ADS L810 restoration/repair

[HowlerMonkey]

So I got caught up in the moment and bought a pair ADSL810 that need some TLC. A damaged mid and grill...for starters....maybe more things when I inspect them later this week. I will start searching the forums for tips, specially anything related to the crossover and recommended parts/brands for crossover repair I will document my progress on this thread

 

[Porkloin]

Congratulations on the find. I wish I had a pair of 810's.
I believe that the 810 had only one electrolytic cap in it's crossover. It was the high value (100 uF) one that parallels the woofer. As woofers don't benefit from poly caps, you may want to save yourself the struggle of fitting one of those pop cans in place of a comparatively smaller electrolytic. The problem will be finding a radial cap of 10% tolerance like ADS used, if your cap is upright. Axial caps of the correct tolerance are cheap and plentiful if you're willing to turn one sideways in place of a radial cap.
The mid and tweeter caps should be radial box film caps, which are difficult to find in the correct values/physical dimensions and generally last for a long time - it's usually more of a peace of mind thing to replace them than it is a necessity.
It may be worth your while sending the crossovers to Richard So. I believe he's getting $65 each for a three-way crossover. He's also the guy that will rebuild that damaged midrange for you.
I went the other direction for the sheer joy of doing things the hard way and built a PC board that would accommodate a wide variety of capacitors as my particular ADS model had electrolytics in the bandpass that I wanted to replace with poly-caps. It gave me the opportunity to A/B electrolytics against poly caps and form an opinion to this particular application. I think you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between your existing film caps and some poly-caps from parts express.
Take a look at this schematic over at Sportsbil.
There's also a bevy of ADS info here.

 

[Mozark]

Nice. Coincidentally I picked up a pair of L880/2's a few days ago with a similar problem. My grille looks a bit straighter than yours, but the mid dome was crushed never-the-less. I'll send both mids to Mr. So tomorrow. Debating on whether to send the tweeters as well. The undamaged speaker sounds exceptional, so I may leave well enough alone.

 

[Blue Shadow]

As woofers (might not) benefit (as much) from poly caps, you may want to save yourself the struggle of fitting one of those pop cans in place of a comparatively smaller electrolytic.

Fixed that for you. FreddyMac2 insists the 80µF plastic cap is needed in the DQ-10 in place of the lytic. YMMV everyone hears differently.

 

[Blue Shadow]

These grilles as so simple to smash back into place to be nearly like new when done. If they are not cracked, ripped or broken a little light bodywork with hammers, dollies and wood blocks will make em look great. Don't know about a coat of paint, my L1590/2 grilles may have gotten a shot of black paint, I don't recall if they needed it or not.

This work is more fun than work especially if the results are what you want.

 

[HowlerMonkey]

Congratulations on the find. I wish I had a pair of 810's.
I believe that the 810 had only one electrolytic cap in it's crossover. It was the high value (100 uF) one that parallels the woofer. As woofers don't benefit from poly caps, you may want to save yourself the struggle of fitting one of those pop cans in place of a comparatively smaller electrolytic. The problem will be finding a radial cap of 10% tolerance like ADS used, if your cap is upright. Axial caps of the correct tolerance are cheap and plentiful if you're willing to turn one sideways in place of a radial cap.
The mid and tweeter caps should be radial box film caps, which are difficult to find in the correct values/physical dimensions and generally last for a long time - it's usually more of a peace of mind thing to replace them than it is a necessity.
It may be worth your while sending the crossovers to Richard So. I believe he's getting $65 each for a three-way crossover. He's also the guy that will rebuild that damaged midrange for you.
I went the other direction for the sheer joy of doing things the hard way and built a PC board that would accommodate a wide variety of capacitors as my particular ADS model had electrolytics in the bandpass that I wanted to replace with poly-caps. It gave me the opportunity to A/B electrolytics against poly caps and form an opinion to this particular application. I think you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between your existing film caps and some poly-caps from parts express.
Take a look at this schematic over at Sportsbil.
There's also a bevy of ADS info here.

Thanks for the info ...I will inspect the crossovers this weekend and the schematic you provided will sure come in handy. Richar So is mentioned on most ADS threads so I will definitely consider his services if I decide to replace the midrange driver.

 

[HowlerMonkey]

I removed the damaged grill yesterday. There was this sticky substance that "glued" the midrange dome to the inside of the grill.
I removed the grill very carefully and the dome came back in place on its own after a few seconds. I tried to straighten the grill by hands and they do look repairable like Blue Shadows describes...

The metal grills are nice but I am not a big fan of the dust..I think I like fabric grills better.

 

[Blue Shadow]

.

The metal grills are nice but I am not a big fan of the dust

This is so true. My L710s have nice clean drivers being behind the black cloth air filter grilles. The L1590s has some crud on the drivers. Oh well, something to live with until they get to visit Richard.

 

[Arthur Smith]

I sold my pair. They are gigantic, and whoever categorized them as "bookshelf" speakers was completely out of their mind. Amazing midrange. Not great soundstaging or separation, at all. A fun speaker that I did grow tired of.

 

[Blue Shadow]

I sold my pair. They are gigantic, and whoever categorized them as "bookshelf" speakers was completely out of their mind. Amazing midrange. Not great soundstaging or separation, at all. A fun speaker that I did grow tired of.

Kinda at the limit of bookshelf but that term was from the old days, AR-3 bookshelf without the stands, compared to the common speakers made to look like furniture with legs as needed. The 810 had optional stands so ADS knew they weren't really bookshelf speakers but they are in that size category. I sold mine, too, but I have too many speakers.

 

[HowlerMonkey]

I sold my pair. They are gigantic, and whoever categorized them as "bookshelf" speakers was completely out of their mind. Amazing midrange. Not great soundstaging or separation, at all. A fun speaker that I did grow tired of.

