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DCM TF-600, how much would you pay?

B

Blinddog

New Member
I have a chance to purchase a pair of DCM TF-600 speakers in decent condition, with local pick up, for $100. And a pair of DCM TF-400 speakers for $50.

Worth the money?

Also any advice on using the 600/400 in a home theatre front/rear setup vs vintage music only a/b setup would be greatly appreciated.

TIA
 
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That sounds like a fair price for 600's. I've seen them sell for more. I haven't heard them myself but have been told they are nice sounding. Can you demo them before buying?

cubdog
 
I also am picking up a set of tf 600's for 100 dollars and kind of local pickup and i think it is a great deal. I have a set of tf 350's right now and they are my favorite speakers for the time being. If the 600's are anything like the 350's in sound they will be fantastic speakers.
 
Thanks for the info NP, at least I know at least one other person is willing to pay $100 bucks for em. Do know if the TF-350 replaced the TF-400, or the TF-600, or do I have it backwards?
 
I'm not sure how the model numbers work for these. I do know that my 350's have a single 6.5" woofer and 1 tweeter per cab and the port is front firing. The 600's have 2 - 6.5" bass drivers and 3 tweeters per cab, 2 of which are mounted over the woofers if i am not mistaken. The port on the 600's is rear firing. The 350's put out a surprising amount of bass considering there is only 1 6.5" woofer so the 600's should pound! (i would pay more if i had to, by the way.)
 
I picked up a mint set of TF 350s for 70 bucks happily. I love the way they sound. I dont know if this is to much but I was happy to pay that amount at the time.
 
Got em!

I picked up the TF-600 speakers from a little old lady and cosmetically they are very good. Even the "body stocking" grill material is in good shape and has not been abused by cats or children. Soundwise they need a little help. Low end and mid seems real good but no high end. And I mean NO HIGH END. When I a/b with another set of speakers, Pioneer CS700's, suddenly I hear sounds, high hat etc, not even present with the TF-600's. In order to get any balanced sound out of the speakers the treble must be on max. Obviously I can only assume some, if not all of the tweeters are blown or the crossovers are fried.

After not finding anything on the web or here at AK re rebuilding or disassembling Time Frame speakers I contacted the Residential Audio Director at DCM and he assures me that the problem is probably the tweeters, not the crossover. He directed me to contact someone at the tech dept for info on rebuilding the speakers, (I will list the names and emails/phone numbers once I receive their approval). I also have received some very helpful info from a seller on Ebay. It's nice to know that there are still some good people out there on Ebay and at DCM who are willing to help even with no profit motive in sight.

I will be working on the speakers this week and through the weekend, document my findings and progress, provide a blow by blow acount of my incompetent flailing attempts to restore the speakers to their past glory, and post under a new thread.

BTW, even if the tweets need replacing I would still say that the speakers were worth the $100 plus gas that they cost me if only to create that "wall of sound" with my Pioneers. The combined sound is pretty good, but of course the imaging suffers as a result.
 
Whoa, hold up a bit. Last pair of TF600s I had which exhibited tweeter problems, it was a broken light bulb (tweeter protector) in the crossover!

Check those bulbs... the leads sometimes break off. All I had to do, was to re-solder the lead. If the bulb is blown, you can either use a standard automotive dome light bulb (solder on some leads, from solid-core wire) or you can get replacement crossover protection light bulbs from most pro-audio repair shops (they're commonly used in many PA speaker crossovers).

If it is the tweeter, you'll usually find that not ALL of them are blown. The ones in the rear of the cabinet are wired in series; if one blows, you lose sound from BOTH of the rear tweeters.

If you need them, I have a few tweeters from a pair of TF600s, that I could let go, like $5 each. I think I have three good ones. If you need more than that, the Audax AW010E1 from Parts Express is a good replacement (once you trim down the thin plastic faceplate with tin snips or something similar)... it's an absolute acoustic equivalent to the TF600 tweeter...

Regards,
Gordon.
 
$100 doesn't sound like a bad price at all for a pair of TF-600s...

I ran across a pair at a pawn shop that were in real good condition that
were marked $175 for the pair... I had a hard time leaving without them.

Scott
 
First came these models:
TF350, TF500, TF700, TF1000
The TF400, TF600 came after. They are not quite as good as the earlier models, but still a great deal for that price. The earlier model didn't use the bulbs in the crossover, and I believe they had a better tweeter. I think the newer ones have the same tweeter as the CX series.
 
According to information provided by DCM, (attached), the crossover should be on the back of the speaker connection plate. I removed the plate to expose the crossover and check the bulb, (thanks Gordon), and much to my suprise, no crossover. Just two wires going up into the speaker great speaker void.

