2245H vs TL-1801

[pos]

Simple and short question: does anybody here have experience comparing the 2245H to the TAD TL-1801 ?
More specifically, that would be for a 30Hz-300Hz application, similar to the 4345 or Westlake SM1.

[Lee in Montreal]

Simple and short question: does anybody here have experience comparing the 2245H to the TAD TL-1801 ?
More specifically, that would be for a 30Hz-300Hz application, similar to the 4345 or Westlake SM1.

I don't have the experience with the TAD, but looking at its specs, TAD shows a 26Hz Fs versus the 2245's 20Hz. JBL's goes lower.

[pos]

The simulations show similar responses in the same box.
The TAD does however have a lower xmax...

[Lee in Montreal]

The simulations show similar responses in the same box.
The TAD does however have a lower xmax...

Then if TAD and JBL drivers offer the same sound overall, then I would enquire about replacement part support and prices. How much are surrounds or recone kits? I don't know how the supply is in France, but in the US and Canada, there are plenty of empty 2240/2245/e155 baskets for $50/$80 top, while a new JBL recone kit is $200+ which means they are easy to get and replace. We're talking $280 for a brand new redone driver which means you can have 2 or 4 subs for cheap. Enough to shake the foundations of your "pavillion de banlieu" :D

I have been living with a 2245h sub for 10 days and find it very good. A delicate brute.

[pos]

I do have a pair of 2245H in 4645 cabs, currently used up to 200hz, and I do like them a lot.
One of the advantages of the TAD is that they have cloth surrounds, so the servicing is less of an issue.

Wesltake seems to favor them over the 2245H, as they are an upgrade option in the SM1 (along with ET703 instead of 076)

[Ruediger]

In Thiele's tables the best possible matches for the drivers are the following alignments:

TAD TL-1801: Qt = 0.383, Vab = 354 ltr, f3 = 26 Hz
JBL 2245: Qt = 0.303, Vab = 278 ltr, f3 = 29 Hz

The Qt is larger than that of the speakers, which allows for some DC resistance in the crossover series coil and the cables, and for a non-zero output impedance of Your amp.

ruediger

[rlsound]

The TAD handles more power and has the cloth surround. Two positives right there above the 2245.

If you blow the TAD though, it will cost you alot $$$$.

[pos]

up

Anyone was able to compare the Westlake SM1 TAD and JBL versions?

[Mr. Widget]

If you blow the TAD though, it will cost you alot $$$$.
Reconing a 2245 costs ~$300. The recone kit from TAD is $445 plus labor. So far both are still supported by their respective manufacturers. The JBL is long since discontinued, but so far they have been good about continuing to make kits available. The TAD product is still current. They don't have as good of a track record for continuing to offer kits long after production ceases.

As for the sound, I have never compared them, but there is far more to the sound of a speaker than its Fs or even the entirety of it's TS parameters.


Widget

[pos]

In home usage I don't think I would ever have to recone either one, but foam surrounds is an issue I will have to face with the 2245H...

[Allanvh5150]

In home usage I don't think I would ever have to recone either one, but foam surrounds is an issue I will have to face with the 2245H...

How old do your foams last? I have a pair of L86's with original foam.

Allan.

[Tim Rinkerman]

"As for the sound, I have never compared them, but there is far more to the sound of a speaker than its Fs or even the entirety of it's TS parameters."
Widget, it is always good to read your posts...it's nice to hear that there are still some of us that actually believe that there is more to the way things sound than the sum of its parameters!!
As far as the JBL vs. TAD discussions, as much as I bleed JBL blue, I have seen TAD to be a refined JBL. Their tolerances are a bit tighter, their fit and finish is a bit better...in automotive racing terms, they are what we would call "blueprinted"...they are not built near the ends of the tolerance scale, but more in the center of it.

[pos]

Sure, TAD quality and consistency is top notch!

I think the equivalent to the TL1801 in 15" would be the TL1603 (same motor structure).
So comparing the TL1603 to the 2235H would give a clue as to how the TL1801 would compare to the 2245H.

Here is an interesting comparision between the two, by George Augspurger:
http://www.audioheritage.org/html/perspectives/lht-2003/sunset.htm

Today the TAD TL-1603 is the most popular choice. It sounds very much like a 2231/2235 but will take incredible abuse without blowing up. At Sunset, we tried 1603's in all three studios, but decided that the JBL woofers still sounded better in two of the three.

[cosmos]

Wesltake seems to favor them over the 2245H, as they are an upgrade option in the SM1 (along with ET703 instead of 076)

First of all, I am puzzled. While the 2245 re-cone kits remain available, aren't the 2245 complete drivers distant history? How does Westlake offer 2245 drivers in the first place? Second, isn't the TAD TL-1801 driver still available from TAD?

On a side note, I also have several 2245s and I would not want to take them as high as 300 Hz or even 200 Hz. I cross them over around 100 with at least a 12 db or steeper crossover. To me, they have always seemed muddy much above that.. Maybe it's just me..

[BMWCCA]

On a side note, I also have several 2245s and I would not want to take them as high as 300 Hz or even 200 Hz. I cross them over around 100 with at least a 12 db or steeper crossover. To me, they have always seemed muddy much above that.. Maybe it's just me..Could be. ;)
JBL crossed them at 290Hz in the 4345. I do the same with my 4345 bi-amp clones. Seems to me it works pretty well. :dont-know:

[Ian Mackenzie]

Crossed over below 100 hz the 2245 and box is less critical.

The 2245 is more prone to boundary room effects when crossed over at 290 hz.

I have heard Bo's 4345s full equalized and the bass is quite crisp and natural.

Ian