G'day all - KEF B110 SP1003

[bespectacled]

G'day all,

This is my first post on this forum and it is a plea for help.

Today one of my speakers started making a dreadful noise. I pulled off the cover and saw the problem, the mid range had a "stretch" mark close to the centre and the cone was pulled off centre.

The speaker is a KEF B110 SP1003 and was part of a Kef transmission line kit sold in Australia in the seventies.

Any chance anyone has a spare set lying around? Any tips as to where I might source a pair? Any thoughts on a suitable replacement to go with my steam-age system?

All the best

Peter

[jan.didden]

A pair just sold on eBay for 110 pounds. You may want to keep an eye on eBay for this.

Jan Didden

[Bobken]

Hi,

These particular KEF drivers were very popular in the UK at the time you mentioned, but, of course, they haven't been made for many years.

As a result of this widespread use by various high-end makers of speakers, there are still a lot in current use, and there are several UK companies who can re-cone these drive units to new specification. KEF, themselves, used to do re-coning of their own drivers, but I believe that they ceased this operation (especially on older models) some time ago.

If you are completely stuck and cannot buy a suitable replacement, rather than scrapping the entire speakers, it would be worthwhile investigating this.

Of course, this would be more protracted, and extra carriage costs from down under would be involved, but as a last resort, I am sure you would be happy with the results.

Incidentally, if you do ultimately adopt this route, if it was me doing this, I would have both B110 drivers reconed at the same time as (overall) carriage costs would probably be less this way. With Bextrene cones (as these drivers have) just replacing one unit with a new cone and voice-coil etc., will give rise to an 'imbalanced' sound in my experience, when compared with the remaining drive unit which will be rather 'tired' after so many years of use.

Accordingly, an odd stereo soundfield will very likely result at best, and at worst there is a distinct likelihood that the other unit will go bad on you before too long, and you will probably need to go through the same delays and extra costs all over again.

Regards,

[dhieber]

Peter,

I have a pair of KEF B110s (SP 1003). You are welcome to e-mail me if you're interested.

Dean

[toulou]

Originally posted by bespectacled
The speaker is a KEF B110 SP1003 and was part of a Kef transmission line kit sold in Australia in the seventies.

I suppose I'm not helping much with your problem, but do you still have a drawing of the box. Could you post it?

[planet10]

Originally posted by janneman
A pair just sold on eBay for 110 pounds. You may want to keep an eye on eBay for this.

Wow, i've typically only got on the order of $50/pr for the ones i've put up. Where yours NIB?

dave

[bespectacled]

Thanks all

Toulou, Im afraid that I do not have the drawings. I would be happy to photograph the unit and give you the external dimensions.

From memory - and it was a long time ago - the cabinets have two internal baffles that run virtually from the bottom to the top of the 1m plus unit.

Bobken, since the original posting I've located a company in the UK that specialises in restoring old speakers. I've asked them to quote on 2 speakers plus postage. Some of their typical repair costs seem most reasonable. Are there any you've dealt with a particular company and could you share your experiences?

Dehieber thanks for your offer to sell. I will follow up on the repair and email you if that falls over.

I saw a couple on ebay that I just missed out on.

I know that the whole system is of the steam era (the amp is a Kenwood KA7100!) but I built the speakers at 21 and they've travelled with me across the Wide Brown Land - I'm kinda attached...

All the best

Peter

[planet10]

In my collection i have article with an Oz TL that uses B110... is this the one you built?

dave

[bespectacled]

That wasn't the one.

It was far simpler. The box is about a meter tall and the two baffles formed a T and were attached to the top and bottom of the unit. There was a oblong cutout in each of the baffles at the top or bottom that effectively allowed passage of 3 meters between the back of the cone and the vent.

I'll attach a photo and some of the dimensions.

Peter

[pinkmouse]

Originally posted by bespectacled
Bobken, since the original posting I've located a company in the UK that specialises in restoring old speakers. I've asked them to quote on 2 speakers plus postage. Some of their typical repair costs seem most reasonable. Are there any you've dealt with a particular company and could you share your experiences?

I'm not Bob, but Wembley Loudspeakers have always been able to recone anything I've sent to them.