ADS L2030 Restoration

[tubed]

Yes, the backs have a recession like the 1530. Here are a few pictures, including the riser on the other speaker.

Regarding the risers, I think I'll just rebuild in hardwood for now. Harbor Freight has cheap dollies for when these things need to be moved.

View attachment 1073379 View attachment 1073381 View attachment 1073382

I think I'd do without the risers and use 3/4" plywood for the base on my 1530s.
Also I'd use some simple sliders.

 

[Aptone]

I also wanted to ask you what you wrapped your drivers in to send them to Richard? the seem to be safely packaged, and I'd like to do something similar.

Here is a short thread of my shipping experience. Turns out speaker components in a wooden box look like the work of the Unabomber. Richard sent the wooden box back with extra packing inside to keep the mids and tweeters from moving at all. He also covers the sticky domes with custom plastic covers to protect them.

Congrats to Matt and Cnarv on some awesome speakers. I showed Matt's picture to my wife and she was appalled, so the 2030's have been prevetoed for me.

http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/off-they-go-to-mr-so.736606/

 

[GD70]

Here is a short thread of my shipping experience. Turns out speaker components in a wooden box look like the work of the Unabomber. Richard sent the wooden box back with extra packing inside to keep the mids and tweeters from moving at all. He also covers the sticky domes with custom plastic covers to protect them.

Congrats to Matt and Cnarv on some awesome speakers. I showed Matt's picture to my wife and she was appalled, so the 2030's have been prevetoed for me.

http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/off-they-go-to-mr-so.736606/

Should not have shown the wife pics George! Only show her them when hauled to the cave! Then apologize! So you're in the dog house a couple days, she'll get over it, and you'll have your way and bucket list speakers!
I admit, I did show my wife pics, told her if I ever got a pair of these, I would be done looking for speakers, period! I didn't say I'd sell any, though I would because of space constraints!

 

[MATT0404]

Another update. I pulled one of the crossovers out and I can only see one electrolytic cap. This seems to be par for the course with other ADS crossovers I've seen. Minimal use of electrolytics and, as @GD70 said, film caps used elsewhere. When I get some free time, I'll pull it and check it with my MM, but I might as well replace it while it's out. With consideration given to the substantial cost of other aspects of this restoration, I plan on leaving the film caps and other components of the crossovers as they are.

It blows my mind how ADS manages to keep their crossovers so compact considering the amount of drivers used. Looking at the speakers, you'd never guess that the entire crossover would fit on a board the size of the terminal plate. Unreal. Compared to the crossover network in my Legacy Classics, this is a welcome sight!

IMG_20171227_182015 by Audio Database, on Flickr
2017-12-27_06-50-25 by Audio Database, on Flickr
IMG_20171227_182046 by Audio Database, on Flickr
IMG_20171227_182236 by Audio Database, on Flickr
IMG_20171227_182142 by Audio Database, on Flickr
IMG_20171227_182212 by Audio Database, on Flickr
IMG_20171227_180044 by Audio Database, on Flickr
IMG_20171227_180055 by Audio Database, on Flickr
IMG_20171227_180111 by Audio Database, on Flickr
IMG_20171227_180743 by Audio Database, on Flickr

For comparison sake...my Legacy Classics. That's the back of one of the 10" woofers you're looking at straight ahead.
2017-12-27_07-20-11 by Audio Database, on Flickr

 

[MATT0404]

It's the tinsel leads on the midranges that are broken. I will be sending those to Richard this week, along with both tweeters. Once I am able to sell some of the other speakers I have sitting around, I'll probably send the other midranges and woofers. Just not in the budget right now.

My speakers didn't come with grills. the person whom I purchased them from got them from a pawn/salvage company. The story is that they came from a barber shop, and somewhere along their journey, the grills got lost or thrown away. I'll need to come up with something to use as replacements, since I doubt I'd be able to purchase any actual grills.

I also wanted to ask you what you wrapped your drivers in to send them to Richard? the seem to be safely packaged, and I'd like to do something similar.

Ah, gotcha, disconnected = broken tinsel leads.

You're right, replacement grills are going to be nearly impossible to find. Unfortunately, these are not easy grills to replicate, at least with my meager wood working skills. That's not to say it can't be done, but it would be beyond my means. If I can help by providing dimensions or something, just let me know! I'll take some photos and post them in a future update.

You can see how I packed the drivers on the previous page. It pained me to wrap over the domes, but this is how Richard recommended it be done since they'll all be getting new domes.

I think I'd do without the risers and use 3/4" plywood for the base on my 1530s.
Also I'd use some simple sliders.
View attachment 1075255

Hmmm...that's not a bad idea. Something to consider. Thanks!

Here is a short thread of my shipping experience. Turns out speaker components in a wooden box look like the work of the Unabomber. Richard sent the wooden box back with extra packing inside to keep the mids and tweeters from moving at all. He also covers the sticky domes with custom plastic covers to protect them.

Congrats to Matt and Cnarv on some awesome speakers. I showed Matt's picture to my wife and she was appalled, so the 2030's have been prevetoed for me.

http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/off-they-go-to-mr-so.736606/

Holy packaging!

Should not have shown the wife pics George! Only show her them when hauled to the cave! Then apologize! So you're in the dog house a couple days, she'll get over it, and you'll have your way and bucket list speakers!
I admit, I did show my wife pics, told her if I ever got a pair of these, I would be done looking for speakers, period! I didn't say I'd sell any, though I would because of space constraints!

Haha! Yes, asking for forgiveness rather than permission is often easier, though, I've spent a few nights in the doghouse for this exact reason, lol.

 

[Blue Shadow]

I think I'd do without the risers and use 3/4" plywood for the base on my 1530s.
Also I'd use some simple sliders.
View attachment 1075255

Those look absolutely puny for a 190 pound speaker. Nice idea but something one hell of a lot more substantial would be the right choice, I would think.

 

[Blue Shadow]

It was the son's fault! While dad & mom were out to dinner and the movies, the son had his posse over and just had to impress them with the big as speakers in his house. Cranked the crap out of them, and OOOPPPSSS, oh ****! Blew a couple woofers! Set everything back to the previous settings and when pop decided to listen to some Greatful Dead live, blasted them and he said, OH ****! Son played dumb, I don't know anything! That's how it happened and I'm sticking to it!

FIFY. No dude brings her over and molests her with sound. Marvin Gaye doesn't need to be played loud.

 

[Aptone]

Yes, asking for forgiveness rather than permission is often easier, though

Should not have shown the wife pics George!

My wife did catch me red handed sneaking the 910s into my woodshop when she happened to let the dog out at that moment. Part of showing her Matt's pic was to say "see what other wives tolerate!"

 

[StimpyWan]

It blows my mind how ADS manages to keep their crossovers so compact considering the amount of drivers used. Looking at the speakers, you'd never guess that the entire crossover would fit on a board the size of the terminal plate. Unreal. Compared to the crossover network in my Legacy Classics, this is a welcome sight!

For comparison sake...my Legacy Classics. That's the back of one of the 10" woofers you're looking at straight ahead.
2017-12-27_07-20-11 by Audio Database, on Flickr

Bill Dudleston personally tests every Legacy speaker, during a final QC check. That includes sign wave testing each part of the crossover, via a scope, and hand tweaking each crossover. I've seen a YouTube video of the process. If I can find it again, I'll post it.

Also, even though your 2030's use mainly film capacitors, film caps can degrade too. Specifically, even film caps have a finite lifespan, that can be considerably shortened, if the caps are exposed to high heat, constant high power or both. So, you may want to consider an eventual recap, if suitable caps can be found?

 

[MATT0404]

Bill Dudleston personally tests every Legacy speaker, during a final QC check. That includes sign wave testing each part of the crossover, via a scope, and hand tweaking each crossover. I've seen a YouTube video of the process. If I can find it again, I'll post it.

Also, even though your 2030's use mainly film capacitors, film caps can degrade too. Specifically, even film caps have a finite lifespan, that can be considerably shortened, if the caps are exposed to high heat, constant high power or both. So, you may want to consider an eventual recap, if suitable caps can be found?

Yes, understood regarding the film caps. Eventually I will re-visit the crossovers and recap, just not yet. Unless I find something wrong with them that needs addressed immediately. The switch panels will be getting priority as one of them is acting up.

I love my Legacy Classics. Do you know what's odd about them? One of the woofers was wired out of phase when I bought them (used). This effectively negated bass response with both woofers moving in opposite directions in a ported cabinet. What makes it even more interesting is that the woofer connections are soldered and the polarity mix up was actually at the crossover. I have hard time believing they left the factory like that, but there were no signs that they've been opened up or monkeyed with in the past. The polyfill was still stuck to the hot glue on the crossovers. Just an interesting story. They're great speakers. Even more so now with both speakers making bass!

