EV eliminator into econowave?

[DJNUBZ]

So I have a pair of EV eliminators which are the older versions of the speakers seen here.

EV ELIMINATOR-I-E 15in 2-Way Loudspeaker + -  Passive Full Range Speakers- Full Range Speakers- Speakers- Pro Audio- PSSL.com

I have had these speakers for years and although they sound great for PA they are not what I would call audiophile. Now that a lot of work on this website has been done using wave guides and PA drivers I was wondering if anyone here has some ideas on how to make these sound like something I would want to use in a house. They are just sitting in storage and I hate to see them go to waste.

To me it seems like there may only be a few things I could really change. I could swap the drivers or I could upgrade the crossover. I guess I could possibly replace the horn with a waveguide but that might be more trouble then it is worth.

So any ideas?

[AllenB]

Hey DJ, good to see you still in the game.

That looks like a waveguide but it is difficult to tell from the pictures. If it is, it isn't the best kind. Can you live with the sound of it or not? If maybe then you may get away with just reworking the crossover and treating the waveguide, otherwise, a better waveguide.

If it was me, and I thought it sounded like it had potential (the drivers are good etc), I'd re-assess the box stuffing, deal with any sharp edges on the front, then I'd decide on the correct crossover frequency and get measuring. Redesigning a crossover is a time consuming task but it has its rewards.

I guess what I'm saying is that this style of speaker has a great deal of potential, and you just need to ensure that all the parts come together as they should.

[The Space Egg Corp]

Originally Posted by DJNUBZ

So I have a pair of EV eliminators which are the older versions of the speakers seen here.

EV ELIMINATOR-I-E 15in 2-Way Loudspeaker + -  Passive Full Range Speakers- Full Range Speakers- Speakers- Pro Audio- PSSL.com

I have had these speakers for years and although they sound great for PA they are not what I would call audiophile. Now that a lot of work on this website has been done using wave guides and PA drivers I was wondering if anyone here has some ideas on how to make these sound like something I would want to use in a house. They are just sitting in storage and I hate to see them go to waste.

To me it seems like there may only be a few things I could really change. I could swap the drivers or I could upgrade the crossover. I guess I could possibly replace the horn with a waveguide but that might be more trouble then it is worth.

So any ideas?

Hi DJNUBZ

Saw you here so thought I'd say hello.
I am at the moment trying to make a 'versatile loudspeaker'.
It's a large driver 2 way + waveguide.
There's been quite alot of thought about it from other members
@ the thread - 18" + WAVEGUIDE here at diyAudio.

One thing I would say from experience about this type of speaker and also guitar type speakers is this.

If you change the 1/4" jack socket to some thing decent, with good power handleing capabilities, that MAY be all you need to do.

I use the 'Neutrik Speakon' connectors, they are the best speaker connectors available (and not at rip off 'Hi-Fi' prices either).

You could be totaly amazed that for $5 you just got a stunningly better sounding, more dynamic speaker.
Try it, it's dead easy, and it works.

Cheers

Simon

[DJNUBZ]

AllenB yeah I have been out of audio for a while but now I am working in the audio field and I am trying to catch up and really get back into the game. Do you think that a change in waveguide would make a large difference in sound? I have not played around with waveguides at all.

The Space Egg Corp, I have been reading parts of your post on the versatile loudspeaker. I am curious what the final design will be. The EV's I have currently have neutrik connector but I use adapters with them. I may try to add a set of binding posts.

I don't DJ anymore so I can use these speakers for what ever I want. In the end it may be better to just sell them and use the money to make something else. It just seems to me like PA cabs like this are 90% of what a gedlee suma is. I'm surprised guys on this board arn't buying up old PA cabs, building new enclosures, adding a proper waveguide and calling it a day. If I had some wood working tools available, I would even try that.

[AllenB]

Originally Posted by DJNUBZ

Do you think that a change in waveguide would make a large difference in sound?

Without knowing too much about the one you have, I'd still probably consider practicality and economy, which is why I asked you if it was reasonable sounding as it is. You can do things like rounding the mouth into the baffle by adding to it, and you can stuff a horn (much has been written about this).

