Modifications to Elac Uni-Fi Reference UBR62 Bookshelf Speakers

[terryforsythe]

What do you call that connector?

It is a circular connector with push-pull locking. The manufacturer is Weipu. It is in the WEIPU IP67 - Large SA28 series. There are different pin configurations available - see the section "Solder Spec".

SA28 - WEIPU

WEIPU Connector SA series: Large size SA28 with IP67 waterproof connector is made of anodized aluminum, specially designed for applications that require fast connection and are easy to connect. It has multi-color options with black, silver, red, blue, and green.

www.weipuconnector.com

They have a lot of different connectors. You may be able to use something smaller, like the SA20 or SA24, depending on the size of your cables.

 

[dagfinn]

Thanks. I use 2,5mm2 wires, so SA28 should be just right .

 

[somebodyelse]

Nice, fully active is another level . I'm converting my 4-way JBL250Ti's, one speaker is ready while I'm waiting for parts for the second (currently bi-amped). I'm considering 2x speakon, but one 8-pin is even cleaner. What do you call that connector?

Dagfinn

There's always the 8 pole speakon: https://www.neutrik.com/en/product/nl8fc

 

[dagfinn]

There's always the 8 pole speakon: https://www.neutrik.com/en/product/nl8fc

Thanks - I didn't know about that either, I thought 4 pole was max .

 

[restorer-john]

Why are you doing this?

Trying to make a silk purse out of a sows ear.

 

[terryforsythe]

Trying to make a silk purse out of a sows ear.

The results are impressive, significantly better than I expected when starting the project. The project was well worth the effort.

Also, I learned a lot which, in and of itself, made the project worthwhile to me. I have designed and built numerous passive speakers, albeit decades ago. I always used stout cabinets with a generous amount of internal bracing at various angles. This served both to reinforce the structure and to breakup internal parallel surfaces. I had never run into cabinet vibration issues to the level I did in this project, nor had I seen their impact on harmonic distortion (back then I did not have a means to accurately measure harmonic distortion). These things I have learned, and addressed in these speakers.

Also, I strongly suspected that eliminating passive crossovers would improve bass response. This project proved, at least to me, that this hypothesis was correct. Indeed, although I use to design passive filters as an occupation, I now am of the opinion that I no longer want them in my speakers.

The most significant issue with the speakers that remains are diffraction issues with the tweeter. Specifically, the diffraction at the tweeter/midrange interface and the diffraction at the midrange surround. The diffraction at the midrange surround has been mitigated a bit by adjusting the crossover frequency and slope. Placing the speakers slightly off-axis and using some DSP I also have mitigated the tweeter/midrange interface diffraction enough so that it is not audible to me.