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Topic: User Report: TT15 vs K130 |
Dave Grafe
From:
Hudson River Valley NY
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Posted 22 May 2023 3:26 am |
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I finally got my hands on one of the new Eminence TT15 speakers to put in the Webb 6-14, replacing the K130 that has been my standard for decades. With a couple of shows down I thought I would share what I found.
First and foremost, the K130 has a full octave of high frequency response that is absent in virtually every other offering, including the TT15 and other premium products from Eminence, to the extent that it took a LOT of high end eq to get most of the highs I am accustomed to. Added to that the midrange of the TT15 is also "honkier" than the tone of the relatively flat JBL, but again eq changes got it sorted, to fhe point that I intend to leave the Eminence installed as it trims 10 pounds of the carry weight of the amp.
The 8-ohm JBL has an industry-leading sensitivity (1w@1kHz@1m) of 103dB, the 4-ohm TT15 has a a still impressive sensitivity of 101dB, so volume per watt if reduced is at least in the same ball park, and the listed power handling of the TT15 is enough to handle the Webb's full 225 watts output into 4 ohms. At 8 ohms the amp delivers about 150 watts, a good match for the K130 and enough to achieve essentially the same volume levels as the TT15 with half the wattage.
Webb 6-14 performance settings
JBL K130
Sensitivity 10
Volume 3
Treble 2.5
Midrange 4.5
Bass 8
Eminence TT15
Sensitivity 10
Volume 4.5
Treble 6.5
Midrange 3.5
Bass 8
As can be seen, the primary differences between the two are in the midrange and high frequency response, with a small variance in overall volume. The high end roll-off of the neo speaker required a significant boost in treble eq but also eliminated a lot of spurious pick and string noise that the JBL loves to reproduce with great accuracy.
Bottom line, for me at least, is that this neo speaker is well worth the trouble and expense, in that I was able to dial in the tone I seek and lightened the load with a minimum of frustration. YMMV 😎
Last edited by Dave Grafe on 23 May 2023 4:19 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Larry Dering
From:
Missouri, USA
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Posted 22 May 2023 4:17 am
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| Dave, thanks for a interesting review and observation of these speakers. Definitely worth the swap. |
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Dave Grafe
From:
Hudson River Valley NY
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Posted 23 May 2023 4:12 am
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Don't get me wrong, I will def be keeping my beloved JBL's in various other amps, this experiment was about reducing the weight of my primary carry amp, and fortunately with the Webb's tone stack the conversion has so far been successful.
At some point I intend to try the TT15 with a proper 4-ohm Fender amp to see how the Fender tone stack matches up with the TT's enhanced mids and reluctant highs, but at the moment I don't have one available. Film at eleven... |
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 23 May 2023 5:50 am
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| Quote: |
| enhanced mids and reluctant highs |
That absolutely will be a chapter title in my yet-to-be-written memoir. |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 23 May 2023 10:55 am
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If you come across an Eminence EPS-15C neo speaker (discontinued) try it. A friend replaced a blown JBL speaker in his Webb with the EPS-15C and likes it.
Background on the EPS-15C.It was designed to be a direct replacement for a Peavey 1501-4 Black Widow speaker Peavey used in steel amps. The 1501-4 was designed to be a high power version of the JBL (K130 I believe) used in the original Session 400 steel amp.
I was one of the field testers for the EPS-15C. My first impression was "this sounds like the K-130 I had in a (AB768 chassis) Fender Twin Reverb I had in the 70's"
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Len Amaral
From:
Rehoboth,MA 02769
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Posted 24 May 2023 3:52 pm
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| Jack Stoner wrote: |
If you come across an Eminence EPS-15C neo speaker (discontinued) try it. A friend replaced a blown JBL speaker in his Webb with the EPS-15C and likes it.
Background on the EPS-15C.It was designed to be a direct replacement for a Peavey 1501-4 Black Widow speaker Peavey used in steel amps. The 1501-4 was designed to be a high power version of the JBL (K130 I believe) used in the original Session 400 steel amp.
I was one of the field testers for the EPS-15C. My first impression was "this sounds like the K-130 I had in a (AB768 chassis) Fender Twin Reverb I had in the 70's"
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Hi Jack:
I have both the TT-15 and the EPS 15 and I find the EPS has a sweeter vibe especially when I roll the treble off a bit. The high end becomes smooth and creamy and way up on the neck there is no ice picky tone.
I wish Eminence would bring this model back as I would get another.
_________________
I survived the sixties! |
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Ken Metcalf
From:
San Antonio Texas USA
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Posted 25 May 2023 10:46 am
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Has anyone tried a TT12 with a
PF350 in two separate cabinets?
I have a PF 350 and it seems a little heavy sounding.
I have to roll off most of the lows and mids.
_________________
MSA 12 String E9th/B6th Universal.
Little Walter PF-89.
Bunch of stomp boxes |
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Dave Grafe
From:
Hudson River Valley NY
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Posted 11 Jun 2023 7:36 am
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| Len Amaral wrote: |
| Jack Stoner wrote: |
If you come across an Eminence EPS-15C neo speaker (discontinued) try it. A friend replaced a blown JBL speaker in his Webb with the EPS-15C and likes it.
Background on the EPS-15C.It was designed to be a direct replacement for a Peavey 1501-4 Black Widow speaker Peavey used in steel amps. The 1501-4 was designed to be a high power version of the JBL (K130 I believe) used in the original Session 400 steel amp.
I was one of the field testers for the EPS-15C. My first impression was "this sounds like the K-130 I had in a (AB768 chassis) Fender Twin Reverb I had in the 70's"
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Hi Jack:
I have both the TT-15 and the EPS 15 and I find the EPS has a sweeter vibe especially when I roll the treble off a bit. The high end becomes smooth and creamy and way up on the neck there is no ice picky tone.
I wish Eminence would bring this model back as I would get another. |
If you compare the response curves of the EPS 15 with that of the TT 15 you can see that they are very nearly the same, suggesting the source of the TT line's architecture as well as explaining the EPS no longer being offered.
EPS 15C
TT 15
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Willis Vanderberg
From:
Petoskey Mi
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Posted 17 Jun 2023 6:47 am
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| Dave, check your email. |
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