CELESTION DITTON 15XR SPEAKERS upgrade path question

[diviy]

Got the chance of a nice set of CELESTION DITTON 15XR SPEAKERS I have been doing a bit of reading up and I am sure someone on this forum added a extra bass driver .
If any knows about this update could they let me know how they did it and what other mod`s they did

Cheers Gerry

[walpurgis]

I don't know who did that, but I can't see any advantage. The 15XR is a carefully balanced ABR design and any tinkering, like adding another ABR or bass driver will just cock things up.

They are worth buying and using as they are though (at the right price). The bass performance for their size may surprise you and the tweeter and main driver are pretty well integrated, so the response is smooth enough.

[struth]

only person I can think of that did up 15's here was Andy(rexton)

[diviy]

cool that`s good news from what I can gather they need better speaker cable binding post and possibly a rebuild of the cross overs and check what condition the internal foam is. If the foam needs replacing what foam is it and also heard people use Sorbothane sheeting. inside the case as well any advice :):):)

[struth]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161282941044?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

this stuff is good inside speakers. usually needs extra glue though

[walpurgis]

cool that`s good news from what I can gather they need better speaker cable binding post and possibly a rebuild of the cross overs and check what condition the internal foam is. If the foam needs replacing what foam is it and also heard people use Sorbothane sheeting. inside the case as well any advice :):):)

Steady there Gerald. Don't get carried away! :) If you fancy them, get them and try them as they are, they may be just fine and not need tinkering. Just see how it goes (if you get them).

[walpurgis]

Oh. And be very careful with the little wire coming out from each side of the tweeter dome. They are fragile and vulnerable.

[diviy]

Cheers for the advice I wonder what the differance will between these and my Kef Q35`s

[TazSob]

Your Kefs are much more modern and as a result I don't think you can really "compare" them... I'm into both Kef and Celestion speakers and have found that each has their own pro's and cons. 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.

[diviy]

I was on another forum and asked where I could go to upgrade my system on a budget medically retiered for the last 6 years so so I am on a tight budget
here is a list of my kit opinions please I was advised that my Kef q35`s are the weak point and was told to look at a set 70s/80s speaker`s
so any thoughts and advice please



So I am looking at the cheapest way of improving my kit .

Here is a list of it

Arcam a65 running as a pre

2x Arcam alpha p8 running in mono

sl1210 with a early time step power supply ,kab fluid dampner

Funk firm Acromat

Ortofon 2M Red MM Moving Magnet Cartridge hoping to move up to the blue

Musical Fidelity X-LPS Phono Stage

Musical Fidelity X can headphone amp

Creek Evo 1 cd player

Kef Q35 speakers

Cambridge dab 300 tuner

Chord rumour 2 speaker cable

Klotz mc5000 interconects

Cheers Gerry

[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! :eek:

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.

http://i63.tinypic.com/344rqli.jpg

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]

http://ymix.users.photofile.ru/photo/ymix/151120400/xlarge/172341409.jpg

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

[diviy]

One set of speakers purchased £60.00 one owner from new :):)

[karma67]

i have a spare set of crossovers for these,i bought them when i recapped mine in case i wanted to return them to original spec

[diviy]

Jamie do you have the specs of the cross overs you built by any chance please

[karma67]

yep,im looking at one now,its 4.7 low loss elcap fitted as standard.
here's a link to buy new,
http://www.falconacoustics.co.uk/alcap-claritycap-solen-audio-capacitors/alcap-4-70uf-low-loss-50v-dc-electrolytic-capacitor-nonpolarised-reversible-series.html

[diviy]

How many cap do i need to get ?
Next question my kef 35 seem easier to drive they both 8 ohm but to get a half tidy volume i need to crank the volume up way more than i did with my q35 and I am not playing them at my normal volume just running them in as they been standing for a few years any ideas ?

[karma67]

1 cap per speaker. :)

[Macca]

How many cap do i need to get ?
Next question my kef 35 seem easier to drive they both 8 ohm but to get a half tidy volume i need to crank the volume up way more than i did with my q35 and I am not playing them at my normal volume just running them in as they been standing for a few years any ideas ?

They won't be as efficient as the KEFs so you will need more volume. But if you apply a lot more and it still isn't cutting it that would indicate a problem.

[TazSob]

Have you checked to see if all the drivers are working correctly.... That both Tweeters and mid/bass are producing sound?
Easy to miss a blown driver when you first get them

[diviy]

All driver work opened them up tonight cap is the original speaker contacts are corroded and all the driver gaskets are rock solid plus point all the foam is perfect time to order some bits tomorrow

[walpurgis]

If you want gaskets, use either stick on foam strip or foam craft sheet and cut them out. Both items can be found on eBay and are avilable in black. Craft sheet can also be bought from art and craft shops.

[Wakefield Turntables]

I made new gaskets from 1mm medium density Eva.

[diviy]

I'm ordering new caps and speaker plugs from falcon tomorrow they also do gasket for 78p a metre
So I will order in one hit didn't take out the tweeter does that have a gasket does anyone know

[walpurgis]

didn't take out the tweeter does that have a gasket does anyone know

I should think so.

[diviy]

Bits turned up re done one speaker, new cap fitted, new speaker connectors, new gaskets and all connectors cleaned .
the speaker is sounding amazing round two tomorrow :):)