Celestion Ditton 44

[Marco]

Great speakers, Dan - you'll not go wrong with them!

Marco.

[dantheman91]

Great speakers, Dan - you'll not go wrong with them!

Marco.

Well Happy. Playing a bit of Charlie Haden & Pat Methany - Beyond The Missouri Sky the scale and depth is superb.

[walpurgis]

Geoff, 12''inch Monitor Gold's, think you've mis-read my post, i wasn't saying the 44's were better than my MG's, it's the other way round,
i actually agree with 99% of all your input i've read on here, just that i don't normally get involved with technical threads as i don't know what i am talking about,
just that OP asked for opinions, he's a happy camper and thats all that matters.

I am with RB regarding most people's assumption regarding bright speakers as good detail/fast sound, don't do bright either.

Yeah, I got the gist of what you were saying Andy.

I was just curious to know which Tannoys you'd made the comparison with, as Tannoys are very much my thing and have been since I got interested in Hi-Fi.

I'm not knocking the Ditton 44s, I think they are a pleasant listen, but I was pointing out their limitations, every speaker has them. As you suggest, a pair of decent Tannoys will win out, as they would against most speakers.

[wiicrackpot]

Yeah, I got the gist of what you were saying Andy.

I was just curious to know which Tannoys you'd made the comparison with, as Tannoys are very much my thing and have been since I got interested in Hi-Fi.

I'm not knocking the Ditton 44s, I think they are a pleasant listen, but I was pointing out their limitations, every speaker has them. As you suggest, a pair of decent Tannoys will win out, as they would against most speakers.

Good Geoff, no confusion, apart from tannoy's, have noted through various posts you rate some vintage British speakers like i do and been all ears when you post something on them, would really like a pair of Tannoy 15'inch Gold's though but it's not gonna happen anytime soon.

Cheers!

[walpurgis]

Good Geoff, no confusion, apart from tannoy's, have noted through various posts you rate some vintage British speakers like i do and been all ears when you post something on them, would really like a pair of Tannoy 15'inch Gold's though but it's not gonna happen anytime soon.

Cheers!

The 15" Gold is a lovely unit, however, there are a number of other Tannoy D/C drivers that are capable of superb results. The 15" HPD gives little away to the Gold really and is also capable of spectacular results.

One Tannoy driver not to be underestimated is the 'little' HPD 295A from the Eaton. I've owned five pairs of these. It may only be a 10" driver, but still packs a wallop and used with good valve amplification it sounds sublime, It's not related to the preceding 10" IIILZ, its actually a ten inch version of the 12" Gold. It does not have the less popular Girdacoustic cone bracing of the larger HPDs, and has a cleaner midrange and also has butyl rubber surrounds that seem to last forever. I've always found it far smoother and cleaner than the 12" HPD and sweeter at the top even than the 12" Gold, which is odd as they all use the same tweeter, but I've done the comparisons. The 295 however, cries out for a bigger cabinet than the Eaton jobbie. I'd love to put a pair in either decent sized transmission line or horn cabinets, that should work beautifully.

[wiicrackpot]

Yes, noticed your love for the 295A and have peeked my interest up on it, once i happen on a pair cheap, then i'll strike.

As you have mentioned about it being let down by too small a cabinet,lets twist this a bit, do you think the 295A's go well in Ditton 44 cabs,
yes i am thinking about gutting my pair and selling my drivers and crossovers and using the cabs to house a pair,
the chances of me sourcing a proper pair of HF2000's are nil, i won't even entertain the stupid prices asked for them.

[walpurgis]

Yes, noticed your love for the 295A and have peeked my interest up on it, once i happen on a pair cheap, then i'll strike.

As you have mentioned about it being let down by too small a cabinet,lets twist this a bit, do you think the 295A's go well in Ditton 44 cabs,
yes i am thinking about gutting my pair and selling my drivers and crossovers and using the cabs to house a pair,
the chances of me sourcing a proper pair of HF2000's are nil, i won't even entertain the stupid prices asked for them.

Well, I'm sure the HPD 295A would work in a cabinet the size of the Ditton 44, but the front baffles are not removable and blanking off the driver holes and re-cutting to suit a ten inch driver sounds like an awful lot of messing about.

Anyhow, I'm sure there are other tweeters about which would work in the Ditton 44, as long as you have the impedance close (6 ohm) the existing crossover should be OK, you'd need something fairly near in sensitivity, but a db. or so either way is unlikely to hurt.

Check out this HF2000 replacement tweeter:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Seas-19TFF...item25750a3122

The HF 2000 is not scarce, although prices are rising. A couple of years ago you'd have got a pair for about £70, but I've seen people asking over £200 lately. I've still got a late mint pair from the Celestion UL10 speakers and I'm rather keen to hang onto them unfortunately.

[spendorman]

The Peerless tweeter in the JPW Golds, that can be bought very cheaply, work well in the Ditton 44 as a substitute for the HF2000.

[wiicrackpot]

Well, I'm sure the HPD 295A would work in a cabinet the size of the Ditton 44, but the front baffles are not removable and blanking off the driver holes and re-cutting to suit a ten inch driver sounds like an awful lot of messing about.

Anyhow, I'm sure there are other tweeters about which would work in the Ditton 44, as long as you have the impedance close (6 ohm) the existing crossover should be OK, you'd need something fairly near in sensitivity, but a db. or so either way is unlikely to hurt.

Check out this HF2000 replacement tweeter:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Seas-19TFF...item25750a3122

Geoff, reason i am thinking about butchering the 44 cabs is the recess could work, i could turn the cab upside down,
the 12'inch hole will definitely have enough clearance for the 295A magnets,
and bang a new baffle on with crosshead screw BBC monitor style, we're away, just a thought mind.

Yeah, i have seen those replacements before thanks.

The Peerless tweeter in the JPW Golds, that can be bought very cheaply, work well in the Ditton 44 as a substitute for the HF2000.

Thanks Alex, 1st i heard Peerless as a possible, TBH the Wharfedale tweeters i have works a treat.

[wiicrackpot]

.........or i could use these.
http://imageshack.us/scaled/medium/145/dscf2953x.jpg
http://imageshack.us/scaled/medium/21/dscf2955t.jpg
http://imageshack.us/scaled/medium/221/dscf2957d.jpg

but i'm reluctant to do so as i am enjoying them so much, absolute belting so they are,
plus i'd rather house some big JBL or Altec's in them if i was to do anything else with them.