CELESTION DITTON 15XR SPEAKERS upgrade path question

[Marco]

Hi Gerry,

As a longtime 15XR user, if the components in the crossovers are no longer performing to spec, I'd upgrade the necessary parts, but other than that I'd leave them well alone, as these speakers were produced in the days when they were 'voiced' by ear by experienced engineers, rather than a computer, so the balance will be spot on for their design.

Like Geoff says, adding another bass unit would just mess things up, and considering the modest size of the speakers, the ABR system does give surprising low-end extension, as indeed I can confirm from playing them through a movie/AV system yesterday!

The most important thing of all is to get them on proper speaker stands, which both support them properly, ensure that they are spot-on level and get the tweeters up to ear height. That done, just sit back and enjoy a 'budget' vintage speaker design, whose talents were never fully appreciated 'back in the day' with the (then) generally much inferior partnering equipment.

Marco.

[walpurgis]

There is one item that stands out in your system to me as not offering the greatest sound and that's the X-LPS. I've used them and not been too impressed. A Graham Slee ERA V Gold phono stage would be an eye opener in comparison. The sound would be vastly improved. The Graham Slee stage improves further if the optional PSU1 larger power supply is used. If the budget stretches, the dearer Graham Slee Reflex M takes things even further.

[Macca]

Coming from being a Kef only fan I'm slowly favouring the older Celestions as I hear more and think the sound can be a little warmer, not harsh in the top and mid like a lot of kefs.

I bit harsh on KEF, I've heard lots of their old and newer speakers and never heard one that was inherently harsh, but some of the more expensive models are very good indeed and will show up problems upstream with ease. Celestions tend to be more forgiving.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Hi,

Here is what I did to my 15's

1. Complete rewire - silver wire + teflon coating
2. Installed new silver plated binding posts
3. Rotated all the drivers in case of any sag
4. Increased dampening with all internal sides of speaker with 3mm sorbothane
5. Mounted cross over on sorbothane bed
6. Replaced all old foam and included more where i could cram it in.
7. Recapped the XO

Gerry,

I would do the following.

1. Forget adding an extra bass driver. You'd have to spend more money on modding the XO and additional wiring.
2. Re-wire with some decent 1-2mm Van Damme OFC cable.
3. Replace the single cap with something decent. Altough keep if still in spec to save a little money.
4. Definitely get some nice gold plated or solid copper binding posts.

I wouldn't bother with anything else. If I had another pair I'd probably go for the 15's and not the XR's, the 15's have the better tweeter. I would also externalise the XO. It's a nice pair of speakers. Better for the money your paying I'd grab them. Your still going to be able to sell them on.

[walpurgis]

Not sure I'd put extra wadding in the Ditton 15, XR version included. It's a tuned ABR system that relies on a certain amount of free space in the cabinet to work properly.

[Wakefield Turntables]

I only ended replacing like for like. TBH it didn't make any difference Geoff. That's why I've highlighted the mods I would do now rather than when I first modded my old XR's.

[walpurgis]

For anybody who likes the Ditton 15 speakers (either version), keep a look out for the rare Celestion UL8.



I think it's fair to regard these as the ultimate evolution of the Ditton 15 really.

[TazSob]

I bit harsh on KEF, I've heard lots of their old and newer speakers and never heard one that was inherently harsh, but some of the more expensive models are very good indeed and will show up problems upstream with ease. Celestions tend to be more forgiving.

OK, maybe a little harsh... I really like the old kefs and agree their more expensive models are superb, looking to grab a pair of 105/3s one day however the q35s for me sounded as if they were missing some depth. Think I'll have to listen to them again if I get the chance because I've read some good reviews for the uni-q drivers and maybe I was biased favouring the older pre 90's kef range to the newer stuff

[struth]

Cara's are pretty good for what they are. good size too. These are my favorite Kefs.

[diviy]

Cheers for all the advice one more question any idea on stans for them

Cheers Gerry