New Guy with question on ESS AMT-1a speakers

[thewizardofaz]

Hi folks. I'm new here. My name is Rick. A little over a month ago, I purchased a set of ESS AMT-1a speakers on eBay. I'd wanted a pair since I first heard them back in the mid 70s. They were too expensive then, so I settled for some AMT-5 speakers. So, I'm not really anything close to knowledgeable about these. They sound nice, with great mid to low range sound, which compliments a set of Klipsch Heresey speakers, which have a mid to high range that's killer, but not much bass. So, I hooked them up and pulled the cover off the top. The heil transformer (a huge honker) sits on top, a 12 in front, and in the back there's an opening that looks like a speaker should go there. It looks just like the front, minus speaker. So, my question is, is this a port or am I missing speakers? Thanks so much for your help!

[cdfr]

The AMT-1 a,b,c,d,e have a 12 inch passive on the back. This is what you are missing. The passive is made of styroform with a bit of weigth in the center. You can find pictures on the web and may be to get it from ESS or a 3rd party loudspeaker specialist.

[thewizardofaz]

Thanks very much. I thought that was the case. Is there a part number or anything to help me find these? I'd have to have them installed as well. I better start looking for a shop locally, they're so heavy. Any other information I should know?

Again, Thanks

Rick

[HARDGRAVES]

RICK:
The outter aluminum ring of passive radiator is held on the speaker cabinet by 4 phillips screws. Remove the screws, and the ring. Quite often the white styrofoam disk in the center of the passive radiator falls into the speaker cabinet- you might be lucky and find yours still in the enclosure. It is about 9 in in diameter and 1/2 to 3/4 in thick and will have the old dead grey colored foam on one side.

Now you can ship it off to have it redone ( USPS priority mail is something like $6) or pick up a refoam kit either from ePay or check the advertisers on the site -nice to support them and it is only 20 to 40 dollars. they are not that hard to do especially if you have the old center disk.

The complete used passive radiator comes up once in a while on ePay 1 a,b,c,d will work in your enclosure.

Hope this gives you a better idea of your options
good luck with your project
let us know how it goes!

[thewizardofaz]

I looked down into the inside and didn't find a disk of any kind. Is this radiator wired into something? I would think it would be, but there doesn't seem to be a loose/extra wire in there.

Rick

[thewizardofaz]

Is this the item you are referring to:

ESS AMT Heil 12" Speaker Passive Radiator Kit # PASK-12 - eBay (item 130284535332 end time May-24-10 07:37:07 PDT)

[HARDGRAVES]

No electrics to it

works off the interior sound wave/pressure to move the disk
AND IN TURN DISPLACE THE AIR IN THE ROOM AS A NORMAL SPEAKER WOULD.
40 bucks on epay for a pair with the glue to glue it on the aluminum ring.

[thewizardofaz]

Thanks very much. I'm off...er...I'm heading over to eBay.

[thewizardofaz]

I wrote to ESS yesterday afternoon about the speakers. I noted that the volume of sound of high end of the speakers - which is the Heil AMT, was very low. My Klipsch Heresey speakers have much better highs. To my surprise, the guy who runs the company, Rick Caudillo, called me last night and we spoke at length about my speakers and ESS in general. Turns out the serial number, 768, is very low in the first series. But anyway, I'm to remove the diaphragm and ship back to him for repair or replacement. Great service.