GoodSoundClub - Romy the Cat's Audio Site

In the Forum: Horn-Loaded Speakers
In the Thread: The African compression electromagnet drivers?

Post Subject: Wolf Von Langa'sB&C DCM50 1428 clonesPosted by Kerry Brown on: 11/18/2013

Romy,
To clear up a few things about the Kilimanjaro RCA1428 clones.
The B&C DCM50 is a modern, neodymium clone/copy of the RCA MI-1428B. It was designed and built by B&C in Italy after Bill Woods of AHhorns talked the CEO into it.
The DCM50 is not an exact copy of an RCA1428 obviously, with a different case, different diaphragm, different phase plug and a different motor but it's very close basically to the original design. The large center suspended paper diaphragm is the main reason it sounds so good.
It real does sound good. Bill Woods says the DCM50 on his 300 Hz AHhorn makes the most natural sound he's ever heard. That's a direct quote.
A few years back, I commissioned Von Langa to modify a pair of DCM50s to field coil operation for me. That is the genesis of the so-called A1428WVL.
That Wolf marketed them the way he did, has nothing to do with me, but I agree he should have mentioned they were modified B&C drivers. I notice he no longer markets them at all, perhaps B&C objected.

By the way I researched and provided the information on MI-1428s to Herr Von Langa back when we were planning the build.
As for f.c. voltage, my modified B&C DCM50s are fitted with 14V f.c. motors and work just fine with my inexpensive solid state PSs.
My drivers are on 12-sided conical 300 Hz AHhorns and they sound great - beautiful upper bass/lower midrange, very realistic sound overall.
The modded B&Cs replaced JBL 375s on 300 Hz tractrix horns. Compared to my 1428 clones the 375s sound tinny and artificial.
I am very very pleased with the way my 1428 clones sound. However, I would not be surprised if the unmodified neodymium magnet DCM50s sound just as good or even better.
Would be pleased to have you over Romy if you're ever on the West Coast and would like to check out the new horns and drivers.
Peace,
Kerry

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