Inspired by EndersShadow: repurposing a Lafayette 25A Loudspeaker

mhardy6647

So, in another thread, there's an interesting (well, to folks like me, anyway, post by thread-starter @EndersShadow:

EndersShadow wrote: »

verb wrote: »

^^^^^ Very cool!

Thanks..... Unrelated but while there I found an old pair of Lafayette Criterion 25a speakers that just spoke to me.... (I bet 1$ old @mhardy6647 can find specs on em)

For 20 bucks (and a free 4" Tang Bang driver as welI grabbed em. They sound "eh", but I am likely gonna just trash the existing 8" driver and tweeter and use the box to house a single 8" full range driver.

I'd be using at work, at VERY low levels, so Xmax doesnt matter, so focusing on clarity and detail (and I have a plan for a small simple sub possibly).

Anyway, gotta start looking at 6-8" drivers that would work in this small box (~.41cf) and get me to around 60-80hz......

And I totally realize I'm gonna have a TON more in the parts than the cabinets, but hey..... its all fun......

https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/comment/2557522#Comment_2557522

I am -- ahem -- taking the liberty of starting a thread on these unassuming little boxes and possible new lives for them

To kick this off, and FWIW, here's the scoop, from the 1972 LRE catalog, on their original configuration.

LRE Criterion 2X 25A 1972 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

EndersShadow

So bringing over a relevant comment from the other thread lol....

mhardy6647 wrote: »

Yeah, they're pretty terrible little loudspeakers as is (as you discovered). Indeed, I once found a pair... well... you know where -- and I left them there, too. I didn't leave a lot of hifi stuff behind @ the ol' Harvard dump, but even I have my limits!

This said, it is of course, absolutely fine -- and not a bad idea! -- to leverage the found box and do something else with it!

You might just want to leave/take/cut the backs off those 'enclosures' and use a nice sounding, high-ish Qts 8" 'fullrange' driver and run 'em as open baffles -- just sayin'

Let me know if you want me to check stock

I do think 8" is a sweet spot for 'fullrange' (extended range... let's be honest with ourselves here) drivers (FWIW).

I agree they make "sounds", but the enclosure was what enticed me (and the price of 20 bucks which is cheaper than even the MDF to MAKE an enclosure would cost)

I was thinking about the open baffle idea, but thinking easier to pull the 8" driver, leave it sealed, and either cover the tweeter hole, or use it as a port as some of the 8" (or even 6.5" drivers) dont need huge boxes...



But I'm just at the starting point of research.

@mhardy6647 ..... if you want to check stock, thats cool, but I'm not in a rush yet....

I'm still not at a point I can power them.... For now I got em placed on my desk so folks can get an idea as to placement lol...

xschop

Looks nice, how are/will you amp them? Merry Christmas BTW

EndersShadow

xschop wrote: »

Looks nice, how are/will you amp them? Merry Christmas BTW

Short term I can use my Cambridge Audio SR20 (which was/is running my garage system).....

Long term my buddy's on the lookout for a decent vintage stereo receiver. I wont need high output wattage wise, but I want good iron, and vintage looks.

Also gotta be cheap, so Marantz and those are out, but Sherwood, Kenwood, Lafayette are possibilities....

**I also have a Harman Kardon Signature 2.0 pre-amp, but its not vintage and I'd still need some sort of amp to go with it, so its not as good an option......

EndersShadow

Got a suggestion from another site:

A simple cheap 2-way, Silver Flute w20rc38 and Vifa xt25sc90. Cross them over around 2khz.

mhardy6647

amplification, you say?



If you could find one. 'bout 2wpc (flat out), small, inexpensive, and sounds pretty darned good. The current morph is still low powered, small, probably sounds good or maybe even better... but ain't inexpensive no mo'.

... or a "Class D"/"Class T" amp, I guess...

boston1450

Mark who makes those ? I know there are lots out there. Just curious

EndersShadow

Yeah @mhardy6647 .... don’t be a tease lol

I’m betting it’s one of that bottle head amps you have

mhardy6647

actually, that's a Decware "Zen" SE-84B... yeah, I do have one The only problem with them is they're really low powered -- but for your intended application, it'd be a pretty nice choice, I think. It's extremely simple and wouldn't be hard to DIY with a couple of appropriate OPTs.

EndersShadow

Time to start giggling...

Faustin

Couple of thoughts............ If you are looking for full range drivers, you may want to check out Lii Audio, https://www.lii-audio.com. Some interesting offerings. And, I have in stock a pair of 8" drivers that Doc Hardy was kind enough to karma to me that I am not using. After I built an open baffle for them, I ran across a pair of 10" full range drivers and shift gears. Anyway, I would be happy to pack them up and ship them out if one of you are interested. Merry Christmas

mhardy6647

^^^ Those drivers'd be well worth a try, I'd opine.

I think it was these -- nothin' special (they were a PE buyout some years back). but the price is right

DSC_3243 (2) by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

EndersShadow

Faustin wrote: »

Couple of thoughts............ If you are looking for full range drivers, you may want to check out Lii Audio, https://www.lii-audio.com. Some interesting offerings.

Yeah those 8” looks intriguing (both in styling and also specs)...

https://www.lii-audio.com/index.php/product/one-pair-new-8-fullrange-drivers-fine-and-clear-sound-fast-8/

Faustin wrote: »

I have in stock a pair of 8" drivers that Doc Hardy was kind enough to karma to me that I am not using. After I built an open baffle for them, I ran across a pair of 10" full range drivers and shift gears. Anyway, I would be happy to pack them up and ship them

I may take you up on that.

mhardy6647 wrote: »

^^^ Those drivers'd be well worth a try, I'd opine.

I think it was these -- nothin' special (they were a PE buyout some years back). but the price is right

DSC_3243 (2) by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

If that’s them, then the specs are here for that driver...

https://www.parts-express.com/8-full-range-ceiling-speaker--309-050

I’m not in front of my computer to spec anything out, but should have time this weekend to take a look...

Lastly another suggestion from another site.... (which I also want to throw in WinISD)...

Dayton PS220 8” and use the tweeter hole for the port. Screen might alter the tuning of the port but you could mess around with it until it works.

The fabric in front of the port may change the tune a little depending on how far away it is from the port. But you can work with that. Port might just need to be slightly shorter than the model predicts. If the screen is really close and plugs up the port too much you’ll end up with a sealed box. In that case you would have to move the port to the back.

You shouldn’t need a high pass filter. Unless you’re planning on blasting movies at you desk.

Faustin

Hey there Mark. Yes, I believe those are the drivers you sent me. And, I would think using the tweeter opening as a bass reflex port would work. Perhaps a bit of Sonic Barrier behind the 8" driver and maybe some insulation on the top, bottom and sides?? I used some recycled cotton blue jeans insulation on my DIY speaker cabinets to stop reflection, and I think it works pretty well. Last week I added some Sonic Barrier behind the driver, and I think it has helped it even more. I will post some pics when I get a chance. Let me know Ender if you want me to send you the 8" drivers.