Electrovoice 18" Woofer: smallish Magnet; only 2.3 ohms?

      When I had my shoppe in Central Florida; EV was one of the companies for which I did authorized warranty repair.

       It never mattered how old the drivers might be; they always had parts to repair them.

       I suppose things probably have changed, over the past 40 years, but: it wouldn't hurt to call their Support line, and inquire.  

          https://electrovoice.com/support/repair-and-exchange/

       Then too: chances are excellent the original parts in those systems, close to your home, are still fine.  

                                      Couldn't hurt to listen to them, right?  

        You mention the 18WS seeming a, "lightweight".     I never did find anything EV designed, failing to deliver everything intended.

       If you like the flexibility that L-pads offer; there's no magic to installing them (in/out/ground, as you know) and the 8 Ohm, ceramic versions are easy to find.    Piece of cake, if you wanted to convert the Sixes from their five-position, step control.

          ie:  https://www.parts-express.com/L-Pad-100W-Mono-3-8-Shaft-8-Ohm-260-262

        Sounds as though you were looking for a way out of the temptation to play further, with your system(s).    

                                                      Sorry about that!  

rodman

good thinking, my son’s suv is gassed up!

I wrote EV, let's see what they say. I also asked what currently available 18" woofer could be substituted for the 18WS.
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Have a laugh: I just instantly schemed this: mix 18" WS with my existing 15W, like adding a pair of 18" subs

new wide rolling box, like a square or round pedestal. fit’s width of the 18WS facing/firing down (avoid eventual surround sag/voice coil rub). big hole in the top

sit my existing speakers on top, 15W; mid horn with it’s L-Pad; T-350 with it’s new L-Pad.

cut matching big hole in the bottom of existing speakers, so air spaces are joined to around 11cf

low feed from existing crossover: split very low out to 8 ohm L-Pad to 18WS, add 16 ohm L-Pad for 15W, now 4 L-Pads each side (hear lewm screaming?) and the joy of getting L/R to match.

Oh yeah, I have my existing rear port I could mess with too.

Saves a lot of carpentry. All Vintage, just a Late Idea Electro-Voice never came up with.
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It needs a name, anyone?
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Put a new modern 18" in the Model EV-Six boxes, sell them with no real concern about the nearly non-existent 18WS.

did I recently say "too clever" somewhere?

did I forget to say I am not looking for more bass, it's just .....

       btw: I still have a pair each of ST350As (w/new OEM diaphragms), 1824M drivers, 8HD horns, X8 and X36s (all 8 Ohm stuff), left over from the shoppe.

       Always did my own x-overs, but: those from EV: I just couldn't throw away, in good conscience

       I've been hoping to have another room*, large enough to merit the 15" Three Ways, that I used to build, to do Hard Rock justice.            *Doesn't appear likely!

       Speaking of which: if you really want to step up your game, with 8 Ohm 15s: get a pair of OEM, EV Sentry III woofer kits.     Everything will fit your existing 15W frame and magnet structure (NOT the 15SW), but: you'll have a much longer VC throw (more linear excursion), foam surround and less distortion.

rodman

I am only finding foam repair kits, you are referring to voice coil, cone, surround correct?

source?

I’ve got a spare 15W ready to go, and a 15W needing a new cone right now that I will eventually repair. I have a 15W coil/cone/pleated fabric surround kit ready for it, but trying this sounds interesting.

Of course I've got spare horns ready, and they can be more readily found in the future by my great grandchildren I hope!!!