SWR Triad

[stratzrus]

I just picked up two used SWR Triads because I love the way they sound, but when they arrived both had blown drivers.

I assume that it's the horn and/or the midrange speakers and will replace them one at a time until it sounds right.

I had read that they "are not the loudest cabinets in the world" and wondered if that was causing some players to push them too hard to get volume out of them...that's why I bought two...but even one sounds pretty loud to me when playing alone but I haven't jammed with them yet.

Since the 15" driver only handles frequencies below 100Hz and the horn handles 5kHz and above it seems that the lone 10" driver has to produce most of the sound. Does this render it susceptable to being blown at concert volume?

Does anyone here have experience with them or other SWR speakers with the same drivers? Do you have to baby them? What's been your experience?

Thanks,

stratzrus

[mgood]

I used to be a big fan of SWR, though I don't think I've ever played the Triad. (I don't have any reason to dislike them now, I just haven't played through an SWR cab in years.) An SWR Goliath Junior (2x10) combined with an SWR Son of Bertha (1x15) is one of the sweetest sounding rigs I've ever played.

Since the 15" driver only handles frequencies below 100Hz and the horn handles 5kHz and above it seems that the lone 10" driver has to produce most of the sound. Does this render it susceptable to being blown at concert volume?
Could be. The single 10 is covering most of the range, and just about all of the range where the definition is. Unless it's a very efficient 10 or a fairly inneficient 15, there might be a tendency to push the 10 too hard to try to get it to keep up. Most bass rigs that combine 10's with 15's use two or four 10's per one 15.

[The Golden Boy]

I've had a Triad for the past 12+ years or so.

I love the tone of whatever 15 SWR used. When I've recorded, I always have the 15 mic'ed- it's a great sound.

What's really interesting, maybe mine's just older (pre-1995), but I didn't realize that the crossover split the sound from the 10 to the 15 as well as the horn from the speakers... duh.

The reason I always wanted a "stereo" head was so that I could run more volume to the 4x10 than to the Triad, but I'd have the Triad stacked on top to get more of that 15 sound to my ears.

I have blown the 15 once- shortly after I got it- and had SWR recone it (back when they were in Sun Valley). I haven't had much of any problems since. I also don't use the horn.

http://images.lilypix.com/albums/userpics/10038/seymour%2Bswr.jpg

[bard2dbone]

I bought a SWR Redhead (the old one, not the Super Redhead) because I loved the sound for practice and recording. Then I tried it with the band and it was fairly lacking in booty.

So I got a Triad to be the low extension cab. The Triad/Redhead combiation is pretty much sublime. For a long time I thought it was bass perfection.

Now I'm thinking I want a new rig. But I don't know what I want yet.

Stupid GAS.

[stratzrus]

I also don't use the horn.

http://images.lilypix.com/albums/userpics/10038/seymour%2Bswr.jpg

Interesting about the horn. Did you disconnect it or just turn the volume all the way down?

My replacement speakers arrived today and I'll get them installed by the weekend so I'll try them using the horn and with it fully attenuated to hear the difference.

It's also interesting that you mike the 15 instead of the 10. Do you prefer the miked sound for recording also or just playing live?

I'm getting a Euphonic Audio iAmp 800 to push them (heard about the SWR overheating problems) and I'm hoping that recording direct silently will be a satisfactory option for late night sessions, but if the Triads miked sound much better I'll just lay down those tracks during the daytime...

Both the Triad and the iAmp 800 are marketed for bass and/or keyboard amplification so I'm hoping the rig can serve double duty depending on what's needed.

stratzrus

[The Golden Boy]

Interesting about the horn. Did you disconnect it or just turn the volume all the way down?

My replacement speakers arrived today and I'll get them installed by the weekend so I'll try them using the horn and with it fully attenuated to hear the difference.

It's also interesting that you mike the 15 instead of the 10. Do you prefer the miked sound for recording also or just playing live?

