eric_zeiner
Phoenix's Dad
Reged: 12/09/06
Posts: 8040
Loc: Georgia USA 34 31'57.18N 83 53...
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I have a pair of Klipsch Heresy's that are about 25 years old and I was wondering if it is possible for them to wear out. They have been in constant use in some form or fashion for as long as I have owned them. I think I paid $500.00 for them in 1982-1983 when I was stationed in Germany with the Army.
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Eric R. Zeiner
Refractors:
Carton 60/1000
Swift 863 Aerolite 60/810
ATM 60/360
Sears Mod 6335 76/1200
Bailey Alt/Az Pipe Mount on DIY Pier
Some really nice vintage EP's
"Where there is life there is hope"
Copper Mines Observatory
Carton Scope Club
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Remy Bosio
Uber Curmudgeon
Reged: 03/02/04
Posts: 13038
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Eric, speakers or at least the cones and coils thereof, are really motors. All motors wear out but I agree that speaker motors if correctly made out of good materials and placed in the right environments can in most cases outlive the owner. I have a pair of old Marantz SP 1000's that sound better than the average store speaker sold today.
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Life Member: Pontchartrain Ast. Soc.
Member: Baton Rouge Ast. Soc.
President: Beachview Heights Civ.Assn.
Member:Kenner Rivertown Advisory Comm.
Member At Large: Jefferson Amateur Radio Club
Call Sign:N5VEG
Registered Curmudgeon
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eric_zeiner
Phoenix's Dad
Reged: 12/09/06
Posts: 8040
Loc: Georgia USA 34 31'57.18N 83 53...
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I have also heard that the components of the cross over circuitry can lose their engineered values after a while thus effecting sound quality. If this has happened I sure haven't noticed.
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Eric R. Zeiner
Refractors:
Carton 60/1000
Swift 863 Aerolite 60/810
ATM 60/360
Sears Mod 6335 76/1200
Bailey Alt/Az Pipe Mount on DIY Pier
Some really nice vintage EP's
"Where there is life there is hope"
Copper Mines Observatory
Carton Scope Club
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Bill Irwin
journeyman
Reged: 03/25/07
Posts: 9
Loc: Lillooet BC
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A lot of engineering goes into the adhesives used to bond the often exotic cone and surround formulations used in cone speakers.In older speakers failure of the glue joints that bond the surround to the frame and the rear spider to the frame or voice coil assembly, is common.
Speakers that were used hard, greater than 1/4 " p-p excursion on woofers , could have flexural failure of the voice coil leads.
More modern driver units have addressed some of these problems, especially considering the much higher power of amplifiers nowadays. Bill
Surrounds that were made from foam tend to rot out and the speaker needs to be refoamed or the surround replaced with a more stable butyl rubber version. Unfortunately that may change the parameters of the speaker somewhat.
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12.5" f5 split ring, Ed-80
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NeoDinian
Experienced Postmaster
Reged: 10/05/05
Posts: 14043
Loc: Rockford Illinois
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As long as you are not over pushing speakers, the only thing you have to worry about with an older set is the cones themselves (Made of paper mostly) and the foam that connects the cone to the casing (Dryrot). For the most part, the foam will be the first to go.
Depending on the value of the speakers, you could have the re-coned if needed. At that time you can even replace the paper cone with one of the newer styles that are a Poly, or composite...
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Neo... (Jeff)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
10" LX200-GPS/SMT UHTC "Draco"
 Rockford, Il.
NeoDinian's Eye on the Sky!
Coming soon:
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eric_zeiner
Phoenix's Dad
Reged: 12/09/06
Posts: 8040
Loc: Georgia USA 34 31'57.18N 83 53...
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These speakers have a high and mid horn and then a 12" woofer and they are still as solid as ever. The cabinets were so sturdily made and with fine craftsmanship that I may just consider having them overhauled. However I still have about a thousand dollars of astronomy stuff yet to buy.
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Eric R. Zeiner
Refractors:
Carton 60/1000
Swift 863 Aerolite 60/810
ATM 60/360
Sears Mod 6335 76/1200
Bailey Alt/Az Pipe Mount on DIY Pier
Some really nice vintage EP's
"Where there is life there is hope"
Copper Mines Observatory
Carton Scope Club
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Albie
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/22/05
Posts: 4638
Loc: Alberta,Canada
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I had a pair of Altec Lansing 2-ways die on me a few months ago.The foam surround on the 8" carbon fibre woofers started to disintegrate.I bought those speakers in 1986 so they managed to give me 21 years of great performance.I am debating on whether or not to throw a pair of "jobber" 8 inch woofers in them.The real walnut veneer cabinets are gorgeous.
