Eaw la 325 help needed.

A

Alan Sledzieski

Senior
Sep 11, 2011
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Hamburg, NY.
Who on here is a eaw rep, or who knows anything about the eaw la 325?

I just bought a set of used la 325's. Opened them up to inspect them and found Eminence 15's in them. They are eaw speced 15's as eaw's sticker is on them.

I'm looking to find specs on these speakers, the eminence 15's.

Any info on the rcf or bc drivers would be helpfull also.


Thanks,
Alan
 
Re: Eaw la 325 help needed.

Silas Pradetto said:
If they work and they're the right drivers, what's the problem?
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Just wondering some things about this box.

It says 600w full range. If you bi amp it it says 1000w low, 600w high.

So a double 15 that can only take 1000w? I'm used to my jbl 4733's that I can use a ca 18 or a pro 9200 on them, So 1800w or 2200 w per box and I never have to worry about headroom, and if something does get away from me the 15's still won't pop.

I know eaw has speakers built for them by probably a dozen different manufactures. Just dis-heartning to see a eminence 15 in there that you can buy for $179 new, I can't imagine what eaw pays for them? half that maybe. Yet they still want $2900 a box.

I bought the la325 for the smoothness of the highs compared to my 4733's, along with the better coverage of the high end up close. But I still want to know as much about the box as I can.

I'm also not giving the eminence a fair chance, never really liked any of there products, just seem cheap to me, entry level you might say.

So I'm wondering why the low power handling of the box, are the 15's low power handling, or is the crossover low power handling?
 
Re: Eaw la 325 help needed.

Eminence is the largest OEM of loudspeakers in the USA, and at one time, the world. They make a fascinating array of products that you've never seen with their name applied. And you can't buy the 15" speaker in the 325 for $179, no matter what you think it looks like. Seriously, there are aspects of the design that have nothing in common with the $179 speaker... just because you can't see them doesn't make them non-existent.

As for power handling, you *really* need to talk with EAW about it, but in general, if the box produces the quality of sound you want with the output you need and not destroy itself in the process, why do you care?
 
Re: Eaw la 325 help needed.

Tim McCulloch said:
Eminence is the largest OEM of loudspeakers in the USA, and at one time, the world. They make a fascinating array of products that you've never seen with their name applied. And you can't buy the 15" speaker in the 325 for $179, no matter what you think it looks like. Seriously, there are aspects of the design that have nothing in common with the $179 speaker... just because you can't see them doesn't make them non-existent.

As for power handling, you *really* need to talk with EAW about it, but in general, if the box produces the quality of sound you want with the output you need and not destroy itself in the process, why do you care?
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EAW 804122 WOOFER 15" LA325 LC15/3001-8 | Spectrum Audio

EAW-Eastern Acoustic Wrks 804122 WOOFER 15" LA325 LC15/3001-8 | Full Compass
 
Re: Eaw la 325 help needed.

003.jpg

Does this look eaw factory solder job, all conections are loose and solder was never hot enough to stick to the post. or was someone else in here that didn't know what they were doing?
 
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Re: Eaw la 325 help needed.

I didn't do a new search, the last time I looked they were over $300. Things change.

Really, though, you're paying for the intellectual efforts that turned paper, some copper wire and cabinet making into a commercial product. In the end, all speakers are simply a collection of materials, so they should all be the same and sell at commodity prices, right?
 
Re: Eaw la 325 help needed.

Tim McCulloch said:
I didn't do a new search, the last time I looked they were over $300. Things change.

Really, though, you're paying for the intellectual efforts that turned paper, some copper wire and cabinet making into a commercial product. In the end, all speakers are simply a collection of materials, so they should all be the same and sell at commodity prices, right?
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I'm not 100 % sure, but I believe the rcf is the one that went for over $300
 
Re: Eaw la 325 help needed.

EAW has changed the drivers in that box several times... as far as I can tell, always for the better. I didn't know they ever used Eminence, but its a pretty popular one, so I'm not surprised.

You're paying for the crossover network, the design and the thought process that went into the box. Use your ears -- it DOES sound better.

