I recently got these Hafler speakers (c. 1983) for free from a family friend. I know the Hafler company made DIY amps back in the 80's but I could not find anything about them making speakers. Apparently they did because I have a pair of them. A took the foam covering off and took a look at the drivers. Someone pushed the tweeters in, which is definitely a bummer but I am hoping someone on here has some advice/personal experience with fixing dented speakers. The outer ring of the other drivers appears to have deteriorated and fallen out. Is this a known thing to happen to old loudspeakers? The center of the diaphragm looks fine but I don't know how much the outer ring affects the overall sound of the speaker. I haven't tested them yet because I am much more of a headphone enthusiast and I don't have a speaker amp that works right now. Does anyone know anything about these?
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Foam rot, don't use them until they're repaired. Maybe a local guy repairs these, check Craig's list.
The bass drivers are probably one of the usual suspects from Vifa/SEAS/Audax/Peerless - worth fixing probably, if the cabinets are good
Please no photobucket
Please no photobucket
It is really hard to tell if any of that is original. Those screws tell me probably not.
You could take the drivers out and see if the original markings are on them. Especially for the woofers. You probably won't find an identical replacement, but knowing the original will help make sense of the design.
You could take the drivers out and see if the original markings are on them. Especially for the woofers. You probably won't find an identical replacement, but knowing the original will help make sense of the design.
Its definitely all original. They were bought brand new back in the 80s by this family friend. I was looking at refoaming videos and the process looks relatively straightforward. I think i might try and do it myself instead of hiring someone else to do it.
I'm guessing Peerless - the gray poly cone - or Radio Shack. 30 years is enough time for two sets of foam surrounds to fail, and the bright screws do suggest replacement has happened. Refoaming is not so hard, though I recommend the shim method for accuracy.
Or...a kit from DIYSoundGroup
Or...a kit from DIYSoundGroup
Hafler 355 speakers
I had a pair of these speakers that I bought in the mid 80's! Loved them until 1 of my kids pushed in the tweeters on both. Still sounded alright but not great. Anyone know where i can find these?
I had a pair of these speakers that I bought in the mid 80's! Loved them until 1 of my kids pushed in the tweeters on both. Still sounded alright but not great. Anyone know where i can find these?
I remember these. Worth some effort.
By the look of the tweeters, they can be disassembled.
The best way of restoring the dome shape is to fashion a small wad of something that will not stick to any coating on the dome material, but also not shed.
I prefer a tiny bit of worn out shirt or handkerchief (look in the rag bin that most folks have).
Most of the wrinkles will push out on reassembly. Then let it sit overnight, or more.
To remove the remaining wrinkles, and help it keep its reformed shape, put it under a warm light(modern halogen bulbs produce visible light almost twice as efficiently, but almost as much heat- it's 3%/97% vs 5%/95%).
If all lights are leds, a hair dryer on low heat/ high fan will do, but be patient, and don't get too close.
Get the tweeters apart and give us a report.
A picture of the crossover would help, also the back of a woofer.
Good luck, Mr. Mooman.
Of course, if you are captured, blah, blah, etc, etc.........
By the look of the tweeters, they can be disassembled.
The best way of restoring the dome shape is to fashion a small wad of something that will not stick to any coating on the dome material, but also not shed.
I prefer a tiny bit of worn out shirt or handkerchief (look in the rag bin that most folks have).
Most of the wrinkles will push out on reassembly. Then let it sit overnight, or more.
To remove the remaining wrinkles, and help it keep its reformed shape, put it under a warm light(modern halogen bulbs produce visible light almost twice as efficiently, but almost as much heat- it's 3%/97% vs 5%/95%).
If all lights are leds, a hair dryer on low heat/ high fan will do, but be patient, and don't get too close.
Get the tweeters apart and give us a report.
A picture of the crossover would help, also the back of a woofer.
Good luck, Mr. Mooman.
Of course, if you are captured, blah, blah, etc, etc.........