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It begins, restoration of the massive Imperial 9's

kfa888

kfa888

Addicted Member
Well I finally got time to pop open the MASSIVE Imperial 9's last night and see what I have. From the outside they scream American Kabuki and I figured semi cheap construction and such. I was pleasantly surprised when i pulled off the tweeter / mid driver plate. WOW, these things are built VERY nice and in VERY good condition. First off these speakers are massive. I have many big speakers, these are very big. They do have nice felt covered stands so positioning them after i get them running will be easy, nice.

So, the massive speakers at hand...

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Here they are shown next to a Pioneer S-1010 which is also massive but looks small in comparison and is...

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Now the good stuff. So i pop it open to find many things to my liking build wise. Massive 1" think baffle board, T nuts on every screw, very solid construction, super cross and front to back bracing everywhere, big robust looking XO's and nice looking drivers all attached with the most massive internal wiring I have ever seen...

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What can you guys tell me about the XO?

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I must say I am much more inspired to do the 12 driver refoam than i was earlier. I'll bust into the mid cavity and add pix of those drivers shortly. Fun stuff.
 
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Thanks for the inside scoop on these massive speakers. Very cool to see the quality construction inside and to read your plans. I remember talking to Rick when he was picking these things up. After looking at the dimensions, etc, online I assumed he was using his truck to pickup... but no.. he wrestled these things in and out of his sedan! http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=146586
 
Update. Well I order up the surrounds with hopes of getting them done for a local audio fest tomorrow. Didn't think it would happen but I just spent the last 2 hours refoaming and reglueing the mid sub cab back together and they will be done for tomorrow. Hell, I'm going to make it one heck of a night and do my Advents as well.

So, the mids were easy, I did them in place and glued the cone and frame at the same time seemed to work perfect. I was worried about rub on a few of them but they seem to be fine now that the surrounds are on. The spiders really held the cones in place well. The 10"ers we pretty easy also. 12 drivers in 2 hours :D I also had to glue both mid sub enclosures back on as they had split the glue and fell off.

- I'm really interested in how these will sound. I can't imagine they will be great but I am willing to be surprised.

I'll bring them to the fest tomorrow for some fun.

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Yeah, these are gigantic!

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The mid cab that came off...

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Those mids look so much better ready to play than they do waiting for new surrounds. I did the pair in my Imperial 7s a few months ago and like the results.

One thing I did was use the Dremel with a wire brush and remove all the old glue from the cone. A bit tricky but not hard at all.

I see you use the fast set glue. I could not do both sides of the surround with the regular stuff.

Let us know how they sound.
 
"Hey guys, how many Imperial 7s do you think we could fit in one cabinet?"

"Don't let Saul hear you talking like that..."

;)

Pretty impressive!
 
A most impressive speaker- I liked Marantz's "blow them all out of the water" style back then. Even more glad to see you restoring them, wished I was there to help....
DC
 
12 drivers in 2 hours, that has to be some sort of record!

Congrats. Can't wait for your listening report.
 
Kelly,

It has been almost 35 years since I heard a pair of those.. I recall them being a very nice speaker! Their reputation certainly is great if not a little unknown..

Once again, I am envious.. enjoy!
 
Wow, those cabinets really are massive - that photo with the monster sat on two chairs surprised me. How do they sound? I would imagine all those mids make the vocals really come forward.
 
Well i just fired them up and... They sound great! Nice and balanced. Not the smoothest top end I have ever heard but good, nice mids and nice balanced and seemingly deep bass. I'm taking these to a local music fest so I'll get some opinions. Sound a lot better than the large advents i just refoemed as well.

Just went up to shoot this shot and man these sound nice. I was kind of expecting them to sound funky but they sound really good.

- BTW i know my placement leaves a lot to be desired and I could at least flip one so they are mirrored. Also from the label it looks like they were designed to be run woofers down. I'll try that as well.

:scratch2:

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Well I just got back from the fest and heck if these things did very well. Very balanced, image and sound stage is very good, sounded good with lots of different music. They seemed very well received by many and I have several people come up and tell me they really liked them and wanted them if I ever let them go. You kind of have to forget the ridiculous design and smattering of drivers and just enjoy the sound.

So I purchased a Sansui 1000A tube amp at the gig, got home and hooked the Imperial 9's up to that and holy cow!!! I have to say these are at or very near the top of any cone speaker that has been in my house. The mids are effortless and love vocals. Not forward at all just super smooth and beautiful. The bottom end is very solid and the top end although not the best I have ever heard is very good.

I'm very happy I took a chance on these.
 
kfa888 said:
I have to say these are at or very near the top of any cone speaker that has been in my house.
Click to expand...

That is almost exactly how I remember them and how reviews often view them as well. It's difficult to think that conglomeration of drivers would have that effect, but Saul just made them work. Perhaps you want to tweak the highs with ribbons or?

Good is just good.

Congrats.
 
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