I owe a bunch of these, and a bunch of 4733. The JBLs sound a bit harsh, but throw further outdoors. Great for rock-n-roll. The LA325 sound smooth and nice at all volumes, and in general are just a better sounding setup... They produce about the same volume in my experience, and I they're my preferred speaker of the two for most stuff. But I try not to use them with large audiences outdoors, where I'll get deeper coverage with the JBLs (sacrificing quality for volume really).

Two things to know:
1) EAW will tell you that the standard formula of 1.5x or 2x the spec for your amp power doesn't hold true for these particular speakers... the crossovers can't take it. Power them with exactly (or around) the spec. I run mine with a XTi4000 on the bottom and an XTi2000 on top. Yeah, I know... XTi. But for quick in and quick out setups they work great -- it makes for a nice and easy load-in and setup.

2) They don't array nicely. You hear combs when you do it. So be careful about trying to double them up for volume. They're really intended to be used in pairs in a club setting. I've used 2/side before, but you've got to realize what you're gonna get by doing that. A couple of times I've stacked them vertically in a tall tower, though, and they sounded fantastic. It looks visually a bit weird, but it works well.
 
Re: Eaw la 325 help needed.

Jim, thanks for the info on the crossover, I have done some searching and others said the same thing.

I have my box's apart right know repairing some bad soldering. I answered my own question. Is the crossover totally bypassed on the 15's when running bi-amp? The answer is yes. Now with eaw recomending only a 1000w into the 15's tells me they do not handle much power. I gather this 15 is a low excursion maybe 250w transducer. Then I look at the 4733's and they say to put 2400w into the 15's, which I have come close to, and they don't have a issue.


I did some calling around to some local companies that use la325s. 1 guy reported a totally burned up xover. Another has a choke that got hot and discolored the winding. Another place lost 3 of the eminence drivers. Blown 6''ers, Why does eaw want 170 hz going into 6''?

Another guy by amps the box, runs the x over at 90 and 1200, said that solved all his problems of 6'' blowing and x overs cooking. Yet eaw wants 170 hz to the 6''

Really wish I can find the power handling of the eminence, and the x max.

I talked to another place about eaw and eminence, I'm not going to say who it is, except that it sounds political buisiness bullpoop, and this company owns this one and this one,,, will use rcf exclusive for now. This place recomended staying away from eminence.

I run 4733's also, I picked up a unloaded set of 4733's last year, they had the x over and horns in them. I put faital pro in them, by someone who recomended the faitals. I never use the 4733's loaded with the 2226's anymore, the faitals sound better, smoother, less 250-400 hz honk then the 2226 have.
 
Re: Eaw la 325 help needed.

1st pic is of a cap that is cold soldered and off
2nd pic The black wire was rattling around on the terminal, loose as can be, plus the cap under my thumb is not glued in and ratlling around
3 rd pic, I think this needs to be connected

So much for paying for quality.

006.jpg007.jpg
009.jpg
 
Re: Eaw la 325 help needed.

Jim King said:
You bought these used. Are you claiming that EAW shipped these this way way back before the last owner bought them?
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They are used, so I can't claim that.

I'm guessing the original owner didn't go in there and pull the cap out of the glue, or unsolder the other cap, or work each spade connection till they are loose enough to fall off. I'm new to eaw, so I don't know what the quality of there workmanship is. ( but who ever was in this box needs to find a new job)

Got on the horn with some of the people I talked to earlier, they have seen the same things. Cold hot gluing and things floping around, they soldered every spade connection, as they were loose also. It does say made in mexico on the crossover. Come on, a spade connection of that poor a quality on a box that is going to be used and shipped and trucked around.

Should have done what I thought of in the first place, get 2 eaw horns that were in a la 325 and stick them in my 4733's.. but I couldn't find a pair.

The original owner did say he blew 1 15''. The la 325 15 is a 804122, he took it to a eaw dealer he said, the other 15, the replaced one, is a 804071, thats out of a la 215, so I don't know what the difference is there.
 
Re: Eaw la 325 help needed.

