Hi there,
I'm new to the speaker scene and wanted some opinions on what I should do.
Recently took a set of Advent Heritage speakers to be re-foamed (only the two full-range drivers the tweeters are fine). After hearing back from the technician I discovered that they'll need to be re-coiled as well. The repair cost is going to be so high I deemed it not worth the expenditure.
So my question is what 8" drivers can I install in the cabinets without changing any of the crossovers. As I mentioned earlier I'm a bit of a noob when it comes to this, so any advice would be much apricated. And obviously, I'd like the drivers to be the best possible quality without breaking the bank (around $70 per driver is my budget).
Thanks again🙂
I'm new to the speaker scene and wanted some opinions on what I should do.
Recently took a set of Advent Heritage speakers to be re-foamed (only the two full-range drivers the tweeters are fine). After hearing back from the technician I discovered that they'll need to be re-coiled as well. The repair cost is going to be so high I deemed it not worth the expenditure.
So my question is what 8" drivers can I install in the cabinets without changing any of the crossovers. As I mentioned earlier I'm a bit of a noob when it comes to this, so any advice would be much apricated. And obviously, I'd like the drivers to be the best possible quality without breaking the bank (around $70 per driver is my budget).
Thanks again🙂
Visaton W 200 is affordable good quality and described as "Especially suited as replacement driver for many HiFi speakers"
And its available in both 4 and 8 Ohm version.
Is that the best option is really hard to say without crossover schematics and other technical data.
And its available in both 4 and 8 Ohm version.
Is that the best option is really hard to say without crossover schematics and other technical data.
If you could post the internal dimensions of the cabinet, and dimensions of any bass ports (internal diameter, length), we could at least recommend a driver which would be suited to the cabinet.
Without knowing the frequency response, sensitivity and impedance curve of the original 8" woofer, it's difficult to know if it will integrate well with the existing crossover and full-range (actually tweeter?) driver.
As long as you replace it with a driver having the same nominal impedance (e.g. 8ohm), it is at least safe to try it and see if it subjectively sounds good.
Without the original woofer info, or performing a from-scratch crossover design, I honestly think you will get a better result in purchasing two different sets of $30ea woofers, trying both sets and keeping the ones that subjectively sound better to you, since a more expensive woofer which is technically superior on paper may not necessarily be a good fit for your crossover/tweeter.
Without knowing the frequency response, sensitivity and impedance curve of the original 8" woofer, it's difficult to know if it will integrate well with the existing crossover and full-range (actually tweeter?) driver.
As long as you replace it with a driver having the same nominal impedance (e.g. 8ohm), it is at least safe to try it and see if it subjectively sounds good.
Without the original woofer info, or performing a from-scratch crossover design, I honestly think you will get a better result in purchasing two different sets of $30ea woofers, trying both sets and keeping the ones that subjectively sound better to you, since a more expensive woofer which is technically superior on paper may not necessarily be a good fit for your crossover/tweeter.
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Seas / Vifa / ScanSpeak P21 drivers make good drop in replacements for many old sealed speakers.
They are really fantastic drivers with excellent bass.
They are really fantastic drivers with excellent bass.
Well if you can upgrade the tweeter as well, or change to 3-way perhaps this?
Peerless SLS 830667, 8" Paper Cone Woofer
Beware of using it over 800hz though.
Peerless SLS 830667, 8" Paper Cone Woofer
Beware of using it over 800hz though.
Here's a link to these speakers (I think):
Advent Heritage Speaker System Review price specs - Hi-Fi Classic
Looks like they're a TMM, sealed cabinet, with XO of 3500Hz - which is perhaps a little high for an 8" woofer, but the reviewer really liked them.
Stated measurements are 37-3/4 inches high, 10-1/2 inches wide, and 13-1/8 inches deep. Cabinets are 3/4" material.
Someone who knows their stuff may be able to advise on a suitable woofer for that volume and crossover point, but my guess is that another woofer won't work properly with the existing XO. So, you can pay for the repair and (hopefully) get the original sound back, or work up another crossover for your new drivers. I'd go for the first, especially as the new woofers ma not fit your cabinet anyway.
HTH
Geoff
Advent Heritage Speaker System Review price specs - Hi-Fi Classic
Looks like they're a TMM, sealed cabinet, with XO of 3500Hz - which is perhaps a little high for an 8" woofer, but the reviewer really liked them.
Stated measurements are 37-3/4 inches high, 10-1/2 inches wide, and 13-1/8 inches deep. Cabinets are 3/4" material.
Someone who knows their stuff may be able to advise on a suitable woofer for that volume and crossover point, but my guess is that another woofer won't work properly with the existing XO. So, you can pay for the repair and (hopefully) get the original sound back, or work up another crossover for your new drivers. I'd go for the first, especially as the new woofers ma not fit your cabinet anyway.
HTH
Geoff
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If the SB20PFC is anything like its little brother the SB16, with which I'm very happy, they should sound very good. The issue of how they will match up with the existing XO remains.
The SB20 is about $50 in Oz, not sure how much it will be elsewhere; not bad for a decent 8" driver and cheaper than Dayton or Peerless 8" woofers.
The PFC has been superceded by a round frame version but its specs seem to be the same and the old shaped driver is still around.
Geoff
The SB20 is about $50 in Oz, not sure how much it will be elsewhere; not bad for a decent 8" driver and cheaper than Dayton or Peerless 8" woofers.
The PFC has been superceded by a round frame version but its specs seem to be the same and the old shaped driver is still around.