 

[StimpyWan]

Yes, understood regarding the film caps. Eventually I will re-visit the crossovers and recap, just not yet. Unless I find something wrong with them that needs addressed immediately. The switch panels will be getting priority as one of them is acting up.

I understand and agree. With the switch panels being problematic, I'd put my effort and money there too.

I love my Legacy Classics. Do you know what's odd about them? One of the woofers was wired out of phase when I bought them (used). This effectively negated bass response with both woofers moving in opposite directions in a ported cabinet. What makes it even more interesting is that the woofer connections are soldered and the polarity mix up was actually at the crossover. I have hard time believing they left the factory like that, but there were no signs that they've been opened up or monkeyed with in the past. The polyfill was still stuck to the hot glue on the crossovers. Just an interesting story. They're great speakers. Even more so now with both speakers making bass!

Legacy Classics and ADS L2030 speakers. I wouldn't mind that combination, or that issue. If my AR90's ever die, Legacy speakers would be one of the first brands that I'd look at as replacement candidates. Bill Dudleston was a big fan of AR9's, so I hope that inspiration would carry through to the Legacy line?

Also, I'm really surprised that you had a wiring issue with your Classics! Not typical. But, I'm glad you found the mis-wiring issue. I guess that improved performance? I wonder if it was lack of bass that drove the previous owner to part with them?

Oh yea, here's the YouTube video. A 27 minute behind-the-scenes look at Legacy. The interviewer was a bit of a novice, but the video is still entertaining. The crossover testing section is near the end, if you want to skip ahead?

 

[Spiceman50]

Beautiful @MATT0404. I smiled at every one of your posts fella. Nice job getting those. I'll be following every post in this thread.

 

[MATT0404]

I understand and agree. With the switch panels being problematic, I'd put my effort and money there too.



Legacy Classics and ADS L2030 speakers. I wouldn't mind that combination, or that issue. If my AR90's ever die, Legacy speakers would be one of the first brands that I'd look at as replacement candidates. Bill Dudleston was a big fan of AR9's, so I hope that inspiration would carry through to the Legacy line?

Also, I'm really surprised that you had a wiring issue with your Classics! Not typical. But, I'm glad you found the mis-wiring issue. I guess that improved performance? I wonder if it was lack of bass that drove the previous owner to part with them?

Oh yea, here's the YouTube video. A 27 minute behind-the-scenes look at Legacy. The interviewer was a bit of a novice, but the video is still entertaining. The crossover testing section is near the end, if you want to skip ahead?

Thanks for sharing the video. I enjoyed it and watched it from start to finish. After running the gamut on speakers, narrowing it down to two sets for two systems hasn't been easy. I've owned and listened to a lot of great speakers over the past few years and I'm confident the Classics and 2030s are going to be in my home for a very long time. The 2030s will serve in my main system and the Classics will be in a less critical, fill the home with music kind of setup for general listening.

Beautiful @MATT0404. I smiled at every one of your posts fella. Nice job getting those. I'll be following every post in this thread.

Thank you! Happy to have you along for the ride!

 

[Drugolf]

Matt, remind me why you think you might need to do something like the casters instead of just replacing the beat up risers in kind?

 

[MATT0404]

Matt, remind me why you think you might need to do something like the casters instead of just replacing the beat up risers in kind?

I will not be pursuing casters for the 2030s. Instead, I will rebuild some form of the original riser out of hardwood and use spikes or some other type of standoff.

 

[Fitero]

It blows my mind how ADS manages to keep their crossovers so compact considering the amount of drivers used.

I too expected something like this;

 

[StimpyWan]

I too expected something like this;
View attachment 1076624

What is that? A flux capacitor?

 

[motorstereo]

What is that? A flux capacitor?

Nope; I recognize that as the deluxe version of a Panasonic Thruster crossover

 

[MATT0404]

Richard has confirmed the receipt of the mids and the woofers were shipped today!

 

[2chman]

DAMN ! thought I was lucky finding a pair of 1590s last Christmas in Mahogany but damn 2030s I'm all but speechless with jealousy. congratulations. Can you say bi amp? Or tri amp? .