House of Celestion

[pjdowns]

If I remember correctly, Robin Marshall, the designer of my Epos ES14's was heavily involved in the development of a number of Celestion speakers. Personally I've never heard any of the larger Celestion's but I remember a smaller pair that used to give the Wharfedale Diamond a serious run for their money!

[Artmin]

There are quite a few other Dittons that I would be interested in. The 150s I have seen on the 'bay but postage makes them uneconomical. If I ever happen across 44s I'll defo snap them up. To be honest not sure if I'd buy a pair off 66s. I've never heard a pair though I have read that the midrange is superior to the 662. But could you imaging me trying to smuggle those into the house without the wife noticing. She had said a flat NO to the 662s but I bought them anyway. They are now regarded as part of the furniture. It cost me a small fortune to recap those using Supersounds but I'll never part with them.

Andrew, I happened across your 15 XR modifications whilst Googling. Was it you who had mentioned testing by removing the ABR & adding a second woofer in place? I can't find it now.

I now have enough spare 15 XR parts to build a set. I'll do it as a project with my son as he is getting into Hi-Fi now. I think I'll profile layers of MDF on the CNC and sandwich them together to create a profiled box & then laminate them. I think a piano gloss black finish would look nice with brushed aluminium driver surrounds

[Wakefield Turntables]

Andrew, I happened across your 15 XR modifications whilst Googling. Was it you who had mentioned testing by removing the ABR & adding a second woofer in place? I can't find it now.

D

Nope that wasn't mine but I have read the same thread. Adding a second woofer would kill the speaker IMHO it's a fantastic little piece of kit that really doesn't need much doing to it. I mainly just worked on some of the speakers weak points (like the crap binding posts), recapped the xo, uprated the intrinsic wiring etc. What nifty tricks have you done to yours, I might learn something new..

[Artmin]

I was wondering what would happen & I couldn't imagine how to use the second woofer in the same enclosure without enlarging & compartmenting the box.

I just did the basic upgrades. There's a wee write up on them in my blog below. I am still using the original binding posts as I didn't think they were bad, recapped the XO, isolated the XO, QED wiring directly to XO and just did the bit of cosmetic updating to them. I did read you had changed the damping material & added sorbothane to the inner walls. Did that do much to tighten the bass?

[stupinder]

Hi Stu. Yes, the A1 is a lovely loudspeaker too.

I still feel that I need more grunt in my power amp for the A3s. Anybody have any suggestions?

Yep the A1s liked a good deal of power up 'em and so I imagine the A3s are similarly demanding. I was using an American pa style amp that was modded in factory for domestic use (Soundcraftsman) with great results. One of the speakers I do regret selling as it happens but I'd gone to 300Bs ((PSE) and they just didn't have the welly for the A1s sadly.
Bit od a "not very hifi" suggestion but what about something from Crown -I know Stew that writes for us swears by 'em http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Crown-xti1...item4610867788

[Artmin]

Bit od a "not very hifi" suggestion but what about something from Crown[/url]

Ha ha, I thought you were trying to flog me some paint there. Must admit I've never heard of them but I'd never heard of Sonneteer either. I wonder where I'd get to hear a pair of those. I did test a Quad 606 which was nice but it 'popped' on power on. I've heard a Krell is nice with them.

[stupinder]

Ha ha, I thought you were trying to flog me some paint there. Must admit I've never heard of them but I'd never heard of Sonneteer either. I wonder where I'd get to hear a pair of those. I did test a Quad 606 which was nice but it 'popped' on power on. I've heard a Krell is nice with them.

Loads of Crown on E bay but I'm sure someone who has experimented will be along to offer a listen///
They are PA amplifiers - I've let Stew know about this thread so with a bit of luck he'll be along to advise ;_)

[stewartwen]

Here I am! If you need loads of power, and current, then go for a Crown DC300A. I have lusted after one of these for many years, I now have four of them!
They are unusual in that they dont sound like a semiconductor amp at all. Rather they have the finesse that the more expensive valve amps have but they also have the semicon punch. Mine have 220 watts rms per channel in to 8 ohms, 400 watts rms into 4 ohms and a healthy 550 watts rms into 2 ohms. But mine have been completely rebuilt some more than once. Crown in America have an excellent service dept and all the components are still available but sadly casework and transformers are not available from them. Service manuals are to be got from the Crown website, for free!
All I can say is to take a listen to one and decide for yourself.................dont take any notice of the gainsayers......as well as the single ended valve brigade, as your Speakers require loads of current and lots of watts.
S

[Macca]

Hi Stu. Yes, the A1 is a lovely loudspeaker too.

I still feel that I need more grunt in my power amp for the A3s. Anybody have any suggestions?

They are a tough load - I am using an XTZ amp with my A2s that delivers both watts and current - Highly recommend it for your A3s, will give you effortless power and control.

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/aud...-710209/review

[Wakefield Turntables]

I was wondering what would happen & I couldn't imagine how to use the second woofer in the same enclosure without enlarging & compartmenting the box.

I just did the basic upgrades. There's a wee write up on them in my blog below. I am still using the original binding posts as I didn't think they were bad, recapped the XO, isolated the XO, QED wiring directly to XO and just did the bit of cosmetic updating to them. I did read you had changed the damping material & added sorbothane to the inner walls. Did that do much to tighten the bass?

Yeah bass improved quite a bit. The 15XR also improves further if you couple it via a layer of sorbothane to your speaker. I stand mine on wooden stands altough some folk swear by steel frame supports.