ESS Transar rebuild thread

[13stoploss]

I haven't even finished my ESS AMT-1a pyramid rebuild, but I just bought those ESS Transar that were listed on eBay two weeks ago. After hearing Ricky's pair at T.H.E. Show in 2013, they became my vintage holy grail. When I found this listing, I couldn't pass them up.

ESS Transar cabinets/baffle

• 13stoploss
• Jul 4, 2016

ESS Transar midrange AMT

• 13stoploss
• Jul 4, 2016

Last weekend (July 4th), wife and I loaded up the trusty Outback and drove 400 miles to Ohio. Initially, wife wasn't very happy. We didn't have the money. I had too many speakers. THEY'RE IN OHIO. But when we got there, and when she saw the thin, open-baffle "cabinets," she changed her tune. Yeah, they're fckln huge, but they're kinda good looking, too.

OK, so I had to list some camera lenses for sale to make up for the credit card purchase. But after paying off the purchase (soon), what else does this "project" need, and how much will it cost?

GOOD:

• Cabinets are pretty danged good; veneer isn't showpiece, but very solid
• Stands seem pretty good, but one leans back more than the other (I'm a perfectionist)
• Came with all four wood-framed grilles (three with cloth)
• Came with RCA cable wire that leads from mid-frequency AMT to high-frequency AMT
• One mid-frequency AMT is perfect vertical movement, one is very good, needs slight adjustment

NEEDS WORK:

• Did not come with Heil AMT (I have brand new AMTs for my ESS AMT-1a pyramid rebuild)
• Did not come with Heil AMT brackets
• The mid-frequency AMT (center, vertical array) is missing some mounting screws
• The mid-frequency AMT (center, vertical array) is missing two silver, vertical metal mounting strips
  
• Did not come with two 5-pin XLR connectors
• Did not come with Transar/atd crossover
• Did not come with Transar/atd amplifier(s)
• Did not come with separate Transar "subwoofer"

WHAT DO THESE NEED RIGHT NOW TO PLAY MUSIC?

• Some kind of bi-amp'able crossover
• Brackets for the AMT Heil
• Connectors from mid-frequency AMT to crossover
• *I* need a second amplifier

PLAN 1

• Hope that Ricky can find AMT brackets in NOS
• Hope that Ricky can find 5-pin connectors in NOS
• Hope that I can find a Transar/atd crossover (1, 2)
• Hope that I can find a Transar/atd "coffee table" subwoofer

PLAN 2

• Hope that Ricky can find AMT brackets in NOS
• Change Transar 5-pin male XLR to 3-pin male XLR
• Buy two female XLR-to-RCA cables
• Use my ESS Eclipse 2241-AM Active Electronic Crossover (1, 2) because Transar uses same 800hz fixed crossover for Heil AMT
• Buy second amplifier, to power the Heil AMT (preferably something tubey)
• Buy any subwoofer that can crossover as high as 150hz (the center, vertical MID-freq AMT plays 150hz-800hz)

PLAN 3

• Hope that Ricky can find AMT brackets in NOS
  
• Change Transar 5-pin male XLR to 3-pin male XLR
  
• Buy four XLR cables
• Buy active crossover like this (all balanced, XLR inputs and outputs
• Buy second amplifier, to power the Heil AMT (preferably something tubey)
  
• Buy any subwoofer that can crossover as high as 150hz (the center, vertical MID-freq AMT plays 150hz-800hz)

I'm leaning Plan 2 to get these running, with ultimately a Plan 3 in the works.

Gear:

• Emotiva XSP-1 gen2 pre-amp
• Emotiva XPA-2 gen2 amp (300x2 @8, 500x2 @4)
• Technics SL-1200 mkII TT w/original Stanton cartridge

This more than likely will not be a quick rebuild. My kids go to private school. My wife doesn't work.

So it goes.

ESS Transar baffle

• 13stoploss
• Jul 4, 2016

ESS Transar magnet/voice coil assembly

• 13stoploss
• Jul 4, 2016

ESS Transar rear baffle

• 13stoploss
• Jul 4, 2016

ESS Transar AMT driver - YouTube

• 13stoploss
• Jul 4, 2016

This is the center vertical array, the mid-range Air-Motion Transformer (AMT) from the ESS...

