Death Valley Nationak Park, CA, USA (Photo by Yuichi)

A-480WE Specifications (This horn is delicately designed and made for Western Electric type WE-555 driver) = Horn Type : Hyperbolic horn = Cut off frequency : 900Hz = Frequency range : 1000Hz to 7000Hz = Driver : Western Electric WE-555 = Size : W 433mm, H 145.4mm, D 276mm (inclu. 20mm adapter plate) = Material : a Teak laminated lumber (3.0cm thick) = Finish : Two coats of oil based clear polyurethane varnish = Others - There is no fin in the horn. - No color applied. ...Dec. 1989 MJ Magazine....

Building and assembly process Cutting out of horn pieces from the laminated lumber Coarse forming for a set of horn pieces except side walls. Bonding process of two pieces by epoxy. This makes 6cm thickness. The strait joint mechanism is easier than curve joint. Making sure of joints among horn pieces Forming of horn curves and side walls by a knife, chisels and sanders. Screws and epoxy are used for final assembly to fix. Additional epoxy and filler are applied. All surfaces are polished by a rotary sander and sand paper. Surface treatment of horns and driver adapters Driver adapters with WE-555 attachment (Brass) Completed horn from (mouth side view)

Measurement and Data Frequency response data is shown in the left hand side. Western electric WE-555 driver is mounted. The response curve maintains very flat sound pressure level from 600Hz to 7KHz. This is amazing that such an old Western product has so nice property. Recommended bandwidth is from 800Hz to 5KHz. A super tweeter is needed to cover high frequency zone. Left hand data is a impedance curve. This A-480WE horn gives adequate horn load to the WE-555 driver. Therefore, diaphragm is well dumped by the air Impedance is well under controlled beyond 400Hz, too.

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