I keep looking at the customer feedback link on Yoda's forum responses and realize that it is some sort of mystical heaven where I belong once I have earned the title of JBL Jedi. In the mean time, as a newbie, novice, neophyte and aspiring amateur, I still have much to learn and more to grow. So, my first question is: in looking at the original JBL diagram of the 4430 speaker network, it shows the 14 uF capacitor with a .01 uF in the low frequency circuit (between the positive feed and 7.5 resistor) . If the 14 uF capacitor is not an important element in the overall sound of the low pass circuit, then why in the heck did JBL engineers designate a by-pass cap in there? Would or could one benefit by adding a poly cap there instead of a np electrolytic. Or better yet, what would happen if one were to add a charged coupled cap there (two 28 uF caps with a 2.2 Meg resistor sandwiched in between?). Let's see, what happens again when we split open this small atom?
Second question is: I cannot decide between 12 or 3 O'clock on the mid L-pad. Sort of depends on what mood I am in and what type of music is on the jukebox. Most likely inclined to choose the 3:00. So, if I do that then what is the SOP for measuring the L-Pads resistance with a standard oHm meter and what terminals have to be measured. I am almost inclined to set my setting and then ship to Kay in Germany for precision measurements! Btw I happen to think Kraftwerk's album "Computer World" is one of the best sounding and most brilliant musical compositions in existence). I am assuming I am looking for a 2 dB attenuation and I can look up the resistors values in Erse's crossover calculator but would like to know the correct way to do this and not just willy nilly my way through this. After all, I have come this far with stupendous results (So great in scope, degree, or importance as to amaze. Extremely large in amount, extent, or size; enormous. Remarkable; outstanding.).
Third question is: What happens to the high pass (10kH +) L-pad? Do I leave it in, do I swap out one of wipers, or does it just get deleted from the circuit altogether?
I am all in favor of going further in sound refinement so this will certainly be on my very important things to do list. I will most likely use Mills resistors for the fixed L-Pad. I used Dayton Audio 1% 200 watt, ultra low inductance resistors for the main crossover just because I wanted to try them out. Yes, they were about $1.50 each less then a Mills but I loved the look of them. They reminded me of the resistors in one of my very first speaker crossover projects (Pioneer CS-99A's). I actually think they sound very good and doubt I could pass a blind test between resistors. Mills resistors are very compact and have no inductance so they are ideal for an L-Pad configuration I think.