Really? I've seen some very dodgy "designs" in my time, and I've seen products where the "designer" clearly looked for the cheapest possible options.
Not all speakers are created equal.
That is a pretty broad brush you are painting with.
As a design engineer with several decades of experience, I want to go on record as stating that, components are most generally selected, based upon specific requirements. We are not generally micro-managed by bean counters. We do have price points, as bounding criteria, but such are not the dominant criteria. We have design requirements specifications that take into consideration things like function, quality, de-rating, reliability, component availability and sourcing, and others.
Once a piece gets into production, a new area of the company comes into play, known as "Continuing Engineering." They support the products and address issues discovered in the field, in relation to the original requirements, as well as various components becoming obsolete or NLA (no longer available). Components used need to be qualified, as well as do the sources for them. In order to do this, internal part numbers are assigned at design time, which are also associated with required specs and qualification data and procedures. Designers also create design implementation documents, to record the whys, whats, hows, etc. Continuing Engineering departments need this information to be able to properly support the designs throughout production time and subsequent continuing support time. Restoring vintage audio gear is a kind of "Continuing Engineering," with all the trimmings.
Service manuals and schematics are not design implementation documents, nor component qualification and specification documents. Frequently, much can be reverse engineered by capable/knowledgeable/experienced individuals. Changing component specifications WILL have effects upon circuitry, some changes more than others. One should know/anticipate what those effects will be before changing things.
Personally, I want nothing to do with equipment that folks have been into, changing things. Unless the changes are fully documented, including rationales for said changes. If I take in a piece, and the design has been fiddled with, it is generally gonna cost you significantly extra. I may have to reverse engineer the changes (if I can find them all...not likely), in addition to the original designs, and, most generally, reverse the changes, to return to a clean slate. I have dealt with alot of pretty strange stuff over the years. I can design, and re-design things, and do it well. However, I am generally not going to second think the original equipment designers, especially if the gear still wants to work over 40 years after its manufacture.
I will just leave this here, and quietly withdraw...
Rich P