ESS AMT driver voice coil - YouTube

• 13stoploss
• Jul 4, 2016

This is the center vertical array, the mid-range Air-Motion Transformer (AMT) from the ESS...

 

[13stoploss]

PLAN 4

• Hope that Ricky can find AMT brackets in NOS
  
• Change Transar 5-pin male XLR to 3-pin male XLR
• SOMEONE BUILD ME A CUSTOM, PASSIVE, EXTERNAL CROSSOVER WITH XLR CONNECTIONS
• Subwoofer that goes as high as 150hz

 

[Leben]

Very cool and unique speakers! I'll be watching this thread.

 

[revox-b77]

Can't you buy 5 pin XLR cable? I have a ton here, sold as DMX 5 pin cable. For stage lighting.

 

[13stoploss]

believe the pair I had looked at came with platforms that were the bottom end drivers like modern "sub woofers" sort of thing...

Yes, that's a goal, but not the first one. In time.

Can't you buy 5 pin XLR cable? I have a ton here, sold as DMX 5 pin cable. For stage lighting.

I'd still need to be RCA at the other end since I don't have the proprietary crossover and amp. And if I'm going to do that, I'd rather go with the more common 3-pin.

 

[13stoploss]

Ok, I thought I remembered that. If you wrote ESS would they send you all the schematics in pdf? Perhaps if they could you could then re-build everything, or get a technician to manufacture any necessary portions you might need.
Heck a tech could probably make you he necessary chords you need. My fingers are crossed for you. They are supposed to be fabulous speakers though, as I hear, very delicate...

I am friendly with ESS' CEO. We've talked many times since I bought these. I've just purchased the 3-pin XLR connectors and XLR-to-RCA cables. This time next weekend I *may* be able to produce sound. We'll see.

This seems like a serious heap of work to resurrect an old speaker.

Changing out a connector (about $5 including s/h) and buying $20 worth of cables isn't much work. I already have an ESS active electronic crossover which is fixed at the right frequency. Hence the need for XLR-to-RCA. Which means I'll be bi-amping. So, my Emotiva XPA-2 for the mids and a DIY 50w amp for the highs (for now). As Porkloin and I have been discussing, he reminded me that my Emotiva XSP-1 has dual subwoofer controls from 50-150hz (basically a built-in crossover), so I can tri-ampe: I'd need a powered sub to produce LF up to 149hz; the center stack mids produce 150-799hz; the fabled Heil AMT is crossed at 800hz, so 800-20,000.

Famous last words: I believe this speaker is worth resurrection.

 

[x3workshop]

Always thought the Transar was an interesting design, but I've never heard one. I'll be watching this thread with great interest. Good luck!

 

[EchoWars]

ESS Transar 5 Anyone?

 

[Porkloin]

I read that quote somewhere before. It's quite emblematic of the attitude of management at ESS at the end of the 70's. ESS had a real leg up on a lot of folks with the AMT, but rather than really develop a good system around it, they bolted it to some fairly mediocre boxes and flushed the value of a valuable patent down the toilet.

I've been struggling to say that since being initiated into the cult of Heil, but you've made me look like a stammering fool.

 

[essNeff]

Great thread on the Transar 5!
Where's good ole El Seven when you need him!
I recall a pretty bad recession in 1979- early 80's. The terrible Economy and some more than questionable Management decisions probably hastened the demise of ESS
Engineer's never win against short-sighted Management.
It appears they released a far from finished product in the Transar 5.

 

[totem]

If its a labor of love so be it, regardless of the outcome it's an interesting project that fills a need of the OP.

 

[13stoploss]

ESS Transar 5 Anyone?

Read this many times before purchasing. Great resource. Purchased anyway.

I've been struggling to say that since being initiated into the cult of Heil, but you've made me look like a stammering fool.

Why do we like what we like? Oh well.

