Sunn Model 10's (1979?) Wiring

[SEJ300]

I've had these Model 10 Sunn speakers for a while and I'm just getting around to trying to wire them and I'm not sure the proper way to hook them up to an amplifier. I can't seem to find an instruction manual for them and I don't want to smoke them by wiring them incorrectly. Any advice?

[loudthud]

The Model 10 is a Three Way speaker system rated at 100W and 8 Ohms.

In normal use you would set the switch to "Passive Mode" and use the jacks on either side of the Horn Level control. You would send a full range signal to the speaker such as what would come from an ALL IN ONE PA head. Note that in this mode it is relatively easy to burn up the Horn Driver when the system is feeding back to the microphone. Keep the Horn Level as low as practical. Getting replacement parts for the Horn Driver would be in the very difficult to impossible range. Getting a replacement driver from a different manufacturer may be possible. You can use the second Passive jack to run another cabinet. It would be a good idea to put Duct Tape over the Biamp jacks so some idiot doesn't plug a full range signal in to the Hi Frequency Jack. That would burn up the high frequency driver before anyone could figure out what was wrong.

In "BiAmp" mode, you would need a line level crossover and use separate power amplifiers for the Horn and the 12 inch speakers. This would allow you to use a lower powered amplifier (50W or less @ 8 Ohm) to drive the Horns and provide some protection against burnout. The crossover frequency should probably be in the 800Hz to 1KHz range. No data in the Sunn catalogs I have.

Addendum: Assuming you bought the speaker used, the Horn may already be burned out

[SEJ300]

Thank you! I was on the right track, I just wanted to be sure before I put power to them. And I did get these used years ago. If my memory is correct, I traded an old 1970's diesel Suburban that the transmission blew out for these two cabinets plus a ping pong table... The previous owner was given them to him for some engine repair work. On top of the cabinets is stenciled in the name of the band that used to use them - "Gut Foot". I'm guessing that if these cabinets could talk they would have stories to tell.

Thanks again.

[SEJ300]

This may be a long shot - but would anyone have or know where I could find a wiring diagram for these Model 10 speakers? As @loudthud suspected, it does appear that the horn tweeters are blown in both of the cabinets. In one of them only the Scorpion and small tweeter beneath it is functioning and in the other cabinet only the Scorpion and Pyle woofer is working.  And was I wrong to expect to see "SUNN" manufactured speakers inside of these cabinets?

There was a lot of evidence that small woodland creatures that enjoyed walnuts was living inside both of these for a time probably decades ago... so the fact that these are not functioning well doesn't come as much of a surprise. 

[loudthud]

The crossover shown in your picture is very simplistic and offers very little protection for the Horn Driver. I don't believe any of the speaker components were manufactured by Sunn, although they may have been a custom order from a speaker manufacturer.

According to my info, the Sunn part number for the Horn driver is 81-0294. I can't really read all of what it says on the back of the driver in your picture. Try looking online to see of the company is still in business or who may have purchased the company. Sunn says the replacement "cartridge" was part number 81-0285. You need to know how the driver mounts to the horn. The driver may screw on to the horn ( 1-3/8 - 18 TPI like an old PA driver), that would make finding a replacement somewhat easier. Parts Express has a selection of drivers that might work. There may be a similar driver used in one of those 4x10 + Horn bass cabinets.

The 1979 catalog gives the Sunn part number for the woofers as 81-0137. The 1982 catalog gives the part number as 81-0246. All it says in terms of specs is that each speaker is 16 Ohms. A typical 12 inch guitar speaker will have a peak in it's frequency response usually in the 2KHz range. This makes them less desirable for service in a PA cabinet. A speaker intended for PA service will have somewhat lower efficiency, but a more controlled peak.

[SEJ300]

The crossover shown in your picture is very simplistic and offers very little protection for the Horn Driver. I don't believe any of the speaker components were manufactured by Sunn, although they may have been a custom order from a speaker manufacturer.

According to my info, the Sunn part number for the Horn driver is 81-0294. I can't really read all of what it says on the back of the driver in your picture. Try looking online to see of the company is still in business or who may have purchased the company. Sunn says the replacement "cartridge" was part number 81-0285. You need to know how the driver mounts to the horn. The driver may screw on to the horn ( 1-3/8 - 18 TPI like an old PA driver), that would make finding a replacement somewhat easier. Parts Express has a selection of drivers that might work. There may be a similar driver used in one of those 4x10 + Horn bass cabinets.

The 1979 catalog gives the Sunn part number for the woofers as 81-0137. The 1982 catalog gives the part number as 81-0246. All it says in terms of specs is that each speaker is 16 Ohms. A typical 12 inch guitar speaker will have a peak in it's frequency response usually in the 2KHz range. This makes them less desirable for service in a PA cabinet. A speaker intended for PA service will have somewhat lower efficiency, but a more controlled peak.

Once again, thank you for your information. Now I need to decide if I want to take the time to restore these to as original as I can, swap out new components into these cabinets or let someone else have the pleasure.