Results 1 to 4 of 4

Thread: S99 Lancer/Athena LX4-1 Crossover

  1. #1
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    San Diego, Ca.
    Posts
    1

    S99 Lancer/Athena LX4-1 Crossover

    History: A few years ago, I purchased a pair of S99 Lancers (w/o fretwork grills) on ebay and I use them on my computer (through vintage Marantz 7T preamp and 15 amp, other similar vintage gear, and an Echo Layla24 sound card). I recently turned the system on with the Volume cranked (thank you microsoft for screwing up the volume controls on Vista x64) and blew one of the LE20-1 tweeters. Back to ebay. After removing the grill, I notice the woofer surround is kind of hard - researched and decided to try the Brake Fluid (haven't actually done it yet), refoaming only if necessary. While I have the speakers partially disassembled, I might as well rebuild the crossovers.

    Researching the various forums, I found the schematic for the LX4-1, the Thiele small signal parameters for the LE14A woofer, and tests on the tweeter (http://www.troelsgravesen.dk/JBL_LE20-25.htm) and started to do some calculations. I also read about the "dreaded" midrange hole and the mismatched drivers in the S99 (I actually like the sound!). The calculations and data proved interesting and informative. The JBL data sheet stated a 2kHz crossover frequency, but when I did the calculations using 8 ohms for the tweeter (that's what's on the LE20-1 labels), I came up with a crossover frequency of 2.5kHz. Wait a second - the tests at troelsgravesen.com show the actual impedance in the 2 - 2.5 kHz region to be 4 ohms, not 8 (although it does rise to 11 ohms at 20 kHz due to the voice coil inductance). When I redid the calculations using 4 ohms, I get a crossover frequency closer to 5 kHz!!!!!! No wonder there's a "Hole in the middle". The small signal parameters for the woofer shows that it starts to roll off at about 800 Hz due to it's relatively high voice coil inductance. The LE20 tests yielded an LE20-1 resonance spike at about 1380 Hz in free air, but the LX4-1 crossover 5 ohm, 8uF, 2.5mH impedance compensation circuit is a notch filter at about 1125 Hz. I'm going to assume that the JBL engineers designed this through testing the tweeter in the cabinet, and that accounts for the resonance frequency difference (if they were off that much, they completely missed the spot).

    The tapped 3mh inductor really has no impact on crossover frequency calculations, as it hits 8 ohms down around 400 Hz (4 ohms at 200 Hz), well below the capability of the tweeter. It provides only L-pad attenuation.

    What I'm going to experiment with, is to replace the series 8uF cap with 16uF, 24uF, 32 uF ... (doing this gradually, in steps) to get the crossover frequency as close to the 1125 Hz resonance freq as possible (or even going lower into the natural roll-off of the tweeter). Undoubtably, this will increase distortion, and I'll have to determine what sounds best to me and what I can live with.

    Any thoughts anyone ????

  2. #2
    RIP 2009
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Rohnert Park, CA
    Posts
    3,785
    Quote Originally Posted by Harry Rogin View Post
    Any thoughts anyone ????
    I've got a couple surplus LX4-1 crossovers here if ya' end up needing more fodder...

    John

  3. #3
    RIP 2011 Zilch's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Berkeley, CA
    Posts
    9,963
    Quote Originally Posted by Harry Rogin View Post
    Any thoughts anyone ????
    Yes, refoam the woofers and start over with a modern HF driver that'll not only produce VHF, which LE20-1 doesn't, but also cross low enough to mate with LE14A....

  4. #4
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    California
    Posts
    5
    Brake fluid? I've used silicone (DOT5) because it won't degrade the British rubber in the hydraulic systems of my antique Lotus Elan. I have used it on the tires and it makes them look new, BUT I have never thought of using it on speaker surrounds.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Altec 9861 Crossover missing capacitor
    By hmolwitz in forum Lansing Product Technical Help
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 09-26-2021, 04:48 PM
  2. ALtec Model 19-XO upgrade discussion
    By Gary L in forum Lansing Product DIY Forum
    Replies: 144
    Last Post: 12-13-2011, 10:51 PM
  3. Biamp crossover question
    By Steve Gonzales in forum Electronic Crossovers
    Replies: 77
    Last Post: 04-16-2006, 01:56 PM
  4. Repair/Rebuild 3110 crossover
    By wpod in forum Lansing Product Technical Help
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 10-16-2005, 01:56 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •