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Thread: Does anyone know anything about IMAX speakers?

  1. #1
    Senior Member Woofer's Avatar
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    Does anyone know anything about IMAX speakers?

    OK, so I'm about to pick up a pair of ex-IMAX speakers plus a sub.

    Wot I do know, is that they 'may' have (per box), is 4x 2123 (or 2202), 2345, TAD TD-2001, and a 2245 (sub).

    Wot I don't know is, what frequencies are these things crossed at, and is the model with the TAD before or after the model that had the 2404?
    Also, are these things completely bi-amped or is the TAD passively x-ed?

    Any IMAX specialists out there?

    Cheers all.
    I might be deaf, but I can still hear da bells! (Quasimodo)
    .... Oh, and the Kick Drum.

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    Senior Member Woofer's Avatar
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    I thank you for your input Stéphane, but I've read most of that, and maybe it's 'cause it's always been at the end of the day for me, generally in the very early hours of the morning, I may have overlooked the critical info that I'm after.
    Believe me when I say, I've read hundreds of pages on the matter, but the thing that I can't find is the specifics of cross-over points and any time alignment adjustments if at all.
    I'm about to pickup a pair of boxes plus a sub which I'm going to use for home stereo duties. Unfortunately there are no electronics with this setup, so I'm trying to figure out what and how it was done.
    I do know they used Brooke Sirens crossovers, but none the wiser re: the actual cross-over points used, or whatever other post processing.
    Of course I can choose my own, but I'd just like to know how they did it as a reference.
    I have the Brooke Sirens (actually 9x FDS 360 x-o's, and a rack of Phase Linear 700's plus a Amcron MA-2401 to handle all the power requirements and a JBL DSC 260 if the BSS don't work out, and Klark Teknik EQ, but what are the suggested x-o points for these speakers?
    I'm so exhausted from all the research I've done, and was praying someone with first hand experience with these things might step up, and add their 2 bob's worth.....

    Anyway, it's almost 4.30am, and I'm all worn out and off to bed.....

    Cheers....
    I might be deaf, but I can still hear da bells! (Quasimodo)
    .... Oh, and the Kick Drum.

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    Smile Imax setup

    Hello there,

    A few years ago I had the chance to obtain all the amplifiers from a Imax setup.
    All amplifiers have internal active crossovers (via dip-switches) and are from the AB International company.
    Models are:421A and 821A for the subs and model 713A for low,mids and highs.See specs on the AB-site.
    Crossover points for the 713A are 800hz and 7khz.
    Amplifiers were driven by (6 EA) Deq-1 Oxmoor equalizers.
    The subwoofers (8 in total) were Eminence 18" (Omega Pro?) and were a replacement of JBL 18".
    The other speakers were hanging on chains so i Couldn't get them to buy.
    Hope I could help you a bit with my input.
    Grtngs-Johan.

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jorre Pulle View Post
    Hello there,

    A few years ago I had the chance to obtain all the amplifiers from a Imax setup.
    All amplifiers have internal active crossovers (via dip-switches) and are from the AB International company.
    Models are:421A and 821A for the subs and model 713A for low,mids and highs.See specs on the AB-site.
    Crossover points for the 713A are 800hz and 7khz.
    Amplifiers were driven by (6 EA) Deq-1 Oxmoor equalizers.
    The subwoofers (8 in total) were Eminence 18" (Omega Pro?) and were a replacement of JBL 18".
    The other speakers were hanging on chains so i Couldn't get them to buy.
    Hope I could help you a bit with my input.
    Grtngs-Johan.
    Thank you Johan for your very valued input.

    So it would seem that there can be quite a variation regarding amps and speakers.
    The ones I'm picking up tomorrow are all JBL components except for the ultra highs. (TAD TD-2001) Apparently the JBL 2104 seems to be the 'normal' driver used instead of the TAD now. (someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.)

    The amplifiers that were used with this particular setup are the Sonics 800x, but are not available now as they were sold off separately.



    (... and yes, for those 'eagle-eyed' amongst you, it is a pic of one 'mirrored' for effect, but I'll post proper pics after I've picked 'em up.)
    I might be deaf, but I can still hear da bells! (Quasimodo)
    .... Oh, and the Kick Drum.

  6. #6

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lee in Montreal View Post
    And how many 2245s did you get?
    (sob, sob) ..... just the one.
    .... so far.
    I might be deaf, but I can still hear da bells! (Quasimodo)
    .... Oh, and the Kick Drum.

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    Are you sure there are JBL drivers in those? I'm restoring a set and they use Eminence drivers for the cones and TAD, B&C, or Celestion for the HF.

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    Quote Originally Posted by rlsound View Post
    Are you sure there are JBL drivers in those? I'm restoring a set and they use Eminence drivers for the cones and TAD, B&C, or Celestion for the HF.
    Hmmmmm.........
    Now THAT'S thrown a cat amongst the pigeons!
    .... and could very well explain a few things.
    After reading lots n' lots n' lots n' LOTS..... I've generally found reference only to JBL components, but had never found any reference to these boxes even having TAD or anything else for that matter.
    All the references I've found regarding what's in them is as I have mentioned in my first post.
    Now, not only your good self, but Jorre Pulle (Johan) has also mentioned the same thing.
    I won't know for certain until late tomorrow afternoon when I go to pick them up.
    Right now, the only thing I am certain of is that this particular pair have the TAD TD-2001. The rest is yet to be ascertained upon further investigation tomorrow.
    It's going to be a difficult judgement call, as the TAD's alone are worth the price of what I'm paying for the whole lot. (2 boxes and a sub)
    We shall see what happens tomorrow then.

