Replacement for Kef B160 SP1312?

[acanning]

Dear All

I wonder whether anyone can help me.

I own a pair of Kef 102/2 speaker which I purchased in the early 1990’s. I used them last night at a party and I blew-up the woofers (stupid I know!). I’ve removed the drivers from the cabinets and can see that the speakers were starting to perish anyway but I’m still a bit unhappy! I’ve used an Avo Meter to ascertain whether the voice coils are dead and it would appear that they are. The speakers seem to function ok without them but, of course, they lack the depth they used to have.

The drive units are marked as Kef B160 SP1312 – I doubt Kef will be able to supply me with any of these but can anyone recommend a suitable alternative. I normally use these speakers in my home cinema system so I guess that a matched replacement might not be so necessary?

Also, I’ve seen reference to B160 speakers but many have different SP numbers – why is this?

Thanks

[Inductor]

A repair can be 100£ cheaper than buying new ones. The new ones (in a box for years) might not work any more and only have a 90 day warranty.
http://www.hififorum.co.uk/modules/n...#forumpost5199

REPLACEMENT UNITS in UK
https://secure.wilmslow-audio.co.uk/...f2657ea7349ff4

[acanning]

Hi there

Thanks for your reply.

I just phoned Kef and was amazed that they still had a good supply of the drivers - £227 a pair though! I hadn't condiered the age of them as being a problem but I take your point.

I can't believe that the old drivers can be repaired - they look absolutely shot and don't respond to any current through them.

I'll give Wilmslow Audio a call.

Thanks again

[AndrewT]

Hi,
a new cone assembly replaces the surround, the cone, the centre cap, the voice coil and former, the tinsel leads and often the spider.
All that remains are the magnet assembly and the chassis.

This is the best repair but when the labour cost is added on you will find it's almost as expensive as a new driver.

BTW,
KEF have always offered excellent after sales service, it's part of the reason they are expensive.
Compare that to a cheap far eastern product.

[acanning]

Originally posted by AndrewT
Hi,
a new cone assembly replaces the surround, the cone, the centre cap, the voice coil and former, the tinsel leads and often the spider.
All that remains are the magnet assembly and the chassis.

So if you have all those things changed there really isn't much left of the original 'Kef' driver is there? I'm not sure what the critical part of the speaker is that gives it the good sound quality but as you say, if you're going to change all of that I might as well consider a complete replacement. To be honest, I'm just glad that I have some options....it seemed a bit doom and gloom last night when I realised how bad the damage was - I thought I was going to be taking them down to the tip!

I phoned Wilmslow Audio and they were very helpful. They need the exact physical measurements but were confident that they could provide a driver well under the Kef price. My only concern is that the Kef option would give me a driver which matches the design of the 102/2!

I appreciate your help.

[AndrewT]

Hi,
the chances of Wilmslow being able to match the T/S parameters of your dead drivers is almost nil.

And now that they are dead you cannot measure them to ensure the replacements do match.

[acanning]

I've given Wilmslow the physical measurements and they are going to call me back. The chap there is confident that the driver they supply will be every bit as good as the original Kef driver. The biggest problem is the fact that I need a 4 ohm unit which he is not sure they have so I may be using the Kef drivers after all!

[acanning]

Well, I have phoned Wilmslow Audio four times but they have never phoned me back with any options on a suitable speaker - I'm disappointed with their service as I thought they would have been better than that!

Anyway, I've bitten the bullet and ordered the official Kef replacements and trust that they have been stored correctly over the years since they were made....time will tell!

[Moondog55]

I'd be interested in seeing photos and the specification for that woofer if you have a way of measuring them.

I've never seen one myself, but wasn't there a big 12 inch round KEF woofer later on, used in a big active studio monitor??