Hallo all.
I need some advise plse. I have a pair of Spendor S100. I have read about rubber surrounds getting hard and stiff. I have checked and saw that the surrounds on the midrange and 12inch woofer are indeed extremely stiff. So you will need an extreme amount of watts to move the speakers. I suppose there is no way to soften the rubber surrounds. I have read about brake fluid but are to scared to try it. Do you guy's have any advice plse. If I can get replacement surrounds, do anybody perhaps now where. The bass woofer has weird surrounds, not like normal ones.
Help appreciated !
Regards
I need some advise plse. I have a pair of Spendor S100. I have read about rubber surrounds getting hard and stiff. I have checked and saw that the surrounds on the midrange and 12inch woofer are indeed extremely stiff. So you will need an extreme amount of watts to move the speakers. I suppose there is no way to soften the rubber surrounds. I have read about brake fluid but are to scared to try it. Do you guy's have any advice plse. If I can get replacement surrounds, do anybody perhaps now where. The bass woofer has weird surrounds, not like normal ones.
Help appreciated !
Regards
Rubber perishes over time, even many synthetic rubbers, they have a limited lifetime. This is due to the double bonds in the butadiene molecule being reactive. I suspect this particular change is unwanted vulcanization (cross-linking) causing an increase in stiffness.
There are many speaker repair kits out there from what I see, there's probably something thats better that what you already have available, assuming you can detach the the existing rubber safely from the cone - I don't know how easy that is, and the surrounds may make it "interesting".
One danger is that as the rubber hardens the cone itself becomes more stressed and might get damaged - keeping the volume down to prevent this is wise.
There are many speaker repair kits out there from what I see, there's probably something thats better that what you already have available, assuming you can detach the the existing rubber safely from the cone - I don't know how easy that is, and the surrounds may make it "interesting".
One danger is that as the rubber hardens the cone itself becomes more stressed and might get damaged - keeping the volume down to prevent this is wise.
I think you worry too much! 😀
Spendor S100 loudspeaker | Stereophile.com
Good way to tone up surrounds is to buy some Silicone Spray. Don't spray it straight on the cones. Contains a damaging solvent you don't want. Spray it on a tissue, and then smear it on the cone and surrounds. Comes up lovely.
Spendor S100 loudspeaker | Stereophile.com
Good way to tone up surrounds is to buy some Silicone Spray. Don't spray it straight on the cones. Contains a damaging solvent you don't want. Spray it on a tissue, and then smear it on the cone and surrounds. Comes up lovely.
What Steve said 
Here is Aus it's called 'Armourall' and sold for touching up plastics on cars, cheap enough to try
Here is Aus it's called 'Armourall' and sold for touching up plastics on cars, cheap enough to try
I have done it on several occasions but with foam surroundings, which absorbs liquid silicone well, when the problem is the degradation of the foam, not as in the case of OP: Drying and hardening of the environment.
I do not think that the rubber absorbs the liquid to give it elasticity, at least in a first application, perhaps in several applications, I would try first in a small point and see what happens.
The advice of system 7 is good, but you have to protect the cone, although probably in this case it is Bextrene, not as delicate as paper cones....
I directly spray the spray on a recipíent, (the lid can work) and apply the remaining liquid with a brush with soft strands.
With regard to brake fluid, that solution was highly recommended by some JBL talking users who had a cloth surround treated with an unknown cream colored substance, called Lans A - Loy.
I would not do it.
The Hardened Lans-a-loy Hubbub
I do not think that the rubber absorbs the liquid to give it elasticity, at least in a first application, perhaps in several applications, I would try first in a small point and see what happens.
The advice of system 7 is good, but you have to protect the cone, although probably in this case it is Bextrene, not as delicate as paper cones....
I directly spray the spray on a recipíent, (the lid can work) and apply the remaining liquid with a brush with soft strands.
With regard to brake fluid, that solution was highly recommended by some JBL talking users who had a cloth surround treated with an unknown cream colored substance, called Lans A - Loy.
I would not do it.
The Hardened Lans-a-loy Hubbub
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Thanks guy's , much appreciated !
I have send a mail to Spendor, I'll wait and see. From what I have read they only sell a complete woofer and that would be to expensive, so lets see.
I have got slicon spray and I might try it later. The surrounds are still great looking, no tears or holes. Weird ones, they are inverted ( concave) compared to a normal surround.
Thanks for the help !
I have send a mail to Spendor, I'll wait and see. From what I have read they only sell a complete woofer and that would be to expensive, so lets see.
I have got slicon spray and I might try it later. The surrounds are still great looking, no tears or holes. Weird ones, they are inverted ( concave) compared to a normal surround.
Thanks for the help !
Steve, it seems that you have used Silicon spray before and it was successful ? How long does it last and how many coats did you apply. Did you only put it on the front of the surrounds or the back as well. How long does it take so see results. I suppose the product you use does not contain petroleum. Sorry for the many questions, I just want to do it the correct way !😀
Regards
I think you can buy silicone grease too. But the aerosol was available locally. I sprayed it onto a tissue, since the propellant is butane these days, and that might damage/dissolve the glues on the surrounds. So let it evaporate first.
Silicone doesn't evaporate AFAIK. SME used to use liquid silicone as a damping liquid in its 3009 series II tonearms, so I know what it is like. Sort of sticky feel between your fingers. But inert I believe. I shined up the cardboard cone too. Seems OK years on, and it worked on old Celestion 12" basses too.
