EV ElectroVoice Speaker info sought.

[VTypeV4 37]

I've recently been given a couple of old cabs and a spare driver.

 

On recieving them, I thought I'd crack the cabs open and see what was inside. There was 2 x 12, a 1 x12 and the spare driver was a 15 inch EV.

 

Starting with the 2 x 12 I found a battered Celestion with no model markings but it had a rubbing voice coil so chucked it straight on eBay for spares or repairs. The other driver was an EV SP12! I'd never seen one in the flesh so was rather surprised at its massive magnet assembly and general 'over built' quality. True EV! The unit itself looks to be in good shape so I'll probably keep this as a spare or for a rainy day. A little research suggested that it was designed more of a Hifi rather than sound reinforcement duties. Apparently the unit has a very smooth response (for it's day at least) coupled to high efficiency seems to make it quite advanced given its age. I personally haven't run it up yet but may well make it its own box and see if it lives up to the late '50s hype!

 

Can anyone offer any info or further opinions on the EV SP12?

 

The other cab was inspected next to which I was greeted with a really clean looking 12" Goodmans Audiom 12-P. It was the pressed frame model rather than cast but I'm sure I can put this to good use somewhere! Or as a spare at least for my little old 'Linear Stack'..!

 

Lastly was the spare driver which was much more modern than the other stuff with a 1980 date on the box. Now this is where the confusion started for me. The box says it's an OEM EVM 15-L and I kinda believe it however, it doesn' seem to have the big heat sink (like the rest of the EV-L range) on the magnet assembly and equally noticeably, is a pressed frame as opposed to a cast. Apparently there are two generations of EV-L series, the originals being a high efficiency (7.5%) 200w unit whereas later versions are 400w. I guess my question is whether my driver is at all a true EV-L or whether its a lesser model? It looks to have a 2.5 inch coil, a heavy duty suspension support, a modern looking edge roll on the cone and generally looks to be built very well. I'm reasonably sure its an EV as the frame looks similar to the SP12 mentioned above.

 

Any thoughts, feelings and opinions are welcome.

 

Pix to follow, many thanks!

 

 

[VTypeV4 37]

 

 

 

Pix, as promised!

[Guest trucheli]

If you need to replace them with original EV check out this link

 

http://treasure.craigslist.org/ele/3175272158.html

[VTypeV4 37]

Cheers man but I already have a pair of D12L drivers to load into the 2 x 12 once its been refurbished..

[zumbini 6,153]

Is this more like what you think it should look like?

 

[VTypeV4 37]

Yeah, just like that Z but as you see, mine aint!

 

Wonder if its a predecessor or something?

[zumbini 6,153]

I'll hazard a guess that your stamped frame was for home stereo and the cast frame for musical instrument/PA applications.

[kve777 6,904]

I'll hazard a guess that your stamped frame was for home stereo and the cast frame for musical instrument/PA applications.

Judging by all of the EV speakers I've seen over the years, Z is correct. 

[VTypeV4 37]

Many thanks gentlemen..

 

So would you say I'm safe to assume it is an EVM 15-L at heart and that it's 200w rating stands true?

 

Not quite sure what I'll use it for yet but I can't see me hammering it..

[VTypeV4 37]

Righty ho!

 

After lots and lots and lots and lots of google trawling, I found what my 'mystery' EV 15 incher is..

 

Its an EV SRO15, predecessor to the legendary EVM series. Depening on where I read and how to interpret the specs, it's rated at somewhere between 60 and 300w so I'll assume 150w to be a safe figure. It certainly looks good for it.

 

As I understand it, the EVMs came in about '77 but there was a bit of a crossover period where they were making both pressed and cast frame SRO as well as EVM units.

 

Mystery solved and I think it will go nicely in my old WEM cab replacing the current HH driver once I've rebuilt the 2x12 with my newer 12" EVs.. There will be a build log with photos when I press on with it..

