Sharp 15" 3-way improvements

[ostripper]

Having devoted myself to amplifiers for the last year , I have neglected the loudspeaker end of the chain. Now that I have a rock solid 200w+ of symasym power, I felt the need to move some air.

At the thrift shop today I "landed' a pair of these...



1 little chip on box , all the drivers work , a nearly perfect Sharp 15" 3-way pair for 30$. I always take things apart and find out what they are , so I was surprised to find all the drivers at partsexpress. The bass driver , while not being the greatest , seemed to handle 150 watts pretty good while shaking the house.


http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=290-175
The tweeter also performed nicely at high levels. The dirt cheap mid sounded strained with "classical thunder".



I looked at the Xover and they had a silly little board with 1- 2.2uf and a 15uF cap .. that's the Xover.. also, the woofer had no coil (inductor), so I assume standard 1.5k / 5k crossover points. I feel with a better midrange and a real crossover , much better performance could be realized with this 3.4cu ft. monster. I know it is a cheaper OEM ("rent -a- center" on back) , but my wife takes all my money. Any suggestions on a better mid and crossover (I can make boards) would be appreciated.
OS

[Moondog55]

Good buy!
Do you intend keeping the existing cabinets??

[ostripper]

Good buy! Do you intend keeping the existing cabinets??

They are in real good shape , 5/8 and 3/4" construction. These are just to" tide me over" till I get around to build some "proper" 12" super- duper peerless 3-ways.

The mids have to go , Cheeeeep , I saw these...

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=280-115


Still cheap , but much lower Fs (470) and better construction. I only paid 30$ for the whole thing , so I just want "bang for the buck"
OS

[kyrie48]

Those woofers are quite decent, not top-of-the-line, or "boomers", but a nice quality bass. They're worth more than you paid... and even the boxes can be upgraded at a later point. I'm doing that to a 2.5cf pair of cheap 5/8" JVC boxes I got free... I stripped off the vinyl, and am going to glue 1/2" solid pine over the 5/8" particle board.

I'm going to turn one side of the boxes to the front, and make those the front baffle... I cut a roughly 12" plug to fill the hole where the woofer was, and will glue/screw that to the inside of the pine sides. Gonna cut a hole to fit a 8" woofer, and a port, and build a separate midwoofer/tweeter enclosure.

Good luck... and enjoy those however you use 'em!!

[Moondog55]

I'd try and get a pair of the sealed back Peerless mids, the units with the integral enclosure, similar vintage, use the box in the current orientation and just make the usual improvements with corner braces and fiberfill

[Caferacer]

I've often listened to speakers at friends houses like that and thought these aren't THAT bad. But the "big tweeter" mid range would have to go.

[Helmuth]

I would like to hear that woofer looks nice.
spl woofer 96 dB 1wmtr


your mid 90dB 1wmtr this can't fit nice.
this mid you use

Use this Hivi dome spl 93dB 1wmtr
2" dome


cone 92dB 1 wmtr
cone mid pioneer

pylepro

The best 94dB 1 wmtr
pioneer $19


And filter 2 oct


3way $34

So ask your wife 110$ back

[ostripper]

And filter 2 oct 3way $34 So ask your wife 110$ back

The crossover caught my eye. looks like good construction , too. I guess one could just save any upgrades to this speaker to reuse when a professional one is built.

This one is just to fill the time before the real one is built.I have brand new Hitachi table saw / router , 10 years of custom kitchen/ cabinetry experience.
OS

[Helmuth]

Originally posted by ostripper


The crossover caught my eye. looks like good construction , too. I guess one could just save any upgrades to this speaker to reuse when a professional one is built.

This one is just to fill the time before the real one is built.I have brand new Hitachi table saw / router , 10 years of custom kitchen/ cabinetry experience.
OS

This XO doesn't work with your cone midrange because it works form 2kHz up. The XO for the midrange works form 800Hz up.

Your woofer is very nice combine a nice dome tweeter and maybe a 94dB 1Wmtr tweeter and make a good cabinet and your ready.

[ostripper]

This I realize , that is why I said the mid that's in it has to go (super cheep).
I will order this instead , perfect fit , kind of cheap , too.
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=280-115

Sealed back midrange eliminates need for separate midrange enclosure. Features poly-mica cone, treated foam surround, and aluminum voice coil for higher power handling. *Power handling: 40 watts RMS/55 watts max *Voice coil diameter: 1" *Impedance: 8 ohms *Frequency response: 800-8,000 Hz *Fs: 470 Hz *SPL: 89 dB 1W/1m *Dimensions: Overall Diameter: 5-1/8", Cutout Diameter: 4-1/8", Mounting Depth: 2-1/2", Magnet Diameter: 3-1/8", Magnet Height: 3/4".

The cabinet is cheap as well ,but it will do for now. I want a real 3/4"MDF all around box w/ bracing and a 12-15" dayton ported to 30-40hz. If I buy the XO now ,I will take it out later for my good ones.
The pioneer woofer DOES sound good , just a little "muddy" at the
mid-bass , no doubt the lack of a XO !