S115IV diaphragm vs. replacing driver

[ampnation]

Posted also at DJForums...

I am really ticked about what I did last night.

I was using my Yamaha S115V's hooked up to my laptop to provide sound for a DVD I was watching. I had adjusted things so my volume on the computer was at about 11 (out of 100) to keep the mixer from clipping. I then turned up the amp (GX5) and the mixer master fader to get my desired volume. It was playing through the DVD player software.

When I was done watching the DVD I decided to play a CD through the same setup. I put this in the computer optical drive. It opened in Windows Media Player and auto-started at a volume of about 81.

By the time I got the volume down (mixer was a few steps away) I had done damage. I'm pretty sure I only need new diaphragms, but I'm looking at a little over $120 for a pair. Lesson learned.

I found this at an old 2003 post on another forum...

"Just a clarification here, and calling attention to the trend for manufacturer's calling things somethingthat they really are not.

Yamaha refers to the HF drivers as 2" drivers, but upon examination of the more detailed specs, they are really 1" exit with a 2" V.C diameter which is nothing like a real (and more expensive) 2" driver.

It's a decent speaker, but not a pro box as implied by their marketing department! Right. The Eminence 2002,Selenium 205 and other $50-60 drivers have 2" voice coils with 1" exits."
The Selenium 205 I believe is the precursor to the 220. I have a pair of D220Ti-OMF with the 2/3-bolt pattern (vs. screw on) so I'm wondering first if these would work. If so, I'm golden. I haven't checked what style the Yamaha's use yet. [edit: the yamaha horn accepts the 2-hole pattern that matches that part of the 2/3 bolt pattern on both the yamaha oem driver and the selenium D220Ti-OMF.]

NOTE: I know these aren't the best speakers but even if I turned around and sold after repair, I know that buying the diaphragms or using replacement drivers would allow me to get some of my money back. The D220Ti's I have cost less than the diaphragms I've found.

[Paul O]

So did the horns stop working completely? And have you verified everything on the crossover is intact including the light bulb? You could also check the VC on the compression drivers to see if it's open or not.

The info you have on the Yamaha horns is correct they are only 1" exit drivers and the Selenium drivers would be a suitable replacement though some additional attenuation may be necessary. I don't know if they are bolt on or screw on though.

[Taterworks]

Can you post a pic of the driver? I think you have the last series of Club S115 where the LF driver was Eminence (now it's Chinese), but I'm not sure if the HF was ever Eminence. The easiest way to restore your boxes would be to obtain direct replacements for the HF drivers (which would be easy if they're Eminence).

[wg_ski]

I don't think the HF drivers are Eminence, either. A buddy of mine hads four of them, and the woofers are Eminence but that's all. The x/o is at 1700 Hz, so it should be doable with the inexpensive Selenuim driver.

[ampnation]

Won't work... my Seleniums are 8 ohm and the Yamaha is 16 ohm.
The Yamaha part number is 67-0241A0897 and the diaphragm is JAY2061.
I see the diaphragm sells for $25 each which is better than I first found so I'll go that route most likely.

I saw a picture of an Eminence M-350 driver that looks just like this but with Eminence on the back plate mold vs. Yamaha. I used to be in the injection molding business and this is usually achieved by having an insert in the part mold so they can produce the same part for different companies without having to build an entire new mold. So this probably is an Eminence. The full Eminence driver appears to be about $100. The Eminence PSD:2002-16 1" Titanium Driver 16 Ohm 2/3-Bolt appears the same at PE for $55.

How can I find out what the specs are for the "Yamaha" driver? If one blows at an event, I'd prefer to be able to swap the entire driver vs. the diaphragm. If the PSD2002 is suitable, or for that matter, the Selenium, I would just keep one of those in my kit.

[Randy L]

I really like the sound of the Selenium compression drivers. Why not put the 220 in the damaged cabinet and compare the sound of the Selenium to the Yammie horn?

If you get anything other than the original part replacement,you'll need to change both horns or else the sound may be quite different and noticeable during a gig.

[ampnation]

I really like the sound of the Selenium compression drivers. Why not put the 220 in the damaged cabinet and compare the sound of the Selenium to the Yammie horn?

If you get anything other than the original part replacement,you'll need to change both horns or else the sound may be quite different and noticeable during a gig.

Don't I need at least the same impedence for the crossover to work like it is supposed to? And yes, I have two of them and wouldn't replace one and not the other unless I was matching with same equipment. Either way, I'll keep the original horns.

[wg_ski]

Get a couple of 16 ohm diaphragms for the Seleniums. Either hang on to the original 8's for spares in a new design later, or sell 'em to somebody else who needs spares.

You could compare raw response of a Selenium vs. an original horn driver, to see if you like it better first. Generally, the driver that plays cleaner unfiltered (or with a simple filter) is going to be better.

[ampnation]

Get a couple of 16 ohm diaphragms for the Seleniums. Either hang on to the original 8's for spares in a new design later, or sell 'em to somebody else who needs spares.

You could compare raw response of a Selenium vs. an original horn driver, to see if you like it better first. Generally, the driver that plays cleaner unfiltered (or with a simple filter) is going to be better.

So it's just the diaphragm that makes it 16 ohms? Is this true on all compression drivers?

[Paul O]

So it's just the diaphragm that makes it 16 ohms? Is this true on all compression drivers?

That's true for any driver.. the voicecoil determines the electrical impedance.

[ampnation]

so the fact that there's a 16 ohm HF driver in a two-way cab rated at 8 ohms and I'm assuming the Mid-Low driver is 8 ohms... The lower frequency driver generally is responsible for most of the impedence, right? Thus the 16 ohm HF driver doesn't bring the actual impedence of the cab above the nominal 8 ohms of the combined load presented by the component as a whole?

[Paul O]

The lower frequency driver generally is responsible for most of the impedence, right?

Technically no, but the low frequency driver is responsible for the majority of the power requirement so that's what the manufacturer will use.