Toddler damage to Seas Excel tweeter?

[mac-attack]

Hi,

I had a visit from my sister and her little son the other day. The little toddler managed in a non supervised moment to push in the dust cap of one of my Seas Excel T25-001 tweeters . Now, can someone tell med how sensitive these tweeters are to trauma like that?

The dust cap returned to its original shape after a little fiddling. If I listen casually to the system I can't hear anything out of the ordinary, but when I play one speaker at a time (using the same channel for both) I feel that the abused tweeter is somewhat less bright and less open in its character ... is this my imagination or can something like this be the result of physical trauma?

M.A.

[singa]

The dome may have returned to original shape but what about the voice coil? As you know it's suspended over the magnet by the surround support and it's position may have shifted a little.Let's hope in time the coil will settle back to it's original place?But if you're a perfectionist, replace dome/coil assembly or get new one?

[mac-attack]

How difficult would it be to replace the voice coil etc in order to get a very good result? Oh yes, I am somewhat of a perfectionist ...

If there has been damage, then I suppose that I should replace or update the tweeter in both speakers even though one is OK?

Are there any typical audible signs of a shifted voice coil?

Thanks for your insight,
M.A.

[poobah]

Cover your mid and woofer before listening... probably fine.

[jackinnj]

Originally posted by mac-attack
Hi,

I had a visit from my sister and her little son the other day. The little toddler managed in a non supervised moment to push in the dust cap of one of my Seas Excel T25-001 tweeters . Now, can someone tell med how sensitive these tweeters are to trauma like that?

The dust cap returned to its original shape after a little fiddling. If I listen casually to the system I can't hear anything out of the ordinary, but when I play one speaker at a time (using the same channel for both) I feel that the abused tweeter is somewhat less bright and less open in its character ... is this my imagination or can something like this be the result of physical trauma?

M.A.

It's your imagination. You have been psychologically wounded. Time heals this type of wound.

I vacuumed my T-27 tweeters, and various Audax midrange and tweeters when the kids had pushed the domes in.

btw, I have found various toys (Lego's, Transformers, plushies) in my KEF B139/B110/T27 reflex system.

[Willitwork]

Originally posted by mac-attack
How difficult would it be to replace the voice coil etc in order to get a very good result? Oh yes, I am somewhat of a perfectionist ...

If there has been damage, then I suppose that I should replace or update the tweeter in both speakers even though one is OK?

Are there any typical audible signs of a shifted voice coil?

Replacing the dome assembly on that type of driver is usually very easy, all you have to do is to unscrew the faceplate, lift damaged dome out, slide new one in, screw back faceplate. Voice coil and terminals are integral part of the dome assembly.

Do you need to replace the dome in the other tweeter as well? No, unless you're not using the manufacturer-approved replacement part. Those domes are expensive and replacing both just for the sake of psychological reassurance seems like overkill to me.

Keep in mind that fabric domes are surprisingly tolerant to pokes, much more so than metal domes --which require some form of physical protection-- or even poly domes. Personally, I would not replace a fabric dome just because it's been poked unless it had been punctured and/or torn in the process, or if a sound test (in mono) showed a difference with the undammaged tweeter. Such a test should be performed with all other drivers disabled or at least muffled.

[Variac]

I agree, there is no way you can be "objective" about the sound of the poked tweeter. Probably its fine.

There is something about human nature and domes. I have caught adults sticking out their fingers as they approached my drivers...

[Salas]

This has some mystery in to it I guess. I have been thinking about it many times in the past. Must be something with resembling provocative harmful targets centered for a sure bullseye, to some deep lobe in our brain.

[poobah]

got milk?

[AVWERK]

You might want to pass a heat gun over it if you see any outlines of wrinkles where it kinked.

This should place it back in equal tension if you still have doubts


Regards

David