Acoustic Energy AE100s series upgrade consideration, tweeters mid/bass Scan Speak Peerless Vifa whatever any ideas?
Just wondering if any of you guys have any ideas on this?
I have some AE120 speakers which I feel are very well made, braced, solid and even mass loaded as standard. In general they don't sound bad, pretty good actually especially if you drive them hard. Although at lower levels I have to say they sound a little lack lustre and dull perhaps. I'm looking to upgrade perhaps the tweeter and midrange mid bass to open the sound up a bit. The drivers that's in there apart from looking cool look pretty cheap units I must say. Just wondering if anyone knows any decent units that will drop right in without too much hassle? Looking for a bit more of an real, airy, live sound.
Its a shame really as the speakers look the business with the grills off but I feel the cost of the drivers here was definitely the biggest limiting factor when mass producing these speakers.
The speakers are rated at 150 watts and 8 ohms. The tweeter recess dimensions are 4 inches exact for its sunken look, and the mid bass is 5 1/4 inches exact at the widest edge again for that sunken fit.
I know some of the Scan Speak etc speakers can be extremely expensive units and I would like it to be a reasonably cheap upgrade if I could. But just interested to see what I could use. I have had the Scan Speak D2010 in many production models in the past it is one of my favourites that one, well at least in the speakers I had. I actually had to buy a replacement for one a few years ago which was £50 then I see looking now they are up to near £80, and it wasn't that long ago.
Just wondering if any of you guys have any ideas on this?
I have some AE120 speakers which I feel are very well made, braced, solid and even mass loaded as standard. In general they don't sound bad, pretty good actually especially if you drive them hard. Although at lower levels I have to say they sound a little lack lustre and dull perhaps. I'm looking to upgrade perhaps the tweeter and midrange mid bass to open the sound up a bit. The drivers that's in there apart from looking cool look pretty cheap units I must say. Just wondering if anyone knows any decent units that will drop right in without too much hassle? Looking for a bit more of an real, airy, live sound.
Its a shame really as the speakers look the business with the grills off but I feel the cost of the drivers here was definitely the biggest limiting factor when mass producing these speakers.
The speakers are rated at 150 watts and 8 ohms. The tweeter recess dimensions are 4 inches exact for its sunken look, and the mid bass is 5 1/4 inches exact at the widest edge again for that sunken fit.
I know some of the Scan Speak etc speakers can be extremely expensive units and I would like it to be a reasonably cheap upgrade if I could. But just interested to see what I could use. I have had the Scan Speak D2010 in many production models in the past it is one of my favourites that one, well at least in the speakers I had. I actually had to buy a replacement for one a few years ago which was £50 then I see looking now they are up to near £80, and it wasn't that long ago.
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Not sure if they are direct drop ins but they would be very near. Let me know if you find some replacement drivers and how you get on with them please.
https://willys-hifi.com/products/monacor-sph-135kep-kevlar-bass-midrange-unit
https://willys-hifi.com/products/monacor-dt-109-tweeter
hi westsounds
i say "drop in" because the speaker chassis is not completely round, if you look at the AE100 series you will see that there are 4 tabs(for fixing) around the edge of speakers. not only are the tabs an issue, but also the speakers are recessed into the cabinet, so most speaker chassis wont fit. hence "drop in" replacements.
gaz
i say "drop in" because the speaker chassis is not completely round, if you look at the AE100 series you will see that there are 4 tabs(for fixing) around the edge of speakers. not only are the tabs an issue, but also the speakers are recessed into the cabinet, so most speaker chassis wont fit. hence "drop in" replacements.
gaz
just checked your link
they 'look' like they would fit, actually better looking than the original drivers 🙂
they 'look' like they would fit, actually better looking than the original drivers 🙂
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Do you have measurement tools and the skills to apply them? Just as you cannot fit any tire on any rim on any car, or exchange the pasta for potatoes, you cannot exchange drive units in a speaker design. Well, of course you can, but chances are about 100 percent it gets worse.
so if the internal dimensions of the cabinet are within parameters for the drivers, they will still sound terrible ??