Also, according to most of the articles I have read, the speakers should have spring type speaker connectors, and the connections on these are five way binding posts. This, obviously, could explain the mysterious crossover dissapearance.

If anyone has any info, or can confirm where the crossovers are actually supposed to be located, any and all advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
The crossover on the TF700 is behind the speaker connector, I'm not sure about the TF600. It sounds like it may be buried in the cabinet, or they cheapened it up and use only a cap mounted by the tweeter. I also don't remember them having rear firing tweeters, but it's been awhile since I worked on them. I can tell you how to take it apart, though:
You need a hammer and a block of wood, like a piece of 2 x 4.
remove the top oak panel by placing the wood underneath it and hitting it upwards with the hammer. It is attached with 2 pegs press fit into the cabinet. Work on both sides of the cabinet, so as to keep the panel even as it comes off. Do the last bit by hand so it doesn't go flying off.
The body stocking is glued to the cabinet with rubber cement. peel it loose from the top and roll it down over the speaker until you can see the tweeter(s). Now you can remove the tweeter(s) and check them with an ohm meter. It is probably the tweeter, not the crossover.
 
I picked up a pair of TF600's today at a thrift for $15.00. :music: Sound great. I have several of the lower numbers (400, 350, & currently TF275). They are differently worth more if you can find them in good condition. I have always liked DCM speakers.
 

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gary7 said:
I picked up a pair of TF600's today at a thrift for $15.00. :music: Sound great. I have several of the lower numbers (400, 350, & currently TF275). They are differently worth more if you can find them in good condition. I have always liked DCM speakers.
Click to expand...

Now that's a score and a half!!! The least I've paid for a pair of 600's is $40.00 but that was just lucky. I've also paid more for them though. For a while now they've been my main speakers and I love them. They are WAY under the radar. If for some reason mine needed to be replaced, I don't think I would have a problem paying up to $200.00 for a nice pair. I absolutely love the sound of them.:yes:
 
elgato8905 said:
Now that's a score and a half!!! The least I've paid for a pair of 600's is $40.00 but that was just lucky. I've also paid more for them though. For a while now they've been my main speakers and I love them. They are WAY under the radar. If for some reason mine needed to be replaced, I don't think I would have a problem paying up to $200.00 for a nice pair. I absolutely love the sound of them.:yes:
Click to expand...

+1 on that. I paid $150 for mine and given what comes forth from them I think I got a hell of deal even at 10x what you gave, gary7. These go in the keeper pile and have taken up permanent residence in my bedroom system.

Did earlier models have spring clip terminals? Mine are binding posts, but seems I saw a pic of a pair of 600s with spring clips.

I have a set of CX-27's and 19's also and those are great speakers as well. The 27's have given many a speaker twice their size quite a run for their money. I have mucho respect for pre-buyout DCM.
 
tomlinmgt said:
+1 on that. I paid $150 for mine and given what comes forth from them I think I got a hell of deal even at 10x what you gave. These go in the keeper pile and have taken up permanent residence in my bedroom system.

Did earlier models have spring clip terminals? Mine are binding posts, but seems I saw a pic of a pair of 600s with spring clips.
Click to expand...


I've never seen a pair of 600's with spring clips. I know the 700's and all of the early TF versions have spring clips though and they're cheap and horrible. :thumbsdn:
 
I guess the ones I saw weren't 600's. Was the 600 released later in the TF production timeline and did it always get the "preferred" tweeters?
 
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tomlinmgt said:
+1 on that. I paid $150 for mine and given what comes forth from them I think I got a hell of deal even at 10x what you gave, gary7. These go in the keeper pile and have taken up permanent residence in my bedroom system.

Did earlier models have spring clip terminals? Mine are binding posts, but seems I saw a pic of a pair of 600s with spring clips.

I have a set of CX-27's and 19's also and those are great speakers as well. The 27's have given many a speaker twice their size quite a run for their money. I have mucho respect for pre-buyout DCM.
Click to expand...

These 600's have binding posts. I think my 275's are spring clips. I have a pair of CX-17's in my basement system. Love them, too.
 
Blinddog said:
I have a chance to purchase a pair of DCM TF-600 speakers in decent condition, with local pick up, for $100. And a pair of DCM TF-400 speakers for $50.

Worth the money?

Also any advice on using the 600/400 in a home theatre front/rear setup vs vintage music only a/b setup would be greatly appreciated.

TIA
Click to expand...

If you like DCM speakers I'd hang in there until I found a pair of Time Windows. Will probably cost you a little more, but I've found them to be a definite step up from Time Frames sound wise.
 
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