16Ω LF & 8Ω HF XO Good,bad,or just plain ugly?

[ixlam]

Hello all.
As the title suggests, I'm interested in mix/matching an 8Ω and 16Ω speaker system if possible/feasible.
My components are 414-16B woofers, 806-8A drivers, 511b horns & 614 cabinets.
Ideally, I'd like to try a 500hz crossover since I just moved up (or is it down?) from the 811b's.

I'm a relative newbie to this "sport" and I understand that it is "not recommended" for the 806 to be used lower than 800hz...
BUT I have also read that they will indeed play to 500hz. I am also aware of the 806's inability to play UHF 16k+.
..so since I only have an 8w/ch amplifier with the 806 loading caps installed, I think 500hz will be OK (with 18db slope).

1) Is it possible with this combo to add enough compensation/padding to build a usable crossover and have it sound right?
2) Is there too much difference in sensitivity between the 806 & 414? (109vs.99db not to mention the impedance difference?)
3) Could this difference actually be advantageous for padding/compensation? (more mid to pad down, leaving more top end?)

I realize these are not always straight forward questions to answer but if anyone cares to comment I'm all ears.
Thanks

[Earl K]

The mismatch in the 2 impedance's works to your benefit ( so consider yourself lucky ) .

Here's the raw ( & equalized ) response of an 806 on both a 511 ( & 811 ) horn .

http://www.audioheritage.org/photopost/data//500/Zilch_806_on_811_511B_.PNG

I don't know where you get your numbers from ( response & sensitivity ) but they aren't to be believed .

I'll say more later .

:)

[ixlam]

Hi Earl thanks for the encouraging news.. It's looking like with proper compensation this might actually work out.:)

I got my response & sensitivity numbers right here (http://www.lansingheritage.org/images/altec/specs/components/414a-515b-803b/page2.jpg) and from the AltecPro website here (http://altecpro.com/pdfs/vintage/SpeakerAndMics/speakers/414-8C LF Speaker.pdf) and here (http://altecpro.com/pdfs/vintage/SpeakerAndMics/drivers/802D 806A HF Drivers.pdf) as well as a little reading about other user experiences over at Audiokarma (http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=460731) regarding the 806 @ 500hz.

I don't find any official info about the 414-16B's. But the closest thing I did find is 414A (16Ω) specifications so I used those numbers. However, the 414-16B are newer so the SPL might actually be closer to the 8C version @ 96db ..

I have no doubt that if measured, my 806's would not have the claimed 500-22K response that the original altec spec sheet claims but that's all I had to go on. So maybe 550 or 600hz might be more a more reasonable xo point.

[ixlam]

OK... I did my "homework" and found the 9844 (http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?18913-Altec-9844-8B/page13) the AA 802D (http://thread.www.audiokarma.org/forums/showphp?t=297960) and Valencia (http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?14690-Look-at-my-new-babies-Altec-846Bs-w-EV-Tweeters!) threads that had all the answers I needed.
Thanks Earl! it seems you've already said enough in those posts, so there's no need for any of this > :dead_horse: