View Full Version : celestion ditton 66
getting rather excited now as they are due to arrive tomorrow afternoon,pics to follow and thanks to marco for being patient!:)
Audio Al
05-03-2016, 19:55
:):eyebrows::)
in the meantime ive just bought 2 lovely condition hf 2000's.....just in case:D
walpurgis
05-03-2016, 21:08
in the meantime ive just bought 2 lovely condition hf 2000's.....just in case:D
I suspect those were not cheap.
au contraire Geoff,£80 and from Mr qwin too :)
Lol - no worries, matey. Keep us posted and enjoy! :hairmetal: :fingers:
Marco.
walpurgis
05-03-2016, 21:17
au contraire Geoff,£80 and from Mr qwin too :)
Nice.
I've got a mint pair of 2000s tucked away too. The very late ones with no screw holes, from a pair of UL10s. I really rate the HF2000, much smoother and sweeter than the T27 or Coles. Up there with the Decca ribbons!
yep i like them too,i have another spare i bought when i had the 44's but these are in good shape so i thought it prudent to buy them,the poor old klh's are going back in the bedroom again :) shame as they've grown on me again.
Lol - no worries, matey. Keep us posted and enjoy! :hairmetal: :fingers:
Marco.
will do for sure,ive got about 6 hrs worth of flat cleaning to do so i'll listening to them a lot tomorrow
will do for sure,ive got about 6 hrs worth of flat cleaning to do so i'll listening to them a lot tomorrow
it will be quicker if you do it standing up :eyebrows:
6 hours of cleaning! What have you been doing? Dismembering a corpse in the bathtub?
lol im single so i let it build up :)
6 hours of cleaning! What have you been doing? Dismembering a corpse in the bathtub?
no, thats Marco's task for tomorrow ;)
walpurgis
05-03-2016, 21:38
the poor old klh's are going back in the bedroom again :) shame as they've grown on me again.
Now those would benefit from a pair of HF2000s used as super tweeters. Just plonk them on top of the cabinets pointing upwards with a bit of BluTak holding them in place. Wire them to the speaker terminals with a 0.22uFd cap in series and see what happens. :thumbsup:
Yeah I hear you, I'm the same, it's unreal how fast it happens even if you're trying to be tidy.
walpurgis
05-03-2016, 21:44
Yeah I hear you, I'm the same, it's unreal how fast it happens even if you're trying to be tidy.
Try living here mate. A slapdash daughter, two messy and untidy grand daughters and a wife who doesn't understand cleaning! :rolleyes:
no, thats Marco's task for tomorrow ;)
Yesh, you can't beat a nice bit of 'barbecue' (think Texas Chainsaw Massacre).... :eyebrows:
Marco.
they've just arrived!
i didnt realise the mid driver was so big!
initial thoughts are very nice!! :mex:
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj548/jamiecreig123/IMG_0201_zps22oalwsj.jpg
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj548/jamiecreig123/IMG_0202_zps5ixhocco.jpg
Wakefield Turntables
06-03-2016, 19:01
That dribble mark down the bass driver looks a little suspect :flasher:.
That dribble mark down the bass driver looks a little suspect :flasher:.
i must admit to a bit of wee coming out when i plugged them in :D
Glad they got there safely, mate, and that you're enjoying them. The 'spunk marks' were there when I got the speakers... It makes them distinctive! :eyebrows:
Besides, I preferred how they sounded with the grilles on anyway (more integrated). See what you think. Yeah, that (rather special) midrange unit is a big bastid! :D
Enjoy...
Marco.
Wakefield Turntables
06-03-2016, 20:24
These your old 66's Marco?
i must admit to a bit of wee coming out when i plugged them in :D
you mean Marco never emptied them:D
These your old 66's Marco?
Yerse... As demonstrated and raved about by everyone at Scalford 2011:
odlrzwQekoM
:cool:
Marco.
look what arrived today courtesy of ken,hf 2000's have a reputation for being fragile so i now have 3 as spares!
very clean examples.
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj548/jamiecreig123/IMG_0205_zpsn5syaaa1.jpg
not seen the back stickers before,
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj548/jamiecreig123/IMG_0208_zpswhnly4oj.jpg
im sooo loving these speakers!!
walpurgis
08-03-2016, 20:29
They look a nice pair (as the bishop said to the actress :)).
Are the 66s hitting the spot then, Jamie? :)
Marco.
spendorman
09-03-2016, 19:52
None of mine have that red label on, I have about six HF2000's
Are the 66s hitting the spot then, Jamie? :)
Marco.
oh yes! im so happy with them mate,i love them. i thought the 44's recapped were good but these are just on another level.every thing you read about them is true. :D
None of mine have that red label on, I have about six HF2000's
sweet as,mine must be super rare then :eyebrows:
oh yes! im so happy with them mate,i love them. i thought the 44's recapped were good but these are just on another level.every thing you read about them is true. :D
Excellent, mate. Makes me happy knowing that you're happy :thumbsup:
Marco.
walpurgis
11-03-2016, 23:50
How are the 66s going now that you've had a day or two to settle in with them Jamie? I've always liked those. Vastly better than the 44s in my view.
How are the 66s going now that you've had a day or two to settle in with them Jamie? I've always liked those. Vastly better than the 44s in my view.
Hi Geoff,
Yes they are much better than the 44's.
ive bought some angle iron to knock up some Mana style platforms to put them on,although just on the carpet they still sound brilliant.
i know its an old cliché but im hearing things in tracks i know well that ive not heard before,finger slides on guitar when changing chords are very pronounced
the mf500 driver is behind this i think.
I normally would change the caps and internal wire as a matter of course but im not even tempted to do that yet
I wish i had the hifi experience to describe how good they are!
So over all i chuffed to bits :)
J.
Excellent, mate. Makes me happy knowing that you're happy :thumbsup:
Marco.
Cheers matey,i really cant see me changing these ever!
I normally would change the caps and internal wire as a matter of course but im not even tempted to do that yet
I wish i had the hifi experience to describe how good they are!
So over all i chuffed to bits :)
Indeed. In the five years when I had them, I wasn't tempted either ;)
Basically, there's nothing fundamentally wrong with the sound, and even in stock form they perform to a very high standard, so if you do decide to tweak the crossovers, be very careful not to upset their balance :)
Marco.
walpurgis
12-03-2016, 20:25
Indeed. In the five years when I had them, I wasn't tempted either ;)
Basically, there's nothing fundamentally wrong with the sound, and even in stock form they perform to a very high standard, so if you do decide to tweak the crossovers, be very careful not to upset their balance :)
Marco.
Yep. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! :)
walpurgis
12-03-2016, 20:28
Cheers matey,i really cant see me changing these ever!
But!
Say you get up to London one day and just happen to pop by for a listen to my Tannoys.............Things could change! :lol:
But!
Say you get up to London one day and just happen to pop by for a listen to my Tannoys.............Things could change! :lol:
oh dear dont plant that seed!!
Indeed. In the five years when I had them, I wasn't tempted either ;)
if you do decide to tweak the crossovers, be very careful not to upset their balance :)
Marco.
if i did it would be like for like.....but upsetting them is enough to put me off like you said.
Yup, just enjoy them as they are for now, and then take things from there :cool:
Marco.
ive been playing around with speaker positions (doing my head in!)
my room is rectangular, 4.6 meters long by 3.4 wide,ive had the things moved in to the side and back walls and then out from the side and back walls in search of the sweet spot,to be honest they seem pretty good where ever they are but me being me i still wants to move them around some more.
ive looked at all the guides on the web and they all seem to be for a dedicated room where you can have the speakers 1 meter out from rear walls! 500mm is about my limit.
1 weird thing i have noticed is the bass is better when i stand up rather than sit down!
so any tips you can give me?
walpurgis
15-03-2016, 19:39
Get them up off the floor a few inches. Maybe paving slabs on cones?
yep thats in hand Geoff, :)
1 weird thing i have noticed is the bass is better when i stand up rather than sit down!
That isn't that unusual IME. I had to convert your room to proper English measurements to visualise it : so about 13' by 11' ? Your going to have some bass nodes quite high up especially with those speakers 'cause they are not shy in the bass. Can you get away with some room treatments?
I don't see why not as its only me living here.
What treatments were you thinking of?
I don't know specifically, I've never needed any in my room so it isn't something I've really researched; plenty of info on t'interweb, though.
ive been playing around with speaker positions (doing my head in!)
my room is rectangular, 4.6 meters long by 3.4 wide,ive had the things moved in to the side and back walls and then out from the side and back walls in search of the sweet spot,to be honest they seem pretty good where ever they are but me being me i still wants to move them around some more.
ive looked at all the guides on the web and they all seem to be for a dedicated room where you can have the speakers 1 meter out from rear walls! 500mm is about my limit.
1 weird thing i have noticed is the bass is better when i stand up rather than sit down!
so any tips you can give me?
Hi Jamie,
Whenever I've used the 66s (in four very different rooms during my ownership of them), they've always sounded best, not in free space, but placed almost right up against the back walls and in towards the corners of the room [almost as far apart as the room will allow], then *slightly* toed in towards the listening position.
Being sealed boxes, even though they have large 12" drivers, augmented by 12" ABRs, they can still sound bass-light without some wall reinforcement - and much like with my Tannoys, tend to boom if left in free space, where the bass not only loses impact, but texture, tunefulness and definition.
The right stands also make a significant difference, with the 66s, and I'm sure when you get that sorted out you'll hear even more of their remarkable musical abilities :cool:
Marco.
Sweet, cheers mate, I'm finishing off the mana copies today :)
Nice one - sounds very interesting. We'll need some pics when finished! :)
Marco.
Nice one - sounds very interesting. We'll need some pics when finished! :)
Marco.
well the frames are made,ive just got to make the spikes on monday :)
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj548/jamiecreig123/IMG_0211_zpscctfdbyx.jpg
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj548/jamiecreig123/IMG_0214_zpsf9mimkld.jpg
Cool - looking good, matey!
Don't forget that you'll also need an MDF board (of the correct size and thickness to support the speakers), placed between the spikes and bases of the speakers, as that's how Mana is designed to work....
Tip: non-magnetic stainless steel spikes and nuts sound best ;)
Marco.
yep stainless spikes are being used,what thickness of mdf? 20mm or 25mm ?
20mm would be fine.
Remember that you not only have to get the boards *absolutely* level, but so that, upon tapping them in the middle with your knuckles, you get a solid 'drum' sound, and not one that 'rings', which ensures that you've got the boards both planted properly on top of the spikes, and correctly 'tuned' :)
Also, only gently 'nip up' the nuts on spikes, with a spanner, once finger tight. DO NOT over-tighten them, as that will make for a bright/'etched' sound. That applies with ALL spikes and nuts used.
Marco.
20mm would be fine.
Remember that you not only have to get the boards *absolutely* level, but so that, upon tapping them in the middle with your knuckles, you get a solid 'drum' sound, and not one that 'rings', which ensures that you've got the boards both planted properly on top of the spikes, and correctly 'tuned' :)
Also, only gently 'nip up' the nuts on spikes, with a spanner, once finger tight. DO NOT over-tighten them, as that will make for a bright/'etched' sound. That applies with ALL spikes and nuts used.
Marco.
Thanks for the advice, all duely noted.
Next on the list is a turntable wall shelf :)
From what ive read the lp12 really benefits from one.
A wall shelf, providing that the wall in question is good/solid, is unquestionably the best place to house a turntable, and an LP12, especially, will benefit big time! :)
Just one other tip with your 'Mana' stands... When inserting the upward-firing spikes, which prop up the MDF boards, don't screw them in too far. You only want to expose enough of the spike to allow the boards to be supported. What you don't want is the boards 'perched high up' on extended spikes, as that will decrease rigidity and introduce unwanted resonance.
The same also applies to a lesser extent with the floor spikes on the bases. You don't want those extended out too far either, but long enough to ensure that the bases are properly planted and spiked into the carpet, so that the speakers don't rock, when applying movement from the top.
Hope it all works out well! :cool:
Marco.
Any further news on the spikes and setting up of the stands, Jamie? :)
Marco.
Been a bit busy at work mate, I'm hoping for Saturday though :)
Well ive been busy today finishing off my speaker platforms,all in all im very pleased with the results :)
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj548/jamiecreig123/IMG_0222_zps2vqncob3.jpg
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj548/jamiecreig123/IMG_0220_zpsitb2ws8m.jpg
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj548/jamiecreig123/IMG_0219_zpsjb0ws0u6.jpg
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj548/jamiecreig123/IMG_0225_zps1imgb4jw.jpg
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj548/jamiecreig123/IMG_0227_zpsnhzp6p6v.jpg
walpurgis
24-03-2016, 17:15
Looks very good Jamie. Are you putting anything between the speaker base and the plinth top?
cheers geoff, do you think i should? what do you recommend ?
walpurgis
24-03-2016, 17:31
cheers geoff, do you think i should? what do you recommend ?
I'd suggest felt pads. They'll give the speaker a firm footing, but not mark them. Rubber pads are less stable. I'd not use spikes or cones here.
good idea!
i may experiment with different boards under them,ie granite .
Looking good, Jamie!
I should've said though, to use short 'stubby' spikes to support the boards, as those long ones look a bit ungainly... Still, you could always get them cut. I probably would, simply to make things look neater. I'd also be tempted to lower the spikes a little bit more. You really just want the heads exposed, plus about 2mm of thread :)
Some felt pads wouldn't be a bad idea, but defo don't use any cones or spikes. Only wood should be used for the plinths (preferably MDF), if you want to retain the 'Mana effect'. So how are things sounding - have the stands made a difference?
Marco.
totally agree mate,i will be cutting them down tomorrow morning!
they have not made a huge differnce to be honest although there is a difference,they have calmed the bass down a wee bit and made it sound tighter i think.
does that follow what you found?
