Big, clean, loud speakers

  • Thread starter Thread starter VonBonfire
  • Start date Start date
V

VonBonfire

Well-known member
Looking at some various speakers to replace the somewhat tired G12-100AVT Celestions in my main gigging Twin. I am a big JBL fan and have a D loaded Twin for recording. I also have a single K120, which is less prone to blowing than the D series, but buying a 2nd one to load a Twin with is just crazy money right now, and then suppose I get it and one of the K's blows? I think I just want some newer high power handling speakers, so I have been looking at a few models to load a Twin with so I can be done with it and not have to fool around anymore.

EVM12L-my kid claims this will be the best choice

Eminence Commonwealth/Eminence PF-350-a JBL E120 copy? The commonwealth has the aluminum dust cap like a regular JBL, is kind of interesting.

WGS Blackhawk HP-90 watt alnico speaker is kind of interesting but my kid says the response will not be as good as an EV. I don't really understand the specs and charts.

I wouldn't mind a NEO for the weight since it's a gigging amp but only as long as there isn't a compromise on the sound. Celestion has a NEO Copperback and Eminence has an EM12 N which is Neo. The weber is only 75 watts which means limited life span in my rig.

Any experience, advice, or other speaker recommendations? I don't use heavy OD or anything. Just cleans, edge of breakup, and mild OD.
 
I always found EV's a bit bland tonally for my taste and haven't liked the tone of Neo magnets so far in the pickups or speakers I've had with them. For something current made the higher powered Fane's aren't bad options. If money weren't a factor I'd say just get JBL D or E120's or Fane Crescendo's. Those are imo the kings for that criteria
 
midnightlaundry said:
EVM is legendary.. It also serves as an Anchor for your Yacht.. Just add a chain.
Click to expand...
The Commonwealth/PF-350 is even heavier and has the 4 inch voice coil. My tech head kid says the PF-350 specs are not as good as the EVM12.
 
my iic+ combo has the ev in it, i gotta grab a 1x12 cab and see what its all about
 
braintheory said:
I always found EV's a bit bland tonally for my taste and haven't liked the tone of Neo magnets so far in the pickups or speakers I've had with them. For something current made the higher powered Fane's aren't bad options. If money weren't a factor I'd say just get JBL D or E120's or Fane Crescendo's. Those are imo the kings for that criteria
Click to expand...
I have blown up a lot of D's to the point where I started reconing them myself to save money. I did geek up one recone in the learning process, but I can do it. I just don't want to have to recone two of them every year just to gig D series on the club scene. Not worth it.

The K120's are hitting $350+shipping right now. Ditto on the E series 300-350. The single K120 I have now is WELL broken in and is probably at the backside of it's lifespan. These factors make me think I should just look for a speaker that is commercially available brand new today.
 
No experience with Neo.s.. I wanna say I read years ago that they're overall brighter..
 
VonBonfire said:
I was more interested in the Neo version of that for the weight savings but reviews and feedback on it are pretty sparse. Otherwise I would probably just go with the EV as I listened to quite a few EM12 vs EVM12L comparisons.
Click to expand...
The newer EV12L is a great speaker. No experience with the neos but it seems like a tough thing to replicate. The 12L is massive
 
EVM 12S. Very similar to the 12L, but with smoother highs, tighter lows, and fuller mids. Also possible to find the 300W models relatively cheaply in old PA cabs (at least in the US). Look for EV S200, EV FM1202, or EV S1202 PA's. On average I've got mine for about $70-80 a speaker, with the lowest being $45. Despite being discontinued, OEM recone kits are still being made according to Speaker Repair Pro's. I've seen several 12S's in need of a recone listed at around $50, depending on recone costs for you ($132 after tax for SRP to do it) it could be fairly economical to buy and recone, especially since it sounds like you might have the experience to do it yourself.

Comparison of frequency responses:
1700063736825.png


Video showing 12L vs 12S differences:
 
Last edited:
VonBonfire said:
Those cleans were nothing short of incredible. More OD than my usual taste but it also sounded very rich and creamy. Many thanks for sharing.
Click to expand...
the trick to the dirty tones with that speaker/amp combo was rolling off highs with the graphic. it’s a perfect candidate for the mark III with auto eq bypassed for clean channel and shaving highs on lead channel.
same with the even brighter altec i replaced in the amp with the WGS.

you’ll get more naturally rounded off top end with the EV which i also love, but less overall detail.
 
I bought an EV Force 12 off reverb last night. 150 watts power handling. Was $75 plus 50 bucks shipping. A gamble but maybe it will pay off. I figure I can mix it with the K120 temporarily, see how it works, and work from there. I'm trying to move some other gear so when it sells if I'm not happy with the combo I will try something more expensive.
 
Weber Cali. I'm about to pick one up for a Fender Showman I'm having built. Won't play well with distortion (especially if you get the aluminum cap) but crazy cleans.
 
ners said:
Weber Cali. I'm about to pick one up for a Fender Showman I'm having built. Won't play well with distortion (especially if you get the aluminum cap) but crazy cleans.
Click to expand...
Nice! You going ceramic or alnico on the Cali?

I have a Weber Michigan in another amp. Weber makes nice stuff and the Cali's look great but I already have many JBL's and all of them have the aluminum domes. I like the sizzle with mild OD but the D series will not take a cranked Twin forever. So I"m trying the K series and an EV for a little better power handling. Figure it's worth a shot before I dump bigger money on a set of speakers.
 
I have a pair of 12" Celestion Century Neo (not the Vintage) which were discontinued.

Specs:

Nominal diameter: 12 inch, 305mm
Power Rating: 80W
Nominal impedance: 8 or 16 Ohms
Sensitivity: 102dB
Chassis type: Pressed steel
Voice coil diameter: 1.75 inches, 44.5mm
Voice coil material: Round copper
Magnet type: Neo
Frequency range: 80-5000Hz
Resonance frequency, Fs: 85Hz
DC resistance, Re: 7 Ohms & 11.81 Ohms

Mounting Information

Diameter: 12.2 inches, 309mm
Overall depth: 4.9 inches, 124mm
Magnet structure diameter: 5.5 inches, 140mm
Cut-out diameter: 11.1 inches, 283mm
Mounting slot dimensions: 0.31 inches, 7.9mm
Number of mounting slots: 4
Mounting slot PCD: 11.7 inches, 297mm
Unit weight: 4.4lb, 2.0kg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top