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In the Forum: Audio Discussions
In the Thread: Natural Remedies for Sick Speakers?

Post Subject: Natural Remedies for Sick Speakers?Posted by Paul S on: 8/3/2010

Haralanov, I've spun this thread off the "Speakers for a Powerful SET" thread, as you suggested. I took a couple of pictures, but I can't figure out how to upload them, just yet. I'm also not sure what you could see from the outside, anyway.

As for the Reps R1 driver, I used to know Frank Reps over 40 years ago, when we both lived in LA. He was/is a very bright guy and a tireless self-promoter of the "Secret Society" variety. The R1 is Frank's "perfected" Lowther. He uses all premium parts and serious, close-tolerance machining, along with touches like a Cobalt "Flux Funnel" that is supposed to make optimum focus in the gap. I took out the phase plug, and the gap is truly tiny!

I think I remember that Frank got/gets his cones from AER, or their OEM; very stiff, light, treated paper, and it appears that the paper cone "continues" to make the (paper) former. There is a standard red coated fabric "billows" around the otherwise-open front of the magnet. The cone surround is soft foam. In case you care, Frank lists the Qts as .1048 (!), and the "flux density" as 20,000 Gauss, which is a lot against the Qts, but less, numerically, than Lowther claims for their DX4, for instance. Frank intends for his R1 to be used FR in a back horn, like the complete units he offers (very discretely) for > $20k/pair... Again, I presently high-pass my OB-mounted units 1st order at 400 Hz.

So far, I have not measured anything, and I lack the lab-type equipment to do serious investigations, anyway. So far, I have just used my ears and related that back to the well-documented Lowther numbers. Although the ~2k Hz resonance does seem common with the light 8" drivers, this spike has got to be every bit the Lowther's 6 dB. Basically, it's mostly what you hear when you listen au natural.

I hope this gets the ball rolling. I'll keep after the pictures, if you still want them.

Best regards,
Paul S

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