Yes fun and good midrange is what I am shooting for with these ones....By design 3 way speakers are very hard to integrate to create a good image (offset drivers and non symmetric L/R cabinets don't help either lol)... 2 way systems, omnidirectionals and line arrays have more advantages for that purpose.

My cave room is only 10ft wide so that will be my biggest limitation with this speaker I think. But they might work well for a house party

 

[Arthur Smith]

They are certainly loud. but I did become fatigued by the sound. I have too many other speakers that I enjoy more. My daily drivers are KLH Model 6's, which to my ears, have a much nicer sound.

 

[HowlerMonkey]

They are certainly loud. but I did become fatigued by the sound. I have too many other speakers that I enjoy more. My daily drivers are KLH Model 6's, which to my ears, have a much nicer sound.

Funny you mention the Model 6's I have a pair of Cambridge Soundworks Model Six by Henry Kloss based on the KLH design. Very enjoyable speakers...highs a bit rolled off but you can listen to them for hours...so good

 

[GD70]

Yes fun and good midrange is what I am shooting for with these ones....By design 3 way speakers are very hard to integrate to create a good image (offset drivers and non symmetric L/R cabinets don't help either lol)... 2 way systems, omnidirectionals and line arrays have more advantages for that purpose.

My cave room is only 10ft wide so that will be my biggest limitation with this speaker I think. But they might work well for a house party

You have a set of excellent speakers! Those will clean up nicely.
These have a large fan base, as well as ADS as whole. The 810's are known to be a bit bloated on the low end, so putting them stands will help. Obviously you'll need to experiment with placement in your space.
If you decide to send your damaged mid to Richard So, I suggest sending both so their output will be equal. Rebuilding the tweeters is your call.
Porkloin's advice regarding the electrolytic cap for the woofer is the way to go. Cheap and will fit fine.
Keep the pics coming as you progress.
Glenn

 

[Arthur Smith]

You have a set of excellent speakers! Those will clean up nicely.
These have a large fan base, as well as ADS as whole. The 810's are known to be a bit bloated on the low end, so putting them stands will help. Obviously you'll need to experiment with placement in your space.
If you decide to send your damaged mid to Richard So, I suggest sending both so their output will be equal. Rebuilding the tweeters is your call.
Porkloin's advice regarding the electrolytic cap for the woofer is the way to go. Cheap and will fit fine.
Keep the pics coming as you progress.
Glenn

Glenn, I see you are still on the ADS bandwagon. I flipped mine. Just got so tired of the sound. My Model 6's, despite being inferior, are still my daily drivers! Arthur

 

[sx-70]

Nice save on that mid! There are many an ADS speaker with a grill imprint on the mid range domes. They will still sound good I bet so I'd enjoy them awhile before deciding on sending them in. Cabinets look very nice from here.

Metal grills let in the dust it's true. However, I think you'll be happy if you ever sell these that you have the metal grill versions.

 

[GD70]

Glenn, I see you are still on the ADS bandwagon. I flipped mine. Just got so tired of the sound. My Model 6's, despite being inferior, are still my daily drivers! Arthur

Hi Arthur,
Yep, I never tire of their sound, but they are not the only speakers listen to!
The Six's are great and I listen to them regularly.
Cheers, Glenn

 

[Arthur Smith]

Hi Arthur,
Yep, I never tire of their sound, but they are not the only speakers listen to!
The Six's are great and I listen to them regularly.
Cheers, Glenn

Let's put it this way- for what I paid for them, versus what I put into them and flipped them for, they were great for the time I had them. The Model 6's continue to be the best purchase I have ever made.

 

[Spiceman50]

Congrats on the find Howler! I love mine and had them rebuilt by the master Mr. So. Was so glad I did. I still have a little work left on the a pair, but time is not my friend these days. I simply cannot see a day in the future where I'll ever tire of mine.

 

[HowlerMonkey]

update 6/2/18:

1) speakers tested at 3.9 & 4.1 ohms.

2) I bought an RB-976 mkii, 60W x 6 @ 8ohms, 4ohms stable, 150W bridged @8ohms (bought
(I already have a set of modified HPM60's powered by another Rotel amp, RB956 30W x 6,,,,and an active crossover....so you can get can an idea where I am going with the ADSL810...)
http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/hpm-60-crossover-rebuild-vs-active-crossover.786923/

3) first impressions powering the stock ADSL810.....with the 60W the Rotel amp has to offer....
* acoustic suspension rules!
* 60W is not enough for the 810s (I don't want to test the bridged mode because the speakers impedance is just tooo low....my plan is to go 60W x 3 per speaker...as you can imagine)
* midrange is sweeeet, even with these old-unrestored drivers I have enjoyed every session I have played with them......I have several SADE records & CDS which include my to-go test songs, and ohh boy they deliver.....will save money for the now famous Mr. So. treatment for sure....I want to keep these 810's for a while.
* Tweeter is not fatiguing to my ears.....I listen @ ~75dB, 9-10ft away, 30-45mins sessions, and they are a joy.....yes they are sharper than the KLH/CSW model Six's....but I know I am missing a small chunk of the songs when I play those.....the HPM60s are sharper than the ADSL810 but I was able to tame the HPMs with an active crossover.....the 810 might not need as much tweaking.
* boomy bass? short answer yes....I have the HPM60s with the 10" woofers right next to them and my initial impression is that the HPMs are more controlled below 800Hz...can't prove it yet...but I plan to buy a mic for REW this summer....and also record some sample songs when times permits......I am curious to see how they sealed and wired the 8" drivers in there (do they have the same volume?)....I will open them soon.
* fun speakers no doubt....can wait to get back home friday nights to crank them up.