Speaker repair/replacement

[the snooper]

^^ Bit of duct tape'd have fixed that.....

would it have enhanced the sound as well

 

[MattH]

Super glue.

 

[the snooper]

Super glue.

to rigid, my mate fixed a puncture on his bike with superglue, it went pop when he inflated the tyre

 

[bump]

I'd advise getting in contact with Wembley Louspeakers. They did an excellent recone job on some Celestion Greenbacks from a early 70's 4x12. They were recommended to me by Celstion.

 

[the snooper]

I'd advise getting in contact with Wembley Louspeakers. They did an excellent recone job on some Celestion Greenbacks from a early 70's 4x12. They were recommended to me by Celstion.

I looked for recone kits for wozz's speakers I don't think they are available

 

[bump]

I looked for recone kits for wozz's speakers I don't think they are available

They weren't available for the greenbacks either.

 

[mangocrazy]

I'd have a look on Monacor's website. They have a bewildering range of drive units varying from the cheap and cheerful to high-end. For the same physical driver size you can get a wide range of sensitivities, power handling capabilities and cone materials. I've used them in the past to replace knackered drive units on old Leak speakers and been very pleasantly surprised.

 

[winchman]

I have some very rare speakers (Principal Design) not expensive but I like them, one driver was faulty, dealer fixed it for £50 lasted a year or two, then came back.
I tried a few drivers that looked the same and none worked, the whole speaker set up is designed to work as one and if you alter it, it will make a difference you might or might not hear, mine was like wearing ear plugs.
After a couple of forum posts asking for bits a very nice gent gave me his late fathers as he no longer used them and wanted to give them a good home, so don't give up hope.
I also have a set of Bowers and Wilkes in the work shop with damaged cones but they sound fine so I just play them, I would just keep using them and keep an eye out for another set when they finally stop working.
I have just remembered I have a spare set in the garage just in case, cost me £5 at a flea market, no one had heard of them (Ram Audio) and one cabinet was damaged, but they sound fantastic so clear and just what I like so a good buy.
Some people collect Hi Fi equipment some listen to music so I suspect you will just keep using them

 

[winchman]

Just been over your original post again and I feel its just cosmetic so just use them.
Keep looking though as Gumtree etc often turn up some gems
This forum is excellent,
http://www.pinkfishmedia.net/forum/index.php

 

[Wozzaaah]

Just been over your original post again and I feel its just cosmetic so just use them.
Keep looking though as Gumtree etc often turn up some gems
This forum is excellent,
http://www.pinkfishmedia.net/forum/index.php

It is cosmetic for now but it's only a matter of time before bits start falling out, the polypropylene really has gone very brittle.

 

[Rocketman]

There is someone selling used drivers on eBay but the problem is if mine have gone like that along with many, many others I don't know how long those will last before they go the same way. At £45 each it's even more of a gamble than the monacor ones.
I love the mission sound and have just googled the 780se but if I bought those I'd also need to buy some decent stands and with a lunatic dog in the house floorstanders are safer.
(Been there, done that, lost a tweeter on a Celestion )

Well you could always go for the 782se pretty amazing speakers even at the 1k they cost originally new given a decent amp - needs power and quality.
There are some 782 standards on ebay
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mission-7...652321?hash=item3f5fc47d61:g:xTIAAOSwZ8ZW-FGC
Three things against them. Firstly they aren't the 782se model, secondly they have been run on a Yamaha amp which unless it was some super thing isn't up to the job and thirdly they look like they have had the main drivers replaced with the later Chinese ones not the later French ones.

 

[lexi]

I am still running 770's with new Seas tweeters. Tons of speakers around s/h with life in them.
Loads here...........but I need them all!

 

[ms08]

Nothing to lose - I would try a coat or two of dope on the cone available from good model shops.
New drivers may have whole new characteristics for crossovers etc.
As mentioned Wembley loudspeakers may be able to help.
I have had them repair my Spendors in the past - not cheap though - maybe look for a secondhand pair of Celestion Dittons or Kefs?

 

[Farside]

I re-drivered a pair of Leak 3080s a few years ago, with fairly cheap modern bass, mid and tweeters. I'd looked seriously at getting them rebuilt by whoever is doing them now, and the last time I spoke to the descendants of Leak (Wharfedale) they knew of the speakers, and quoted me a reasonable price to do them. That was 20 years ago, and a country away, so I don't expect it's got any cheaper or easier since, and the past two decades they were in storage, slowly mouldering away. Anyway, the re-drivered cabinets still sound great. What helps more than anything, is the original design of the cabs and x-overs - they've stood the test of time, unlike my ears. To me, they sound wonderful and that's all that counts.

 

[anjum]

See your conversations/messages. I've sent you a couple of links.

Sorry re-reading this thread you seem to have discounted that option so you can ignore my message, although I would think it's worth the risk.

 

[lexi]

The Leak 3080 and 2075 are quite sought after if original. Leak is all gone, merged with Wharfedale into Rank and that is now part of IAG.
They are a huge company in China...........run by British Engineers, Ian Curtis and Peter Comeau.

 

[mangocrazy]

I've still got a pair of Leak 3090s, that I bought refurbished from Wharfedale in the mid 1980s. They have a 15" bass unit, 7" lower midrange, 4.5" upper midrange and an isodynamic tweeter. They've been described as looking like a pair of coffins, but I've had some of my most enjoyable listening experiences sat in front of them. Two of the drive units (bass and lower midrange) are of 'sandwich' construction; i.e. a thin sliver of polystyrene sandwiched between two layers of aluminium foil, and the upper midrange was carried over from the 2000 range. This has perforations in the cone that decribe an arc at four points in its circumference. Quite difficult to describe, but once seen easily understood.

They've been unused for best part of 15 years while I decide what to do with them. The upper midrange drivers have no cone movement, and I suspect the cones are welded to the voice coils. The tweeters have always been a bit recessed in the sound they produce, and also need replacing. Is there any chance of tracking down original replacements, or do I have to start trying to find equivalents for the failed units?

 

[Farside]

My initial enquiry to Leak / Wharfedale was 20+ years ago. Four or five years back, I found they would still do them for not much more than I'd been quoted back then.
It was going to cost about 50 quid a driver, so 200 gbp + the shipping to and from killed that idea.
I still have the originals, and some day might actually do it, but for now I'm happy enough with what's in there.

 

[mangocrazy]

I think I might just give them a call... If they're still in Yorkshire I could call in.

 

[lexi]

Keep searching Ebay for drivers. They may be able to be refurbed with some work.
Proper speaker them 3090...........and all British. You could recap the crossovers for some extra sparkle.