Repairing mid-range of KEF 104.2 spkrs

[KEFspkrs]

The mid-range has a cracking sound when I play certain classical music.
What could be the problem and how much would that cost?

Sorry I don't know much about speaker technology, but I'd like to get
them repaired. But since this model is discontinued, every repair place
I've called is trying to rip me off. First with a $25-$75 cost just for an
estimate. I've never had speakers repaired before and aren't sure
what to expect. Tips would be great.

Thanks guys.

[qwad]

you dont say what that certain classical music is, now if it's the cannon shots on the 1812 overture then it more than probably is the voice coil former hitting the back plate of the magnet a safety/ warning feature built in by kef to warn you that the unit is being overdriven possibly into b200 unit used in the 104 abas well as its smaller sibling the b110 which l used in a 3 way daline and used to bottom out regularly resulting in a loud "crack", so for safetys sake back off the volume a little as replacement b200's are expensive and difficult to find , not sure if kef still makes them or has stocks at all cheersTC

[KEFspkrs]

Thanks bro.

But the volume actually isn't through the roof.
I don't know how else to describe volume, but
it's at comfortable levels for baby ears and senior
citizens alike and definitely below volumes at
the movie theaters.

So would your assessment be any different?

[KEFspkrs]

One more thing... so far, I've heard the cracking
sound w/classical piano and horns. Modern
music and regular talk radio seem unaffected.

[KEFspkrs]

darn-- I forgot to mention that only one of the two towers
have this midrange problem. The midrange in the other
tower is perfectly fine.

In other words, all other speakers in the two towers
are fine.

[richie00boy]

Maybe with age the voice coil has come loose or the former got deformed by heat/age?

[RCBandwidth]

Did You should attempt to exchange midrange drivers.If after swapping the mid drivers the crackling moves to the other channel, then you probably have a damaged part in your crossover.That should be fairly easy to fix. RC

[jackinnj]

i replaced one of my B110's with an Audax 5 1/4" unit -- the B110's and B200's do show up for sale every once in a while.

[planet10]

Is it just the one mid on one side, or both?

From the experience of one of the fellows on the IMF list, KEF was doing B110 recones as recent as within the last year... not cheap thu. If you were really anal you'd get all 4 done).

I don't think the 104/2 uses the commonly available B110... finding a used replacement would mean someone is tearing a set down for parts.

dave

[qwad]

no the 104ab used the b200 with a similar voice coil arrangement to the b110 is all l meant to say in my previous post...... cheers TC