Alan Sledzieski said:
Should have done what I thought of in the first place, get 2 eaw horns that were in a la 325 and stick them in my 4733's.. but I couldn't find a pair.

.
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That is not such a good idea. Very often drivers and horns should be used as intended. Just sticking a different driver on a horn, may or may not result in a good combination.

I have seen cases in which the exact same horn has different coverage patterns (beaminess etc) with different drivers.

Also the crossover is designed for a particular horn/driver combination. Change the driver-and all bets are off regarding how well the crossover will work (freq, slopes, eq etc).

Just because the bolts line up does not mean that the parts will work well together.
 
Re: Eaw la 325 help needed.

Ivan Beaver said:
That is not such a good idea. Very often drivers and horns should be used as intended. Just sticking a different driver on a horn, may or may not result in a good combination.

I have seen cases in which the exact same horn has different coverage patterns (beaminess etc) with different drivers.

Also the crossover is designed for a particular horn/driver combination. Change the driver-and all bets are off regarding how well the crossover will work (freq, slopes, eq etc).

Just because the bolts line up does not mean that the parts will work well together.
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I ment using the driver and the horn from eaw, complete assembly, sorry for the mistake.
 
Re: Eaw la 325 help needed.

Nice speakers. Used to own some but too heavy for me though.

Alan Sledzieski said:
View attachment 3327

Does this look eaw factory solder job, all conections are loose and solder was never hot enough to stick to the post. or was someone else in here that didn't know what they were doing?
Click to expand...

I don't think EAW sells speakers that have clipped off wires on them.

Alan Sledzieski said:
I'm not 100 % sure, but I believe the rcf is the one that went for over $300
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My thoughts are that the tweeter is the most expensive component. That goes for many two or three way boxes out there that have a halfway decent comp driver. From what I remember you might be looking at a $300-$400 driver (late 90s to early 2000s prices).

Jim King said:
EAW has changed the drivers in that box several times... as far as I can tell, always for the better. I didn't know they ever used Eminence, but its a pretty popular one, so I'm not surprised.
Click to expand...

As far as I know, the mid has been changed, due to the product falling out of availability.

Jim King said:
I owe a bunch of these, and a bunch of 4733. The JBLs sound a bit harsh, but throw further outdoors. Great for rock-n-roll. The LA325 sound smooth and nice at all volumes, and in general are just a better sounding setup... They produce about the same volume in my experience, and I they're my preferred speaker of the two for most stuff. But I try not to use them with large audiences outdoors, where I'll get deeper coverage with the JBLs (sacrificing quality for volume really).
Click to expand...

Interesting way to balance things.

Alan Sledzieski said:
They are used, so I can't claim that.

I'm guessing the original owner didn't go in there and pull the cap out of the glue, or unsolder the other cap, or work each spade connection till they are loose enough to fall off. I'm new to eaw, so I don't know what the quality of there workmanship is. ( but who ever was in this box needs to find a new job)
Click to expand...

Or learn how to be a better backyard tinkerer.

Alan Sledzieski said:
The original owner did say he blew 1 15''. The la 325 15 is a 804122, he took it to a eaw dealer he said, the other 15, the replaced one, is a 804071, thats out of a la 215, so I don't know what the difference is there.
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Good question. You know, the kind of question that the good engineers at EAW solved, oh....maybe 13-15 years ago?

On a side note, I have purchased used EAW speakers with the crossovers totally shot to hell. The only thing the previous owner didn't do was bury them in his back yard. It was worth it to me to replace everything on the crossover except the inductors. The mids and tweeters were intact, the woofers were toast. In the end I still think I got a good deal. I used a crossover from a store-bought LA325 for all the specifics on the crossovers. I used all official EAW parts, and after I was done I couldn't tell the difference between the store bought and refurb boxes.
 
Re: Eaw la 325 help needed.

Brandon G Romanowski said:
Alan you should contact EAW's application support about all of this, if you are looking for solutions and answers. They can get you all the information you need without all the speculation. EAW: Application Support Group
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Brandon,

I left messages, no body returned my call.

Do you have a name and a extension of someone I can talk to?
 
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