Custom Model 19 Xovers?

[Digital Disaster]

Several years ago I had a local high-end speaker builder upgrade my Model 19 Xovers with state-of-the-art components supposedly featuring the same specs and have never been happy with the resulting sound - these speakers totally lack their original warmth and the low end is weak.
Does/would anybody on this board build high-performance X0vers (or know of a source) for a reasonable price?
(I am aware of Iconic but their charge of $720.00 for two Xovers is ridiculous)
Thank you!

[gamalot]

Hi DIG. Keep an eye on the thread a few down from this as we have been hashing this out in the past week.
I don't build them and I can't help you but I think I can safely say that all techs are not created equal and there is alot of discussion regarding what makes a 19 XO a 19 XO.

I am trying to have a buddy build me a set and, like you, I too want to use all the best and modern electronics. Could it be 19s sound the way we love them to sound because they don't use this newer stuff?
I am not up to speed enough to have this answer but I do think there is some magic dust in 19 XOs that make them do what they do. Then again it might be some magic dust bouncing around in our memories that we can't shake.
Sign on to the thread I started "rebuilding old XOs with new electronics" and sit back while Dwojo and Ron are doing some ground work we all might benefit from.

Gary

[gamalot]

Sorry Dig, Most of the good info is in the thread "Model 19 XOs on Ebay".
Dave and Ron are looking into the differences and should be reporting back pretty soon.

gary

[Digital Disaster]

Thanks Gamealot. I've been following the other posts concerning these Xovers also.
You just might be correct about selective memory.

[donaldpatten]

I have two 605As with factory XOs with the old paper caps ( 16uFd ) replaced with polys. Big improvement. I picked up a 3rd 605 without XO so I built a clone. I used an air core 1mH coil and my reward was a disaster. The clone did not sound or measure any thing like the OEM XOs. It was the iron core coil. I found if I added a 13 ohm resistor in parallel with my air coil, it all came together. Now the Clone and the OEMs sound and measure alike. This maybe what you are experiencing.
Has anyone else run into this ?
Don

[dgwojo]

Hi Don, I hope I don't have the same problem with air coils I'm installing in the N501-8A's I'm rebuilding. I found by placing a small piece of aluminum over the air core, I can stop the inductance value change caused by the crossovers metal cover, check your air gap and don't fasten the coils with anything ferrous, I use "true" stainless steel screws, usual steel or "cheap" brass screws affect inductance. I'll post pics when this project is done and report back on the results, Dave.

[Todd W. White]

Jim Dickinson is hand-building Model 19 Crossovers with hi-end components that follow the original schematics to the letter.

I lent Jim one of my original Model 19 crossovers that is in mint condition physically and electrically. He compared it to the new one he is building and was very impressed with the sound quality. The people who have purchased them report EXCELLENT results, as well.

He can be contacted at [email protected], or, if you prefer to call him, contact me and I will send you his cell number.

[Digital Disaster]

Todd, thank you for your reply but I guess you missed the last part of my first post above

[Todd W. White]

No, I didn't see that - sorry.

[donaldpatten]

Hi Dave
I built my clone XO on 1/4" plexiglass sheet. The coil is held down with cable ties ( no metal ). I should have known the iron core would be a problem, when I measured it I got two different L values ( 1
& 0.1 mH ) on different scales on my LRC bridge.
Don