New Life Old Speakers

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The disconnect is that you don't actually know anything .. but attempt to talk like you do. Many threads here have shown that. You're an expert, remember? ;)

Don't make assumptions about people (to include what they know) - an assumption is the mother of all f ups.
 
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Has anyone converted passive cabs to active?
I'm still debating whether I want to want to take on the project of updating speaker enclosures, and if I do, I'm considering turning some of them them in to active systems at the same time.
 
Has anyone converted passive cabs to active?
I'm still debating whether I want to want to take on the project of updating speaker enclosures, and if I do, I'm considering turning some of them them in to active systems at the same time.
The amp plate options are minimal .. either generic ones from Speaker Express .. or you're retrofitting another model's into place, hoping to be able to match parameters. Doesn't seem manufacturers are interested in making adjustable DSP versions. Add to that you'd be changing the specs of the internal volume a bit which might throw things off.
 
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Older peavey speakers looked horrible. When you walk into an event, and see big Peavey white logo on the speaker grille, you know you are in for a harsh sounding event.

JBL Speakers in the past by far were a superior product to Peavey.

Now I heard the newer Peavey "Dark Matter" powered speakers. Those are the best sounding Peavey's I have ever heard.

The only thing I can say about Peaveys that is positive is that their cabinets were always sturdy, and seemed to hold up for years and years. None of the DJs I know personally ever bothered with Peaveys. None of them liked them. With Peaveys I usually see a cheap bar band using them, or a cheap Karaoke DJ using them over the years. Never saw them at weddings, or corporate events in use by anyone.
The old peavey logos were black and silver but you’re just a youngin
 
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Cost & benefit/result analysis would probably make such a DIY exercise fundamentally unproductive.

However, if wasting cash and getting less than substantive outcome makes you happy, trod on, the horizon is clearly in your windshield...that is unless you tried to retrofit a mirror in your vehicle's windshield frame.

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So you're gonna spend gobs of money, time and effort
to retrofit old cabinets with technology that wasn't MADE for that particular cabinet....
AND/OR
You're gonna to make your own speaker design changes?

Considering the price of NEW active cabinets...
just seems like a waste to TRY and make old speakers something they are NOT.
Especially when your new design could sound like total crap
and you won't find out until you're already done.
 
So you're gonna spend gobs of money, time and effort
to retrofit old cabinets with technology that wasn't MADE for that particular cabinet....
AND/OR
You're gonna to make your own speaker design changes?

Considering the price of NEW active cabinets...
just seems like a waste to TRY and make old speakers something they are NOT.
Especially when your new design could sound like total crap
and you won't find out until you're already done.

C’mon Mike... You know it’s not always about the time or the money. Sometimes it’s just fun (and a challenge) to see if you can repurpose something and turn it into something cool and works good. Sure it’s easier to go buy something that’s already done, and often less expensive, but there’s satisfaction in designing it and/or building it yourself. It SUCKS when it doesn’t function as you planned, but that’s part of the learning process.[emoji1]
 
C’mon Mike... You know it’s not always about the time or the money. Sometimes it’s just fun (and a challenge) to see if you can repurpose something and turn it into something cool and works good. Sure it’s easier to go buy something that’s already done, and often less expensive, but there’s satisfaction in designing it and/or building it yourself. It SUCKS when it doesn’t function as you planned, but that’s part of the learning process.[emoji1]
I agree .. though for this activity, the "pieces parts" will be tougher to come by.
 
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The amp plate options are minimal .. either generic ones from Speaker Express .. or you're retrofitting another model's into place, hoping to be able to match parameters. Doesn't seem manufacturers are interested in making adjustable DSP versions. Add to that you'd be changing the specs of the internal volume a bit which might throw things off.

I wouldn't use an integrated plate. I would make my own interface perhaps with a passive bypass as well. I have access to amp modules/cross to match the drivers, and the new enclosure can be made to whatever spec provides the parameter desired.

Not sure if I'll do it or not, but was wondering if anyone has and what they thought about it after.
 
I wouldn't use an integrated plate. I would make my own interface perhaps with a passive bypass as well. I have access to amp modules/cross to match the drivers, and the new enclosure can be made to whatever spec provides the parameter desired.

Not sure if I'll do it or not, but was wondering if anyone has and what they thought about it after.
What you are proposing is more like building a new powered speaker from passive components and a new cabinet and electronics and not really a conversion.
 
