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Thread: Building a speaker system from bottom up

  1. #1
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    Building a speaker system from bottom up

    I am planning to put together a multi-way active speaker system and am looking at various options for drivers as it would seem I can take several approaches.

    Originally I wanted to clone 4345's, and then got into the idea of a 2 way using E145s and add UHF/subs later if needed... But always came down to me not pulling the trigger on anything. Until now.

    As it stands, I've acquired a pair of 2245 in 8 cubic foot enclosures that came with the drivers. The 1983 article gives 8 cubic ft plus a little EQ as a good starting point for home stereo subs. I use a DBX Driverack 260 right now for crossover and EQ duties.

    With the 2245 acquired, I now need to figure out the next stage. The 4345 crosses the 2245 around 290hz if I recall correctly. This provides a bit more flexibility than your typical subwoofer, but I haven't excluded using it solely under 100hz.

    Many like the 10" drivers mated to a 2245, but under 100hz, I don't think the 10 would be as authoritative as say a 12 or 15. This has me contemplating what avenues to take. Drivers I've considered in addition to the 10s have been E145, 2220, 2206. How high up I can take these is still something I need to research, and would definitely affect my top end choices.

    In my mind, the mid will be pretty influential to what my compression driver and horn/waveguide choices will be... Is it safe to say my approach of figuring out a mid first is the most logical way of moving forward at this point?

    Thanks and apologies if this is confusing or hard to follow.

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    Hello Mortron

    I have used both the hard to find 2122 and am currently running 2123's. They are both excellent drivers. They will not work as well under 100hz than crossing them at 300Hz in .5cuft sub enclosure. A 2206 certainly would as well as the 15's you have listed. Depends on what you want to do. You can 3 way or 4 way depending on driver choice and system size. A 12" based 3 way using 2245's with the 12 and HF in a separate cabinet will be much more space efficient than say a 15 based depending on when you crossover to the 2245's.

    As for me been running an active 4 way for years as my mains in my HT set-up. I use 2235's in B 380 clone cabinets using a BX-63A to provide the LF EQ. They crossover to E-145's at about 60Hz of so. These crossover at 300Hz to 2123's and these to 435Be's on PTH1010's @ 1500Hz using a passive EQ for the horn compensation.

    You are definitely in for a great time. It's fun putting it together and once you dial it in you are going to love it!

    Rob
    "I could be arguing in my spare time"

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    Why would you not run the 2245 to ~300hz? Seems like a waste. If I read the response chart correctly, The 2123 is down 7db at 100hz, but is essentially flat from 300 on up past mid-range. I don't have years of experimentation to draw on, but in my opinion the 2245/2123 seem to be a complementary.

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    Thanks for the replies.

    I'm not married one way or the other. It could quite well come down to what's out there when I pull the trigger. Kind of an issue when wanting to acquire 40 year old drivers I suppose.

    I do agree that the 2245/2123 combo would be a compliment. I think my next step (if possible) is going to be to go visit someone with 4345 and decide for myself whether or not I want to take the 2245 up to 300hz.

    Originally I was hoping I'd find E145's but they're not very common round my parts. Someone had posted a pair of ME150h to my local for $100 a pair this week but I was too slow. Same with 2123h I missed a bit ago. One day I'd like to own a pair of each but as it stands I am going to try to focus on this one system for now. Not to say I'd say no to a cheap pair of 2235s and starting another setup one day, but who are we kidding? Those ain't coming up anytime soon. Not cheap lol

    I guess the benefit to the smaller mid/midbass is that you're able to cross higher to the horn... I see you're crossing your 2123 over at 1000hz, is that correct DES? Still not sure what HF I will use, but I guess if crossing that low you start to want a 1.5" or 2" exit driver eh? I've seen JBL cross the 2425 around 1000hz in the 55000 IIRC but that was in a big horn and I'm sure the drivers have improved a fair deal since then.

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    Think my hf currently takes over from the 2123 at 1300; that's one of the great things about using the dbx360, the ability to easily move the the crossover point and type. And with a click of a couple buttons, you can shut off the low and high frequencies and have just the mid output driver going. I might try raising the crossover point significantly after reviewing the 2123 graph.
    Last edited by DES-1; 06-29-2019 at 09:23 AM. Reason: clarifrication

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    Quote Originally Posted by DES-1 View Post
    Think my 2123 currently takes over at 1300;
    Do you mean 300 hz? I use my 2123 from 300 hz - 1200 hz.

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    Quote Originally Posted by robertg View Post
    Do you mean 300 hz? I use my 2123 from 300 hz - 1200 hz.
    Whoops. 2123 crosses over to HF at 1300hz.

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    Quote Originally Posted by DES-1 View Post
    Whoops. 2123 crosses over to HF at 1300hz.
    I found a pair of JBL 1400 sounded a lot better than the 2123 crossed at 160 hz or even lower to the 2245 and then 800 hz to JBL 2450s on E-JMLC 300 horns.
    You will need something up top 8000 hz + but the 2405 did not like to be crossed that low.

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    Quote Originally Posted by David Ketley View Post
    I found a pair of JBL 1400 sounded a lot better than the 2123 crossed at 160 hz or even lower to the 2245 and then 800 hz to JBL 2450s on E-JMLC 300 horns.
    You will need something up top 8000 hz + but the 2405 did not like to be crossed that low.
    A JBL 1400 is a completely different animal judging from the specs and based on members comments they are stellar. My drivers are the 2245/2123H/2430k M2 version. So, there is adequate overlap to experiment with cross points and slopes. I'll probably save further experimentation for a wintry day as it sounds so fine with the initial cross points and equalization.

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    Quote Originally Posted by DES-1 View Post
    A JBL 1400 is a completely different animal judging from the specs and based on members comments they are stellar. My drivers are the 2245/2123H/2430k M2 version. So, there is adequate overlap to experiment with cross points and slopes. I'll probably save further experimentation for a wintry day as it sounds so fine with the initial cross points and equalization.
    Yes we forget sometimes to listen to the music.

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    Am still scratching my head on what to do. There are some 2123 out there I'm sure, but am not sure what a good price to pay even is. Some E145s I've seen cheap as chips and others priced at an arm & leg. Seems the 2206 hangs around the same price on used market. I don't see the 2123 enough to know what it goes for when it does come up these days.

    If I used a 2123h using a 1" driver above that would be possible yes? How low have some of the 1" compression drivers been comfortable going? Or are there too many trade-offs going with a 1", and am better served with a 2" and a tweeter? I like the idea of less drivers to integrate, but I'm not a fan of asking things to do what they aren't designed to do either.

    I'm more into the rock side of things than classical listening, but value all types of music and put even more value into speakers that can do a little of everything - all within reason of course.

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    414. If you get alnicos you will never part with them.

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    Not 2206, the cone is not for midrange. Maybe 2202.

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