Pics of my RS 1354 bipoles w/ PR

These are my current project. The cabinets are old Epicure speaker cabs which originally housed an 8" woofer and a soft dome tweeter. None of the speakers worked however when I saw them in a pawn shop. I paid $15.00 for the pair.

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k189/3-LockBox/DCP_0046.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k189/3-LockBox/DCP_0047.jpg

Those are venerable old RatShack 40-1354 5.25" fullrange dual cone drivers (front and back) and the larger driver is a Dayton 8" passive radiator. The 1354s are wired in parallel for a 4 ohm load.

No contour network. No helper tweeter (yet), and on the right source equipment, no helper tweeter necessary.

I got the RS 1354s on closeout years ago for 2 to 5 dollars (US). The PRs are from Parts Express ($15.00 ea).

Total cost around $60-$65. I have the original grills (in decent shape) but haven't gotten around to putting them back on. They were originally glued to the front baffle.

I should add that I'm extremely pleased with the sound of this speaker. This speaker first housed a front firing port and the bass was so muddy. Sealing the cabinet zapped it for bass. The PR sounds great and is magical on jazz recordings playing through my Super T amp.

TerryO said:

That's pretty neat looking. Are you going to bring them to the Contest?

Another thing, ignore Godzilla, he's tweeter crazed
I think it stems from the fact that he can still hear that high, but as with everything else; in time, that too will pass.

Anyhow, hopefully we'll see you there and get some measurements for you.
Best Regards,
TerryO

Click to expand...

Yes, I do plan on bringing these (sans tweeters), cuz I want to get them 'measured' by pros. No, I don't think they'll place in a contest, but I'm not worried about winning either.

But one thing is for sure, Fullrange, single driver designs are a lot more feasible for me, now that I own a T-amp. These things are lack-lustre on a regular old SS amp. Not only is the mid range better, but the bass is better on my Super T.

Godzilla said:

http://www.zillaspeak.com/ZillaSpeakStraightPipeForSale.asp

tweetah... 8 ohm across the terminals, .47uf to the +

I wonder how it sounds with the passive? Always wanted to do a passive...

Usually i just wire the tweeter so you can't even hear it... but i think the 1354 needs a bit o tweet.

Enjoy. Love the old EPI box!

Click to expand...

I was thinking about a rear mounted tweet ala 'Zilla, actually. I'll prolly wait until after the contest. But seriously, I like it fine with the right source equipment. But then again, I have no problem with EQing the sound either, which is what I do to a small degree.

theAnonymous1 said:

I have two pairs of theses drivers, seems like a fun design to play with.

What is the tuning frequency of the PR? Would there be any benefit to having a PR on each side, making even the PR's bipole?

Click to expand...

This is a .75 cu.ft cabinet. Two 1354s barely drive the 8" PR adequately enough, so I doubt they'd drive two. I wouldn't try a larger cab either, though supposedly these driver's VAS is approx .75 cu.ft.

All the specs list is the fs of the PR @ 21hz, but I'm sure it resonates higher freqs than that. There was no chart or instructions as to how to tune it. There is a threaded pole piece for adding mass to it, however. I'm running it with no added mass.

It just does augment the lower end. Don't expect a sub-like response.