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Replacement woofers for ESS Heil Amt1?

fdejong

fdejong

AK Subscriber
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I just stumbled on some of these speakers (see Dollars & Sense) but without woofers.

Everything else looks to be in good shape (tweeters, xovers, cabs). So, have been reading and the original woofers don't get that much praise.

Anyone know some good, but somewhat cost effective, replacement woofers for these? Would be great to save these from the dumpster (literally) and get them running again :)
 
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I would recommend you check with ESS, as they are back in business now, and have a few replacement drivers available.
I wouldn't try to substitue one, because chances of getting a Woffer with the same specs is probably pretty slim, and would really compromise the sound.
If ESS doesn't have them, look on Ebay, lots of ESS stuff comes up.
 
I have a pair of the original woofers (and the PRs that went with them) from the ESS 1B Bookshelf models, which used the "Great" Heil AMTs. I think they are the same as used in some of the other models that used the "Great" AMT, too. Not sure if I want to get rid of them (had a project in mind for them, but I'm also trying to reduce the audio stuff around here). Also not sure whether shipping costs wouldn't be deal-breaker for these, in any case. The PRs need re-foaming. I think the woofers are okay, but not sure (haven't looked at them for several months); they might need refoaming, too. They are fairly heavy. Where are you located?
 
fdejong said:
I just stumbled on some of these speakers (see Dollars & Sense) but without woofers.

Everything else looks to be in good shape (tweeters, xovers, cabs). So, have been reading and the original woofers don't get that much praise.

Anyone know some good, but somewhat cost effective, replacement woofers for these? Would be great to save these from the dumpster (literally) and get them running again :)
Click to expand...

As I mentioned in your other thread-I think the tweeter/woofer disconnect issue has been way over blown-as lot's of people love these speakers and don't have a issue with them.
No speakers are perfect, pluses and minues-just take a look at the HPM 100 threads.
Trying to reegineer them with a different would be a excersise in frustration IMHO.
I would find some orginal woofers for these-you got for free-so splurge a little-a pair with the correct woofers would easily sell for the $200 set of woofers you found.
 
automojo said:
I would recommend you check with ESS, as they are back in business now, and have a few replacement drivers available.
I wouldn't try to substitue one, because chances of getting a Woffer with the same specs is probably pretty slim, and would really compromise the sound.
If ESS doesn't have them, look on Ebay, lots of ESS stuff comes up.
Click to expand...

Unless one looked at the original specs and found something comparable...
 
AMT 1 what? The letter after the "1" matters. Early ones use a 10" driver, later, 12".

What is the dimension across the flats of the opening and also the curved sections?
 
I would not be too concerned with finding an original brand woofer as I would one that has the same impedence, efficiency and frequency coverage as the original specs. I found a pair that had both passives in the bottom of the cabinet due to foam rot. The woofers were different in each speaker. Original owner said he purchased them at the same time and hadn't touched the woofers. One was a CTS and the other was I believe a Utah, one with a square magnet, the other round. Got good $$$ for the Heil's, tossed the beat up cabs.
 
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Zilch said:
AMT 1 what? The letter after the "1" matters. Early ones use a 10" driver, later, 12".

What is the dimension across the flats of the opening and also the curved sections?
Click to expand...

Actually ESS had a model AMT1 that didn't end with a letter. This model used a single 10" mounted on the front of the cabinet.


I ran some woofers through the Boxplot software a while back for someone that had asked the same question as to what replacement woofer would work best in the cabinet in this is what I came up with.

I found one that I think will work very well without any major modifications to the cabinet except for a little tuning of the port.

It is a Goldwood GW-10pc-40-8. You can look at its specs here on the Parts Express page.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=290-324

This is what the frequency response looks like tuned to the cabinet.

amt1 boxplot graph.jpg

NOTE:You can use the original 2 1/2" port but it will need to be cut down to 3 7/8" from the stock 5" to get the right tuning.

The price is pretty good for a standard 10". I think it will be tough to find anything any cheaper that will work any better than this one. Let me know if you use this woofer and how it works for you.

Now I'm no expert on this software so anyone let me know if I am way off here.
 
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DENNYDOG said:
Actually ESS had a model AMT1 that didn't end with a letter. This model used a single 10" mounted on the front of the cabinet.


I ran some woofers through the Boxplot software a while back for someone that had asked the same question as to what replacement woofer would work best in the cabinet in this is what I came up with.

I found one that I think will work very well without any major modifications to the cabinet except for a little tuning of the port.

It is a Goldwood GW-10pc-40-8. You can look at its specs here on the Parts Express page.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=290-324

This is what the frequency response looks like tuned to the cabinet.

View attachment 165948

NOTE:You can use the original 2 1/2" port but it will need to be cut down to 3 7/8" from the stock 5" to get the right tuning.

The price is pretty good for a standard 10". I think it will be tough to find anything any cheaper that will work any better than this one. Let me know if you use this woofer and how it works for you.

Now I'm no expert on this software so anyone let me know if I am way off here.
Click to expand...

I see Goldwood also makes a 4 ohm version.
In my AMT 3's the 10inch woofers are all 5.4 ohms, so basically 4 ohm units.
I'm not sure how you would be able to tell wether the originals where 4 or 8 ohm.
My Heils are also 5.4 ohms, and the mids 6.5 ohms.
The price is right, and tuning looks like it would be easy.
 
Recalling the drivers ESS used to use I believe a Cerwin Vega woofer would be an excellent match, and is certainly easier to find.
The AMT1 was a rock speaker all the way. The disconnect arose from those who tried to make it high end. The 1A took it a step further.
 
Nakdoc said:
Recalling the drivers ESS used to use I believe a Cerwin Vega woofer would be an excellent match, and is certainly easier to find.
The AMT1 was a rock speaker all the way. The disconnect arose from those who tried to make it high end. The 1A took it a step further.
Click to expand...

Interesting perspective. My AMT 3's and former PS 1220's used a midrange, supposedly to combat this issue. While I haven't played my AMT 3's yet, the PS 1220's were a great speaker, rock, jazz, classical-no real difficiencies, except for the foam rotting issue.
Lot's of people gutted ESS speakers, seems a shame, but luckily they seem to have made quite a few.
 
10" or 12"?

Round or squircle?

Passives or ports?

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Zilch said:
10" or 12"?

Round or squircle?

Passives or ports?

attachment.php
Click to expand...

Yes, those are the exact ones I rescued :)

The nameplate on the front says Ess Heil AMT1 & the round port on the bottom measures 2.75"

AK'er Elgato8905 had some ESS woofers that he says will work so he is very kindly sending them to me & hopefully they will work.

If not, I will try to find some on eBay, or those Parts-Express units look v. good too.

Thanks everyone - I just can't wait to get these up & running!

Here are some more pics:

ess1.jpg


ess2.jpg


ess3.jpg
 
DENNYDOG said:
Actually ESS had a model AMT1 that didn't end with a letter. This model used a single 10" mounted on the front of the cabinet.


I ran some woofers through the Boxplot software a while back for someone that had asked the same question as to what replacement woofer would work best in the cabinet in this is what I came up with.

I found one that I think will work very well without any major modifications to the cabinet except for a little tuning of the port.

It is a Goldwood GW-10pc-40-8. You can look at its specs here on the Parts Express page.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=290-324

This is what the frequency response looks like tuned to the cabinet.

View attachment 165948

NOTE:You can use the original 2 1/2" port but it will need to be cut down to 3 7/8" from the stock 5" to get the right tuning.

The price is pretty good for a standard 10". I think it will be tough to find anything any cheaper that will work any better than this one. Let me know if you use this woofer and how it works for you.

Now I'm no expert on this software so anyone let me know if I am way off here.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the post DennyDog - was the testing you did on the AMT1 model, or AMT1a - b -c?

I'm going to try Elgato's woofs first, but if they don't sound good I think I'll go with the PE units.
 
fdejong said:
Thanks for the post DennyDog - was the testing you did on the AMT1 model, or AMT1a - b -c?

I'm going to try Elgato's woofs first, but if they don't sound good I think I'll go with the PE units.
Click to expand...

If you do, make sure you measure the ohms, as I said my were 5.4ohms, I this most ESS used for ohm units, as least early on.
Try 'em befor use mess with the crossover, the AMT 3 x-over is a bit of a pain, I probably should have left it as is-that tinkering bug, as it is I'm merly replacing the sock caps with new electrolytic units, as the poly caps are HUGE for these values, and I would like to keep the original x-over intact with realitively short signals caps.
The only other thing I will do is run some new 16 ga PE Beldin wire I got cheap-$2 for 50ft.
It's unbelivable the amount of dacron stuffing these use-I swear there has to be 10lbs in each of my speakers, you literally have little room for the drivers and connecting wire.
You think given the stout cabinet design resonance would be of little problem.
I also Hurricane (t-nut)nutted the woffers, the holes were more or less stripped, and also using P.E gasket tape-way better than putty as it compresses easily, and makes removal a snap.
 
The ESS part number for the woofers I'm giving him is 680-0004. They came out of a very early pair of AMT-1a's. They were the ones without a passive radiator in the back with a 10" woofer. I personally was less than impressed with these LF drivers but hopefully his experience will be different.
 
elgato8905 said:
The ESS part number for the woofers I'm giving him is 680-0004. They came out of a very early pair of AMT-1a's. They were the ones without a passive radiator in the back with a 10" woofer. I personally was less than impressed with these LF drivers but hopefully his experience will be different.
Click to expand...

My AMT 3's have part # 680-0010 and are all 5.4 ohms.
 
elgato8905 said:
The ESS part number for the woofers I'm giving him is 680-0004. They came out of a very early pair of AMT-1a's. They were the ones without a passive radiator in the back with a 10" woofer. I personally was less than impressed with these LF drivers but hopefully his experience will be different.
Click to expand...

That description matches my amt1s perfectly, so I'm crossing my fingers. I checked the ESS website bu there's not much there (other than typos!) but I may give them a call tomorrow just to see if they have any info.
 
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