The cost of those old Kef units are way overpriced these days. The things still sound a bit special though, dont think they would be a direct drop in though. I love the B110. Imagine the cost of filling a pair of AE120 with those.
Why not, it might just turn out to be what you are looking for. There is no perfect speaker hence the millions on the market. No one has nailed it, its all just an attempt to be a favourite. I've had brilliant results changing drivers over the years to get closer to audio nirvana.
The AE drivers look good IMO, but their tweeter is their weak point IMO.
I won't taste your potato bolognese. And I think your Vauxhall Combo Life 7 with 19" alloy rims is hideous 😉
But of course you may experiment. Question comes to mind why one bought AE's in the first place. One can sell speakers and buy new ones also, instead of ruining reasonable designs. Let one thing be clear: your ears and brain by default will fool you. Simple psychology. You will think the exchange is beneficial. Just like those alloy rims.
But of course you may experiment. Question comes to mind why one bought AE's in the first place. One can sell speakers and buy new ones also, instead of ruining reasonable designs. Let one thing be clear: your ears and brain by default will fool you. Simple psychology. You will think the exchange is beneficial. Just like those alloy rims.
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One doesn't want to sell these speakers and buy others. For the best part I like the AE speakers, its just a little bit dull in the treble IMO which can easily be sorted with a change of driver for little cost than throwing the baby out with the bath water, drop in replacement are easily found they are fairly standard sized drivers, nothing will be ruined. And they suit my room and look very nice I dont want other speakers. Plus this is a DIY forum its about doing things yourself not being at the mercy of designers and manufacturers.
@westsounds
"Plus this is a DIY forum its about doing things yourself not being at the mercy of designers and manufacturers." spot on
i got my 120's for 25 quid, with one of the mid-range drivers being defective. TBH i'm just looking for a quick cheap fix for now.
you are correct about the quality of the cabinets, and it could save a lot of time and expense by just upgrading the drivers.
i fancy spraying mine satin white
gaz
"Plus this is a DIY forum its about doing things yourself not being at the mercy of designers and manufacturers." spot on
i got my 120's for 25 quid, with one of the mid-range drivers being defective. TBH i'm just looking for a quick cheap fix for now.
you are correct about the quality of the cabinets, and it could save a lot of time and expense by just upgrading the drivers.
i fancy spraying mine satin white
gaz
Thats it. just get two whatever you buy and perhaps use those for the midrange so its balanced at least.
And the white thing, now that would be really cool. Just mask/remove the necessary bits. They would look amazing! If you ever do it please show us, and maybe give me a nudge here Im not always on this forum.
hi westsounds i emailed these guys . this is what they replied
"Hi Gaz
Yes, according to our records we have used the WA-B110 in the original AE100's in the past.
Regards
Neil
Tel - 01455 286603
Website - www.wilmslow-audio.co.uk
Follow us on Facebook @ Wilmslow Audio Ltd
From: room801@gmx.com
Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2020 10:25 PM
To: enquiries@wilmslow-audio.co.uk
Subject: hi wilmslow
are these compatable with the older acoustic energy AE100 serise ???
https://www.wilmslowaudio.co.uk/wa---b110-bass-mid-size133mm-711-p.asp
cheers
gaz "
"Hi Gaz
Yes, according to our records we have used the WA-B110 in the original AE100's in the past.
Regards
Neil
Tel - 01455 286603
Website - www.wilmslow-audio.co.uk
Follow us on Facebook @ Wilmslow Audio Ltd
From: room801@gmx.com
Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2020 10:25 PM
To: enquiries@wilmslow-audio.co.uk
Subject: hi wilmslow
are these compatable with the older acoustic energy AE100 serise ???
https://www.wilmslowaudio.co.uk/wa---b110-bass-mid-size133mm-711-p.asp
cheers
gaz "
Nah, I think silk (or cloth domes) are the worst of the lot. Superb all rounders and some can have stunning results but the best seem to be overly expensive, overall I think ribbons or metal domes are my preference.
🙂
I do appreciate what you are saying it is a good idea, Im not saying that its not, but hey we're only playing here on the DIY forum. There is no right or wrong when it comes to speakers and they are all compromises at the end of the day.