Geoff
I owned these for a while and found them to be much better sounding than expected. They are certainly worth the effort to restore properly and that means obtaining original drivers. Refoaming the woofers is straitforward, using standard 8" surrounds. These are available from multiple vendors on eBay for about $20 for all four. No need to buy overpriced "kits." Certainly not all of your drivers need to be reconed (all four of mine came in good condition except the bad foam--only defect with the speaker was cabinet splitting due to top being solid wood). Pick up whatever quantity you need on eBay when they pop up. In the meantime, drop in any cheap 8 ohm 8" of your choice, some may be a better than others, don't assume it will be a better match just because they cost more. The driver might be shared with other models of that vintage, do some research.
Problem is, Kotter67, is the voicecoils are wrecked too....
I find 8" paper cones much of a muchness:
SB Acoustics SB20PFC30-8 8" Paper Cone Woofer
W 200 S - 8 Ohm | Visaton
H1288-08 CA22RNX
Simple crossovers can be effective:
Ends up a bit like this:
Restoring Monitor Audio R300 bookshelf speakers.
Ideally closed box drivers with a Qts near 0.4-0.5, and not too loud I'd guess. 87dB should do it when wired 2.5 way and getting nearer 93dB. Measure the cutouts to get some that fit.
A link to your local supplier might help here.
I find 8" paper cones much of a muchness:
SB Acoustics SB20PFC30-8 8" Paper Cone Woofer
W 200 S - 8 Ohm | Visaton
H1288-08 CA22RNX
Simple crossovers can be effective:
Ends up a bit like this:
Restoring Monitor Audio R300 bookshelf speakers.
Ideally closed box drivers with a Qts near 0.4-0.5, and not too loud I'd guess. 87dB should do it when wired 2.5 way and getting nearer 93dB. Measure the cutouts to get some that fit.
A link to your local supplier might help here.
SEAS Back Catalogue Drive Units & Loudspeakers Falconacoustics UK has some older Seas Prototypes 8", a real bargain, i think they are around 60-70p
They bought entire back catalog from Seas.
I wanted to ordered them but gave up due to super high import/customs costs to my country.
Also Visaton is a great budget brand if you are struggling financially. AL 200 is around 140e, but they sound really nice, it requires bit more complicated XO tho. W 200 S is also nice, and much less expensive, i think around 50e
They bought entire back catalog from Seas.
I wanted to ordered them but gave up due to super high import/customs costs to my country.
Also Visaton is a great budget brand if you are struggling financially. AL 200 is around 140e, but they sound really nice, it requires bit more complicated XO tho. W 200 S is also nice, and much less expensive, i think around 50e
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This thread might give you some ideas if you want to use different drivers:
Advent Heritage Conversion - New drivers -
Techtalk Speaker Building, Audio, Video Discussion Forum
Geoff
Advent Heritage Conversion - New drivers -
Techtalk Speaker Building, Audio, Video Discussion Forum
Geoff
A word of caution: Using the wrong surrounds will completely change the characteristics of the drivers. I would definitely recommend buying surrounds from one of the well respected vendors and not a generic set of surrounds. A lot of these older acoustic suspension designs used drivers with very compliant suspensions in order to get good low frequency performance. Using the wrong surround can raise your fs and mess with the Qms and ruin low frequency output.
The best example that I'm aware of is the Large Advent. Those 10" drivers had an fs of around 17hz. A number of people got the "cheap" surrounds for the woofers and discovered that it raised the fs to 40hz, which completely killed the low end on them. If you're going to go through the effort to refoam a set of speakers, make sure you're getting the right materials.
I've bought from Looneytune2001 on Ebay (He's a very active and accessible contributor on audiokarma's forum), Simply Speakers (Also on audiokarma) and PE on multiple occasions. There are also other well respected sources for the correct foam also.
Agree, using the proper foam is best, when they are available, and the standard generic 8" is a fine replacement for these particular drivers. I have refoamed dozens of Advent speakers, including the Large Advent (mostly), Smaller Advents, Baby Advents, and a pair of these Heritages. True, the LA has a special surround, thin wall with flat inner lip and I have myself purchased them from looneytunes (as well as for multiple JBL drivers, never have used anyone else's, in fact). The Smaller Advent is also unique, odd size, larger roll. Since Advent is no longer around to supply foams and the standard size 8" looks awfully like the originals in fit and material, it is what I've used and with good results.
Due to the age of all of these and the standard foam disintegration failure whereas the drivers have been used without proper support, which might explain the coil failure, but I can tell you despite this fact, I have never come across a single Advent woofer of that vintage that required anything but a foam replacement. Many blown tweeters, but not woofers. And for four woofers to require re-coning (if that is what is being claimed), seems to me suspicious. Those woofers need to be taken back and re-evaluated. Those coils were very forgiving, you could drive a truck those gaps. I remember buying these some 20 years ago, still being used (seller: "They work great!"), with no trace of a foam surround on them and only needing new foam.
Due to the age of all of these and the standard foam disintegration failure whereas the drivers have been used without proper support, which might explain the coil failure, but I can tell you despite this fact, I have never come across a single Advent woofer of that vintage that required anything but a foam replacement. Many blown tweeters, but not woofers. And for four woofers to require re-coning (if that is what is being claimed), seems to me suspicious. Those woofers need to be taken back and re-evaluated. Those coils were very forgiving, you could drive a truck those gaps. I remember buying these some 20 years ago, still being used (seller: "They work great!"), with no trace of a foam surround on them and only needing new foam.