 

Now, how is Z getting with those big 18" subs..!?

[zumbini 6,153]

Glad you managed to ID them Matt. Look forward to see how you put them to use.

 

As for my sub project, it's on the back burner, probably until sometime in the fall.

I have all the parts ready to go. Just need my son to make some time in his busy schedule.

Meanwhile I hooked up the Black Widows and gave them a ride to get a "feel" for them. 

They are certainly capable of moving some air! 

 

[VTypeV4 37]

Cheers Z, seems to have taken me ages to find the info. Most of the EV info on the net refers '80s onwards EVM series.

 

I have some paperwork that came with the unit suggesting it was reconed in 1980 and after a little research and looking at the cone it may well have the EVM spec cone assembly. The box also suggested its an EVM-L spec as it's all over the box which was why I thought it might have been an EVM15-L. All good tho.

 

With regards to the Peavey drivers, they're great performers especially considering their price not mention they look the business too! It's almost a shame to put them in a band-pass enclosure where you can't see 'em!

 

Will glad to see more pix of your build as it progresses. Like they say: 'Good things come to those who....'

[zumbini 6,153]

With regards to the Peavey drivers, they're great performers especially considering their price not mention they look the business too! It's almost a shame to put them in a band-pass enclosure where you can't see 'em!

 

On the plus side it prevents mischievous people from sticking sharp objects through the cones. 

 

Those 4" ports will be pretty inviting too so I'll probably cover them with fine mesh chicken wire.

(Might help to prevent those same folks from using them as trash receptacles.)

[VTypeV4 37]

I thought it suitable to continue this thread with the re-build of the 2x12 enclosure I acquired a few weeks back.

 

I pulled the cab apart today and thought I'd try a proof of concept experiment with the more substantial and modern EV drivers I've had knocking about for at least the last 5 years. With the old SP12 EV removed and put safe, I attempted to load my drivers but had to cut the internal edging just a little as the frames of my cast units were thicker than the old pressed items. Seemingly an eighth of an inch makes all the difference! Withe them now in place, I've secured the units breifly with self tappers however when I've done the cosmeteics, they will be nut and bolted in place. The picture below shows them in place wired up just before I soldered the jack connector and put the back cover on.

 

 

Closed up and good to go, I double checked they moved happily by putting a battery on the wire so see them A: both move and B: move in the same direction. Stranger things have happened! They're wired in parallel for a total load of four ohms so can easily be driven by all the valve amps I have and also achieve good power if driven by a solid state amp at any point. I did consider 16 ohm but didn't see the point or advantage.

 

Initial impressions are good, the speakers move freely with no flappng so the driver locaton an the baffle is correct. The overall sound is reasonably smooth with a little lift around the 100-150 Hz region making for a warm sounding enclosure however there does seem to be little activity much below about 70 Hz but it is quite a small box so I can live with that. The rest of the response in pleasant and musical (read not accurate!) and gently tails off seemingly above about 6kHz. One area I will have to work on is the bracing, particularly on the back panel as it feels like it's moving nearly as far as the drivers themselves! Some ribs on the back and some internal side-side and top-bottom dowls should stiffen it adequately.

 

Overall, I'm pleased with it for the time being as the short comings were ones I expected and with a bit of time and effort can easily be sorted. Next I will pull it all apart again and begin re-upholstary, tart the speaker cloth, brace it, add rubber feet and a carry handle as I want it as a 'go anywhere do most things' type cab. It's quite heavy with those drivers too but I can live with that as I think they should last a good long time.

 

[VTypeV4 37]

Hey Z, that is a distinct advantage and the chickn mesh does sound like a good idea. I once had a bloke ask me if he could put his coat in one of my subs at work! They're a big 90 degree horn with a big open mouth so I sort of see why he asked but having first put his head in there and getting a distinct blast of low frequency energy, I did think it was rather dumb question to ask. My response was along the lines of 'No, mate you can't' with lashings of sarcasm!