Spitfirejoe
Cheap Audio Aficionado
I was moving my Qb's around the other day, and heard a "rattle" inside. It sounded like something came loose on the crossover. Since we are in a Winter Weather Advisory here in Eastern Nebraska, and since I had finished my other indoor project, I decided that was the signal I needed to tear into these and give them a refurbishment. I knew the capacitors should be replaced by now, but hadn't had anything to give me the nudge to get started.
A little history - these were a real financial splurge for me back in 1978. I bought them new, with the bent metal stands, after my wife and I were married. I've always loved the sound of the Qb - very "musical", very well balanced, crystalline high notes and a bottom end that didn't get muddy. I've babied them, but the only modification I ever did was to use a 1 amp fuse on the emit tweeter circuit instead of the 1.25 specified. I've blown the fuses a few times, but never damaged an emit - knock on (vinyl veneered) wood...
So - on to the disassembly;
Drivers came out fine, look good. Tweeter coil came unglued from the crossover panel, in fact everything that wasn't firmly screwed or bolted to the crossover panel was loose. Not surprising after almost 39 years. The plastic covering on the outside of the crossover panel was torn up during it's removal from the cabinet. It seems like it was just clear contact paper or something, as it peeled right off with little effort.
View attachment 676166
Another installment follows this one.
A little history - these were a real financial splurge for me back in 1978. I bought them new, with the bent metal stands, after my wife and I were married. I've always loved the sound of the Qb - very "musical", very well balanced, crystalline high notes and a bottom end that didn't get muddy. I've babied them, but the only modification I ever did was to use a 1 amp fuse on the emit tweeter circuit instead of the 1.25 specified. I've blown the fuses a few times, but never damaged an emit - knock on (vinyl veneered) wood...
So - on to the disassembly;
Drivers came out fine, look good. Tweeter coil came unglued from the crossover panel, in fact everything that wasn't firmly screwed or bolted to the crossover panel was loose. Not surprising after almost 39 years. The plastic covering on the outside of the crossover panel was torn up during it's removal from the cabinet. It seems like it was just clear contact paper or something, as it peeled right off with little effort.
View attachment 676166
Another installment follows this one.
Last edited: