foam between the cabinets was an UGLY temporary measure to keep from scratching
the tops of the lower blonde cabinets while I tried all these different things out.
So yesterday I called the local glass shop and had them cut me a pair of 16 x 16.5 inch
sheets of 0.250 inch bronze glass to protect them long term.
They were ready at the end of the day $55 plus tax - and they look nice!

Oh, one other thing - I found out the stock UREI crossovers are on cards attached to the front panel,
they slide on 2 pair of groves cut into the wood 90 degrees apart,
so they can be rotated to match the front panel with the cabinet orientation!

[tinpan]

I just go 4.0 (4.3 really) and sit in the sweet spot

That is a very interesting comment/observation. I have a full size center channel but it takes up soooo much real estate. I also listen to a lot of 2 channel stereo on my HT system as well. I may have to experiment with this as well. It would be nice gain back that real estate

[tinpan]

Looking good, I have a pair of 12" woofers in a bass bin and the question was, would a pair of 12's sound as good or better than a single 15?

"And I'm thinking the UREIs will replace them!"
Well, you room is looking crowded, perhaps the Urei's need a little room to breathe, lol.

I like 2 way systems

[BMWCCA]

I like 2 way systems

Me, too. But—and not to take away from the project—is a 12-inch with coaxial tweeter and a 12-inch sub really a two-way anymore?

[hjames]

Me, too. But—and not to take away from the project—
is a 12-inch with coaxial tweeter and a 12-inch sub really a two-way anymore?

Well, all thats on the 2214H "helper woofer" leg is a 12mH choke -
I suspect its more a low pass function - just roll off the highs of that woofer.
So overall, much simpler that the usual 3 way or 4 way monitor Xovers
I think in JBL terms that makes it a 2 1/2 way!

I'm guessing its like a 12 inch version of the 4435, right?

http://www.jblproservice.com/pdf/stu...ies/4435lr.pdf

http://www.audioheritage.org/html/pr...bl/4430-35.htm

[hjames]

They are home ... It was 4 hours each way to Morgantown, WV and back ...
but they are hooked up right now without using the Helper woofers in the pedestal
and the 811Cs are playing very nice. More bass that the 809As alone have ...
and the same kind of sparkling presence ...

Yes, I will have to rotate the left horn a few degrees to get it level, but its quite close for now.

Very impressive - now to play some music, settle into a hot tub and unwind from all that Road!

[DerekTheGreat]

This past weekend my 813C's had puppies:

[hjames]

Because ANY discussion of the UREI speakers needs a link back to this project - I'd LOVE to hear them!

http://www.audioheritage.org/vbullet...3-Urei-Theater