anyone make a three way out of an A7,,

**Derry** · April 28th, 2010, 10:19 PM

since I am rebuilding my A7 with the 806 driver and 811 horn I was wondering if anyone has converted their system into a three way adding a good ribbon or cone tweeter,,

I will dampen (ringing) the horn in my rework but still like the sound of a good tweeter for those highs in the 10K and above,,

thanks

Derry

**DSauro** · April 28th, 2010, 11:14 PM

I'm working on something like that now, only with a pair of A7-500WII Magnificents. It should be easier with an A7 & the top mounted horn. I'm using an 802-8G with a 604 Mantaray, along with the Alnico 515-8LF's & 288-8G/511E's, and mounting it inside the cab is, well, trying my patience in getting effective placement.
The passive crossovers from the 9861's would work quite nicely (1200hz & 8000hz).
Let me clarify. The 515-8LF's & 288-8G/511E's have been in there for 30 years & mounted with no mods. It's mounting the 802 & baby Ray, that is causing a little difficulty.

**bfish** · April 29th, 2010, 06:04 PM

Originally Posted by DSauro

...I'm using an 802-8G with a 604 Mantaray...

Hi Dave,

How are you dealing with the 7/8" horn on the 1" driver?... reamed out?... not an issue?...

**DSauro** · April 29th, 2010, 10:34 PM

Originally Posted by bfish

Hi Dave,

How are you dealing with the 7/8" horn on the 1" driver?... reamed out?... not an issue?...

Yes, they are at my nextdoor neighbors machine shop as we speak. Mounting brackets fabbed, too.

GM · April 28th, 2010, 11:36 PM

Decades ago I experimented with super tweeters, though it takes horn loaded ones to keep up with an A7. With youthful hearing and no digital delay available though, I ultimately didn't use them, instead doing some major tweaks to the 511s to improve their HF response and accepted their relatively narrow 'sweet spot'.

GM

**Panomaniac** · April 28th, 2010, 11:57 PM

I have, kinda, sorta.

Have run the tweeter of the 604 coax as the 3rd way. Have also used various horn tweeters - Foster, Selenium, Pioneer, etc. Right now I'm getting a pair of Fane bullet tweets. Very similar to the JBL 2404

So it can be done. Adds a little sparkle to the top. But with a good 802 driver and 811 horn, you hardly need them.

**twilightlady** · April 29th, 2010, 12:13 AM

Originally Posted by Panomaniac

I have, kinda, sorta.

Have run the tweeter of the 604 coax as the 3rd way. Have also used various horn tweeters - Foster, Selenium, Pioneer, etc. Right now I'm getting a pair of Fane bullet tweets. Very similar to the JBL 2404

So it can be done. Adds a little sparkle to the top. But with a good 802 driver and 811 horn, you hardly need them.

Yeah, same here:snickerpup:

**Cal Weldon** · April 29th, 2010, 10:23 AM

Sort of. My avatar is the result. All Selenium drivers on Altec box and horns.

**robertbartsch** · April 29th, 2010, 01:28 PM

A few decades ago, I added JBL slot tweeters (077) 2405 to a pair of VOTT Velencias and never looked back. These were crossed at 8K.

...this was a very good upgrade as the 806s on an 811 horn tend to roll off above 12K.

The tricky part with adding tweeters is getting a very high quality component and matching the sensativities to the other drivers as close as possible. Obviously, 3-way crossovers are needed too.

The other more viable, option for you might be to consider keeping it 2-way system and just upgrade to the Altec 902 HF drivers which have much better UHF extension. The 902s would be a direct bolt-on mod and crossover mods are not necessary, I suppose.

Either way, you will be pleasantly surprised.