Hi;-
I was lucky to buy a pair of these in NZ a couple of years ago - one mid had had a dodgy lumpy glue repair - seems they were only for Japan, except that a few came to Aus & NZ - you've seen Sony SS-G333ES on thevintageknob.org I assume?
Replacement tweeters would be unobtanium - this was a single-designer speaker.
Recently, I saw and bought a pair of the woofers from these off TradeMe (.co.nz) - unfortunately, one has splits in the rubber surround - itself not corresponding to common dimensions of replacement surrounds I've searched so far - but I've purchased some Japanese rubber glue and will see if I can effect a temporary repair initially.
Why I did this, and why I'm answering you with this suggestion, is that I had an idea that these woofers might very well suit an Econowave project... explore introductory summary links here: Zilch's AK Design Collaborative - Econowave Speaker - AudioKarma.org Home Audio Stereo Discussion Forums
Particularly the the links from the first one:
Project Summary:
http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthr...14#post1856214
As it mentions, you can get waveguides from YD-L033 | DJ City
(on special right now, too!)
So, what I might do (when I have the money to buy compression drivers - I can make my own crossovers - is build a pair of identically volumed & ported cabinets for these bass drivers, and make an Econowave style 2-way speaker pair from them.
(I've put the drivers on a signal generator and they seem subjectively to easily transcend the required smooth up to 1.2kHz, easily up to 3-4kHz without loss of volume - so I think they'd easily be better than the JBL speakers (I had started this idea with a pair of woofers ex L100/L88 in mind) the project started around)
After all, as thevintageknob link says: "stiffer and lighter than almost everything"
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My suggestion to you, then, is to consider converting yours thus.
(The thread is just over 1000 pages now, so the summary is very useful!)
(Still, scanning through quite a few might give you even more encouragement)
If you turned the cabinets upside down you could mount the compression driver and constant directivity waveguide on top - you'd need to get the proscribed distance between right - and everything would be at about the right height, maybe small stands.
Build a simple small baffle/cabinet to house it, but for a start you could just prop it on.
(Yes, integrating the angled baffle might be a small challenge, but these are starter ideas!)
You'd need to blank off the tweeter hole with a plate (or just re-install the duds) to seal the main chamber, disconnect the old crossover (maybe even re-use some parts - I've roughly measured the inductors, but I'd be doing a whole new one as per the summary) and you could experiment for the price of two compression drivers (the cheaper Seleniums in the original thread, or the dearer B&C's in the DeLuxe Econowave version), those cheap waveguides, and crossover components.
If seeming successful, (and I'm pretty sure it would be!) you could sell the mid-range units (hmm, I might even be interested in one!) and blank off that hole, etc.
Possibly, with the simpler crossover and the CD waveguide, they might sound better and more integrated than the original...
My 2c worth, anyway !
~ RdM
I was lucky to buy a pair of these in NZ a couple of years ago - one mid had had a dodgy lumpy glue repair - seems they were only for Japan, except that a few came to Aus & NZ - you've seen Sony SS-G333ES on thevintageknob.org I assume?
Replacement tweeters would be unobtanium - this was a single-designer speaker.
Recently, I saw and bought a pair of the woofers from these off TradeMe (.co.nz) - unfortunately, one has splits in the rubber surround - itself not corresponding to common dimensions of replacement surrounds I've searched so far - but I've purchased some Japanese rubber glue and will see if I can effect a temporary repair initially.
Why I did this, and why I'm answering you with this suggestion, is that I had an idea that these woofers might very well suit an Econowave project... explore introductory summary links here: Zilch's AK Design Collaborative - Econowave Speaker - AudioKarma.org Home Audio Stereo Discussion Forums
Particularly the the links from the first one:
Project Summary:
http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthr...14#post1856214
As it mentions, you can get waveguides from YD-L033 | DJ City
(on special right now, too!)
So, what I might do (when I have the money to buy compression drivers - I can make my own crossovers - is build a pair of identically volumed & ported cabinets for these bass drivers, and make an Econowave style 2-way speaker pair from them.
(I've put the drivers on a signal generator and they seem subjectively to easily transcend the required smooth up to 1.2kHz, easily up to 3-4kHz without loss of volume - so I think they'd easily be better than the JBL speakers (I had started this idea with a pair of woofers ex L100/L88 in mind) the project started around)
After all, as thevintageknob link says: "stiffer and lighter than almost everything"
-
My suggestion to you, then, is to consider converting yours thus.
(The thread is just over 1000 pages now, so the summary is very useful!)
(Still, scanning through quite a few might give you even more encouragement)
If you turned the cabinets upside down you could mount the compression driver and constant directivity waveguide on top - you'd need to get the proscribed distance between right - and everything would be at about the right height, maybe small stands.
Build a simple small baffle/cabinet to house it, but for a start you could just prop it on.
(Yes, integrating the angled baffle might be a small challenge, but these are starter ideas!)
You'd need to blank off the tweeter hole with a plate (or just re-install the duds) to seal the main chamber, disconnect the old crossover (maybe even re-use some parts - I've roughly measured the inductors, but I'd be doing a whole new one as per the summary) and you could experiment for the price of two compression drivers (the cheaper Seleniums in the original thread, or the dearer B&C's in the DeLuxe Econowave version), those cheap waveguides, and crossover components.
If seeming successful, (and I'm pretty sure it would be!) you could sell the mid-range units (hmm, I might even be interested in one!) and blank off that hole, etc.