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Cost & benefit/result analysis would probably make such a DIY exercise fundamentally unproductive.

However, if wasting cash and getting less than substantive outcome makes you happy, trod on, the horizon is clearly in your windshield...that is unless you tried to retrofit a mirror in your vehicle's windshield frame.

I already have access to a shop full of birch plywood for building event furniture, and the skills for furniture grade results. Save but the lack of a logo you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between a QSC K152 and what I might build. Very little money (~$100 /pair to build and finish passive enclosures, and another $400 per box to make them active systems. I could build for dual service and add the active components later on an as needed basis.
 
What you are proposing is more like building a new powered speaker from passive components and a new cabinet and electronics and not really a conversion.
I guess so, but the drivers won't change and the passive cross would still be the secondary path when not in active mode. I don't know if I'll do it but, I hate the idea of tossing $600 drivers just because they happen to be in 1998 looking cabinets.

Making them active would add some versatility - but, perhaps not wort the cost. 15" is a big active and I'm likely to need smaller active monitors than more fifteens.
 
I guess so, but the drivers won't change and the passive cross would still be the secondary path when not in active mode. I don't know if I'll do it but, I hate the idea of tossing $600 drivers just because they happen to be in 1998 looking cabinets.
I agree it would be a waste to toss them .. is there no market for the drivers on eBay or reverb.com?
 
So you're gonna spend gobs of money, time and effort
to retrofit old cabinets with technology that wasn't MADE for that particular cabinet....
AND/OR
You're gonna to make your own speaker design changes?

Considering the price of NEW active cabinets...
just seems like a waste to TRY and make old speakers something they are NOT.
Especially when your new design could sound like total crap
and you won't find out until you're already done.

Well, that's just it - I'm not gonna spend gobs of money, I have the resources, I've done it before (passives) and they are new cabinets with technology hand selected for the drivers in them. There are no actual design changes - so, I already know what they sound like. This is just a new look and new option to power them.

The only issue would be making them active if the internal amps don't perform as predicted. Only need 1 demo to find out - so, I build 7 cabinets for 6 speakers and don't make the cuts for active components on 6 of them until the 7th one is tested.
 
I have about a half dozen pairs of 15" 2-way passive speakers (JBL) that are visually obsolete. They all work fine, have had new drivers, (2226H) etc. added over time and even new cabinets built for them. They are all in great condition and I have always liked how they sound and their reliability but, the look is old school rectangular cabs and gray carpet so they don't get used often. I tend to grab my active pairs instead.

I've decided I can get new life from these by building new Trapezoidal cabinets. I plan to include both PA fixing points and floor monitor angles, and finish them with a modern textured black satin finish.

The problem now - is finding the time to actually get it done. I plan to set aside a day to cut all the pieces into kits and then assemble and finish each pair as time allows.

Anyone else given their old dogs a new trick?


So how much will it cost for materials will it take and how much of your time, plus updating the drivers and adding an internal amp, compare to just buying new powered speakers? Personally I don't care how dated they look as long as there cosmetically decent looking, and sound good. If you do decide to do it, make sure you wire them pu with the option to switch them from powered to passive just in case the built in amp craps out. Thats the problem with all powered speakers, there is no option to switch them to to passive.
 
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C’mon Mike... You know it’s not always about the time or the money. Sometimes it’s just fun (and a challenge) to see if you can repurpose something and turn it into something cool and works good. Sure it’s easier to go buy something that’s already done, and often less expensive, but there’s satisfaction in designing it and/or building it yourself. It SUCKS when it doesn’t function as you planned, but that’s part of the learning process.emoji1.png

Hey, you're talking to the guy who has always loved to tinker.
I could spend hours putting a rack system together...
or making my own light show.
I am all for re-purposing... but not when I have to worry about the specs being correct.
Like Sawdust said....
"There is a lot more to cabinet design than T-S parameters. There are issues of resonances, edge diffraction, port turbulence, etc."
 
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Hey, you're talking to the guy who has always loved to tinker.
I could spend hours putting a rack system together...
or making my own light show.
I am all for re-purposing... but not when I have to worry about the specs being correct.
Like Sawdust said....
"There is a lot more to cabinet design than T-S parameters. There are issues of resonances, edge diffraction, port turbulence, etc."
I could spend hours on a rack as well .. ba dum dum tsshh