Curiousity killed the cat

[zarrdoss]

OK I went there, a combination of too much free time on my hands and to many drivers I decided to try a little experiment. I swapped out the 6513 "donut" drivers on one of my 2.3's and substituted to 6502's just for $**ts and grins, they look much better, well the one does, the donut drivers are kind of fugly. The sound, to close to tell, maybe the one with the 6502's sound just a tad bit warmer. I do have two more 6502's and will do the other one for a full test.

Now back to your regularly scheduled program.

[stubby]

Homer Simpson was the only person who liked the looks of the 6513s.

Go for it. Might be the next great mod!!

stubby

[Vette C6.r]

Always wondered what that would do.

Keep us posted if you do the other side and post some comments please.

[chandler9a]

Very interesting. I guess I never thought of trying it because of how the xovers were designed but you never know!

Did you ask anyone at polk about it?

Keep us posted

[Vette C6.r]

The reason they had the doughnuts was they thought it had too much mids and the 6513's slow the driver down.

Due to my setup I am lacking a bit of bass. I would imagine it would help in the bass department if 4 of the 6513's were "normal" drivers.

Someone with more crossover experience should chime in and give there opinion.

[ben62670]

Could you measure the dcr of the 6513's for us?

[zarrdoss]

Could you measure the dcr of the 6513's for us?

it measured 4.8 ohms and the 6502's measured the same about 5.1. From looking on the spec sheet it looks like they have another 16.8 mh inductor going to the 6513's. when I put my ear up to the 6513's I can really hear anything but with the 6502's in their place I can hear just a hint of low vocals coming through, probably 100hrz and below. I was mainly going for looks but if it makes them sound better than it would be a plus.

[ben62670]

OK that's not bad, but the MW 6502's Fs is around 40hz IIRC. I never liked the idea of the weighted 6513's. They share the same cabinet with drivers that are no where near the same cone weight. This presents some phasing issues.

[zarrdoss]

I think 6511's would be more ideal, but we all know how rare those are or maybe 6503's? if you look on the schematics it has 6511's crossed out and 6513 written in its place.

[ben62670]

To do it right I would try to get the 6511's.

[zarrdoss]

To do it right I would try to get the 6511's.

I think it would be easier herding cats, lol. I just got the others changed out and the lower mids seem to be just a little warmer but not harsh, first impression is they sound better to me but will have to do allot more listening to make a decision to keep the change or not. But they do look better IMO.

[halo71]

I can't add nothing to this thread. Except to say DAMN those are some sexy looking speakers!

[Vette C6.r]

Zarrdoss. IMO they appear to be a bit far apart from each other. Have you experimented with moving them closer together ??

[ben62670]

He is good. When they start looking too far apart they are probably close to just right.

[F1nut]

Put the grills on, you won't care what the drivers look like.

[zarrdoss]

Thank you halo71! The speakers are about 9' apart and listening position is 11' from speakers, sound great huge sound stage with no holes in the middle. I did have them closer but sounded better this way

[Vette C6.r]

F1 can you comment on the crossover design and the pro's and con's about putting "regular" drivers in there place please.

[F1nut]

Just to repeat what is already known. Polk used the donut drivers to solve the issue of the speakers having way too much midrange.

[ben62670]

Actually the 6513's are crossed at a lower frequency with a 6db slope hooked up out of phase to be in phase. I am not sure if the doughnuts came first or the 6511's. Listen to both and see what you prefer. IMHO the 6511's would be faster. The 6502's don't really dig deep enough.
Ben

[zarrdoss]

Probably the 6511 came first, I dismantled a 6513 (hole in the surround) and would bet its just a 6511 with the donut attached. It has the dust cap turned around back-wards and attached to the back of the donut. All the early sales flyer's for the 2.3's show no donut drivers and the 6511 on the schematic is crossed out with 6513 written in below. I couldn't imagine why they would engineer a different driver when they already had one that worked unless it didn't. The change seemed to help at low volumes but when it was turned up it was apparent, mids get harsh, epically in guitar, so the donuts are staying. I had fun though experimenting. I just wish Mr Polk could have found a way to dampen those that didn't look so dorky.

[Audioquest]

Probably the 6511 came first, I dismantled a 6513 (hole in the surround) and would bet its just a 6511 with the donut attached. It has the dust cap turned around back-wards and attached to the back of the donut. All the early sales flyer's for the 2.3's show no donut drivers and the 6511 on the schematic is crossed out with 6513 written in below. I couldn't imagine why they would engineer a different driver when they already had one that worked unless it didn't. The change seemed to help at low volumes but when it was turned up it was apparent, mids get harsh, epically in guitar, so the donuts are staying. I had fun though experimenting. I just wish Mr Polk could have found a way to dampen those that didn't look so dorky.

I always wondered why they used that driver as well, and was told just what you found out that it smoothed out the midrange and didn't make it as shouty. You could also try swapping the left for right speaker setup and see if it makes a difference as the TL's with no doughnut go like that.

[zarrdoss]

I have a set of 2.3tl's and as I said this was just an experiment. I think you could get it to work if you did like ben said and use 6511's but also think you would have to add more dampening or filtering to the 6511's to take the place of the donut and it wouldn't change the way they sound a bit. So I will do as F1nut suggested and like having sex with a ugly girl turn out the lights and you don't care what they look like, lol

[ben62670]

Those drivers are crossed over so you don't get mids through them.
Ben

[thebluemonkey]

Dont you have them switched? the 4 driver column is sposed to go on the inside

[F1nut]

Dont you have them switched? the 4 driver column is sposed to go on the inside

Not with the SDA SRS 2.3. The SDA drivers are the middle 2 in the row of 4 and therefore, the row of 4 goes to the outside.

[zarrdoss]

Those drivers are crossed over so you don't get mids through them.
Ben

I got some mids, more than the 6513 and it was noticeable, I don't know if it was from the other drivers radiating from the rear or what, it did not sound good when you turned it up is all I know. Maybe someone can e-mail Mr. Polk himself for a more definitive answer. Its kind of weird, you look at the manual and it shows the 2.3 with no donut driver but identifies it in the manual. Did the 6513 look normal and they added the donut later on? Or was that indeed another set of 6511's in place of the 6513's in the photo in the manual?

[Toolfan66]

Off topic...

Kevin I saw that art piece at Thornton parkway.. Very Nice Bro!!!!

[zarrdoss]

Off topic...

Kevin I saw that art piece at Thornton parkway.. Very Nice Bro!!!!

Thanks man! we might be doing another one going back east somewhere.

[ben62670]

I got some mids, more than the 6513 and it was noticeable, I don't know if it was from the other drivers radiating from the rear or what, it did not sound good when you turned it up is all I know. Maybe someone can e-mail Mr. Polk himself for a more definitive answer. Its kind of weird, you look at the manual and it shows the 2.3 with no donut driver but identifies it in the manual. Did the 6513 look normal and they added the donut later on? Or was that indeed another set of 6511's in place of the 6513's in the photo in the manual?

You were using 6502's that were designed for smaller monitors.
Ben

[zarrdoss]

not that I am going to attempt anymore but what about 6503?