Possibly, with the simpler crossover and the CD waveguide, they might sound better and more integrated than the original...
My 2c worth, anyway !
~ RdM
I should have added (or started by noting) - I used Quick Reply so no chance to preview! - that all of these hints and suggestions just an idea in case you can't find a competent speaker repairer in Australia. You might find someone capable of rewinding the coils to exact spec (wire dia, turns) or - if inspected - you might luck out and find that the wires are open away from the voice-coil - perhaps unlikely, but I've seen it on other speakers.
So research excellent speaker repairers and get them checked out & diagnosed first, perhaps, but I still think the Econowave concept will be a viable alternative even if just using those excellent bass units as bass-mids, if they can't be repaired easily.
My midrange glue lumps shown here: (I've scraped/dissolved most off the outside; some of the underside still remain, after a first pass - I was keen to listen to them!)
Sony SS-G333ES speaker repair
(And I see replies since - interesting comments on the bass - at times it may seem light, then surprises with deep bass when it's on the recording; I'm still undecided, since recently also using with a Pioneer A-77X which others have thought bass-light - despite massive dual-mono construction - it may want new PSU filter caps anyway, so an unknown. Room placement another interaction... all in all, worth persevering with, IMO!)
~ RdM
So research excellent speaker repairers and get them checked out & diagnosed first, perhaps, but I still think the Econowave concept will be a viable alternative even if just using those excellent bass units as bass-mids, if they can't be repaired easily.
My midrange glue lumps shown here: (I've scraped/dissolved most off the outside; some of the underside still remain, after a first pass - I was keen to listen to them!)
Sony SS-G333ES speaker repair
(And I see replies since - interesting comments on the bass - at times it may seem light, then surprises with deep bass when it's on the recording; I'm still undecided, since recently also using with a Pioneer A-77X which others have thought bass-light - despite massive dual-mono construction - it may want new PSU filter caps anyway, so an unknown. Room placement another interaction... all in all, worth persevering with, IMO!)
~ RdM
Malformed link because I cut & pasted from the index page, and too late (30 mins) to edit the post; it should be:
Zilch's AK Design Collaborative - Econowave Speaker - Page 16 - AudioKarma.org Home Audio Stereo Discussion Forums
Cheers!
Actually, I might not!
Recalling that the JBL L100 bass driver was characterised in the the Econowave thread as a speaker more suited to a larger sealed box put in a too-small ported box (always ported with JBL?), I think I'd set up measurement tools, get the TS parameters, and see what it might do in a larger sealed cabinet, and still have the originals as a reference.
Regards,
~ R.
I'll probably get shot down in flames here, but what is hard about replacing the tweeters? Unobtainium was a fictional material in a the Avatar film, IIRC. Most tweeters are made of the regular 92 elements and are much of a muchness. 😀
Work out the crossover schematic, the tweeter mounting size and the cutout hole and it shouldn't be hard to find a replacement, and suggest any slight adjustments, for what seems to be an anodized metal dome.
Not quite clear what sensitivity we have here, or impedance, but time will tell. 😎
Work out the crossover schematic, the tweeter mounting size and the cutout hole and it shouldn't be hard to find a replacement, and suggest any slight adjustments, for what seems to be an anodized metal dome.
Not quite clear what sensitivity we have here, or impedance, but time will tell. 😎
"I'll probably get shot down in flames here, but what is hard about replacing the tweeters? Unobtainium was a fictional material in a the Avatar film, IIRC. Most tweeters are made of the regular 92 elements and are much of a muchness"
I know it's some years ago, and no flames, but these tweeters were really a bit special, and a one-off single designer design. Have a look at:
Sony SS-G333ES on thevintageknob.org
Alumina, crystal, well, perhaps a very fine ceramic?
Sensibility 91dB /W /m
Well, I'm posting again because some inexplicable accident has shattered one of these domes, so now I can offer a closer view: (there's a felt damping pad behind)
And from the disassembled rear:
This is very fine material, it almost seems like the thickness of a human hair.
So, "unobtanium", at least in regard to available replacements, would seem (almost?) apt.
I'm hoping to hear via PM whether theaudiopath still has his dud ones...
Else I'll be looking to substitute an aluminium dome tweeter of approx 91db sensitivity, a Wharfedale unit from the Precision series that I have on hand... but ugly & not ideal!
Thanks for your comment;- sorry it's taken years to reply, but there we go!
Best,
Ross M.
I know it's some years ago, and no flames, but these tweeters were really a bit special, and a one-off single designer design. Have a look at:
Sony SS-G333ES on thevintageknob.org
Alumina, crystal, well, perhaps a very fine ceramic?
Sensibility 91dB /W /m
Well, I'm posting again because some inexplicable accident has shattered one of these domes, so now I can offer a closer view: (there's a felt damping pad behind)
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
And from the disassembled rear:
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
This is very fine material, it almost seems like the thickness of a human hair.
So, "unobtanium", at least in regard to available replacements, would seem (almost?) apt.
I'm hoping to hear via PM whether theaudiopath still has his dud ones...
Else I'll be looking to substitute an aluminium dome tweeter of approx 91db sensitivity, a Wharfedale unit from the Precision series that I have on hand... but ugly & not ideal!
Thanks for your comment;- sorry it's taken years to reply, but there we go!
Best,
Ross M.
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