Best replacement spkr for B-15R?

**ddbassGA** · #1 06-23-2011, 01:08 PM

I'd like advice on the best speaker to replace the stock one in a B-15R. Its a sealed cab. Can't seem to get much help from Ampeg.

RickenBoogie · #2 06-23-2011, 05:31 PM

Replace it with the same thing it came with, or better yet, get it re-coned.

JimmyM · #3 06-23-2011, 06:36 PM

I'd get the one it came with reconed, too. I think an Eminence Beta 15 or Delta 15A would work well in it, too.

**ddbassGA** · #4 06-23-2011, 07:31 PM

It's a US Eminence - made OEM driver from the SLM era. I have not been successful at finding the speaker through AMPEG (LOUD). I'll check with Eminence. I took it out and have the model number. Looks pretty cheesy.

billfitzmaurice · #5 06-23-2011, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I'd get the one it came with reconed, too. I think an Eminence Beta 15 or Delta 15A would work well in it, too.

Beta 15 would be the best match for 8 ohms, Basslite C2515 for 4 ohms. I would only recone if I knew that it spec'd as well as those, which an SLM era driver may or may not.

**ddbassGA** · #6 06-29-2011, 12:59 PM

Can't get much on the specs for the stock speaker. Ampeg recognizes the part number as an Eminence OEM, but cannot supply it or recommend a replacement. The Emminence Beta has a smaller magnet than this speaker and I'm concerned it won't have the desired umph. Actually it looks like a Delta. Not much in the Emminence line of 15" drivers with specs that look particularly good for sealed cab.

Wonder if the driver they use in the PF115HE would be appropriate. Has overkill on wattage rating and I can find no T/S specs on it, but it is used in a sealed cab of similar size/configuration.

Alternatively, I can port the cab, as I've seen done here, and then I have huge number of choices, including the 3015 I'm sitting on.

Advice?

JimmyM · #7 06-29-2011, 01:48 PM

Magnets don't mean as much as displacement, and the Beta 15 has pretty good displacement, and has traditionally been a vintage replacement type speaker for old Ampeg cabs. I have the Delta in my B-15 cabs, which has less displacement, and I was able to drive it pretty hard with a 300w solid state amp up to almost all of its full clean volume, so I really don't see a problem with the B-15R.

Mojo-Man · #8 06-29-2011, 02:21 PM

I did what Jess Oliver suggested.
Put a 300 watt 4 ohm speaker in it.
The original speaker is only 150 watts.
Upgrading speaker give this amp, much more head room, and tone.
It become about 30% louder for live gigs.
I was amazed at the difference.

derridiandrift · #9 06-29-2011, 07:23 PM

I went through this last year too. I think maybe the Eminence Legend 1518 is the closest match to the stock speaker, but I'm just guessing. When I called Eminence to talk to them about it they wouldn't tell me anything more than the general specs of the OEM part. I asked them for a recommendation and, understandably, they couldn't really advise me on how to "improve" on the original speaker (because one person's improvement may not sound like another person's).

I bought a Legend CB15 and tried that in mine. It produced far more bottom end than the stock speaker and was noticeably louder. I liked it at first, but then switched back to the original because there were some funny resonances with the CB15 in that cabinet.

The Beta 15 looks good too. It's a less efficient driver though. This combo already suffers from not being loud enough (subjectively speaking) so I wonder if the efficiency (or lack thereof) would be counter productive.

I think the entire community of B15-R users would be eternally grateful if someone who knows how to tune speaker cabinets could select a driver and design a replacement baffle with ports so that this combo can live up to its potential.

MOJO-MAN, which driver did you use?

**ddbassGA** · #10 06-29-2011, 09:01 PM

Got hold of "Big Tony" at Eminence today and his standard recommendation for this cab is the Legend CB 15 8. He was very against using a Beta. Yes I'd love to have a well designed ported baffle for this box then it would be more like a "real" B-15 but with 100 watts and several great driver options.

