B&W 601 (original) Tweeter questions.

Hi again 🙂

Ok, I know that there are numerous threads on 601 tweeters, but I'm now looking at 'near-equivalent' replacements, and wondering if anyone has tried any?

My pair of B&W 601 (the original - I guess S1?) are suffering from the typical defunct tweeters - both of them. I knew this when I bought them - I got them cheap for that reason. I fancied the challenge of fitting new dome-coils, but that isn't turning out too well even tho' I figured I positioned them spot-on... I also topped up the ferrofluid - perhaps too much?! Interestingly, the tiny feed wires on mine look as tho' they were vaporised - someone must have driven them hard.

Anyhoo, whilst I keep experimenting with a tweeter repair, I'm also looking at other options such as a near-equivalent replacement. I am not concerned about the physical aspect of the installation as I'm reasonably confident I can tackle any mods required, but just that it is a close audio spec match to the original. There must be hundreds of folk looking for this, as these superb speakers are failing almost always due to their obviously-delicate tweeters.

I don't think there's any mileage in buying 'genuine' second-hand replacements, as their lives will be of an unknown span. Brand new (say S2 or S3) B&W tweets are silly money, so again are out of the equation as these are old speakers that barely justify this. So, that leaves either a successful 'repair', or an equivalent fit.

Sooooo, any ideas folks? Someone must have tried this?! Or am I going to have to be the first?! I've read they 'cross-over' at around 4kHz and are 4 ohm resistance, so surely any decent quality tweeter of that near-spec will work well?

So, any ideas on near-equivalent tweeters? 🙂

Thanks.
 
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Thank you, Arez.

Yes, the ZZ10111, and I understand the model from later series - the ZZ11541 - can be made to fit too.

I have attempted a repair, but not using genuine, pre-assembled B&W coils like those shown in that video - I used just the dome-coils with surrounds, and did get them central in the plastic mount. However, they appear stiff to move, not sure why.

Yes, complete second-hand units are available, but ~£100 for units of unknown lifespan? Nah! Hence me looking for an equivalent, or near-as. One with a similarly-sized dome and spec.