L-Pads. Speakers Awful Without Them, New Ones Ordered


I removed the L-Pads, the tweeters are way too bright, screechy above mids. Disturbing. Played my best source: R2R, Sgt. Peppers. Normally magnificent. Unlistenable!

Using my Chase Remote Control to cut Treble temporarily, until new L-Pads arrive.

I ordered these 16 ohm pads:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/153892668925

mine don’t have the issues he discusses, my insulation is modern, crossovers are tar filled metal cans, not much heat in 6.3 cu ft; these and originals were large ceramic body.

Will put the tweeter ’Brilliance’ ones in first, listen. Then add ’Presence’, listen, decide: leave in, or out. IN more than likely. They (orig and 1 set of replacements) have been IN for 62 years.

My original bronze ones came from original Fisher console, they were a custom version, still labeled ’Brilliance’ and ’Presence’.
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Many of these old Electro-Voice designs had L-Pads (16 ohm used AT37 Attenuators; 8 ohm used AT38). 2 way have one. 3 way designs have two: ’Brilliance’ and ’Presence’.

You can balance the drivers to each other, and to each space, and as you age, ability to hear highs diminishes, you can creep the tweeters up speck by speck. Imbalance due to irregular spacing: adjust each individually

I’m not going to measure and install a fixed resistor, I want future adjustability.

’L-Pads: Terrible Idea’. Bullshite, everyone who ever heard them loves them!

And, let’s not forget, the originals, with L-Pads, first one mono speaker, later two for stereo, are the designs that made these companies successful.






elliottbnewcombjr
atmasphere

"What you’re looking for is the driver to blend with the other drivers, resulting in flat frequency response".

I qualify flat frequency: IN THE ROOM, at the LISTENING POSITION.

That’s one of the benefits of L-Pads, you buy from company specs, auditions in showrooms, get them home, they start out sounding different.

I say: speakers in generally advisable position and toe in first. Tilt/aim tweeter at seated ear height; then L-Pads for listening spot; then if nodes, problems, sound treatments.

Move them to another space: L-Pads to the rescue!

Too many people, without L-Pads, have to resort to, perhaps need to over-do room treatments!locations.

That’s what I mean by Functionality/Flexibility may be better than perfection offered by a single resistor.

Even better: Advanced L-Pads by Electrovoice, for their 4 way systems like this E V Six

https://products.electrovoice.com/binary/E-V%20Six%20EDS.pdf

had L-pads with 4 or 5 switchable positions, each a specific resistor, that controlled the tweeter and mid range together. Separate Low Bass and Upper Bass drivers with no level controls.

Of course, a specific resistor requires no maintenance, whereas L-pads and their contacts require maintenance.
I just spoke to Bob Crites’ son, (I think he said Mark, my memory sucks, I should have asked)

They are still doing business.

Two boards, a pair of real 16 ohm L-pads each, $100. + tax/ship.

https://critesspeakers.com/electro-voice-crossovers.html

I am going to return the ones I ordered (they already shipped), and buy these.
Elliot...

two things...

- the EV six you referenced does not use an L-pad... advanced or any other type.

-why is this discussion happening in the analog forum where it is decidedly off topic?  Wouldn't the speaker or vintage forum be a more appropriate venue?

dave

intactaudio

 This is a new separate discussion, but it came up in an earlier discussion, I removed them based on advice in that thread.

So, this was an answer to everyone: I tried, it sucked, I need em.

If you scroll down the E V Six link, the wiring diagram at the end shows 5 selectable resistances for the tweeter and midrange together. It has to be a rotary control with 5 specific positions.

I posted a find of an E V Six, local pickup only in CA, great price. If I lived there, I would be over there in a heartbeat. Posted here, some response. Posted on the Speaker Forum, not a single response. I am not known there.

I have friends here that help me with everything I do. You have been helpful here also.

I like it here!