JBL Dale tweeter upgrade

[hifi]

I recently purchased a pair of very rare Dale speakers from 1957. They have one 7" full range driver, a port and a curious blanked-off space thought to accommodate an optional tweeter. (Not to be confused with the "rocket" tweeter used in the similar Bel Aire speakers.) I wonder if others could shed some light, and the items needed to complete the upgrade? Thank you. 89450

[Triumph Don]

Well first thing to do is refoam those. woofers. My guess is that the original looking surrounds just do not work as designed. Actually, I am certain of it!

[hifi]

Yes, planning on it. Simply Speakers?

[Triumph Don]

I would recommend Rick Cobb:

looneytune2001 | eBay Stores (https://www.ebay.com/str/looneytune2001?_bkw=JBL)

You will need exact diameter of the cone, less the old surround

[Triumph Don]

Also, being a full range speaker, adding a tweeter would be a bad thing. You would need different woofers and a custom crossover as well as tweeters. Very cool either way!

[MoD]

If those were mine, I would first refoam them, then give them good listening. Wizzer cone fullrangers tend to have laser like behavior in high frequencies. In that small sweet spot they could have enough hi frequencies output, so play a little bit with placement and angles...
Also, "full rangers" often lack down and up frequencies extremes, but compensate with coherent output.

If You still lack hi frequencies, try to measure response. Not only they could lack hi frequencies, perhaps they have some anomalies in hi frequency output, like cone brake up or so.. So You can make crossover point such to avoid that problems. With measured output, You will know how much You have to reduce tweeter output allso...

I guess that those speaker could play nice to about 6,5 or even 8 kHz... so first or second order crossover network and L pad should do...

[BMWCCA]

Pretty much all the information you need on what is in the optional S5 load is in the LH library here: http://www.lansingheritage.org/images/jbl/catalogs/1962/page22-23.jpg

[hifi]

Looks like a different main driver for the S5 version? And is that third component the crossover? Thx

[Odd]

S5 has LE 10A bass, LE 30 treble and LX 3-1 crossover.

[hifi]

Super helpful information everyone, thx for taking the time to respond!

[BMWCCA]

The $6 adapter kit shown consist of the blocking plate where the tweeter goes and the spacer so the 8-inch driver can fit in the cabinet's 10-inch hole. That was one heck of an upgrade for not even sixty-bucks back then! (Or nearly a 50% increase in system price!)

[Eaulive]

The $6 adapter kit shown consist of the blocking plate where the tweeter goes and the spacer so the 8-inch driver can fit in the cabinet's 10-inch hole. That was one heck of an upgrade for not even sixty-bucks back then! (Or nearly a 50% increase in system price!)

Was the port different too? It looks like if it's removeable.

[BMWCCA]

Was the port different too? It looks like if it's removeable.
Have to ask HiFi to remove the adapter plates and report back. Pictures of the S5 load show no port. In that case the adapters might be to allow tweeter placement for mirror image layout with the 10-inch driver. :dont-know: