ADS 710 - Restoration

[Almost There]

After a few weeks vacationing with the kids, it's back to work and back to school... and back to my audio obsession.

Crossover capacitor replacement, and addition of polyswitch in line with tweeter:

 

[Almost There]

Binding post replacement. I decided to go with these from Parts Express: https://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-bpa-38g-hd-binding-post-pair-gold--091-1245. Not cheap, but I needed an extra long, threaded post and these fit nicely.

 

[Almost There]

Putting it all back together...

 

[Almost There]

Finishing touches...

 

[chef free]

But how do they sound?

 

[Almost There]

They sound amazing!

Now I understand the fanaticism of those who speak so highly of the ADS sound.

I'm no expert when it comes to describing speaker dynamics in the way that many here at AK can articulate so well. I've only been listening for an hour now, after running pink noise through them for most of the morning to break them in a little. I've always been most impressed by speakers that surprise you with where the sound is coming from. Supertramp; Child of Vision is playing at the moment. The room is full. Truly amazing for a relatively small sized speaker. And heavier on the bass than I would have imagined.

I think I'm going to like these ADS...

 

[markshan]

Cool.

 

[oglethorpe]

Nice thread. Time well spent too.

 

[Fasterdamnit]

Lovely work.

Replace the computer, polyester caps. Dayton or equivalent metalized polypropylene. The stock caps are certainly still in spec but modern manufactured ones are worth the investment. My 710's improved nicely with the Daytons.

 

[chef free]

They sound amazing!

Now I understand the fanaticism of those who speak so highly of the ADS sound.

I'm no expert when it comes to describing speaker dynamics in the way that many here at AK can articulate so well. I've only been listening for an hour now, after running pink noise through them for most of the morning to break them in a little. I've always been most impressed by speakers that surprise you with where the sound is coming from. Supertramp; Child of Vision is playing at the moment. The room is full. It's like my brain can't catch up to the music. Sometimes a note is in front of me, sometimes behind. Sometimes the sound hits you right between the eyes. Truly amazing for a relatively small sized speaker. And heavier on the bass than I would have imagined.

That's the best I can do at the moment. But I think I'm going to like these ADS...

I know what you mean! Those domes sound good anywhere in the room!

 

[teebee]

Lovely speakers!!

Do not replace the fiberglass with Polyfill.

If ADS wanted to use polyfill, they would've.

 

[Almost There]

Have you thought of going with a different type of cap? I know some of the film ones get pretty expensive, but you've gone through all the trouble to properly rebuild these things...

Replace the computer, polyester caps. Dayton or equivalent metalized polypropylene. The stock caps are certainly still in spec but modern manufactured ones are worth the investment. My 710's improved nicely with the Daytons.

Thanks to everyone for their comments and sound advice.

There are obviously plenty of opinions - and plenty of threads - regarding suitable cap replacement. For purely practical reasons I decided to go with the Elna RBD Electrolytic ($4.95, 16mmD x 25mmL) versus the Dayton Poly ($29.81, 51mmD x 77mmL)... at 6 times the cost and 4 times the size I decided against the Daytons. If you have a pic of that massive poly on that little crossover board please share!

In the end I am very pleased with the Elna and the results and I am enjoying the ADS sound.

 

[Almost There]

Someone had asked about the gasket material I am using. It is just a high density, soft foam rubber type material from the Craft store.
Cheap, clean, very easy to work with... and airtight.

 

[Almost There]

Do not replace the fiberglass with Polyfill.

If ADS wanted to use polyfill, they would've.

Agreed. Although it is nasty to work with, I think it is the better to stick with the original fiberglass.

 

[jdurbin1]

There's more mass to the fiberglass than would be the case with an equivalent volume of polyfill... and that's what makes it impact the tuning. If you replaced it, long fiber wool would be a better choice than polyfill.

John

 

[Fasterdamnit]

Thanks to everyone for their comments and sound advice.

There are obviously plenty of opinions - and plenty of threads - regarding suitable cap replacement. For purely practical reasons I decided to go with the Elna RBD Electrolytic ($4.95, 16mmD x 25mmL) versus the Dayton Poly ($29.81, 51mmD x 77mmL)... at 6 times the cost and 4 times the size I decided against the Daytons. If you have a pic of that massive poly on that little crossover board please share!

In the end I am very pleased with the Elna and the results and I am enjoying the ADS sound.

I wasn't talking about the electrolytic cap.

 

[Almost There]

I wasn't talking about the electrolytic cap.

Ahh... you mean replace these?

 

[BigElCat]

I replaced those with a poly pro in my L520. The imaging changed for the worse. I left the polyesters in place in my L710s, used the Elna electrolytic. I'm please with the results.

Just my o2

Excellent thread!

 

[jdsalinger]

I replaced those with a poly pro in my L520. The imaging changed for the worse. I left the polyesters in place in my L710s, used the Elna electrolytic. I'm please with the results.

Just my o2

Excellent thread!

Thanks for sharing your experience BigElCat. I probably would have tried to replace the film cap in my L520 as well if not for your advice. Since it is some type of film cap, it's easier to be at peace with it in there.

 

[berry1235]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread. Did folks replace all the resistors for the crossover as well? And is it only that one capacitor that folks changed? Also any reason to go with the dayton cap in this instance? Obviously would prefer to go the cheaper route.