ADS L2030 Restoration

[MATT0404]

On the way home with these guys now. 450 miles one way, but these things don't come available very often. They need a little love, but should be well worth the effort.

More to come. Getting back on the road. I think my truck was made for these things. They fit like a glove.

Restoration underway. I'll keep the thread index updated with links to significant posts.

Thread index (updated 2/27/2019):

• Home and in place
• Damaged riser pics
• Pics of back and underside
• Driver removal and mids shipped to Richard So
• 14" woofer pics
• Crossover removal
• Woofers packed and shipped to Richard So
• Riser dimensions and mock up
• Rebuilt mid range photos
• Rebuilt woofers and prototype riser mock up
• Received rebuilt drivers back from Richard So
• ADS L2030 crossover and switch panel photo
• All drivers reinstalled and first listening impressions
• Guest listening impression courtesy of @rudedogg
• New riser pics
• Video demo
• Grill disassembly
• Grill #2 Disassembly
• Grill repair - epoxy tops in place
• Grill repair - fiberglass reinforcement
• Grill project completion
• Grill project completion part 2
• Video comparison with ADS 910's
• Crossovers pulled
• Crossover update
• Video demo
• Proper grill badges installed and arrival of Audire Otez
• C2000 bi-amp controller arrival
• Temporary installation of ADS C2000 and initial impressions
• New Flexy stand built
• ADS C2000 installed and all new BJC cables

Video demo after all drivers restored by Richard So:

Pic in-room:
ADS L2030 by Audio Database, on Flickr

 

[Goggle1824]

F U U U D G E .........

 

[tonyk]

Ooo la la!

 

[gdmoore28]

Darn it, Matt!

You just made me slobber all over my keyboard.

Drive safely - and pray for no rain!

GeeDeeEmm

 

[m6erfan]

Score! Very nice

 

[Johnny_Law]

Congrats! Looking forward to seeing more as you get them home.

 

[GoRNR]

Nice Matt, but it's drizzling here in NE Ohio and NW PA with lots of road spray and slop. I hope you have a hard bed cover or tonneau cover for that speaker in the bed! Is that a soft bed cover I see on the left edge of that one pic?? I hope so. And congrats on some legendary speakers. Lookin' good!

 

[Drugolf]

What! Sweet.
Merry Christmas to you for sure!

 

[mars_volta]

Wow 2 sets in a week? Nice!

 

[motorstereo]

Congrats to you on landing a pair of the very best out there and hopefully you've got them home safely by now. Looking forward to your impressions of those monsters.

 

[MATT0404]

Thank you all! I made it home safely and managed to get these beasts into the house. I have to hand it to my 5' (on a good day), 110 lbs. wife who jumped right in to lend a hand. The two of us got them down 12 steps from the garage and into the house without breaking a sweat...or our backs. @JosephH knows just how challenging that can be as he and I made that trip once with a pair of L1530's!

The speaker in the bed was tucked safely under a tonneau cover for the duration of the trip, so no worries about exposure to elements.

These speakers have a special way of making your room feel really small. Seriously, I think my room shrunk. I got them hooked up to a little Yamaha integrated (A-S1000) and one sounds great! The other one is lighting up the high frequency protection light. I knew these were going to need some attention (read $$$$) going into this, so I'm not worried about it. Looks like I'll be diving head first into the rebuild stage! With as good as the one speaker sounds alone, I can't begin to imagine how the pair will sound after a visit to Richard So.

 

[MATT0404]

What a wonderful Christmas present!!! Kudos Matt. Perhaps Richard might want to visit you...lol. I know what you mean when you said the room shrank...lol
A right pair of keepers there! Merry Christmas Broski from the North...;-) Jer

Thank you! Santa can skip my house if Richard is coming! We already bought for the kids anyway.

Merry Christmas to you, too, Jer!

 

[JosephH]

Absolutely OUTSTANDING Matt! Hearty congratulations! You had a couple obstacles to overcome, stairs in Connecticut and again in PA. What beasts! They look great in your room! What a Christmas bonus! Wishing you many years of happiness with them! Richard will hook you up!

 

[ragtopolds6]

nice find..they are big..your wife must be great like mine....curious how much you nabbed them for...if your up to giving that up if not I understand....either way great pick

 

[MATT0404]

nice find..they are big..your wife must be great like mine....curious how much you nabbed them for...if your up to giving that up if not I understand....either way great pick

PM'd you, neighbor.

 

[MATT0404]

Absolutely OUTSTANDING Matt! Hearty congratulations! You had a couple obstacles to overcome, stairs in Connecticut and again in PA. What beasts! They look great in your room! What a Christmas bonus! Wishing you many years of happiness with them! Richard will hook you up!

Thanks, Joe! The stairs in CT were worse than mine. I forgot you experienced those stairs, too. I've been in contact with Richard and will have these drivers on their way shortly!

 

[GoRNR]

Looks like you had the correct transport for those rare legends. I've done the stairs thing myself with AR-9's, AR-9LSi's, Klipschorns, and on. I have found a hand truck w/oversized tires, doubled-corrugated cardboard and/or moving blanket and that second set of hands reduces the back strain and risk significantly. Glad you moved them safely by hand. My wife, too, has lent a helping hand with some of the heavy lifting. Nice if the wife or significant other will support your habit.

 

[JosephH]

Thanks, Joe! The stairs in CT were worse than mine. I forgot you experienced those stairs, too. I've been in contact with Richard and will have these drivers on their way shortly!

Yes, I cannot imagine lugging the 2030s down the stairs in CT. Poor Bill has done it several times,in both directions! Good work and nice job securing them for the trip. I cannot wait for you full review! Merry Christmas

 

[soundmotor]

I am beginning to believe the entire last year's production of L2030s are now owned by AK members...

 

[motorstereo]

Talk about dominating a room!! I struggled quite a bit to move my 1530's up a flight of stairs and I can imagine those beasts must be a lot worse. What's the weight on them?