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Orion Starblast6
Meade 5k SWA 24mm,20mm and 16mm,Antares Speers Waler Series2 9.4mm, 7.2mm and 4.9mm.Meade 5k 2x TeleXtender.
Astro Physics 15x70,Garrett Signature 10x50,Celestron Regal LX 8x42,Bushnell Elite Custom 7x26,Pentax Papilio 6.5x21
Garrett 2000 Grip-Action Monopod,Velbon Sherpa crank elevator tripod(for pap's)
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Powerstar888
sage
Reged: 03/01/05
Posts: 342
Loc: Tucson,Az
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Here are a couple of links...
Klipsch Speakers
Klipsch Parts
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Robert
12.5 f4.8 truss dob
with Argo Navis
C11 SGT/XLT
C8
Orion 20x80
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Chris G
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/12/04
Posts: 4555
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Quote:
I had a pair of Altec Lansing 2-ways die on me a few months ago.The foam surround on the 8" carbon fibre woofers started to disintegrate.I bought those speakers in 1986 so they managed to give me 21 years of great performance.I am debating on whether or not to throw a pair of "jobber" 8 inch woofers in them.The real walnut veneer cabinets are gorgeous.
Albie, the foam can be replaced, trying to replace the entire woofer with one that would have the same performance specs would be difficult. Try a couple of these links.
http://www.simplyspeakers.com/speaker-repair-altec.htm
http://www.cpcaudio.com/altec_lansing/altec_resources.htm
http://greatplainsaudio.com/
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"Bacon". It's a perfectly acceptable answer.
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RandallK
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/10/06
Posts: 1518
Loc: Nanaimo, B. C. Canada
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I've see the Altec Lansings of the mid 70's fatigue at the foam, but my Heathkit/JB Lansing 12" woofers of the same era are still totally held in tact. JBL's suspension looks more like fabric than foam.
Edited by RandallK (05/29/07 02:16 PM)
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Remy Bosio
Uber Curmudgeon
Reged: 03/02/04
Posts: 13038
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I have noticed that my Wharfedale W-60's have what looks like heavy butyl rubber surrounds. they are as new since built in 1972. The rubber looks like the same type that was used to seal naval guns where they were attached to their turrets only much thinner. I did have a woofer cone separate at the dust cover but a little super glue fixed that for good. Like I said earlier, longevity depends on the material quality and attention to manufacturing detail.
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Life Member: Pontchartrain Ast. Soc.
Member: Baton Rouge Ast. Soc.
President: Beachview Heights Civ.Assn.
Member:Kenner Rivertown Advisory Comm.
Member At Large: Jefferson Amateur Radio Club
Call Sign:N5VEG
Registered Curmudgeon
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Penarin
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/22/04
Posts: 1166
Loc: Orion, IL
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eric- how are they sounding these days?
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Meade 6" f/8 refractor
Orion Atlas (EQ6) mount
Oberwerk 25 x 100IF
Pentax 10x50 PCF WP II
Orion Outsider 8 x 40 WA
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eric_zeiner
Phoenix's Dad
Reged: 12/09/06
Posts: 8040
Loc: Georgia USA 34 31'57.18N 83 53...
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They sound good but the system that I am using to drive them right now is Most Emphatically NOT Haggis, so its really hard to determine their health.
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Eric R. Zeiner
Refractors:
Carton 60/1000
Swift 863 Aerolite 60/810
ATM 60/360
Sears Mod 6335 76/1200
Bailey Alt/Az Pipe Mount on DIY Pier
Some really nice vintage EP's
"Where there is life there is hope"
Copper Mines Observatory
Carton Scope Club
|
guyinthesky
professor emeritus
Reged: 04/13/07
Posts: 520
Loc: western ma.
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i would say if you dont hear any funny mechanical sounds, rubbing/clicking ect, and the foam edging is still good, your all set. i have a 1955 altec 604c, it still rocks and plays flawlessly even with my higher wattage habits. yes the capacitors could change value slightly, but i have not yet come across a failed crossover cap. ususally the old caps have a bad name because the ones used in the powersupply/biasing are the first to break because of the voltage going thru them and heat. most crossover caps are 5-10% tolerance, so it would be difficult to measure them because a 5mfd cap may read 4.93 and still be in spec of the 5-10%. if nothing sounds unusual, your all set. john
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Zhumell 12" dob
celestron c100ed-r
just enuf naglers
astro-tech 66ed
celestron C9 1/4
oberwerk 100-45
ALVAN CLARK and SONS 3 inch refractor
canon 350d , kt&c vid cam
losmandy gm-8 gemini cement pier
celestron omni xlt 6" reflector
TEC 140 apo
much eqpt, little knowledge !
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