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DCM Timeframe TF-350 restoration

leesonic

leesonic

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I titled this thread "restoration", but all I really did was refoam the woofers and recap the crossovers. I was going to replace the foam that the cabinets are covered in, but once I got the grill sock back on, they looked fine.

Here are the woofers with all the old foam and gasket removed.

TF-350-01.jpg

Before and after crossovers. I don't use films for any large values any more, I can't really hear the difference. I could have used a single 6.8uF instead of a pair of 3.3uF caps, but that was how DCM did it. I didn't replace the mylar caps, they don't really go bad.

TF-350-03.jpg

Inside the cabinet. DCM refer to this as a hybrid transmission line, tuned to 36Hz.

TF-350-04.jpg

Refoamed woofers back in.

TF-350-05.jpg

They look a bit like the monoliths in the movie 2001.

TF-350-06.jpg

Rear view. The little foot at the back stops them falling over backwards. Here you can see the screws to remove the back panel, you need to take this off and the bottom plate (also screwed on) in order to remove the grill sock. I found using a square bit instead of a Philips bit worked better.

TF-350-07.jpg

How do they sound? Well, I hooked them up the other day, they sounded really sweet. I was listening to my favorite band, The Average White Band. On the saxophone solos, they never sounded harsh or raspy like some other speakers do. Very good bass extension, more than I expected from a 6.5" woofer. Mind you, it does have a big spider on the back, as big as the 10" Advent woofers that I also refoamed at the same time.

Lee.
 
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The TimeFrames never fail to amaze. Its one of the few speakers I've found; with my gear; that seem to be genre agnostic. As long as you're not trying to power a club with them, they excell at anything. My classical sounds nice, crisp, and real. Rock music has all the power you could imagine...and even rap has a nice bump to it.

I have 400s and 500s. The 400s are 3-way and slated for restoration...at some point. The foam on the cabinet is falling apart; the socks have holes; and the tweeters are replacement Tangs. Despite that, they still sound oustanding. My 500s are 2-way; but still are the best speakers in my bunch.

I also have a pair of CX27s I've been meaning to go through as well.

However; I probably won't restore the 400s right now; as I plan on cleaning out some space so I can put them in the rear of the room and have 5.1.

Nice job on your restoration. They should give you many years of good, clean sound.

Sent from my SPH-M910 using Tapatalk 2
 
Good job. :). I recently sorted out a pair of tf500s myself. The time frames really are something, the time windows must be pretty stellar.
 
Nice job on the restoration. :thmbsp: You didn't need to use high end caps for the 47uF caps anyway. All they do is send the high signals to ground. They aren't in the signal path.
 
Quit, I've got a pair in the garage that need some TLC and right now I'm very much into procrastinating. Seeing yours all rebuilt and sounding good just might make me get off my butt.
 
I have a pair. I put in new woofers in both. Recapped, and also added 5 way binding posts. Also stapled down all that loose foam on the front. My socks were like new, so I did not have to replace them.

These are great speakers for the money. Sound fantastic with 36/wpc of tube power.
 
I had a pair of these. Needed new foam and grille cloth and they were early just like these with the removable back panel vs. the later version that had the sock covering the whole speaker. I liked them. Family sound of the TimeWindows but not quite the power handling capacity. I let a friend trade into the set because he needed something to put against the wall that sounded great. That was these.

Now I have a pair of 400s that need the grille cloth replaced. Projects, they never end.
 
Same here. I have a pair of TF600's that I have been meaning to redo that I bought last year. This post has given me some initiative. Really been wanting to hear them.
 
Seeing by the dates on the post and answers I'm a little late to the party. But I also picked up a pair of TF350s and are amazed at what these things reprduce and so clearly at that. I think I asked another forum whether it was a good idea to climb the Tf ladder or just try and get Time Windows .most said yes the 600-700 modles are betert and the TWs are the best but very hard to get at a decent price.Ecespecially the series 7s where only 200 hundred pair were made.
 
Well, well, well....

I just obtained a pair with the intention of repairing them for a buddy who runs a vintage comic book/record shop/head shop/ you name it kind of place.

I think since they need a refoam, I may just tell him his profit margin is gone, and should sell these "broken" speakers to me.

Can new "socks" and grillcloth be bought? I peeled it back easily enough, but it covers front AND back, and I intend (should I convince him to sell) to recap.

Could someone tell me which caps don't need replacing?? I think it's just the pair of 3.3's....correct? Any experience or info on which caps mate best?

I have many MANY loud and giant speakers, but honestly, with the wife in bed, I need something that sounds good at more tame levels..
 
dewdude said:
I also have a pair of CX27s I've been meaning to go through as well.
Click to expand...


sold a pair of those to a friend....bass was INCREDIBLE, but the highs just didn't do it for me.
The little neodymium tweets, which I replaced, seemed overpowered by those twin woofers
Perhaps they needed a recap??

He still has them. Dumbass played his amp past dc, and finally blew the tweets again. Told him and told him....
 
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So, not to be a bummer, but just saying it like I see it and perhaps my example is not totallly relevant but: I've got some 500's that I have compared side by side with many different speakers and they just .... don't ... sound ... better than average. They look fantastic but in the end they are just two way speakers with a small primary driver and an huge heavy impressive looking package.... just saying....sorry
 
onwardjames said:
sold a pair of those to a friend....bass was INCREDIBLE, but the highs just didn't do it for me.
The little neodymium tweets, which I replaced, seemed overpowered by those twin woofers
Perhaps they needed a recap??

He still has them. Dumbass played his amp past dc, and finally blew the tweets again. Told him and told him....
Click to expand...
I really do not like those tweeters. I know they are in the TF-600s, which many people on the forum love, but I don't care for them at all. I own a pair of TF-600s and I like the TF-500s and TF-700s much better. I know I am in the minority here.

To my ears, they just don't sound as clear and crisp as the Vifa tweeters used in other early DCM designs. Also, they have a penchant for blowing, hence the glass fuses in the TF-600s and TF-400s.
 
said it before, and say it again, love your avatar, Dr. Morbius.

"Inserting the breakfast pastry!"
"Contact Dr. Jemima on the phone."
"Increase the Flash Gordon noise, and put more science stuff around."
"Recognize me now, Ruth?"

: )
 
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