My two cents on this rebuild....
It seems a bit to me like trying to refurbish a 70's Lamborghini that's missing half the engine and has no gear box. If you do a real good job you'll be rewarded with a car of mediocre performance and dubious reliability that's a lot more fun to look at than drive.
As for the question of a sub, crossovers have slopes, even fancy-schmantsy active crossovers. They do not behave like magic frequency switches where as soon as the frequency breaks the crossover point its completely shifted to another driver. The vast majority of crossover slopes are 12db/octave. But let's say your active crossover is insanely aggressive and gets you 48db/octave. That still means that sub will need to perform decently to over 300Hz for it not to sound like absolute ass. If I'm wrong,someone please correct me, but that's my understanding if how slopes work.

I get the sentiment, but I don't think it's quite that bad, and I disagree with you on "mediocre." I've heard Ricky's set in LA. I think they're dreamy. I grew up in the faith of Heil AMT, and I've had many pairs of ESS AMT, PS, and HD series speakers. I'm the team's homer, and this is--however misguided or low compared to other esteemed speakers--my holy grail. Why do we like what we like?

Anyway, new details on next phase of the rebuild coming... you could say it's simpler than before.

If its a labor of love so be it, regardless of the outcome it's an interesting project that fills a need of the OP.

^ This guy is the guy who walks into the parking lot and says, "Look, guys, this is a rad Camaro, and this is an awesome Mustang. They both sound amazing. Great work. You both must be very happy."

 

[13stoploss]

Okay folks, need to simplify.

1. No passive or active crossovers
2. No second amp
3. Yes on buying active subwoofer

What? Why?

My pre-amp is an Emotiva XSP-1 gen2, which allows "Full analog bass management with independent, individually configurable, Linkwitz-Riley 12 dB/octave high-pass and low-pass filters for the mains and subs."

This will allow me to use one amplifier for the Transar (150hz - 20,000 khz). The subwoofer will plug into my XSP-1 and play all freq's below 150hz.

The mid-freq, vertical transar AMT and the Heil AMT are connected via a male RCA cable. The other end of the RCA cable are two small leads, the familiar blue and pink wires that plug into the back of the AMT (the one we all know and love). So, I cannot individually power just the high freqs and just the mid freqs with an active crossover like I wanted (my ESS Eclipse which is fixed at 800hz, or something like a DBX). Nor is there a regular, passive crossover. I can only amplify the unit together, which comprises the frequency range from 150hz-20,000khz. Add in an active subwoofer, controlled by XSP-1 pre-amp, and I have full range.

Now, what about all the 5-pin wire hoopla?

Connectors and wires came yesterday. I spent $27 including S/H.

Here's what it looks like now (these are two Transars, the front of one, and the back of another, showing one side of each):

ESS Transar magnet/voice coil assembly

• 13stoploss
• Jul 4, 2016

Here is the 3-pin XLR connector (this connector is upside down, two pins up top, third down bottom) that I will solder in place of the 5-pin:

ESS Transar 5-pin to 3-pin XLR conversion

• 13stoploss
• Jul 12, 2016

The male XLR connector is a direct fit into the ESS Transar's magnet structure that houses the...

Here is the XLR connector to the XLR-side of the new cable:

ESS Transar 5-pin to 3-pin XLR conversion

• 13stoploss
• Jul 12, 2016

female XLR to male RCA cables + 3-pin XLR connector

Here are the XLR-to-RCA cables + XLR connectors:

ESS Transar 5-pin to 3-pin XLR conversion

• 13stoploss
• Jul 12, 2016

female XLR to male RCA cables + 3-pin XLR connector

One potential change? Now that I don't need to plug into a crossover, I don't need the RCA-end of the cables. I may as well just buy a new set of XLR-to-XLR cables since my XSP-1 will accept them.

OK, what am I missing?

 

[Porkloin]

If the Transar and the Heil are paralleled together, what protects the Heil from the sub-750Hz material going to the Transar? They either have to be separated and fed the appropriate material via an active crossover OR there needs to be a minimal passive crossover, like a capacitor in series with the Heil.
Also, if you're converting a 5-pin canon plug to a 3-pin canon plug, what's to become of the extra two wires? What were those extra two wires? I understand the demotion of a balanced XLR connection to an unbalanced RCA plug - the system can survive quite well without that extra "balancing" cable, but what do all five wires in this setup go to?

 

[Goggle1824]

 

[13stoploss]

Also, if you're converting a 5-pin canon plug to a 3-pin canon plug, what's to become of the extra two wires? What were those extra two wires? ...but what do all five wires in this setup go to?

