help lowther replacement?

[i4gotmyid]

I have inherited a pair of extremely nice lowther medallion horn cabinets that were designed for a lowther ex3 (which are dying...well one is pretty much dead), I was wondering is there an affordable drop in replacement? I was thinking either the audio nirvana super 8 (which is close in specs) or the tang band 1772 (which isnt) or the Fostex FE206En. The latter two which people seem to enjoy more.

Do driver specs matter on a BLH? (I know they matter, but is it only bass extension based on horn length?) or is it more a matter of "trying it out"...i know there are lots of threads, and yes I've read most of them...the problem is understanding them...

ps. i have had experience with regular port/box speakers, but not with horns, so i am at a loss...

[hm]

Hello,
there are so many drivers outside which will work,
the point is the cutout diameter, IMHO you need 190 mm, or an extra baffle.

[i4gotmyid]

so the horn isnt driver specific? it doesnt create any problems/humps in response curves etc when swapping driver? I can create an extra baffle for my cabinet without too many problems, I just didnt know it was that simple

[frperdurabo]

Qt and Vas matter, as they determine how large the compression chamber should be, and, along with Fs, how large the throat should be. I just looked at the T/S for the Lowther and the AN Super 8 and yeah...they're close enough.

I'm sure someone will disagree, but, as you suspect there's a fair amount of "slop" in BLH / driver matching - just compare the differing T/S parms of the various 8" Lowther drivers that are meant for use in the Medallion cabinet.

The higher Qt of the Tang Band driver means you'll get more bass. The problem is, you might get too much.

Honestly, the best way to check is simulate them. Download McBean's Hornresp program and plug in the Lowther, Fostex, and Tang Band parms and see what you get. (The Medallion cab's measurements are on the Lowther website, yes?) It's not the easiest program to figure out, but there are experts here on DIY audio who can answer questions. It's possible the Tang Band might actually be a significant improvment, bass wise.

[frperdurabo]

I just noticed that the T/S parms for the Tang Band on Parts Express show a lower - .27 Qt than the website I first googled. So yeah - that should work.

That frequency response, if accurate, is really, really nice. Much less peaky than the Fostex, Audio Nirvana, or Lowther.

[hm]

because it is made by TB, and on a IEC baffle etc.
thumb norm is reso/Qts = more than 120 will work the rest is damping material check.

[pjanda1]

Have you checked into getting the Lowther reconed? I'm not sure how much it would cost, but you mention a couple of fairly expensive "replacements". If I had a pair of EX3 and giant matching boxes, I'd be highly inclined to keep them going!

Paul
Wild Burro Audio Labs - DIY Full Range Speakers

[i4gotmyid]

fixing = $600...tangband = 360 or less used, fostex, AN= 180 or less used...i figure i would throw these on ebay and use funds to offset cost of other drivers...i was primarily looking at fostex/an, but while reading a bunch of threads everyone raved about the tangband so i included it as well...

so HM, its just FS/QTS > 120 = driver working in a horn? if so, then it is simple

[hm]

thumb norm from Klinger late 70´s, you see what i tested during the years, look my HP.

[Billy60300]

The same here: EX3s frying SO easily, handling power 100 watts should read Milliwatts... screeching sound all the way (their trebble are quite crazy and wild) so replacement needed indeed.
In a TQWT, I have tried replacing them with Fostex 207: low medium is excessive, unbalanced indeed: the 207 is known to be better for DBR. So IMHO no 207 for a horn case.
So now am trying Fostex 206E, lots of happy users, I expect it to be successful.
By the way, I have a newly recoiled EX3 for sale.