Tuba 36 3015LF alternative

[Doug86i]

Hi all,

I have 8x 24' wide Tuba 36s in a nightclub in the UK.

Unfortunately they have managed to pop 4 of the 3015LFs currently loaded into the cabs. Given that the cabs are installed and weight is therefore not an issue, is there another driver (perhaps one that can handle more abuse) which you recommend? Cost isn't as much of a concern as availability and robustness. My supplier is currently unsure when they will have 4x 3015LFs for me.

Many thanks,

Doug

[Doug86i]

Would this be suitable?

https://celestion.com/product/cf1540hd/

[Grant Bunter]

Hi Doug,
Don't think I've "met" you before, but you must have been around for a while to have a bunch of T36's.
When were they built?

Normally I'd say "if you're blowing drivers, you haven't got enough subs", but if yours have lasted this long, then that hardly washes, i would say .
Forgive me, but the T36 was long gone as a cab when I got here. In the plans does it mention brick wall limiting and a voltage limit for them? If not, might be time to put a driverack in the system.

With proper limiting, you should then be able to get away with recones rather than buying new drivers...

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Would this be suitable?

https://celestion.com/product/cf1540hd/

It would. But the bigger question is what are you using for a limiter? When correctly limited drivers will have a life span measured in decades. Without it they can be measured in hours.

[Seth]

...With proper limiting, you should then be able to get away with recones rather than buying new drivers...

+1
Doug, I completely agree with Grant. Definitely look into replacing the cone/motor assembly on the damaged drivers. And, definitely get your limiter situation dialed in to eliminate future problems.

[Doug86i]

Thanks lads,

I built 12 of the tubas back in about 2007, and they were the low end of our main system. In 2014 i upgraded to an MLA compact system and 8 of the tubas went into this nightclub.

System is properly limited though a soundweb blu, they don’t usually blow drivers. Issue was that the amps have dip switches that set the sensitivity and at some point they were either knocked or fiddled with.

Last time I looked into reconing 3015LFs it wasn’t really worth it but they have become more expensive since then.

I can buy those Celestion drivers quite reasonably, much cheeper than the eminence over here, and with a Qes of 0.323 sounds like a winner no?

[Rich4349]

Where in the signal chain do you have that Soundweb Blu? Shouldn't a properly arranged limiter prevent going over voltage limits, regardless of amp sensitivity settings?
Also, depending on how hard you've run them, isn't 15+ years of use pretty good, even for pro gear?

[Seth]

...Issue was that the amps have dip switches that set the sensitivity and at some point they were either knocked or fiddled with....

Ah, yeah, that'll do it. You may consider recalibrating the limiter settings to the amplifiers with those switches in their most sensitive setting to eliminate the issue from ever occurring again. That way, if someone get's to fiddling with the amplifier settings, the only thing they can do is reduce the output to the subs.

Good find on the Celestion... If the price is right, and it sounds like it is, could definitely be worth skipping the work it takes to install four new cones.

[Seth]

...Shouldn't a properly arranged limiter prevent going over voltage limits, regardless of amp sensitivity settings?..

The limiter limits the low level signal voltage out of whatever limiting processor is being used. Any signal changes after that point will effect the output of the amp. If the amplifier input sensitivity selector (not all amps offer this functionality) is changed but the source level limit remains the same, the amplifier's output voltage limit will change.

[Bruce Weldy]

...Shouldn't a properly arranged limiter prevent going over voltage limits, regardless of amp sensitivity settings?..

The limiter limits the low level signal voltage out of whatever limiting processor is being used. Any signal changes after that point will effect the output of the amp. If the amplifier input sensitivity selector (not all amps offer this functionality) is changed but the source level limit remains the same, the amplifier's output voltage limit will change.

Yep.....what he said.

We always say that we are limiting the amp, but in reality we're only limiting the input to the amp.....that's why we always say to crank 'em all the way up. The old Crowns always had the choice of input sensitivity.....and Seth's right that some still do.

[Grant Bunter]

Thanks lads,
I built 12 of the tubas back in about 2007, and they were the low end of our main system.

Love to hear that tribe!

System is properly limited though a soundweb blu, they don’t usually blow drivers. Issue was that the amps have dip switches that set the sensitivity and at some point they were either knocked or fiddled with.

Good to hear you're limiting. Time to get the thinking cap on to work out how to stop that happening again me thinks, like a plate screwed or op rivetted onto the chassis if it will fit.

Last time I looked into reconing 3015LFs it wasn’t really worth it but they have become more expensive since then.

Fair enough

I can buy those Celestion drivers quite reasonably, much cheeper than the eminence over here, and with a Qes of 0.323 sounds like a winner no?

While lower Qes is better for horns, Xmax is only a little higher than the 3015lf. If you're happy with the output of the 3015lf loaded cabs, but change drivers to the Celestions, leave you limiter settings the same, you should get a little more insurance against blown drivers.
If you try an eek out a few more dB, you're back in the same boat...

[Doug86i]

Thanks for the help.

I’ve ordered the celestion drivers and will report back once I’ve loaded them.

If anyone’s interested, I can get them for around £160 ex each in the UK.

All the best,

Dx