I'm getting a Euphonic Audio iAmp 800 to push them (heard about the SWR overheating problems) and I'm hoping that recording direct silently will be a satisfactory option for late night sessions, but if the Triads miked sound much better I'll just lay down those tracks during the daytime...

Both the Triad and the iAmp 800 are marketed for bass and/or keyboard amplification so I'm hoping the rig can serve double duty depending on what's needed.

stratzrus

I just have the horn attenuated all the way.

I like the 15 miked for all applications- but it's just easier to DI live, and definitely want the 15 for recording. The way I finally figured it out- because I'm all quick thinking and stuff... Sometimes my rig sounded awesome, sometimes it sounded less awesome. I finally drew the correlation to when I had the Triad stacked onto the 4x10, rather than the "correct" way of having the 4x10 on top- I was actually hearing the 15 better closer to ear level, rather than at knee level.

For recording- I don't remember what I've had used on my cabs mic wise- Pretty sure it was some sort of square AKG kick drum mic... For what it's worth, my 2x15 does record better than the Triad. I now always run the line and mic- mostly to make the engineers happy, because they always want to DI it- and the mic signal is always most of what gets used, but I do always insist on mic-ing the 15.

Regarding the SWR overheating things... did you hear that from me only, or was this through other sources as well?

I'm also really interested in the EA iAmp thing- I've only played through one of the white faced ones that was not working all that well- but they seem to have a pretty good rep. Someday, I'm going to ditch the SM-900. I love the sound of the amp- but it's been completely unreliable for me. If I can find something like that- I'm all over it.

The guy that plays keys with me has used my GK 15 cab- that's got the 400w EV in it- that speaker doesn't have the depth or roundness to it as the SWR cab (I think the older SWR speakers are PAS and the newer ones are Foster).

Did you replace the 15 in your Triad? Out of curiosity, how much did that run you?

[stratzrus]

I finally drew the correlation to when I had the Triad stacked onto the 4x10, rather than the "correct" way of having the 4x10 on top- I was actually hearing the 15 better closer to ear level, rather than at knee level.

I really like the idea of mixing the Triad with the 4x10 and if I don't love the sound of the full rig wihen completed I might give it a try.
Regarding the SWR overheating things... did you hear that from me only, or was this through other sources as well?

IRRC there were many posts on Harmony Central about the overheating and that was what dissuaded me from buying a SM-500 even though I really liked the sound of it.

I'm also really interested in the EA iAmp thing- I've only played through one of the white faced ones that was not working all that well- but they seem to have a pretty good rep. Someday, I'm going to ditch the SM-900. I love the sound of the amp- but it's been completely unreliable for me. If I can find something like that- I'm all over it.

I just bought one of the recent black faced iAmp 800s from a TGP'er and am awaiting delivery. People seem to love it and the tone shaping capability sounds great. At 18 lbs. if it's as good as people say it will definitely be a keeper.

Did you replace the 15 in your Triad? Out of curiosity, how much did that run you?

I haven't replaced the 15. I actually bought two Triads and have completed repairing one. All it needed was a replacement of the horn tweeter. The original said it was made in Japan by Fostex but the replacement that I got from ebay said made in China. I like to get to know piece of equipment before making any rash judgements because sometimes I think I'm hearing what I want to hear but so far, my Precision sounds good through the Triad when I push it with the clean channel of my Rivera KHR 100 head.

I noticed some wires dangling in the port of the second cabinet and it turned out that the connector for the 15 was missing the fastening screw and washers so I'm hoping it doesn't have to be replaced but if it does I'll update this.

Can't wait until the iAmp arrrives to test the Triad out properly.

stratzrus

[The Golden Boy]

I noticed some wires dangling in the port of the second cabinet and it turned out that the connector for the 15 was missing the fastening screw and washers so I'm hoping it doesn't have to be replaced but if it does I'll update this.



The posts on mine are the push down/crimp connectors.