Need help fixing B&W Matrix 2, Series 2 speakers

tiltedhalos · 6th January 2012, 02:05 AM

My first post on the forums means that I'm turning into my Dad, which isn't a bad thing. He's been a hobbyist speaker builder and audiophile as long as I can remember, but now that we live 1500 miles away, I'll have to do my own repairs...

I recently obtained a pair of classic B&W (Bowers & Wilkins) Matrix 2, Series 2 speakers, built back in 1989. One sounds perfect, the other has a blown woofer/mid... the surround is in decent shape, but I think the coil is shot. Everything else appears to be in good shape on both speakers, internal and external, except for a few scratches on the wood.

The cabinets are incredibly well built, and the electronics are a very cool design... the service manual is online here, for anyone who wants to take a look at the guts of the speaker in detail.

I'm here for advice -- how can I fix it? Is there a good repair place I can use? Or is it even worth it?

The service manual has all the part numbers, but I can't find any what I might need available for purchase. And the woofers seem to be a slightly smaller than traditional 8" woofers, which makes me afraid they would be hard to replace.

Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.

PeteMcK · 6th January 2012, 02:34 AM

If you let us know where you are, someone may be able to suggest a place locally where you can have the driver re-coned, probably the most cost effective option for speakers of this vintage

qusp · 6th January 2012, 03:41 AM

certainly looks like you could replace the ALL electrolytic crossover with at least a few film caps for the lower values. the cabinets are sure well built and at worst you could reuse them for new drivers

tiltedhalos · 6th January 2012, 03:49 AM

Great suggestion. Thanks. I found my profile and added the location information -- sorry, I should have done that before. I'm in the Washington, DC, metro area.

jerome69 · 6th January 2012, 06:30 AM

Perhaps B&W can repair the defective driver ?

Replace yourself the two woofers, to replace, we need TS parameters...

Make a new design with new drivers : tweeter + woofer + crossover.
New drivers will have better performance and power handling.
The front plate could be easily redo.

what is your budget ?

Fivetide · 6th January 2012, 09:11 AM

I have had some success with Ebay , spares and repairs, I also try and find out if other speakers have had the same drivers in the past and search for those.

KatieandDad · 6th January 2012, 10:31 AM

If you are VERY CAREFUL you can repair these yourself.

I would NOT re-cone them as the new cones will have very different properties to the cones that are fitted.

It is not impossible to remove the burnt wiring on the coil former, carefully counting the number of turns and layers.

Then, measure the size of the wire and replace it with new.

If you soak the wire in varnish it will adhere much better.

Its a messy, tedious job but well worth the effort.

sreten · 10:33 AM

Hi,

Its not clear what model you have and what the exact problem is you have.

A blown driver will measure open circuit rather than its normal DCR.

B&W do replacement drivers, but they are not cheap.

http://bwgroup-support.com/partspriceavail.html

rgds, sreten.

KatieandDad · 6th January 2012, 10:44 AM

Simplest way to check driver is to swap them with the working speaker.

B&W do favour crimp connectors, one could be a poor joint.

KatieandDad · 6th January 2012, 11:26 AM

As they get older, corrosion becomes an issue.

There could be many Lucas style connectors in the chain. Back Terminals to the X-Over (2) and X-Over to Driver (2).

It's also not uncommon for the braided wires from the voice coil to the terminals on the frame to break due to work hardening.

A good look with an eye glass and a multimeter will prove if the bass/mid driver is OK.

A bit of polishing with fine emery paper will clean up any dirty contacts.

6th January 2012, 02:05 AM	#1
tiltedhalos diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Northern Virginia (Washington DC area)	Need help fixing B&W Matrix 2, Series 2 speakers My first post on the forums means that I'm turning into my Dad, which isn't a bad thing. He's been a hobbyist speaker builder and audiophile as long as I can remember, but now that we live 1500 miles away, I'll have to do my own repairs... I recently obtained a pair of classic B&W (Bowers & Wilkins) Matrix 2, Series 2 speakers, built back in 1989. One sounds perfect, the other has a blown woofer/mid... the surround is in decent shape, but I think the coil is shot. Everything else appears to be in good shape on both speakers, internal and external, except for a few scratches on the wood. The cabinets are incredibly well built, and the electronics are a very cool design... the service manual is online here, for anyone who wants to take a look at the guts of the speaker in detail. I'm here for advice -- how can I fix it? Is there a good repair place I can use? Or is it even worth it? The service manual has all the part numbers, but I can't find any what I might need available for purchase. And the woofers seem to be a slightly smaller than traditional 8" woofers, which makes me afraid they would be hard to replace. Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.