I'm on a bad assumption perhaps. My research prior to purchasing the connectors and cables was that the 5-pin XLR cable doesn't actually have five wires. Tried to pull the connector off last night, but it's pretty taut and I don't want to snap the solder joints behind the connector. Looks like I'm gonna have to disassemble the Transar mounts to gain access to the metal cover over the connector on top of the magnet structure. Took one of the three screws out of the metal cover, but can't get to the other two...

5-pin XLR on ESS Transar

• 13stoploss
• Jul 13, 2016

This is not going to be easy to get off. I unscrewed the two flathead screws, but the connector...

 

[Leben]

I agree with Porkloin that you should have some sort of crossover to protect the Heil. I like using active crossovers even though they add some expense and complexity.

I'm enjoying your project and can relate to pursuing something that others may not consider. Kudos to you.

 

[Porkloin]

I'm still a bit lost on the 5-pin connector. The only way that makes sense is that at least two of the five pins are soldered to wires that go to the positive and negative terminals of the transar, if it's wired up like a conventional speaker. Two more pins would have to be soldered to wires that go to the Heil's pink and bluie terminals, so the should be separate.

This would make perfect sense with the amp below. The amp would actively sort the highs and mids and distribute it to the pins in the xlr connector accordingly. You would simply plug the XLR female cables into the amp and run them to their respective (Left/Right) speakers



Unfortunately, the story gets more convoluted as the amp above is not the one that was separated from Stoppy's Transars at auction, which leads me to wonder if the two components were ever hooked together at all. Was the amp below purchased at another time and actually does not go with Stoploss' Transar speakers, as discovered by the seller in Ohio, who gave up on the project? Otherwise, why separate the components at all? Would a complete set not be worth more than the sum of the components sold separately?



The most important question of all: Does Ricardo have the answers to these questions and will he be willing to divulge the information?

Stay tuned.

 

[essNeff]

Could the bottom amp be for the Transar ll?

 

[13stoploss]

Could the bottom amp be for the Transar ll?

Possibly. I believe the top pic is not an amp but an external crossover.

Two more pins would have to be soldered to wires that go to the Heil's pink and bluie terminals, so the should be separate.

This would make perfect sense with the amp below. The amp would actively sort the highs and mids and distribute it to the pins in the xlr connector accordingly. You would simply plug the XLR female cables into the amp and run them to their respective (Left/Right) speakers

View attachment 761153

Unfortunately, the story gets more convoluted as the amp above is not the one that was separated from Stoppy's Transars at auction, which leads me to wonder if the two components were ever hooked together at all. Was the amp below purchased at another time and actually does not go with Stoploss' Transar speakers, as discovered by the seller in Ohio, who gave up on the project? Otherwise, why separate the components at all? Would a complete set not be worth more than the sum of the components sold separately?

View attachment 761164

The most important question of all: Does Ricardo have the answers to these questions and will he be willing to divulge the information?

Stay tuned.

This isn't the page I found two weeks ago, but it says the same thing re: 5-pin conversion to 3-pin. Of course, that concerns lighting. I'm no electrician. But then, wouldn't this also work?

I'll take some more photos tonight of the entire mid-freq Transar AMT, show how it's wired.

I spent 45 minutes bullshltting in the garage with the guy in Ohio. He responded to a Craigslist ad in New York. Old lady's husband died. He was an audiophile, had many notable and recognizable speakers in the ad, none named. Old lady asked $12,000, accepted $10,000. Dude drove a van to New York, bought it all sight unseen. Included in the lot were a JBL Paragon, some Maggies, these Transar, and dozens of tube amps, tube pre-amps, receivers, TTs, etc. Ohio dude considered dismantling the Transar, keeping the vertical mid-freq AMT, but decided against it. He probably tried to hook them up, but he didn't have and wasn't committed to buying new HF Heil AMTs. Well, I have a brand new pair of AMTs that have less than 5 hours on them, so that didn't bother me.

I guess I just need to call Ricky again, see if he found any cables, crossovers, etc. I WILL be visiting the shop later this month when I fly Home to SoCal for a few days before returning home to Maryland.

As for value, these just don't come up all that often, so I think it's nearly impossible to gauge value or even an asking price...