This may be the wrong forum, heck, it's probably the wrong website in general. Through the years, I've gained more useful and accurate information off of this audio website than another combined, so I really trust the input any of you may have.
I have a pair of KEF 104ab's that I picked up at a thrift store for $6. They are in wonderful shape. The cabinets have the original "teak" looking finish (which fits in with our mid-century decor, so my wife actually likes them sitting conspicuously the living room), the surrounds (rubber on the driver, foam on the passive radiator) are incredibly supple still, and they sound fantastic.
My wife accepted a job working in Palau, a small island in Micronesia, for 2 - 5 years. Her employer will pay for up to 300lbs of our possessions to be shipped there, and we have to pay to ship whatever we want when we return to the US. These KEFs, like any decent speaker, weigh a significant amount. In prioritizing what I will need while there, these speakers did not make the cut. However, being unwilling to part with them, they will be in storage.
My question to you is, do I need to do anything special to protect them for the time they will be held. While I realize I haven't worried about them for the past 7 years I've owned them, they have been in a semi-controlled climate, receiving regular use. Storage will be protected from the elements, but will not be climate controlled, and they will not be getting any use. They will be out of direct sunlight, probably strapped together face to face with a plastic bag draped over them (loosely, I know some plastic off-gas can destroy wool, cotton and linen when they are sealed in it) but will have to endure temperatures that frequently reach below 0, and will bake in 110+ degree Kansas summers.
I have a pair of KEF 104ab's that I picked up at a thrift store for $6. They are in wonderful shape. The cabinets have the original "teak" looking finish (which fits in with our mid-century decor, so my wife actually likes them sitting conspicuously the living room), the surrounds (rubber on the driver, foam on the passive radiator) are incredibly supple still, and they sound fantastic.
My wife accepted a job working in Palau, a small island in Micronesia, for 2 - 5 years. Her employer will pay for up to 300lbs of our possessions to be shipped there, and we have to pay to ship whatever we want when we return to the US. These KEFs, like any decent speaker, weigh a significant amount. In prioritizing what I will need while there, these speakers did not make the cut. However, being unwilling to part with them, they will be in storage.
My question to you is, do I need to do anything special to protect them for the time they will be held. While I realize I haven't worried about them for the past 7 years I've owned them, they have been in a semi-controlled climate, receiving regular use. Storage will be protected from the elements, but will not be climate controlled, and they will not be getting any use. They will be out of direct sunlight, probably strapped together face to face with a plastic bag draped over them (loosely, I know some plastic off-gas can destroy wool, cotton and linen when they are sealed in it) but will have to endure temperatures that frequently reach below 0, and will bake in 110+ degree Kansas summers.
Packing I can't help with but I can suggest you store them upside down from their normal position and help reverse the cone sag while you're away.
Good idea. I'd also suggest enclosing each in a large sealed plastic bag, water tight. Place them on a pallet, or otherwise well off the floor.
Avoid using the basement for storage, if possible.
Hi rayma,
I would be very concerned about sealing them up tight. You can never fully seal them them so the chance for water ingress, and henceforth mould is increased manyfold in the type of environment ademuth has described. Temperature and humidity controlled is where the plastic bagging works best.
I think 🙂
I would be very concerned about sealing them up tight. You can never fully seal them them so the chance for water ingress, and henceforth mould is increased manyfold in the type of environment ademuth has described. Temperature and humidity controlled is where the plastic bagging works best.
I think 🙂
Yes, that's true. Most people would just store them in the basement though, but that would be a bad idea.
Maybe he'll lease out his house for the time he's gone and the speakers can just stay in a closet upstairs.
You want dry storage if at all possible. It doesn't have to be bone-dry, but less than 50% humidity for all seasons of the year. No mice or vermin, of course.
Be aware that electrolytic caps (which KEF uses in the crossover) dry out over time if the caps are not used. It can take 10, 20, or more years, but it does happen. This is why old vacuum-tube amps must have the caps checked before powering up the first time.
Be aware that electrolytic caps (which KEF uses in the crossover) dry out over time if the caps are not used. It can take 10, 20, or more years, but it does happen. This is why old vacuum-tube amps must have the caps checked before powering up the first time.
As always, a wealth of information has been provided!
