Any love for Celestion in the BFM camp?

[VTypeV4]

Just that guys?

I did a search and didn't really find much but I'm attributing that to most users on here being based in the US and the easy availability of Eminence over there.

I have my plans, some wood (and no idea!) so I'm pretty much good to go but I'm considering using Celestion with them being an English company. Inspite of their units being now made in China, quality is still excellent.

I have used Celestion in lots of applications over the years and have never had any problems with them. They've always sounded well and proved to be a hardy speaker IME.

I haven't compared the specs of specific models for my applications (T48 & OT12), I'm simply asking if anyone has used them in a BFM cab to any great success (or indeed failure?) at any point?

Many thanks, Matt

[Harley]

...but I'm considering using Celestion with them being an English company. ...

What does it say about using drivers other than those listed in the plans?

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

I haven't compared the specs of specific models for my applications (T48 & OT12t

Doing so should answer your question.

[VTypeV4]

...but I'm considering using Celestion with them being an English company. ...

What does it say about using drivers other than those listed in the plans?

I haven't compared the specs yet.. I'm sure there are Celestion equivilants?

I'll have look when I get chance..

[Haysus]

Same specs = good
Any specs out more than 5% = no good
Use the recommended drivers. After you spend the time building it you want it to sound good.
Why not buy a Ferrari and put tractor tires on it while your at it. Oh it will drive.

[Bas Gooiker]

Good luck getting a serious answer on this question. Most people here have shares in the company...

PD1550 comes to mind, B&C FTR, some Fane pro's/Colossus for bass.

For mids its not easy though. The 12" in the Ot crosses relatively high to the tweeters, and not many twelves like going that high. I know most european forums clasify Eminence as being s*%# except for maybe the kappa pro and the labs, but they do the bussiness in these cabs. The hump in the responce just before the break up point seems very specific to Eminence drivers, and these cabs have been designed with them in mind.

I would try to build these cabs using the recomended drivers. They are reasonably priced at http://www.lean-business.co.uk

Edit:Fixed wrong link.

[VTypeV4]

Hmm..

I was hoping for a little more positivity on the matter. I totally understand that the drive units would have to be at least similar in the T/S specs. I was simply asking whether there is any love for the brand for this application but it seems I have my answer.

[Zack Brock]

Most people here have shares in the company...

ATTN MODS - Delete this before Eminence notices or else our sponsorship is in jeopardy!

Same specs = good
Any specs out more than 5% = no good

^ + 1 on this. You can use any speaker brand or model that you like as long as it is plus or minus 5% of the specs listed in the plans. The plans list specific speaker parameters required to obtain the advertised performance and then several model suggestions, mostly Eminence. Deviation from these specs will result in unpredictable performance.

The hump in the responce just before the break up point seems very specific to Eminence drivers, and these cabs have been designed with them in mind.

^ And thus why Eminence is the preferred driver around here. It isn't that Celestion is frowned upon... Horns like rising mid range response. I'm not aware of any Celestions with specs to match that would work well in horns, hence why they aren't suggested for Bill's cabs. If there were, Bill would likely have included them in the plans.

[VTypeV4]

Thanks Mr Z

[Bas Gooiker]

...It isn't that Celestion is frowned upon... Horns like rising mid range response. I'm not aware of any Celestions with specs to match that would work well in horns, hence why they aren't suggested...

These particular horn designs like rising midrange response, not all horns! If you look at Turbosound Floodlights, Void Stasys, FK1 Res just some European designs that might be known in the states also. All hornloaded tops, none using Emmi.
So it is possible, but you will have to use trial and error.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

These particular horn designs like rising midrange response, not all horns!.

All horns are low pass devices, so all horns 'like' a rising response, which counteracts the low pass function of the horn. The alternative is to cross over from the woofer below where the low pass function kicks in, but that results in either having to go 3 way or having to use very expensive 2" throat HF horns capable of going low enough. The upshot is what we can do with an inexpensive 2 way others must use a much more expensive configuration.

[AntonZ]

I used to have a Celestion Sidewinder in a DIY cab, a very nice 12" driver. For a while I have thought about building a DR280 bass cab with that, but never got around to it. Still wondering if it would have worked. Cannot find specs for the driver anymore.

[VTypeV4]

So I've had a look and compare this eve and it seems that a number of the current Celestion range would fit the requirement.

T48: There seems to be a couple of different 15" units that would happily live in a T48 although the Neo option doesn't spec quite as well. Owing to the size of a T48, weight isn't really an issue so a couple of the FTR and newer CVJ range with ceramic mags far exceed / fall within the required specs.

OT12: As predicted, finding that rising midrange resp was tricky but they do one albeit a touch marginal on Xmax of 4.8mm and a coil rating of 350w. It's part of the TF range with a pressed frame.

These particular horn designs like rising midrange response, not all horns!.

All horns are low pass devices, so all horns 'like' a rising response, which counteracts the low pass function of the horn. The alternative is to cross over from the woofer below where the low pass function kicks in, but that results in either having to go 3 way or having to use very expensive 2" throat HF horns capable of going low enough. The upshot is what we can do with an inexpensive 2 way others must use a much more expensive configuration.

Thanks for the tech input.

I used to have a Celestion Sidewinder in a DIY cab, a very nice 12" driver. For a while I have thought about building a DR280 bass cab with that, but never got around to it. Still wondering if it would have worked. Cannot find specs for the driver anymore.

The one with the snake on the back and a pressed frame? Nice unit!

[AntonZ]

I used to have a Celestion Sidewinder in a DIY cab, a very nice 12" driver. For a while I have thought about building a DR280 bass cab with that, but never got around to it. Still wondering if it would have worked. Cannot find specs for the driver anymore.

The one with the snake on the back and a pressed frame? Nice unit!

Snake on the back indeed, but mine had a cast frame. It was a black frame though, and could easily be mistaken for a pressed frame construction by an occasional observer. Very solid driver, no lightweight neo magnets in those days



There was a guitar version and a bass/PA version. Mine was the bass version, but have had guitarists playing through it. Sounded "the beez kneez" for warm jazz tones. Not for mega overdriven tones. Celestion received many a request to build them again, but they never did as far as I know.

[Charles Jenkinson]

I got some love. here's the sidewinder guitar version in my bass cab.