Different ESS amt4 tweeter?

[sbucholz]

I rescued a single ESS AMT4 hoping I could find a mate or find a home for this one or at least find a home for the parts but the Tweeter is different I've never seen this version before. It sounds fantastic. It's been a long time since I had the rock monitors but I believe I like this Tweeter better . Does anybody have these or know the history on them or the correct terminology to search for them other than ESS amt4 tweeter heil early version excetera?

 

[swechsler]

Hmm, a prototype maybe? Construction looks pretty rough; every ESS tweeter I've seen had a more finished look.

 

[avguytx]

I had read that ESS, or whoever, has some sort of the AMT tweeter on sale for $155 each shipped right now. Might or might not still be going.

 

[showett]

That looks like the tweeter that was used in my Concept CE-1 speakers with out the trim.

 

[MBJ]

Hmm, a prototype maybe? Construction looks pretty rough; every ESS tweeter I've seen had a more finished look.

They look much more refined than mine which are original AMT4. A work in progress.

 

[CaseyWKC]

Old thread but I picked up a pair of what I thought were a matched set and one has the same kind of prototype / concept tweeter.

Wire came right off of the diaphragm when uninstalling as the connector clip glue came undone.

I now have two mismatched ESS AMT4s and one without a working tweeter.

Unfortunate but I’ll probably have to part them out as I just can’t justify spending up to a hundred bucks for a new diaphragm and put in the work needed to fully recap/refoam/restore them.

Real damn shame about the cabinets, they are in pristine condition and the grills look like new. :/.

 

[jcidave]

Old thread but I picked up a pair of what I thought were a matched set and one has the same kind of prototype / concept tweeter.

Wire came right off of the diaphragm when uninstalling as the connector clip glue came undone.

I now have two mismatched ESS AMT4s and one without a working tweeter.

Unfortunate but I’ll probably have to part them out as I just can’t justify spending up to a hundred bucks for a new diaphragm and put in the work needed to fully recap/refoam/restore them.

Real damn shame about the cabinets, they are in pristine condition and the grills look like new. :/.

The dual plate Heil was not a prototype and was used by ESS in a number of their systems. Aside from the AMT4, it was used in the 10b bookshelf, some Tempest speakers some Performance speakers the Concept line and even the AMT6 Professional had a horizontal array of 4 of them.
Get a new diaphragm for your broken one the the 2 will sound the same.
You have to reasonably consider the fact that it will take some time, effort and money to restore a pair of speakers from the mid 70's.

I had to fix up my pair of 4's when I finally got a pair in my collection. I thought they were the sleeper in the ESS lineup back in the day. They played up from their size and price point. I hope you make the right decision and your cabinets don't end up on the woodpile.

 

[CaseyWKC]

The dual plate Heil was not a prototype and was used by ESS in a number of their systems. Aside from the AMT4, it was used in the 10b bookshelf, some Tempest speakers some Performance speakers the Concept line and even the AMT6 Professional had a horizontal array of 4 of them.
Get a new diaphragm for your broken one the the 2 will sound the same.
You have to reasonably consider the fact that it will take some time, effort and money to restore a pair of speakers from the mid 70's.

I had to fix up my pair of 4's when I finally got a pair in my collection. I thought they were the sleeper in the ESS lineup back in the day. They played up from their size and price point. I hope you make the right decision and your cabinets don't end up on the woodpile.

If you assure me that the tweeters have the same freq response and will not differ in sound consider it done.

I've pulled my listings and it looks like I can source a new, genuine 4 ohm diaphragm.

Don't have the extra cash at the moment, but I will eventually!

Thanks!

 

[toddalin]

If you assure me that the tweeters have the same freq response and will not differ in sound consider it done.

I've pulled my listings and it looks like I can source a new, genuine 4 ohm diaphragm.

Don't have the extra cash at the moment, but I will eventually!

Thanks!

Your Heil looks to be a very early model and there have been various iterations of the diaphragms over time. I don't think that anyone could make that assurance and you really need to replace both with the same.

 

[CaseyWKC]

Your Heil looks to be a very early model and there have been various iterations of the diaphragms over time. I don't think that anyone could make that assurance and you really need to replace both with the same.

Ah, well due to construction differences in the cabinet it would be impossible to replace the tweeter with the original in the earlier model and keep the grill in tact and able to be reinstalled flush.

There isn't enough clearance to install the modern iteration of the driver even if I were to find one.

If this is the case and they will not remain similar sonically I will just wind up parting these out.

 

[Guido57]

 

[jcidave]

you haven't posted any pics of this pair. how about some pictures of these before the towel is thrown in.

 

[CaseyWKC]

Here are my pair in question

 

[toddalin]

Actually, both of your Heils are kind of "odd balls" and I wouldn't trust a new diaphragm to be like either of them, nor would I expect them to sound identical even with the same diaphragm.

ESS sometimes has sales of $250 for a brand new pair of complete air motion transformers with the mounting hardware and rubber gaskets.

 

[jcidave]

Here are my pair in question

Thanks for the pics. Yeah, it is odd that you ended up with this mismatched pair. At the ESS dealer store I worked at, the original version that first came out was the cut-down version of the great Heil. We had these out on the floor plus a couple of backup pair. Once the backups were sold, we sold the demo pair off the floor..We were a small store, so all this takes time. When the next order was delivered, it was with the dual plate Heil version.
It certainly is possible that a larger store could have had both versions in stock and picked one of each for delivery to a customer. The boxes for the 2 versions would have been the same on the outside in appearance, size and weight. It is probable that the customer setting these up at home would not have noticed the difference as the grills were nailed on with wire brads unless he looked through the grill with a flashlight. ESS stated at that time, as did many makers, that they had the right to make production modifications at their discretion.
You know for those of us that use this brand, we are all in the same boat as respects replacement parts. If you have a diaphragm failure, you have to buy what ESS is making now. Otherwise the speaker stays dead. I'm just glad the parts are still available. Your woofers look original. If they have good voice coils, they just need to be refoamed.
In the end, your choice.