Nothing unusual about inverted surrounds. The speaker above has them. What I would look out for in an old heavy 12" cone is voicecoil rubbing due to suspension sagging. Often cured by turning driver 90 degrees.
Silicone doesn't evaporate AFAIK. SME used to use liquid silicone as a damping liquid in its 3009 series II tonearms, so I know what it is like. Sort of sticky feel between your fingers. But inert I believe. I shined up the cardboard cone too. Seems OK years on, and it worked on old Celestion 12" basses too.
Nothing unusual about inverted surrounds. The speaker above has them. What I would look out for in an old heavy 12" cone is voicecoil rubbing due to suspension sagging. Often cured by turning driver 90 degrees.
Thanks Steve, I will go look for silicon grease and hopefully get a product that has no petroleum products in it.😉
Regards
Jan
Regards
Jan
If the surrounds are polyurethane foam, get them replaced pronto before the urethane decomposes into bituminous sludge that sticks to everything.
If the surrounds are rubber of one form or another, treat them with some rubber rejuvenator.
If you do decide to replace the surrounds, replace like with like; i.e. replace foam surrounds with foam surrounds and rubber surrounds with rubber surrounds.
Replacing surrounds is pretty simple, although you might care to practise on something disposable before you risk destroying something of value.
If the surrounds are rubber of one form or another, treat them with some rubber rejuvenator.
If you do decide to replace the surrounds, replace like with like; i.e. replace foam surrounds with foam surrounds and rubber surrounds with rubber surrounds.
Replacing surrounds is pretty simple, although you might care to practise on something disposable before you risk destroying something of value.
May be try something like this:
https://uk.farnell.com/mg-chemicals/408a-125ml/cleaner-bottle-125ml/dp/2945169
https://uk.farnell.com/mg-chemicals/408a-125ml/cleaner-bottle-125ml/dp/2945169
They are rubber surrounds according to Jan.
That rubber restorer looks a bit heavy on the solvents according to the PDF. I think it's taking a chance on damaging the adhesives on the surround. Don't know.
That rubber restorer looks a bit heavy on the solvents according to the PDF. I think it's taking a chance on damaging the adhesives on the surround. Don't know.
Guy's,
I could not get any silicon grease, so I had to settle on spray. I have two old speakers with rubber surrounds that I use for testing. The Shield is a normal silicon and the Herschell is apparently a safer eco friendly type. Even smells like an orange !😀
I put on some every day so hopefully I will have results on Monday.
Enjoy the weekend.
I could not get any silicon grease, so I had to settle on spray. I have two old speakers with rubber surrounds that I use for testing. The Shield is a normal silicon and the Herschell is apparently a safer eco friendly type. Even smells like an orange !😀
I put on some every day so hopefully I will have results on Monday.
Enjoy the weekend.
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Well,
I have treated the surround of one of the base woofers and it seems to help a little. Now, the other thing is ambient temp is currently 18Deg C inside the house, a week ago it was 7Deg C. The cold can make the surrounds stiffer but I mean 18 deg should be fine. If I take the woofer outside in the sun where it is hot then the surround becomes soft within 10 seconds. But I cannot only want to listen to music when it is 25-30 Deg C in the house. Is this normal ? I'm waiting on prices for new surrounds but maybe they will behave the same ??😕
I have treated the surround of one of the base woofers and it seems to help a little. Now, the other thing is ambient temp is currently 18Deg C inside the house, a week ago it was 7Deg C. The cold can make the surrounds stiffer but I mean 18 deg should be fine. If I take the woofer outside in the sun where it is hot then the surround becomes soft within 10 seconds. But I cannot only want to listen to music when it is 25-30 Deg C in the house. Is this normal ? I'm waiting on prices for new surrounds but maybe they will behave the same ??😕
Hi,
I have previously owned S100 and if I remember correctly I have tried silicone, glycerine and brake fluid to remedy stiffened surrounds.
Brake fluid (DOT 4) worked best for me for a certain time. You should be carefull with the application though. Wear gloves, apply a thin coat from the front, clean after an hour or so. Leaving for an overnight could erode the surround too much. Test it to see if it helps. Repeat for another 3 times. Listen again.
I think this method was recommended to me by Derek, a creator of S100.
If that doesn't help, maybe you would be interested in some options discussed here:
Replacing my Spendor S100 bass/mid driver surrounds . . . - 2 Channel - HiFi WigWam
I have previously owned S100 and if I remember correctly I have tried silicone, glycerine and brake fluid to remedy stiffened surrounds.
Brake fluid (DOT 4) worked best for me for a certain time. You should be carefull with the application though. Wear gloves, apply a thin coat from the front, clean after an hour or so. Leaving for an overnight could erode the surround too much. Test it to see if it helps. Repeat for another 3 times. Listen again.
I think this method was recommended to me by Derek, a creator of S100.
If that doesn't help, maybe you would be interested in some options discussed here:
Replacing my Spendor S100 bass/mid driver surrounds . . . - 2 Channel - HiFi WigWam
Siberia, thanks for the info. Did you put brake fluid on the surround of the midrange too ? So you say apply brake fluid, leave for an hour, dry it off and repeat another 3 times ? I see people put silicon grease on after the brake fluid to keep the air out.
Yes, I have applied in ~4 takes in total. Woofer only. It depends on how stiff is your surround. I've seen some very stiff cases on video that were restored to "normal". Or at least so I was told. Mine was quite a mild case in comparison. Still, after the treatment the return to normal position looked faster after push in of a woofer/surround. No measurements to prove it, though. I can't comment on silicon application after wiping off the break fluid. No experience with it.