Yeah, pretty much, along with opening out the sound in general, with better midrange clarity, more detail at the top end, etc. The main purpose of using the stands is so that you can *properly* level the speakers, especially when placed on 'spongy' carpets - and meticulously levelled speakers (which STAY level) sound better than ones that aren't, and don't! :)
Marco.
Great job with the stands. I've heard those same speakers a couple of times, they are very good by any measure. Even Noel Keywood rated them when he heard them at Scalford. Not easy to please old NK.
thanks Martin,
today as recommended by Geoff ive puts some large felt pads under the bases,it has made them a bit less stable,i'll let them bed in overnight but i presume its better to have them sturdy .
walpurgis
26-03-2016, 17:28
Yeah. You should find the felt 'consolidates' after a while and any give will reduce. They don't really need to be too thick though.
,today as recommended by Geoff ive puts some large felt pads under the bases,it has made them a bit less stable,i'll let them bed in overnight but i presume its better to have them sturdy .
110% yes! Otherwise, you've simply compromised the (otherwise) rigidity gained by adding the stands... My advice would be to ONLY use the felt pads if they don't compromise rigidity, and if they still do after 'bedding in', to remove them.
The absolutely LAST thing you want, mate, is the speakers rocking on top the boards! :nono:
Firmly planted, and as level as a very level thing, is what you're looking for.
Marco.
ta, i'll let them sit over night and check tomorrow :hifive:
No worries, mate. Don't want you taking a wrong turn or undoing all your good work so far! ;)
Marco.
That non slip rubberised sheet is quite good under a speaker. I've used it in the past, and its cheap.
Really liking your work Jamie, very professional finish. Might well be having a chat with you commissioning something for me.
cheers ian,things have moved on since i made those,the mk2's are much better :)
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj548/jamiecreig123/IMG_0290_zpssn4p1ws7.jpg
Today i got home from work to find a little package from Falcon Acoustics,my caps have arrived.
knowing how good these speakers sound i was a little worried about doing a recap ,but im following Ken's thread and advice from him so i decided just to do the 2 (per speaker) 72uf elcaps that are used for the bass driver.
From what ive read about old electrolytics they will be well past their best,the date stamp inside the cabinets is 1974 so some fresh Alcaps are going in (like for like).
Looking at the wire used in the crossover it amazes me they sound as good as they do,the wire Celestion used is not even copper and is very thin!(same as th 44's) This in time is all coming out but im starting with the bass caps as i want to listen to the changes 1 step at a time.
First listening tells me they sound much improved, the bass has responded well and to my inexperienced ears they sound louder and smoother,it also sounds like the mid range has improved too (can this be right?)
it really pisses me off that i cant describe what i hear more precisely in words but it was well worth the £15.00 and its done wonders for them. :)
cheers ian,things have moved on since i made those,the mk2's are much better :)
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj548/jamiecreig123/IMG_0290_zpssn4p1ws7.jpg
If you're around the North West you're more than welcome to come and see how my Mana Reference rack / sound table are built / take measurements. This work looks as good easily. :)
Today i got home from work to find a little package from Falcon Acoustics,my caps have arrived.
knowing how good these speakers sound i was a little worried about doing a recap ,but im following Ken's thread and advice from him so i decided just to do the 2 (per speaker) 72uf elcaps that are used for the bass driver.
From what ive read about old electrolytics they will be well past their best,the date stamp inside the cabinets is 1974 so some fresh Alcaps are going in (like for like).
Looking at the wire used in the crossover it amazes me they sound as good as they do,the wire Celestion used is not even copper and is very thin!(same as th 44's) This in time is all coming out but im starting with the bass caps as i want to listen to the changes 1 step at a time.
First listening tells me they sound much improved, the bass has responded well and to my inexperienced ears they sound louder and smoother,it also sounds like the mid range has improved too (can this be right?)
it really pisses me off that i cant describe what i hear more precisely in words but it was well worth the £15.00 and its done wonders for them. :)
Excellent stuff, Jamie! Always intended to fettle them when I had them, but laziness got the better of me, especially as you say they sound so good 'as is'. However, they can undoubtedly be improved with judicious cap upgrades, as you've found out.
Enjoy, and keep us posted of progress! :cool:
Marco.
If you're around the North West you're more than welcome to come and see how my Mana Reference rack / sound table are built / take measurements. This work looks as good easily. :)
thanks for the offer but im way down south :( if you get the time i wouldn't mind knowing what size angle iron mana used for the rack/sound table please.
Excellent stuff, Jamie! Always intended to fettle them when I had them, but laziness got the better of me, especially as you say they sound so good 'as is'. However, they can undoubtedly be improved with judicious cap upgrades, as you've found out.
Enjoy, and keep us posted of progress! :cool:
Marco.
will do :cool:
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