Electrovoice 18" Woofer: smallish Magnet; only 2.3 ohms?

E-V says no parts or help with 18WS available

fiesta, thanks for your reply, we agree, magnet for 18" seems too small, part of the job is to control it after moving it!

 and something is wrong with the impedance readings.

I never measured my 15W's. I know Electro-Voice made mine, 16 ohm version, (based on being in an all 16 ohm 3 way system made in 1958) and, from their service bulletin which shows they also made an 8 ohm version.

the last link was to show what my 15W LOOKS like, see the monster magnet I'm referring to. That seller's meter shows his 15W as 3.5 ohms, also makes no sense to me.

I have a spare 15W downstairs, seller said 16 ohm version, I am realizing I should check it. I also have a spare cone/coil kit, I suppose I should measure it if specs are not in the box, I never opened it.

rodman99999

thanks for the clarifications. 

Now I see the spec sheets have a separate DC resistance line, thus the 15W link I posted must be a 15WK.

The 18" drivers I found, the foam ones in the Model EV-Six are NOT 18W or 18WK

18W and 18WK are bigger versions of my 15W (or 15WK), with monster magnets as you would expect

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/43604/Electro-Voice-18w.html

the Model EV-Six has 1/2" thick foam cones, the smaller magnets.

I don't know what their impedance was, or, if the DC resistance of 2.4 ohms is 'good/normal' or problematic.

??? Anyone know the specs of the 18" 1/2" thick cone driver???

here is a 18Wk (see the small k stamped into the label) from a Patrician

https://www.ebay.com/p/28028667707?iid=254883146782

OK, it's a 18WS, used in both the

Model EV-Six (4 way, 8 ohm system) 5 position resistor based optional frequency curves

https://products.electrovoice.com/binary/E-V%20Six%20EDS.pdf

and

Royal 400 (3 way, 2 AT-37 L-Pads, 8 ohm system)

https://products.electrovoice.com/binary/Royal%20400%20Manual.pdf

"a Special Woofer, 18WS, 4lb 10oz Ceramic Magnet"

I like learning this stuff, thanks for the help. That pair of Model EV-Six's is only 1 hour from my house which is why this stays in my unconscious.

the prior 12/15/18 W's and WK's used huge alnico magnets

the 18" 1/2" thick foam driver uses a ceramic magnet, here are decent photos of a Model EV-Six with that foam woofer

http://www.fisherdoctor.com/ev.html

Vintage Electro-Voice Info, click on any individual image

http://www.hifilit.com/hifilit/Electro-Voice/Electro-Voice.htm

says the K versions were 3.2 ohms, "for Klipsch K Type Baffles"

rodman

I seek active discouragement, knowledge always a push/pull, experience from others here 'smartly sought'.

from the temptation of a pair of Model EV-Six's only 1hr, 20 minutes away.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/154513478054

I was thinking of building new enclosures for them that would replace my existing 'all electro-voice' speakers shown here (drivers from a 1958 Fisher President II that was my uncle's)

https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/9511

give the current ones to my Son; sell the old; or use for a while, then sell the 'new' ones.

I'm drawn to both the bigger 18" woofer (I have 15W now), but also the very rare resistor based network they use for 5 optional response curves. (Royal 400, 3 way, uses L-Pads)

Also, the Model EV-Six is 8 ohm (I understand nominal). That would let me move to a tube amp with external bias meters (my existing speakers are 16 ohm nominal, the version one Cayin A88T has 16 ohm taps, internal bias adjusters).

Or should I say, WAS drawn. I cannot find any info about re-coning those 18WS woofers, so that's that. This 18WS now seems a lightweight comparatively.

I recently installed new 16 ohm L-Pads, hard to match L to R, took me a few weeks, but the match to my room is probably better than one of the E-V Six's fixed response curves anyway. 

No, no way, but .... 

did I forget to say I am not looking for more bass, it's just .....

rodman, all

I just noticed, that pair of EV-Sixes near me: it's a pair of identical Mono Boxes, they are not mirror images like Stereo Pairs are.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/154513478054

clearly it's hard for me to keep my eyes off them.

rodman

good thinking, my son’s suv is gassed up!

