Tweeter Replacement Advice

DrOetker · 6th February 2010, 07:00 PM

I know little about speakers so I wonder whether someone can help me? I have some old speakers that need new tweeters but replacments are no longer available; so what do I need to bear in mind when looking for generic replacements? I presume I'll need same size and resistance but I can't find out what the sensitivity of the old tweeters are as the manufacturer won't tell me. I know that any replacements won't be perfect in terms of not being designed to work with the crossover but I would like to get fairly close.

Thanks for any help.

Iain McNeill · 6th February 2010, 07:44 PM

Impedance is important to get the crossover to operate correctly so that should be your #1 priority (along with does it fit

)

You can always buy an L-pad (a potentiometer specially designed to always present a constant load to the source) which will allow you to dial the tweeter level in to your personal preference.

planet10 · 6th February 2010, 08:14 PM

What is the old tweeter? The speaker? Pictures?

dave

rotaspec · 7th February 2010, 02:20 AM

If the system is a budget 3 way with a tweeter cross of 5khz or higher, then Motorola (or whatever the current name is) piezo tweeters can be a cheap way to go. Put a resistor across them to make them appear as 8 ohms (or whatever the original impedance was), and a resistor in series with them of about 20 ohms (or an L-pad). The resistor or L-pad can be varied to match levels with the rest of the drivers.

DrOetker · 8th February 2010, 02:01 PM

I have just found out that replacement tweeters are actually available but would still like your views on alternative tweeters as the standard tweeters suffer from the ferro fluid drying out so that the output of the tweeter reduces over the years. So even if I buy some new ones, it will just happen again. The speakers are B&W P4's, the tweeters are I think 100 Watt, 8Ohm, 26mm and I think that the crossover frequency is about 3.5Mhz. The hole in the cabinet is only about 50mm. Can anyone suggest a replacement that wouldn't suffer the same fluid problems? The L Pad suggestion seems a good idea - thanks for that.

sreten · 8th February 2010, 09:08 PM

Vifa DQ25SC16-04, 1" Titanium Dome Tweeter from Madisound

Zaph|Audio

Hi,

The Vifa with series resistor of 2.2R to 4.7R to set level is probably your
best bet - and very good value if you can find a good local source.

http://assets.bowers-wilkins.co.uk/m...e_l2_w0_h0.pdf

Not an easy tweeter to substitute. FWIW good ferrofluid should not "dry out",
its made from a single grade of silicon fluid with no volatiles to evaporate.

Personally I would try to refurbish the original tweeters - but very involved.

/sreten.

Iain McNeill · 9th February 2010, 12:37 AM

Welcome back sreten - haven't seen you round for a while

Volvo1980 · 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sreten

Vifa DQ25SC16-04, 1" Titanium Dome Tweeter from Madisound

Zaph|Audio

Hi,

The Vifa with series resistor of 2.2R to 4.7R to set level is probably your
best bet - and very good value if you can find a good local source.

http://assets.bowers-wilkins.co.uk/m...e_l2_w0_h0.pdf

Not an easy tweeter to substitute. FWIW good ferrofluid should not "dry out",
its made from a single grade of silicon fluid with no volatiles to evaporate.

Personally I would try to refurbish the original tweeters - but very involved.

/sreten.

Sorry to bring this thread back up but im after a bit more info, i have just got hold of some b&w p4 speakers dirt cheap but missing the tweeters!
i have very little speaker knowledge but pretty handy.
Firstly will the vifa tweeters mentioned above definately be ok before i order some and is there a uk supplier as only US suppliers come up on the
internet.
Secondly the resistor that is mentioned above, is this just soldered in line to the tweeter? and what resistance would be best?

Any help would be greatly apreciated

sreten · 12th September 2011, 10:24 PM

Hi,

Its always going to be a bit of a gamble, you could try these :

Peerless SR-19 DT tweeters PAIR NOS Rega | eBay

or probably easier these :

Peerless LSQ-19DT 19mm soft dome Hifi tweeters PAIR NOS | eBay

Will get them working but not sure how well.

rgds, sreten.

