Replacing Ashdown Driver

ants_cymru · #1 06-21-2011, 03:36 AM

I just blew my speaker in my Ashdown EVO III 500W combo last night, been quoted £68 for a replacement from Ashdown but I understand their speakers are shoddy.

Just seen this:
Speaker

I was wondering if anyone here has had any experience of installing a eminence speaker into this kind of set up, I don't really want to be drilling new holes into my cab as I'm not a very good DIYer!

billfitzmaurice · #2 06-21-2011, 06:08 AM

Read this? You should have.
AMPS FAQ!! Info on OHMS, Allsize RIGS-OverUnderPowerCabs DIY TechTalk-Links

Replacing drivers requires matching them to the cabinet and amp.

ants_cymru · #3 06-21-2011, 10:54 AM

By the time I read all that content, I could have ordered the the driver from the from the website, fitted it and checked if it is compatible the dumbass way. Which is what I am going to do... Unless someone can help here. Cheers

Mr. Foxen · #4 06-21-2011, 11:04 AM

Someone did help here. See post above yours. If you can't figure the thinking aprt, at least provide the relevant information for those that can in order for them to hold your hand through the process.

ants_cymru · #5 06-21-2011, 11:16 AM

I need plenty of hand holders! Thought I'd provided the relevant info - I have a combo amp, its a Ashdown EVO III 500w amp, the speakers gone so I want to replace it.
Just wondering if this or this will do the job.

The speaker that has blown is a 15" blue line jobby. All I want to know is can I shove one of these Eminence ones in and carry on as I was.

I play to drunken idiots who aren't concerned whether my cab has the correct dimension for my speakers. As long as its load enough for them to hear i'm all smiles.

T-Bird · #6 06-21-2011, 12:01 PM

Hi.

Unless the volume of the Ashdown box is about 100 liters, neither of those speakers have little or any chance of working.

You can view the T/S parameters in the Eminence website and IIRC WinISD has the Kappa's on the library, so the modeling is easy.

BFM provided the best layman answer by far, if that's not to Your liking, then go ahead and try a random speaker.
It'll be in vain, but it's Your money.

Regards
Sam

JAUQO III-X · #7 06-21-2011, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ants_cymru

By the time I read all that content, I could have ordered the the driver from the from the website, fitted it and checked if it is compatible the dumbass way. Which is what I am going to do... Unless someone can help here. Cheers

You were offered help.

billfitzmaurice · #8 06-21-2011, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ants_cymru

I play to drunken idiots who aren't concerned whether my cab has the correct dimension for my speakers. As long as its load enough for them to hear i'm all smiles.

By all means, then, shove any old driver in there using less care about the process than one would when considering what to order for lunch. It may sound like garbage, but since that possibility doesn't bother you it certainly won't cause any of us to lose sleep over it.

BassmanPaul · #9 06-21-2011, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ants_cymru

I play to drunken idiots who aren't concerned whether my cab has the correct dimension for my speakers. As long as its load enough for them to hear i'm all smiles.

The average Welshman is no different from any other average guy. Disrespecting the folk who pay you is not a recipe for success in the musical arena. I've played all over South Wales and yes, some of the audience were there to sup as much beer in as little time as possible. However most were there to be entertained. I have found this to be true whether in the Liverpool area, Cardiff area, here in the Toronto area and the gigs I've done in the States. The scenario is played out across the world and most of us live happily with that.

The fact which you fail to comprehend is that, if your replacement driver is completely unsuitable for the combo, you could destroy said driver with a single note. The process is a crapshoot if the science is not done. The science is not too difficult with the computer programs available to do the work for you.

ants_cymru · #10 06-21-2011, 03:39 PM

Thanks for the replies, thats what I needed to know - I'll just save my cash now and get the one from Ashdown save all the fiddling around. I didn't know drivers were so sensitive, and I haven't got the head for T/S parameters and that sort of techy business.

I did have a look at the WIN ISD program and it drew some pretty graphs that I didn't understand!

Sorry if I seemed a little cocky, I'm clueless with some of techy stuff.

BassmanPaul · #11 06-21-2011, 03:56 PM

To me learning what you can about the "techy stuff" is as important as learning how to set up your instrument. The knowledge will save you thousands during the length of your career. You don't have to become an EE but being knowledgeable about how your gear works is a very good thing.

Left Caerphilly for here in 1973.

billfitzmaurice · #12 06-21-2011, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ants_cymru

Thanks for the replies, thats what I needed to know - I'll just save my cash now and get the one from Ashdown save all the fiddling around.

I wouldn't, AFAIK the Ashdown drivers are not high quality. But you can't just drop in any driver. Supply the exact internal dimensions of the cab including those of any port and we can help. Be a jerk about it and we can't.

ants_cymru · #13 06-22-2011, 03:55 AM

Measured from the inside....h 450mm w 575mm d 275mm and the diameter of ports is 80mm (there are two).

Many thanks!

ants_cymru · #14 06-22-2011, 04:02 AM

I did have a go at the WIN ISD program, and I am able to see the cab dimensions required for a certain driver, but dont know how I can use this program to do the reverse.

I had no idea that the wrong cab size would blow the speaker I was under the impression that this could only be done by an incorrect wattage match.

kringle77 · #15 06-22-2011, 04:19 AM

I love this page and love that I have learned so much from guys who know what they are talking about but, just once, couldn't someone throw this guy a bone and suggest a good replacement speaker without having to download software and learn a program that he will most likely never use again? I hope that this won't stop someone from giving me more advise in the future but, this kind of thing gets really out of hand on here sometimes.

**bassybill** · #16 06-22-2011, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kringle77

I love this page and love that I have learned so much from guys who know what they are talking about but, just once, couldn't someone throw this guy a bone and suggest a good replacement speaker without having to download software and learn a program that he will most likely never use again? I hope that this won't stop someone from giving me more advise in the future but, this kind of thing gets really out of hand on here sometimes.

To offer valid advice, the additional info was necessary. I see no huge problem with any of the responses here and it sounds to me like the OP has gained some useful input on the importance of matching driver to enclosure.

As for saving him the trouble of learning - that makes learning something sound like an ordeal or a chore. I view learning much more positively myself, as something that should be jumped on at every opportunity. That's one of the things that makes this site so useful.

billfitzmaurice · #17 06-22-2011, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ants_cymru

Measured from the inside....h 450mm w 575mm d 275mm and the diameter of ports is 80mm (there are two).

Many thanks!

Length of the ducts attached to the ports? There are no insignificant details.

Quote:

I love this page and love that I have learned so much from guys who know what they are talking about but, just once, couldn't someone throw this guy a bone and suggest a good replacement speaker

Based on what? He provided absolutely none of the information necessary to make a suggestion.

ants_cymru · #18 06-22-2011, 06:40 AM

The ducts are 115mm each deep and the thickness of the wood of the cab is 22mm.

By the way..I went into a guitar shop a couple of days ago and mentioned that my driver had gone, and their advice was don't replace it with the Ashdown one as they are rubbish, put an eminence one in there instead. It was'nt mentioned to me that there is some science behind it all, I wonder if any of them working there were actually aware of that.

Mr. Foxen · #19 06-22-2011, 07:17 AM

People working in music shops probably don't know the science, if they di stuff like study, they'd probably have a better job than being in a music shop.

will33 · #20 06-22-2011, 08:32 AM

If I did my conversions right that's 2.51 cu.ft. gross with 2 round ports measuring 3.15" dia. and 4.33" long.

1 inch = 2.54cm

I don't know what 15 to put in something that small.