All my speakers will be stored on the first floor in a house, but an unused one. Humidity may be a concern in the summer, but I'll have to make do with what I have. I'm not so concerned about anything I have made. I suppose I should be, I'd hate to lose the drivers in my speaks, but I'd love an excuse to make new cabinets 🙂. I'm really just worried about the cabinets and foam surrounds on the PRs in the 104s. I know the foam will go eventually, I just like to extend the time I have with them, especially if I'm not using them.
Side note: are foam racetrack replacements available for these guys? They're old enough I should start thinking about that, I suppose.
I didn't realize caps dried out over time due to disuse, I always assumed it was just time and environmental factors. There's not much I can do about it here, but it is food for thought. Caps are cheap and easy to replace, if I should need to.
Thanks for the reminder to store upside down. I'll rotate the drivers on my speakers that can't stand upright upside down as well.
All my speakers will be stored on the first floor in a house, but an unused one. Humidity may be a concern in the summer, but I'll have to make do with what I have. I'm not so concerned about anything I have made. I suppose I should be, I'd hate to lose the drivers in my speaks, but I'd love an excuse to make new cabinets 🙂. I'm really just worried about the cabinets and foam surrounds on the PRs in the 104s. I know the foam will go eventually, I just like to extend the time I have with them, especially if I'm not using them.
Side note: are foam racetrack replacements available for these guys? They're old enough I should start thinking about that, I suppose.
I didn't realize caps dried out over time due to disuse, I always assumed it was just time and environmental factors. There's not much I can do about it here, but it is food for thought. Caps are cheap and easy to replace, if I should need to.
Thanks for the reminder to store upside down. I'll rotate the drivers on my speakers that can't stand upright upside down as well.
The only thing I can add is to remove the weights from the passive radiator
My subwoofer has a passive radiator and I recently turned it upside down to eliminate the cone sag from the beast (18" PR with cone and weights equal 1050 grams!) Not sure if KEF uses a heavy panel or it has weights--just something to check.
Throw some moth balls or something inside the speakers that repels various critters--can't hurt and might prevent a big pain when you get back.
My subwoofer has a passive radiator and I recently turned it upside down to eliminate the cone sag from the beast (18" PR with cone and weights equal 1050 grams!) Not sure if KEF uses a heavy panel or it has weights--just something to check.
Throw some moth balls or something inside the speakers that repels various critters--can't hurt and might prevent a big pain when you get back.
I think facing down would be good (or with them facing each other, one facing down and the other facing up).
I've read about cone sag, though it apparently only happens significantly on larger drivers. Somewhere I read a suggestion of "rotating" woofers by 90 degrees every year (removing the mounting screws/nuts, remounting the driver turned 90 degrees, reinstalling the screws), to vary the sag and keep the cones centered. It might be easier to just rotate the cabinets, but then you'd have a "horizontal" year, then a "vertical inverted" year...
But for storage, I think I'd be worried about such extremes in temperature (and resultant humidity changes as well). Perhaps you could consider loaning or "renting them out" to someone who will use and respect them (and who has them listed as your property in their will) - this could give a better chance of them remaining in fine shape when you get back.
I've read about cone sag, though it apparently only happens significantly on larger drivers. Somewhere I read a suggestion of "rotating" woofers by 90 degrees every year (removing the mounting screws/nuts, remounting the driver turned 90 degrees, reinstalling the screws), to vary the sag and keep the cones centered. It might be easier to just rotate the cabinets, but then you'd have a "horizontal" year, then a "vertical inverted" year...
But for storage, I think I'd be worried about such extremes in temperature (and resultant humidity changes as well). Perhaps you could consider loaning or "renting them out" to someone who will use and respect them (and who has them listed as your property in their will) - this could give a better chance of them remaining in fine shape when you get back.
The only person who would appreciate a set of speakers like this is my long time friend, but I'm a bit apprehensive due to a small house-roaming human's propensity to destroy nice things (and not-so-nice things).
I got them stored in a small closet in the middle of the house, face to face pointing up and down "in" a large trash bag and a large trash bag over that. Nothing tied. I found a silica gel brick from my confectioner days and tossed it in to try to help with humidity. Hopefully the central location will help temper the daily/weekly humidity and temperature swings, though there's no helping the seasonal swings they will endure.
I got them stored in a small closet in the middle of the house, face to face pointing up and down "in" a large trash bag and a large trash bag over that. Nothing tied. I found a silica gel brick from my confectioner days and tossed it in to try to help with humidity. Hopefully the central location will help temper the daily/weekly humidity and temperature swings, though there's no helping the seasonal swings they will endure.
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