Where to go to find info about old speakers?

ChopperCharles · 11th February 2008, 05:47 PM

I picked up a pair of Siemens RL-171 speakers off my brother's in-laws for free. They sound pretty good.. not a lot of bass, but still not bad. 3-way, but with two woofers. (does that make them 4-way?)

Marked 50/60 watts on the back (is that rms/peak??), 4-ohms, sealed box design.

The reason they're so hard to find info on: Purchased in Germany in 1971... and were never available in the US.

Any idea where I'd find some info on these suckers? Google has turned up squat... even google.de.

They sound good. Midrange and highs are really nice, but bass could use some help. (Better than my rebuilt Radio Shack speakers (all Dayton on the inside), but only just).

Charles.

Thawach · 11th February 2008, 07:21 PM

Hi Charles

It is too old speaker. It's difficult to find some info about it.

Why don't you try to build a subwoofer to use with it?

it may be better.

regards

Cal Weldon · 11th February 2008, 07:26 PM

Hi Charles,

I agree with Thawach that perhaps you need a helper woofer.

Also, the number of 'ways' is determined by the number of XO points. IOW it can have 4 woofers and a tweeter and is still a 2 way so yes, yours sound like a 3 way.

planet10 · 11th February 2008, 07:28 PM

Can you post pictures? Front & backs of the drivers. Also check to see if the woofers are suffering from "stiff surround syndrome". Also a box of this vinatge may well have alnico drivers and as they age the magnets will lose their charge and the Qts & Vas will go up meaning the original box is too small to work any longer. Depending on what is in there it may be worthwhile to send them out to be recharged.

I can almost guarantee thou that a better box could be built.

dave

ChopperCharles · 11th February 2008, 11:28 PM

I haven't taken mine apart yet , but I found someone selling the insides of the exact same speakers on eBay: (with photos)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=120219421291

I just had carpal tunnel surgery so I'm not able to really use my right hand... but once I can I'll take these speakers apart and take photos of the inside. (and also refinish the cabinets and replace the caps in the crossovers)

Charles.

planet10 · 12th February 2008, 02:54 AM

No alnico...

The midrange is likely quite a decent bass limited FR once released from its mid enclosure (i've seen that plastic "cup" before but none of the drivers. 2 different drivers for the bass. You usually see that when one is designed to go fairly low to help aid the other which has a more extended range. 3" is a little unusual for the germans (4 is more common).

dave

Rolf Zetterberg · 12th February 2008, 08:38 AM

Yes,the midrange looks very similar to the Peerless O570MRC,but it's not quite the same.
If you're interested in vintage German drivers,you'll find lots of them here(two pages of Siemens drivers!):

http://www.german-vintage-loudspeakers.com/

DAMIC · 12th February 2008, 11:51 AM

Rolf, thanks for great link

11th February 2008, 05:47 PM	#1
ChopperCharles diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2008	Where to go to find info about old speakers? I picked up a pair of Siemens RL-171 speakers off my brother's in-laws for free. They sound pretty good.. not a lot of bass, but still not bad. 3-way, but with two woofers. (does that make them 4-way?) Marked 50/60 watts on the back (is that rms/peak??), 4-ohms, sealed box design. The reason they're so hard to find info on: Purchased in Germany in 1971... and were never available in the US. Any idea where I'd find some info on these suckers? Google has turned up squat... even google.de. They sound good. Midrange and highs are really nice, but bass could use some help. (Better than my rebuilt Radio Shack speakers (all Dayton on the inside), but only just). Charles.

11th February 2008, 07:26 PM	#3
Cal Weldon Speakerholic diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: British Columbia	Hi Charles, I agree with Thawach that perhaps you need a helper woofer. Also, the number of 'ways' is determined by the number of XO points. IOW it can have 4 woofers and a tweeter and is still a 2 way so yes, yours sound like a 3 way. __________________ Next stop: Margaritaville Some of Cal's stuff \| Cal Weldon Consulting

11th February 2008, 07:28 PM	#4
planet10 frugal-phile(tm) diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Victoria, BC, NA, Sol III Blog Entries: 4	Can you post pictures? Front & backs of the drivers. Also check to see if the woofers are suffering from "stiff surround syndrome". Also a box of this vinatge may well have alnico drivers and as they age the magnets will lose their charge and the Qts & Vas will go up meaning the original box is too small to work any longer. Depending on what is in there it may be worthwhile to send them out to be recharged. I can almost guarantee thou that a better box could be built. dave __________________ community sites t-linespeakers.org, frugal-horn.com ........ commercial site planet10-HiFi p10-hifi forum here at diyA

12th February 2008, 02:54 AM	#6
planet10 frugal-phile(tm) diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Victoria, BC, NA, Sol III Blog Entries: 4	No alnico... The midrange is likely quite a decent bass limited FR once released from its mid enclosure (i've seen that plastic "cup" before but none of the drivers. 2 different drivers for the bass. You usually see that when one is designed to go fairly low to help aid the other which has a more extended range. 3" is a little unusual for the germans (4 is more common). dave __________________ community sites t-linespeakers.org, frugal-horn.com ........ commercial site planet10-HiFi p10-hifi forum here at diyA

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11th February 2008, 07:21 PM	#2
Thawach diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2007	Hi Charles It is too old speaker. It's difficult to find some info about it. Why don't you try to build a subwoofer to use with it? it may be better. regards

11th February 2008, 11:28 PM	#5
ChopperCharles diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2008	I haven't taken mine apart yet , but I found someone selling the insides of the exact same speakers on eBay: (with photos) http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=120219421291 I just had carpal tunnel surgery so I'm not able to really use my right hand... but once I can I'll take these speakers apart and take photos of the inside. (and also refinish the cabinets and replace the caps in the crossovers) Charles.

12th February 2008, 08:38 AM	#7
Rolf Zetterberg diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2005	Yes,the midrange looks very similar to the Peerless O570MRC,but it's not quite the same. If you're interested in vintage German drivers,you'll find lots of them here(two pages of Siemens drivers!): http://www.german-vintage-loudspeakers.com/

12th February 2008, 11:51 AM	#8
DAMIC diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Beograd	Rolf, thanks for great link

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