Hello,
Total newb here. I'm hoping for someone to point me in the direction of where I can learn how to shop for replacement woofers for my living room stereo. I know next to nothing about speaker specs, or crossovers, or anything that would help me make an educated decision. I am fairly handy, so I'm confident I can replace these woofers myself, but I have no idea where to start.
Here's my situation. I have a fairly terrible set of old speakers, but I like the cabinets. I always intended to replace them with better speakers, however, my hand has been forced as the edges around the woofer cones recently just disintegrated.
The speakers are Realistc Mach 2 from none other than Radio Shack (yes, yes, I know...). I know I can get the modern equivalent of the original speaker, but I don't think I want that. I never found the bottom end all that clear on them. The woofers are 15" and I have to replace both of them. Eventually, I'd like to replace the tweeters and mids as well, but I figure I might as well get the woofers now that I'll likely have for a long time to come.
I don't need speakers that can handle huge power -- my place isn't very big (the whole apartment is about 900 square feet) and I don't crank the music loud. I'd prefer something really clear.
I don't have a huge budget. Ideally I'd like to spend no more than $150 per woofer, although if there's something really outstanding that's not much more then I could be convinced to stretch the budget.
Where do I start looking, and more importantly, where do I learn what to look for? If you can point me to websites or information guides that start me at square one, I'd really appreciate it.
Thank you for any help you can offer me. I really appreciate it.
Total newb here. I'm hoping for someone to point me in the direction of where I can learn how to shop for replacement woofers for my living room stereo. I know next to nothing about speaker specs, or crossovers, or anything that would help me make an educated decision. I am fairly handy, so I'm confident I can replace these woofers myself, but I have no idea where to start.
Here's my situation. I have a fairly terrible set of old speakers, but I like the cabinets. I always intended to replace them with better speakers, however, my hand has been forced as the edges around the woofer cones recently just disintegrated.
The speakers are Realistc Mach 2 from none other than Radio Shack (yes, yes, I know...). I know I can get the modern equivalent of the original speaker, but I don't think I want that. I never found the bottom end all that clear on them. The woofers are 15" and I have to replace both of them. Eventually, I'd like to replace the tweeters and mids as well, but I figure I might as well get the woofers now that I'll likely have for a long time to come.
I don't need speakers that can handle huge power -- my place isn't very big (the whole apartment is about 900 square feet) and I don't crank the music loud. I'd prefer something really clear.
I don't have a huge budget. Ideally I'd like to spend no more than $150 per woofer, although if there's something really outstanding that's not much more then I could be convinced to stretch the budget.
Where do I start looking, and more importantly, where do I learn what to look for? If you can point me to websites or information guides that start me at square one, I'd really appreciate it.
Thank you for any help you can offer me. I really appreciate it.
Unless someone knows of a drop In replacement woofer, then your only choice Is to find somewhere that sell new foams (I assume the woofer surrounds are foam?).
Finding a replacement woofer with the same specs Is unlikely. It needs to work in the same size box (T/S parameters need to match), frequency response and Impedance also need to match for the crossover to work properly.
Finding a replacement woofer with the same specs Is unlikely. It needs to work in the same size box (T/S parameters need to match), frequency response and Impedance also need to match for the crossover to work properly.
Hello Andy! It looks to me that this kind of modification might turn out to be more of a trouble than needed for it just may end up being a completely new build.
I've searched a bit and stumbled upon a thread on audiokarma where someone measured the TS parameters of the Mach 2 woofer and the minute you spot the large Vas of 13,6 cuft and the Qts=0,97 you understand why it won't perform all that good in a rather small ported cabinet.
I'd suggest to get a refoam kit from maybe simply speakers, stuff the cabinet really well and then give it a listen. If that still won't be good enough, I'd consider building an extension cabinet to increase the box volume to about 200 litres and stuff it as well.
Simulation comes handy, as always. I apologize if this is not what you wanted to hear.
I've searched a bit and stumbled upon a thread on audiokarma where someone measured the TS parameters of the Mach 2 woofer and the minute you spot the large Vas of 13,6 cuft and the Qts=0,97 you understand why it won't perform all that good in a rather small ported cabinet.
I'd suggest to get a refoam kit from maybe simply speakers, stuff the cabinet really well and then give it a listen. If that still won't be good enough, I'd consider building an extension cabinet to increase the box volume to about 200 litres and stuff it as well.
Simulation comes handy, as always. I apologize if this is not what you wanted to hear.
Attachments
People seem to have had luck with this one, actually. Qts=0.47 must be about right. Some talk of closing the port.
Goldwood GW-15PC-8 15" Heavy Duty Woofer 8 Ohm
Not as cheap as a refoam though.
Goldwood GW-15PC-8 15" Heavy Duty Woofer 8 Ohm
Not as cheap as a refoam though.
another suggestion:
15" Realistic Mach One, Realistic Mach Two, Replacement Woofer, W-1500
But for that price there are NEW PA speakers that cost the same at Radio Shack.
15" Realistic Mach One, Realistic Mach Two, Replacement Woofer, W-1500
But for that price there are NEW PA speakers that cost the same at Radio Shack.
Parts Express
Parts Express sells a Mach One replacement woofer, which they say will also work for the Mach Two.
https://www.parts-express.com/parts...ofer-for-15-realistic-mach-one-8-ohm--290-184
They also used to offer a re-foam service, but I'm not absolutely sure that is available anymore. Alternates:
Speaker Refoaming and Speaker Repair
https://www.google.com/search?q=speaker&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8#q=speaker+refoam+service
Parts Express sells a Mach One replacement woofer, which they say will also work for the Mach Two.
https://www.parts-express.com/parts...ofer-for-15-realistic-mach-one-8-ohm--290-184
They also used to offer a re-foam service, but I'm not absolutely sure that is available anymore. Alternates:
Speaker Refoaming and Speaker Repair
https://www.google.com/search?q=speaker&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8#q=speaker+refoam+service
Not so much the cabinet as the port, Lojzek. The port should become stuffed densely in order to work as mechanical damper of fundamental ringtone, Andy.
Simply Speakers also carries foam repair kits for the mach2 woofer. Might be a little more in line with your budget.
Radio Shack Speaker Foam Edge Repair Kit, Realistic Mach Two, FSK-15M
Andy - unless you're really intent on spending more, repairing the foam surrounds would certainly be the first option to explore. Provided there's been no damage to voice coils from running without intact suspensions and scraping against pole gaps (always a possibility) or overdriving them, the results would be -almost literally -"good as new"
Whether that'd be good enough for you in the long run is an altogether different story.
Whether that'd be good enough for you in the long run is an altogether different story.
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