Volvo1980 · 13th September 2011, 09:24 AM

I can get the vifa ones delivered from the US for £36 all in so I might opt for these.

Just need to know though will it be necessary to use an extra resistor or should I just connect them up? If yes what resistor and where?
Thanks for all advice in advance.

6th February 2010, 07:44 PM	#2
Iain McNeill diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Santa Cruz, California	Impedance is important to get the crossover to operate correctly so that should be your #1 priority (along with does it fit) You can always buy an L-pad (a potentiometer specially designed to always present a constant load to the source) which will allow you to dial the tweeter level in to your personal preference.

6th February 2010, 08:14 PM	#3
planet10 frugal-phile(tm) diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Victoria, BC, NA, Sol III Blog Entries: 4	What is the old tweeter? The speaker? Pictures? dave __________________ community sites t-linespeakers.org, frugal-horn.com ........ commercial site planet10-HiFi p10-hifi forum here at diyA

12th September 2011, 10:24 PM	#9
sreten diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brighton UK	Hi, Its always going to be a bit of a gamble, you could try these : Peerless SR-19 DT tweeters PAIR NOS Rega \| eBay or probably easier these : Peerless LSQ-19DT 19mm soft dome Hifi tweeters PAIR NOS \| eBay Will get them working but not sure how well. rgds, sreten. __________________ There is nothing so practical as a really good theory - Ludwig Boltzmann When your only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail - Abraham Maslow

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6th February 2010, 07:00 PM	#1
DrOetker diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2008	Tweeter Replacement Advice I know little about speakers so I wonder whether someone can help me? I have some old speakers that need new tweeters but replacments are no longer available; so what do I need to bear in mind when looking for generic replacements? I presume I'll need same size and resistance but I can't find out what the sensitivity of the old tweeters are as the manufacturer won't tell me. I know that any replacements won't be perfect in terms of not being designed to work with the crossover but I would like to get fairly close. Thanks for any help.

7th February 2010, 02:20 AM	#4
rotaspec diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2007	If the system is a budget 3 way with a tweeter cross of 5khz or higher, then Motorola (or whatever the current name is) piezo tweeters can be a cheap way to go. Put a resistor across them to make them appear as 8 ohms (or whatever the original impedance was), and a resistor in series with them of about 20 ohms (or an L-pad). The resistor or L-pad can be varied to match levels with the rest of the drivers.

8th February 2010, 02:01 PM	#5
DrOetker diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2008	I have just found out that replacement tweeters are actually available but would still like your views on alternative tweeters as the standard tweeters suffer from the ferro fluid drying out so that the output of the tweeter reduces over the years. So even if I buy some new ones, it will just happen again. The speakers are B&W P4's, the tweeters are I think 100 Watt, 8Ohm, 26mm and I think that the crossover frequency is about 3.5Mhz. The hole in the cabinet is only about 50mm. Can anyone suggest a replacement that wouldn't suffer the same fluid problems? The L Pad suggestion seems a good idea - thanks for that.

8th February 2010, 09:08 PM	#6
sreten diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brighton UK	Vifa DQ25SC16-04, 1" Titanium Dome Tweeter from Madisound Zaph\|Audio Hi, The Vifa with series resistor of 2.2R to 4.7R to set level is probably your best bet - and very good value if you can find a good local source. http://assets.bowers-wilkins.co.uk/m...e_l2_w0_h0.pdf Not an easy tweeter to substitute. FWIW good ferrofluid should not "dry out", its made from a single grade of silicon fluid with no volatiles to evaporate. Personally I would try to refurbish the original tweeters - but very involved. /sreten.

9th February 2010, 12:37 AM	#7
Iain McNeill diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Santa Cruz, California	Welcome back sreten - haven't seen you round for a while

13th September 2011, 09:24 AM	#10
Volvo1980 diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2011	I can get the vifa ones delivered from the US for £36 all in so I might opt for these. Just need to know though will it be necessary to use an extra resistor or should I just connect them up? If yes what resistor and where? Thanks for all advice in advance.

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