6th January 2012, 02:34 AM	#2
PeteMcK diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Sydney	If you let us know where you are, someone may be able to suggest a place locally where you can have the driver re-coned, probably the most cost effective option for speakers of this vintage __________________ ‘today… there lives alongside the twentieth century the tenth or thirteenth. A hundred million people use electricity and still believe in the magic power of signs and exorcisms” Trotsky

6th January 2012, 10:31 AM	#8
sreten diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brighton UK	Hi, Its not clear what model you have and what the exact problem is you have. A blown driver will measure open circuit rather than its normal DCR. B&W do replacement drivers, but they are not cheap. http://bwgroup-support.com/partspriceavail.html 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 Last edited by sreten; 6th January 2012 at 10:33 AM.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
B&W Matrix Series 2 - " How to reduce brightness "	arupg	Multi-Way	11	11th July 2010 05:39 PM
Help fixing my klipsch speakers...	bretsimpson	Multi-Way	1	3rd August 2005 07:48 AM
B&W 801 matrix series 2 crossover mod help	musicalmaniac	Multi-Way	0	10th January 2005 12:17 AM
B&W Matrix 3 Series 2	led_zeppelin	Multi-Way	0	7th January 2005 09:07 AM
Fixing up old speakers	lordvader	Multi-Way	2	20th July 2002 04:24 PM


	Please consider donating to help us continue to serve you. Ads on/off / Custom Title / More PMs / More album space / Advanced printing & mass image saving

6th January 2012, 03:41 AM	#3
qusp Sometimes a square peg fits a round hole just fine diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia	certainly looks like you could replace the ALL electrolytic crossover with at least a few film caps for the lower values. the cabinets are sure well built and at worst you could reuse them for new drivers

6th January 2012, 03:49 AM	#4
tiltedhalos diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Northern Virginia (Washington DC area)	Great suggestion. Thanks. I found my profile and added the location information -- sorry, I should have done that before. I'm in the Washington, DC, metro area.

6th January 2012, 06:30 AM	#5
jerome69 diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lyon	Perhaps B&W can repair the defective driver ? Replace yourself the two woofers, to replace, we need TS parameters... Make a new design with new drivers : tweeter + woofer + crossover. New drivers will have better performance and power handling. The front plate could be easily redo. what is your budget ?

6th January 2012, 09:11 AM	#6
Fivetide Happy Chappy diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: UK Preston	I have had some success with Ebay , spares and repairs, I also try and find out if other speakers have had the same drivers in the past and search for those.

6th January 2012, 10:31 AM	#7
KatieandDad diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: UK	If you are VERY CAREFUL you can repair these yourself. I would NOT re-cone them as the new cones will have very different properties to the cones that are fitted. It is not impossible to remove the burnt wiring on the coil former, carefully counting the number of turns and layers. Then, measure the size of the wire and replace it with new. If you soak the wire in varnish it will adhere much better. Its a messy, tedious job but well worth the effort.

6th January 2012, 10:44 AM	#9
KatieandDad diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: UK	Simplest way to check driver is to swap them with the working speaker. B&W do favour crimp connectors, one could be a poor joint.

6th January 2012, 11:26 AM	#10
KatieandDad diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: UK	As they get older, corrosion becomes an issue. There could be many Lucas style connectors in the chain. Back Terminals to the X-Over (2) and X-Over to Driver (2). It's also not uncommon for the braided wires from the voice coil to the terminals on the frame to break due to work hardening. A good look with an eye glass and a multimeter will prove if the bass/mid driver is OK. A bit of polishing with fine emery paper will clean up any dirty contacts.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

New To Site?	Need Help?
Register to Participate Search Privacy Statement Contact Us	Frequently Asked Questions Did you forget your password? Mark Forums Read