BR-1 mods for higher efficiency?

[50 watt head]

Hi, first-time poster here .... with a question.

I built a BR-1 shielded pair a few years back, and have been extremely happy with them, except that they seem to be somewhat difficult to drive. I'm wondering if anyone has ever done any mods to the xover in order to gain a bit more efficiency?

Specifically, I'm wondering if anyone has ever tried snipping the Zobel network (R1/C3) out of circuit? Will this net me a bit more sensitivity?

I'm driving these with a 65-watt Onkyo SR501 receiver, in a small-to-medium-sized apartment living room (but which has a very high sloped ceiling). These speakers sound GREAT for 2-channel music listening, it's just that it always feels like I have to really crank the volume on the Onkyo to get things LOUD. Sometimes, to the point that the amp (I think) starts to clip.

Any ideas? I'm open to any ideas for mods or upgrades. Thanks!

[madrok]

Re: BR-1 mods for higher efficiency?

"Will this net me a bit more sensitivity?"

Probably, but they won't sound as good. Ditto removing any padding resistors on the high pass. Just use them within their means. Get a bigger speaker or use them with a sub for more loudness

[benz]

Re: BR-1 mods for higher efficiency?

I built a pair for my brother and had no problem pushing them with a 35w marantz. I don't think your Onkyo should have a problem unless you like it crazy loud

[johnastockman]

Re: BR-1 mods for higher efficiency?

Hi, first-time poster here .... with a question.

I built a BR-1 shielded pair a few years back, and have been extremely happy with them, except that they seem to be somewhat difficult to drive. I'm wondering if anyone has ever done any mods to the xover in order to gain a bit more efficiency?

Specifically, I'm wondering if anyone has ever tried snipping the Zobel network (R1/C3) out of circuit? Will this net me a bit more sensitivity?

I'm driving these with a 65-watt Onkyo SR501 receiver, in a small-to-medium-sized apartment living room (but which has a very high sloped ceiling). These speakers sound GREAT for 2-channel music listening, it's just that it always feels like I have to really crank the volume on the Onkyo to get things LOUD. Sometimes, to the point that the amp (I think) starts to clip.

Any ideas? I'm open to any ideas for mods or upgrades. Thanks!

AFA efficiency, you won't get it with XO changes...like madrok said, it will only reduce sound quality. The BR-1 is known to be a bit power hungry, but 65 watts should be adequate. Of course, it depends on each individuals idea of "loud". I know some that love concert-level dB's and won't settle for anything less. But the BR-1 can't be beat for it's value/SQ/performance ratio. If you want to experiment, Dennis Murphy has a revised XO for the BR-1. I've compared it to the stock version and it's a noticeable improvement. The BR's I've put together for others since Dennis did the revision have all had his XO in there. I don't believe it would improve the efficiency, but it does improve the mids and lower treble.

http://murphyblaster.com/content.php?f=pe_br1.html

John A.

[daryl]

Re: BR-1 mods for higher efficiency?

I think I saw a spray somewhere that increases speaker efficiency.

Kind of expensive but their customers are adamant as to it's effectiveness.

[Dirk]

Re: BR-1 mods for higher efficiency?

I think I saw a spray somewhere that increases speaker efficiency.

Kind of expensive but their customers are adamant as to it's effectiveness.

I've noticed my speakers get much louder after gin & tonic #3. THat's why everybody has to yell so loud at the really good parties.

PS: Get a sub, highpass the BR-1's at 80-100hz and expect to gain about 30% of your amp headroom back.

[Dirk]

Re: BR-1 mods for higher efficiency?

Specifically, I'm wondering if anyone has ever tried snipping the Zobel network (R1/C3) out of circuit? Will this net me a bit more sensitivity?

BTW, that's not what a Zobel does. A zobel is an impedance-flattening network that is specifically used (in this case) to combat the inductive rise of the woofer. This causes the lowpass filter components (L2 & C2) to act in a more predictable way. Removing it will only serve to make the woofer play higher and overlap with the tweeter needlessly.

[dennismurphy]

Re: BR-1 mods for higher efficiency?

[QUOTE=johnastockman;1508881]AFA efficiency, you won't get it with XO changes...like madrok said, it will only reduce sound quality. The BR-1 is known to be a bit power hungry, but 65 watts should be adequate. Of course, it depends on each individuals idea of "loud". I know some that love concert-level dB's and won't settle for anything less. But the BR-1 can't be beat for it's value/SQ/performance ratio. If you want to experiment, Dennis Murphy has a revised XO for the BR-1. I've compared it to the stock version and it's a noticeable improvement. The BR's I've put together for others since Dennis did the revision have all had his XO in there. I don't believe it would improve the efficiency, but it does improve the mids and lower treble.

http://murphyblaster.com/content.php?f=pe_br1.html [Quote]

The stock BR-1 has a recessed lower treble, and fixing that with my Xover mod will give the speaker more presence. It's possible that you might not feel the need to play them as loud if they sound more balanced to begin with. But in a technical sense, it won't really increase sensitivity.

[Chris Roemer]

Re: BR-1 mods for higher efficiency?

BTW, that's not what a Zobel does. A zobel is an impedance-flattening network that is specifically used (in this case) to combat the inductive rise of the woofer. This causes the lowpass filter components (L2 & C2) to act in a more predictable way. Removing it will only serve to make the woofer play higher and overlap with the tweeter needlessly.

One mod you CAN do to increase sensitivity is to add a 2nd woofer in parallel wiht the 1st. Then the XO needs changes, and the cabinet volume needs to be approx. doubled. Essentially this is the "Dayton III" in the Showcase. It should have about 6dB greater sensitivity, but at a 4 ohm load. If you're amp's happy with that, things should sound dramatically louder to you.

[mikebw]

Re: BR-1 mods for higher efficiency?

Have you compared them to other speakers on your Onkyo? Part of the problem may be psychological, as the Onkyo uses a large number range to represent the volume, like 0-80 I think, so you don't really get much until 50 or so, and 50 seems like it should be a lot.

[Paul O]

Re: BR-1 mods for higher efficiency?

Have you compared them to other speakers on your Onkyo?

I don't have an Onkyo reciever.. but my BR-1's are at least 4-5db less sensitive than the Paradigm mini monitors I have. There really isn't much you can do about this as the system response is based on the sensitivity of the DC-160, which is only about 82db.

[50 watt head]

Re: BR-1 mods for higher efficiency?

Thank you, everyone, for your replies and suggestions. Lots of food for thought!

[50 watt head]

Re: BR-1 mods for higher efficiency?

There really isn't much you can do about this as the system response is based on the sensitivity of the DC-160, which is only about 82db.

Does the woofer, then, actually spec out at 82? It's listed as being 88db, IIRC.

[50 watt head]

Re: BR-1 mods for higher efficiency?

One mod you CAN do to increase sensitivity is to add a 2nd woofer in parallel wiht the 1st. Then the XO needs changes, and the cabinet volume needs to be approx. doubled. Essentially this is the "Dayton III" in the Showcase. It should have about 6dB greater sensitivity, but at a 4 ohm load. If you're amp's happy with that, things should sound dramatically louder to you.

This is a neat idea ..... I would only need to build the new boxes and xovers, and since I already have 2/3 of the required drivers, buy two new woofers. Hmmmm.....

[AJ]

Re: BR-1 mods for higher efficiency?

Does the woofer, then, actually spec out at 82? It's listed as being 88db, IIRC.

No, the woofer is actually 88db, but once you put it in a box and take away 6db for BSC the entire speaker becomes 82db/1w.