I have a pair of original Infinity 2000 series II speakers from 1977. They consist of a 12 inch woofer, 4 or 5 inch cast-back mids, one inch silk dome tweeters, and Walsh cones on top. The cabinet construction is very solid, but most of the drivers are rotted away.
The woofers looked like they could have been Peerless but I'm betting they were old Eminence, and really nothing special. Untreated paper cones with foam surrounds made back before they were anti-fungal. The enclosed mids were a good idea - its cheaper to enclose the driver than baffle the box - but they're equally decomposed. The dome tweeters are still fully functional, but the Walsh inserts have turned to goo. I trashed the woofers and mids decades ago, unfortunately, so I can't do any impedance readings off them.
I haven't had these cabinets open in a loong time, so I can't really offer any dimensions, interior volume, etc. I think the concept was basically a large subwoofer cabinet that just happened to have the other drivers built in, hence the cast basket mid to isolate it from the bass, and the entire pillows worth of polyester ticking filling the box. The thing is ported but I don't recall there being a duct behind the port.
I'll replace all the drivers to start with, and most likely completely rework the crossovers. I need a plan though. Should I have the Walsh cones replaced or should I close off the hole and just do a three way system? What replacement drivers are recommended? How about a tube to tune the bass? Should I eliminate the Dacron (or whatever it is), and go towards a three wall insulation to stop reflection?
Please excuse what are probably some really noob questions, but I have minimal experience with this.
The woofers looked like they could have been Peerless but I'm betting they were old Eminence, and really nothing special. Untreated paper cones with foam surrounds made back before they were anti-fungal. The enclosed mids were a good idea - its cheaper to enclose the driver than baffle the box - but they're equally decomposed. The dome tweeters are still fully functional, but the Walsh inserts have turned to goo. I trashed the woofers and mids decades ago, unfortunately, so I can't do any impedance readings off them.
I haven't had these cabinets open in a loong time, so I can't really offer any dimensions, interior volume, etc. I think the concept was basically a large subwoofer cabinet that just happened to have the other drivers built in, hence the cast basket mid to isolate it from the bass, and the entire pillows worth of polyester ticking filling the box. The thing is ported but I don't recall there being a duct behind the port.
I'll replace all the drivers to start with, and most likely completely rework the crossovers. I need a plan though. Should I have the Walsh cones replaced or should I close off the hole and just do a three way system? What replacement drivers are recommended? How about a tube to tune the bass? Should I eliminate the Dacron (or whatever it is), and go towards a three wall insulation to stop reflection?
Please excuse what are probably some really noob questions, but I have minimal experience with this.
Sell the cabinets to some one who is rebuilding and start fresh say I.
As a noob you are doing things the hardest possible way, and it's a lot harder on you and people you will ask for help from than you realize. Instead, build a 2 or 3 way kit that is already designed. Find good kits from Madisound, Meniscus, Parts-Express or Zaph.
If you want a re-build project, find a pair of well working Yamaha NS-1000s and replace the crossover with a design from Troels Gravesen.
Best,
Erik
As a noob you are doing things the hardest possible way, and it's a lot harder on you and people you will ask for help from than you realize. Instead, build a 2 or 3 way kit that is already designed. Find good kits from Madisound, Meniscus, Parts-Express or Zaph.
If you want a re-build project, find a pair of well working Yamaha NS-1000s and replace the crossover with a design from Troels Gravesen.
Best,
Erik
Well, I wasn't really looking for project, but these have been with me since they were new, and I was hoping that there was some good use for them, kind of like how people hang on to those ancient sandbag Advents and ARs and such.
I took a look at those Yamaha NS1000 speakers, and I have to say they have all the appearance of some early-80s white van specials. A trip to Troels Gravesen's site brought up lots of good info and not just on those particular speakers. Apparently the beryllium drivers are what make those speakers so special. If I find any NS-1000s I'll trash the cabinets and keep the mids and highs for some future project.
I took a look at those Yamaha NS1000 speakers, and I have to say they have all the appearance of some early-80s white van specials. A trip to Troels Gravesen's site brought up lots of good info and not just on those particular speakers. Apparently the beryllium drivers are what make those speakers so special. If I find any NS-1000s I'll trash the cabinets and keep the mids and highs for some future project.
I get that, but if you are going to keep them, do it right! That is, if you are going to restore them, don't start using them as a surgical experiment. Restore them properly, or not at all. That's the only way they are worth the effort. You might want to look in the Classic Speaker Pages for resources to help you do that.
Nothing is worse here than a noob wanting to Frankenstein an old speaker and then bemoaning their results for a few months.
Best,
Erik
Nothing is worse here than a noob wanting to Frankenstein an old speaker and then bemoaning their results for a few months.
Best,
Erik
- Status
- Not open for further replies.