Baco99 is the man! A Diatone Restoration

[lilsatyre]

Baco99, the man behind Holt Hill Audio, and many a restoration project that has made members here happy has done it again; this time with my Diatone DS-501s.

A long time ago, when I started my audio journey, I acquired a pair of rough appearance Diatone DS-501's with good functioning drivers. The cost, $75 and a couple of hours of driving to claim them from a flipper's "hoarder house." For 2 years they stayed in my living room, purely because of their sound. While cosmetically challenged, they outplayed many speakers for me. Altec Stonehenge I's, JBL 4410s, L110s, NHt 1.3 and accompanying subs...

Long story short, I sent them to Baco99 for a full overhaul. Reveneer the cabinets to replace the not-so-great vinyl and fix the crumbling corners. On his recommendation, we settled on a gloss black formica that came out stunningly. The caps were then updated to Clarity Caps.

The results have been incredible.. These speakers demand your attention, both cosmetically and aurally. They present a high level of detail, maintain their composure in busy passages, and reproduce timbre accurately. After the recap, the amount of "air", seperation, and detail that comes through is absolutely transfixing.

Before:


After:


Thank you Baco99!

 

[darkblue94]

Baco99, the man behind Holt Hill Audio, and many a restoration project that has made members here happy has done it again; this time with my Diatone DS-501s.

A long time ago, when I started my audio journey, I acquired a pair of rough appearance Diatone DS-501's with good functioning drivers. The cost, $75 and a couple of hours of driving to claim them from a flipper's "hoarder house." For 2 years they stayed in my living room, purely because of their sound. While cosmetically challenged, they outplayed many speakers for me. Altec Stonehenge I's, JBL 4410s, L110s, NHt 1.3 and accompanying subs...

Long story short, I sent them to Baco99 for a full overhaul. Reveneer the cabinets to replace the not-so-great vinyl and fix the crumbling corners. On his recommendation, we settled on a gloss black formica that came out stunningly. The caps were then updated to Clarity Caps.

The results have been incredible.. These speakers demand your attention, both cosmetically and aurally. They present a high level of detail, maintain their composure in busy passages, and reproduce timbre accurately. After the recap, the amount of "air", seperation, and detail that comes through is absolutely transfixing.

Before:
View attachment 1264838 View attachment 1264837 View attachment 1264836 View attachment 1264835 View attachment 1264834

After:
View attachment 1264839 View attachment 1264840 View attachment 1264841

Thank you Baco99!

Dang! Me likey.
I like the way they reflect so smoothly and sort of "disappear" in the space. They look so nice that I wouldn't even consider slapping a grill on them. Baco99 is da man.

 

[imral3]

Wow! Those do look amazing!!

 

[jblnut]

Yes he is indeed the man! Very nice...

jblnut

 

[Justgotohm]

Those look outstanding! I’m currently knee deep in some DS-505’s.

 

[Drugolf]

Wow, those are insane! Great job Baco.

 

[drumbum]

Dern.

 

[Johnny_Law]

 

[gdmoore28]

Wow! I normally hate black speakers or gear, but those look stunning. I may have to adjust my attitude a bit. Congrats!

GeeDeeEmm

 

[GD70]

Wow! I normally hate black speakers or gear, but those look stunning. I may have to adjust my attitude a bit. Congrats!

GeeDeeEmm

My thoughts exactly!
I've read about using Formica for speaker cabs, and kind of wrote it off as I'm a traditionalist, but these are eye openers!

 

[gdmoore28]

My thoughts exactly!
I've read about using Formica for speaker cabs, and kind of wrote it off as I'm a traditionalist, but these are eye openers!

What impresses me is that they are glossy black - almost a piano black finish. I didn't know that glossy black was available. Can you imagine a nice walnut/teak/mahogany cabinet design using the glossy black formica for the motor boards/backs and/or inserts? Or the reverse - piano black cabs with wooden accents or inserts? The gears are turning in my head.

GeeDeeEmm

 

[lilsatyre]

I believe that what tipped me when using the formica was first mentioned was that (according to the internet) some NHT speakers were veneered using formica. I didn't mind the finish at all on my nht 1.3's at the time and trusted baco99. I think it does help the drivers are not the standard black / silver fwiw. The copper and silver color mates very well with the finish.

I'm sure that baco99 can give some more info / pics of the actual finishing process over the veneer because I am clueless on that front. I just like staring at / listening to them...

 

[Justgotohm]

Wow that is Formica? I had not even paid attention to that. Not trying to high jack the post, but on the subject of Formica. I used it on the front of these TriTrix’s, I wished I had used a cream but for some reason the green seemed right at the time. Under normal light with the grills on they are not so bright, KrautNotRice did an excellent job with the walnut on the sides, the top and all sides are mirrored, grey Formica on the rear and bottoms, I’ll paint the port flat black. I plan to inlay 1/8 x 1/8th brass key stock in the channel between the baffle and walnut.

 

[lilsatyre]

cream would have looked good too, but that pop of lime is pretty fun! The walnut veneer alongside looks good. Worst case you can always repaint with a little elbow grease. Formica seems to be an easy path to a durable finish, I think like with all things it helps to see examples and also have a well-defined idea of the desired / achievable effects

 

[NAD80]

The finish on those speakers is 20 out of 10. Never seen Formica look that GREAT!!!. Baco99 THE MAN!!!.

 

[bcbud3]

Do those diatones use the same drivers as a yamaha speaker?

 

[lilsatyre]

Do those diatones use the same drivers as a yamaha speaker?

Nope, although they do a bear a striking resemblance to certain yamaha models . Diatone was an arm of mitsubishi that made their drivers from the ground up and slapped them into some nice, heavy, well-braced cabinets (well nice except for the surprising use of vinyl veneer). The DS-501's feature titanium dome mid + tweeter and their standard "honeycomb" woofer. Models ds-503 and 505 in the series start to use Boron drivers over titanium...

 

[Max62]

Wowoweee!