RTA-12 Original Project

westmassguy

I've done several 12Bs & Cs, but this was the first original RTA-12 I've tackled. The crossovers were in great shape. Sonicaps, and Mills MRA Resistors were chosen. Needless to say, fitting the larger caps on the existing boards was challenging. New, threaded nylon standoffs were installed, to stiffen things up. Came out great. Luckily, no clearance issues with the top hats either.

Jazzhead

So, these are the crossovers from my RTA-12's. I just got them back from Westmassguy yesterday. His work is excellent, the crossovers are now rock solid rigid, and they display his skill and attention to detail. I re-assembled/soldered the Peerless tweeters back on and fired them up. I played some cuts I am very familiar with and even from the very start noticed better detail, particularly being able to understand lyrics, and detail in the lower bass. I played some bluegrass and was struck by how much better I could identify the various parts in a group of voices harmonizing. Voices and instruments sound more like the real thing. Strings have more of that "buzz" that is present when you hear them live. There is more information being conveyed related to the acoustic environment of the studio or venue itself. I need to put way more hours on these and am either playing them or running radio or FM hash through them 24/7. I've epoxied the magnets in these speakers, sealed the cabinets (Loctite Power Grab), installed the Dynamat on the drivers/passive radiator, and have replaced the binding posts with Cardas posts on thick aluminum discs. The next step is to install some Sonic Barrier or Black Hole 5 behind the drivers, install new driver gaskets, and I am also replacing the internal wire with Neotech14 gauge OCC wire. I'll be posting the results as I do these next steps. So far so good. These humble 36 year old speakers are becoming impressive.

Faustin

Nicely done Dave. Definitely creative placement on a couple of the caps.

westmassguy

Thanks Bruce.

willwilly

Impressive!

westmassguy

willwilly wrote: »

Impressive!

Thanks you Sir.