    Thank you so much for that extra info rlsound. It's very much appreciated.

    I'll post an update as soon as I know what's going on.

    Cheers all

    ps: .... and yes, after a closer look at the above pic, they don't look like the 2202 (or the 2123, which was another JBL used), do they? The dustcaps are a little too big and hide the wire 'lead ins'.
    I might be deaf, but I can still hear da bells! (Quasimodo)
    .... Oh, and the Kick Drum.

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    Hans in luck?

    The Munich IMAX seemed to use stock JBL components.

    Only the 2404s they used had been modified. They had a long pipe between motor and horn to get the "acoustical centers" of the different speakers into one plane.

    Are You sure that the stuff You are going to buy is IMAX stuff?

    A discotheque comes two my mind, where a "helpful technician" had diagnosed the 2405s as defect, and had swapped them for little money against piezos. He took the 2405s home, of course.

    ruediger

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ruediger View Post
    The Munich IMAX seemed to use stock JBL components.

    Only the 2404s they used had been modified. They had a long pipe between motor and horn to get the "acoustical centers" of the different speakers into one plane.

    Are You sure that the stuff You are going to buy is IMAX stuff?

    A discotheque comes two my mind, where a "helpful technician" had diagnosed the 2405s as defect, and had swapped them for little money against piezos. He took the 2405s home, of course.

    ruediger
    Yes Ruediger, it is definitely IMAX.

    They were all pulled from an IMAX theatre. (along with at least another 4 boxes, which makes it a total of six, which is a standard IMAX setup.
    (left rear, left front, centre, one flown above centre, right front, right rear, and a special room that's tuned like a giant bass enclosure with 8 subs in it installed below the centre box.)

    I have seen an IMAX box from various sources on the 'net and they compare favourably with the above photo.

    There seems to be up to three different versions from what I've found so far, but the one thing they all have in common, is the actual box, (and the horns.)
    The drivers can vary, but the basic box is the same throughout....

    In another 12 hours, I'll know more.... (and I'm counting the minutes.)

    I might be deaf, but I can still hear da bells! (Quasimodo)
    .... Oh, and the Kick Drum.

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    The references you have read about JBL and IMAX are referring to the older systems that used four way clusters. These speakers you and i have are a very different beast. There are two different models, the SR (which is only the horns) and the GT, which is the model you have purchased. All IMAX theaters from 1998 until 2004 used these until the MPX line was developed. Aside from the four way JBL stack, the GT speakers are the best they have.

    The do use a passive crossover for the high-mid, but the woofers are powered separately making it biamped

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by rlsound View Post
    The references you have read about JBL and IMAX are referring to the older systems that used four way clusters. These speakers you and i have are a very different beast. There are two different models, the SR (which is only the horns) and the GT, which is the model you have purchased. All IMAX theaters from 1998 until 2004 used these until the MPX line was developed. Aside from the four way JBL stack, the GT speakers are the best they have.

    The do use a passive crossover for the high-mid, but the woofers are powered separately making it biamped
    That bit of info is 'gold', as I'm about to leave in an hour or so to do the deal....
    The current owner has been anything but forthright with info about this lot, and I've spent countless hours sifting through search results.
    At least now, after everybody's input, I'll be able to make a final decision on these things once I'm there.
    The offer currently stands at AU$2500 for the two boxes plus one sub.
    At least these have the TAD TD-2001 which can sell for up to $2500 on their own, so the overall deal still looks worthy, but I'm still none the wiser as to what the other compression driver is or even what the sub is for that matter, but I'll know soon enough.
    Thanks heaps once again.....
    I might be deaf, but I can still hear da bells! (Quasimodo)
    .... Oh, and the Kick Drum.

  14. #14
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    UDATE: To those that might like to know.

    Got 'em.
    They're in the back of the van, and that's where they'll stay for a couple of days.....
    I'm just too buggered, plus I underestimated how much room they'll need to set up.
    Ended up getting the two boxes plus two subs which are way bigger than I imagined, and I mean really really big. A good match I think/hope.
    Most importantly, they do have the TAD TD-2001, and yes, as stated by others, not a JBL anywhere.
    Interesting midrange setup, using a small (5" ?) cone driver coupled to the bigger of the two horns.
    I'll get some pics organised in a couple of days.

    HUGE "THANK YOU" to those who have added their experiences and opinions.

    All my best to all....

    Woof.
    I might be deaf, but I can still hear da bells! (Quasimodo)
    .... Oh, and the Kick Drum.

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    Hi woof,
    I am awaiting the pictures of your catch.
    Hope you are happy with the new "stuff".
    What brand are the "not JBL" then?
    Grtngs;
    Johan.

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