I wrote EV, let's see what they say. I also asked what currently available 18" woofer could be substituted for the 18WS.
.................................

Have a laugh: I just instantly schemed this: mix 18" WS with my existing 15W, like adding a pair of 18" subs

new wide rolling box, like a square or round pedestal. fit’s width of the 18WS facing/firing down (avoid eventual surround sag/voice coil rub). big hole in the top

sit my existing speakers on top, 15W; mid horn with it’s L-Pad; T-350 with it’s new L-Pad.

cut matching big hole in the bottom of existing speakers, so air spaces are joined to around 11cf

low feed from existing crossover: split very low out to 8 ohm L-Pad to 18WS, add 16 ohm L-Pad for 15W, now 4 L-Pads each side (hear lewm screaming?) and the joy of getting L/R to match.

Oh yeah, I have my existing rear port I could mess with too.

Saves a lot of carpentry. All Vintage, just a Late Idea Electro-Voice never came up with.
...........................................

It needs a name, anyone?
.........................................

Put a new modern 18" in the Model EV-Six boxes, sell them with no real concern about the nearly non-existent 18WS.

did I recently say "too clever" somewhere?

rodman

I am only finding foam repair kits, you are referring to voice coil, cone, surround correct?

source?

I’ve got a spare 15W ready to go, and a 15W needing a new cone right now that I will eventually repair. I have a 15W coil/cone/pleated fabric surround kit ready for it, but trying this sounds interesting.

Of course I've got spare horns ready, and they can be more readily found in the future by my great grandchildren I hope!!!

rodman,

how close to Plainfield New Jersey 07062 are you?

speakermaster

they are original E-V 18WS Woofers, used in both the E-V Model Six and the Royal 400 models.

have a good look inside

https://www.ebay.com/itm/154513478054

loose

https://www.ebay.com/itm/254646609730?_trkparms=aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc...

I have not come across all specs of the 18WS, but these are genuine IMO.

Royal 400 Specs: 8 ohm impedance, 4lb-10 oz ceramic magnet, which is why it appears so small, compared to my 15W's physically larger Alnico type magnet at 5-1/4 lb.

DC resistance of my 16 ohm 15W is 11.6 ohms; the 16 ohm 15Wk (klipsch baffle version) DC resistance is 3.2 ohms, 

https://products.electrovoice.com/binary/15W,%2015BW,%2015WK,%2015BWK%20EDS.pdf

then, when buying replacement 15W, I will need a DC reading to verify it is not the K version. Seems they simply stamped the label with a lower case k, and who knows who has replaced a voice coil???

I'm gonna measure my spares someday.

rodman,

I hope you got a kick out of my Bass Base Idea, I did.

I've kept my 63 yr old E-V speakers going myself for 48 years, and have spare drivers for my great grandchildren, that's why these E-Vs intrigue me.

If I wasn't so crowded here by the 4,000 lps I just inherited, had the space to store them until I got to it, I probably would have those Model EV-Sixes stacked here already! 

I generally want forward facing, no ports, but this quickie idea, I considered the18WS facing down.

1. key to the design staying shorter
2. one 18WS eBay seller said surround sagged, in one position the coil rubs
3. my 15Ws started their life facing down in Fisher President II, up on 8" bronze legs. Never a coil rub, strong bass. That way 1958 to 1973 when I inherited them.
4. new identical but separate enclosures 75-1985, still facing down.
5. current enclosures, moved vertically 1985-now. Strong bass, discovered bass can be directional, yeah. 
6. 1980 had refurbed, coils and cones, by pro, a voice coil rubbed, he re-did them. 
7. I refurbed coils and cones myself twice over 40 years, vertically, never a rub.
8. I inspect them every other year, never a sign of weakness or sag from surround
9. one cone dried out, near hot air heating vent (since replaced with new damper vent)

I could design nice enclosures, I'm an Interior Designer, specialized in Corporate Office Space, designed and had built a lot of custom furniture and millwork over 46 years, and have current experience with a very good local custom woodworking firm.