If you can take some response plots on and off axis you might estimate how good the crossover and waveguide is.

a gedlee suma

If you go down this road, you won't go wrong

[gedlee]

Originally Posted by DJNUBZ

It just seems to me like PA cabs like this are 90% of what a gedlee suma is.

Wow, what a startling statement. I would have guessed from looking at the design that it wouldn't sound anything like a Summa. But then what do I know.

[The Space Egg Corp]

Originally Posted by DJNUBZ

AllenB yeah I have been out of audio for a while but now I am working in the audio field and I am trying to catch up and really get back into the game. Do you think that a change in waveguide would make a large difference in sound? I have not played around with waveguides at all.

The Space Egg Corp, I have been reading parts of your post on the versatile loudspeaker. I am curious what the final design will be. The EV's I have currently have neutrik connector but I use adapters with them. I may try to add a set of binding posts.

I don't DJ anymore so I can use these speakers for what ever I want. In the end it may be better to just sell them and use the money to make something else. It just seems to me like PA cabs like this are 90% of what a gedlee suma is. I'm surprised guys on this board arn't buying up old PA cabs, building new enclosures, adding a proper waveguide and calling it a day. If I had some wood working tools available, I would even try that.

[DJNUBZ]

gedlee when it comes down to it a speaker is nothing more then an enclosure, drivers and crossover. If you were to take a quality PA speaker, put it in a sealed enclosure, swap the horn for a wave guide and tweak the crossover you would be at a very similar level as your current line of speaker. That still takes a lot of work, measurement and knowledge to reach the level of your speakers but it isn't outside the realm of most people on this board. I believe that is why the econowave became so popular, until the waveguide dried up.


The more I get back into audio the more I think that a lot of designs ignore pro audio drivers to their detriment. Granted the trade off from standard drivers and pro audio drivers is size. It seems like people on this board and other audiophiles are willing to give up a bit of room for better sound.

[The Space Egg Corp]

Originally Posted by DJNUBZ

AllenB yeah I have been out of audio for a while but now I am working in the audio field and I am trying to catch up and really get back into the game. Do you think that a change in waveguide would make a large difference in sound? I have not played around with waveguides at all.

The Space Egg Corp, I have been reading parts of your post on the versatile loudspeaker. I am curious what the final design will be. The EV's I have currently have neutrik connector but I use adapters with them. I may try to add a set of binding posts.

I don't DJ anymore so I can use these speakers for what ever I want. In the end it may be better to just sell them and use the money to make something else. It just seems to me like PA cabs like this are 90% of what a gedlee suma is. I'm surprised guys on this board arn't buying up old PA cabs, building new enclosures, adding a proper waveguide and calling it a day. If I had some wood working tools available, I would even try that.

Hi DJNUBZ

Just pushed the wrong button and posted nothing, sorry...

Yes...Scrap the adaptor, and keep the 'Speakon', unbeatable !

The 'Neutrik Speakon' connector exerts a huge amount of contact pressure compared to the average 4mm, the bayonet fitting means it's self cleaning pretty much, no exposed short circuit prone, oxidizing wiring either.
When I use the Speakons, I double up pairs of poles on a 4 way speakon, and hard solder both the plug & socket.
No nasty melting either, they seem to be made of glass reinforced very heat proof plastic.
Have soldered very thick cables with 2 soldering irons this way.

My opinion is that binding posts are from the dark ages, along with thumb screws and wind up grammophones.

I suppose everyone has to hang up their slipmats and call it a day sometime.
What kinda toonz you spin NUBZ ?

Not sure what a gediee suma is I'll Google it and find out.
It's not from Star Wars is it ?

With the way that listeners habitualy site themselves and aim their bottoms at the dead centre position beween the speakers, there seems to be alot of people wasteing alot of time talking about 'off axis response', at some truly extreme and bizare angles to me.

How do the EV's sound at a sensible living room volume, bum parked between them, not somewhere leftfield or in the next room or back yard.

Cheers

Simon

(sorry about no-post glitch, I have cell phone internet, and this stuff takes ages....later NUBZ....)

[gedlee]

Originally Posted by DJNUBZ

If you were to take a quality PA speaker, put it in a sealed enclosure, swap the horn for a wave guide and tweak the crossover you would be at a very similar level as your current line of speaker.

You can believe that if you want to.

For one thing the foam plug, a major aspect of the design, is covered by a patent.