These next three are of the woofer. Paper cone in good shape with a cloth surround that is impregnated with something. Overall it too is in good shape though it could also be cleaned, there are some sticky bits from where the impregnating material is getting old and squishy.
Attachments
This is kind of a crappy picture but it is here to illustrate the relative size of the magnet structure. The thing weighs a lot too, maybe two pounds or a little more.
Overall I have been happy with the sound from these, although they are a bit dark and boomy. Mostly though they sound a bit dark when using the Knight EL84 amp, I think it could be fixed with a little more rebuilding on the Knight. I have thought about coupling caps, it uses some old CDE molded jobs. I also have thought about a slow start circuit since it uses sand diodes, it has original Mullard EL84's and RCA 12AX7's and I don't really want to lose them anytime soon.
I am wondering though if I replace the coffin wire-wounds and the very old caps in the crossover with some Mills and either Mundorfs or Auricaps if it would sound any better (or worse?). I figure the inductors don't really need to be replaced unless I really feel like it. I don't know if re-stuffing them would really do much, but I have thought about that too. Anyways those are questions for another forum at another time. I will try to get some play time in with the Sound Design speakers soon; get some pics and opinions up too.
Cheers
James
Overall I have been happy with the sound from these, although they are a bit dark and boomy. Mostly though they sound a bit dark when using the Knight EL84 amp, I think it could be fixed with a little more rebuilding on the Knight. I have thought about coupling caps, it uses some old CDE molded jobs. I also have thought about a slow start circuit since it uses sand diodes, it has original Mullard EL84's and RCA 12AX7's and I don't really want to lose them anytime soon.
I am wondering though if I replace the coffin wire-wounds and the very old caps in the crossover with some Mills and either Mundorfs or Auricaps if it would sound any better (or worse?). I figure the inductors don't really need to be replaced unless I really feel like it. I don't know if re-stuffing them would really do much, but I have thought about that too. Anyways those are questions for another forum at another time. I will try to get some play time in with the Sound Design speakers soon; get some pics and opinions up too.
Cheers
James
Attachments
The mid has a separate enclosure? Those drivers look quite good... lots of room for tarting them up, and bringing the box to a whole nother level.
Updating the XO is definitly one thing that will help. better wire, and driver mods won't hurt either (i'd just go nuts, you might want to start with the reversable ones to get a handle on the magnitude of change.
dave
Updating the XO is definitly one thing that will help. better wire, and driver mods won't hurt either (i'd just go nuts, you might want to start with the reversable ones to get a handle on the magnitude of change.
dave
They are in the same box but the mid is inside of a short tube, so kind of a separate enclosure. I didn't take a picture of the tweeter. It is the dome variety with a very large, heavy, and sealed (like the woofer) cube on the back. I can't find much info on them except that peoples feelings about Fishers are mixed. I have read a couple things about peoples tweeters going bad which I really hope does not happen. I think they are of pretty good quality and I haven't seen any for sale, meaning I would have to replace them with something new when the time came. I think I read too that Fisher used different drivers later on, leading me the think that these are early versions of the XP-6. These where at my grandma's house and came home along with the Knight integrated and a matching Knight AM/FM tuner.
Fullrange horns and open baffles are something I have always dreamed about playing with. High efficiency drivers and low powered tube amps just make sense to me. However I do have a soft spot in my heart for these big old multiway boxes paired with vintage integrated amps, tuners, turntables, and the like. Our living room (not a main listening room) is currently occupied by a Heathkit AR-1302 and a pair of Heathkit AS-104's built by my dad.
Anyways back on the original topic, I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will be able to play with the SD open baffles in the next few days. I have a ton of stuff I have to do today including trying to get my girlfriend home safe and sound for Valentine's day weekend. The snow is really starting to fly here so I better get going, the weather people say 6" - 8" or more. Kind of sucks because just a few days ago it was 60 and sunny, I was going to class in shorts and a T-shirt.
Cheers
James
Fullrange horns and open baffles are something I have always dreamed about playing with. High efficiency drivers and low powered tube amps just make sense to me. However I do have a soft spot in my heart for these big old multiway boxes paired with vintage integrated amps, tuners, turntables, and the like. Our living room (not a main listening room) is currently occupied by a Heathkit AR-1302 and a pair of Heathkit AS-104's built by my dad.
Anyways back on the original topic, I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will be able to play with the SD open baffles in the next few days. I have a ton of stuff I have to do today including trying to get my girlfriend home safe and sound for Valentine's day weekend. The snow is really starting to fly here so I better get going, the weather people say 6" - 8" or more. Kind of sucks because just a few days ago it was 60 and sunny, I was going to class in shorts and a T-shirt.
Cheers
James
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