Yeah Mojo which 4 ohm driver did you use? That could be a great solution as I doubt I'd use an extension cab with this rig.

**ddbassGA** · #11 06-29-2011, 11:26 PM

Per Bill's rec I'm tempted to try a Basslite C2515 at 4 ohms. But I just checked prices and these have doubled in the last couple months with the Neo scare -- price is up to $200! Any one with a line on one at the old price?

JimmyM · #12 06-29-2011, 11:50 PM

All due respect to Big Tony (is that Anthony Lucas?) and Bill, but I'd rather have the Delta or Beta. The C2515 only does 2.5k and the CB158 only does 3. I need at least 4k out of a 115 to be happy. And the Beta and Delta also have more of what I consider the Ampeg thing going on in them. I don't know...seems foolhardy to go against what experts like they say. But as much as I like the Deltas in my double baffle B-15 cab, I'd have to go with a Beta or Delta. Too bad you don't live closer...I could let you try one out if you did.

**ddbassGA** · #13 06-30-2011, 12:33 AM

Yes, Anthony Lucas.

I have a Delta here, so I'll pop it in. Doesn't seem right for a sealed cab but since I have it I'll try it. Also have a 3015.

JimmyM · #14 06-30-2011, 12:56 AM

Why not try both then? Worst that happens is they don't work.

billfitzmaurice · #15 06-30-2011, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

All due respect to Big Tony (is that Anthony Lucas?) and Bill, but I'd rather have the Delta or Beta. The C2515 only does 2.5k and the CB158 only does 3. I need at least 4k out of a 115 to be happy.

That's fine if you're micing into the PA, but if not the extra midrange extension is moot, as no one more than fifteen degrees off-axis will hear it. As for CB158 versus Beta 15, one must consider the available power. With less than 100 watts the Beta 15 is much better than the CB158, having a 3dB sensitivity advantage in the midbass. The less power you have the better the Beta 15 is. CB158 looks better on the face of it only if you aren't considering the amp being used.

Quote:

I think maybe the Eminence Legend 1518 is the closest match to the stock speaker

Eminence didn't make drivers with 158 specs until well after the advent of T/S specs. It may be reasonably close to the SLM era driver, but not to the original of the 60s.

JimmyM · #16 06-30-2011, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

That's fine if you're micing into the PA, but if not the extra midrange extension is moot, as no one more than fifteen degrees off-axis will hear it. As for CB158 versus Beta 15, one must consider the available power. With less than 100 watts the Beta 15 is much better than the CB158, having a 3dB sensitivity advantage in the midbass. The less power you have the better the Beta 15 is. CB158 looks better on the face of it only if you aren't considering the amp being used.

I mic into the PA

billfitzmaurice · #17 06-30-2011, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I mic into the PA

I know, but most players don't, and they don't consider well enough how their rig will sound to the audience and band rather than just to themselves while standing in the sweet spot.

**ddbassGA** · #18 06-30-2011, 03:39 PM

OK remember the OP is about the SLM era 100 watt B-15R. What's right for the original 25-30 watt amp and ported cab B-15 is not right for the R.

billfitzmaurice · #19 06-30-2011, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddbassGA

OK remember the OP is about the SLM era 100 watt B-15R. What's right for the original 25-30 watt amp and ported cab B-15 is not right for the R.

With 100 watts and a sealed cab it's a tossup between the CB158 and Beta 15. The difference is too subjective to declare one better than the other without trying them side by side.

**ddbassGA** · #20 07-01-2011, 01:56 PM

Well the guy I bought this amp from has connections at Ampeg and Eminence and turns out he is sending me a Legend CB158 to replace the bad speaker. What a guy! I'll try it and report back.

Also trying to pick up a 4 ohm Basslite C2515 to try.

And the challenge remains to anyone with the skills to design a new ported baffle for this cab. This amp was one of Jess Oliver's final contributions. I'd bet the Ampeg folks talked him into the sealed cab.

Thanks for all the advice.