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

rodman

I seek active discouragement, knowledge always a push/pull, experience from others here 'smartly sought'.

from the temptation of a pair of Model EV-Six's only 1hr, 20 minutes away.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/154513478054

I was thinking of building new enclosures for them that would replace my existing 'all electro-voice' speakers shown here (drivers from a 1958 Fisher President II that was my uncle's)

https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/9511

give the current ones to my Son; sell the old; or use for a while, then sell the 'new' ones.

I'm drawn to both the bigger 18" woofer (I have 15W now), but also the very rare resistor based network they use for 5 optional response curves. (Royal 400, 3 way, uses L-Pads)

Also, the Model EV-Six is 8 ohm (I understand nominal). That would let me move to a tube amp with external bias meters (my existing speakers are 16 ohm nominal, the version one Cayin A88T has 16 ohm taps, internal bias adjusters).

Or should I say, WAS drawn. I cannot find any info about re-coning those 18WS woofers, so that's that. This 18WS now seems a lightweight comparatively.

I recently installed new 16 ohm L-Pads, hard to match L to R, took me a few weeks, but the match to my room is probably better than one of the E-V Six's fixed response curves anyway. 

No, no way, but .... 

      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.