EPI 200b time for a tweeter decision

[Frode365]

Hello all,

My first post here, though I do spend a lot of time reading and learning here so thank you all for that.

As the Subject states, I have a pair op EPI 200b's the cabinets are beautiful, woofers refoamed by someone who clearly cared and did a perfect job, the original passives are in them, but the tweeters are I believe from the Time/Energy series maybe, they don't even appear to be inverted. Now, that being said they sound good, but I just finished up restoration on a pair of EPI M100's that on my 3rd or 4th night of listening just seem to keep getting better and better and while the 200's sound good, I can't help but wonder what the masonite tweeter that is in the M100 would sound like in the 200's. I had originally been watching for some original Gold Lines to show up, the big auction site has been dry for months and yesterday two sets of pairs and a single all fell from the EPI Heavens right after I read a post from SAEA501 (I believe is his screename) who was apparently a long time EPI employee and he stated essentially that the Gold Line tweeters were not in the same league as the Masonites and that at that point at EPI accountants were starting to have more and more say and the gold line fell into that world. So I figured what better time to ask at AK folks.

Of course my first thought was, "pull 3 screws, 2 wire terminals and try it" but once I pulled the tweeter from the 200, I immediately noticed the cutout in the baffles are different and the Masonite won't simply fit right in. I am not generally a big fan of changing the original setup, but I can't get enough of these 100's and they are even better with a little sub added to them, so if I can get the 100 + the bottom end of the 200 all in one box I will make sure the jigsaw blade is very fine and brand new before I start cutting

I attached the only image i have of them, if I can figure it out tonight I will add an image with the grills off, but I love threads with pics, so here they are

Thank you in advance for any and all opinions on the matter.

 

[Nat]

I'd hesitate to start jig sawing just on the basis of one poster, even if a former employee. I don't know enough to tell you what to do, but I think there are actually a variety of versions of the EPI tweeter, not just masonite or plastic, or inverted or domed. I believe some had ferrofluid and if the fluid has gotten gummy that can dramatically affect the sound. But, in many cases, it can be refreshed, and your tweeters might be of that sort.
I'd look into whether yours have ferrofluid before hacking away, and also look into which tweeters would fit. Perhaps you can preserve both pairs of speakers.

 

[Frode365]

I believe the tweeters in my 200's (I will add a pic tonight) are from the Time/Energy series, I don't think they belong in the 200, but I am here to learn from those who know more. I did buy them from a collector who passed away and had MANY EPI/GENESIS speakers so felt like maybe there is a reason but I haven't been able to find anything to lead me in that direction. I am with you thought, cutting wood is always a LAST resort, but the tweeters in my 100's I tell ya... I didn't mention earlier, but I do also have a set of HUW's tweeters in a pair of Advent Prodigy boxes that I refurbished using his stuff. I like Huw's tweeter in that setup, but these 100's just have me a little riled hahaha

 

[Frode365]

image of the current tweeters

 

[Nat]

I looked at a picture of the original 200b, and it looks to me like you may have a rebuilt, not refoamed active woofer. The original woofer appears to be a doped paper cone with the normal EPI foam surround, whereas the portion of it you can see in the above picture appears to have a narrower, perhaps butyl surround. I'm wondering if the previous owner didn't transplant drivers from later speakers into it - I seem to remember that tweeter from later EPIs, maybe the Maguses?
The plastic faceplate tweeters are all smaller (I think) than the masonite ones, so I'd continue looking for one of them. They aren't uncommon.

 

[classic carl]

The tweeters in my 200C pair are the gold ring type. The tweeters in my M90 pair are the masonite version. I honestly can't hear any difference. Both pairs have been recapped. You mentioned that you restored the M100 pair, so I assume you recapped them. Are the 200b pair recapped? If no, that could explain the difference in sound.
A friend of mine installed Huw's tweeters in his 200C. They were a drop-in replacement, I think.

 

[Frode365]

I looked at a picture of the original 200b, and it looks to me like you may have a rebuilt, not refoamed active woofer. The original woofer appears to be a doped paper cone with the normal EPI foam surround, whereas the portion of it you can see in the above picture appears to have a narrower, perhaps butyl surround. I'm wondering if the previous owner didn't transplant drivers from later speakers into it - I seem to remember that tweeter from later EPIs, maybe the Maguses?
The plastic faceplate tweeters are all smaller (I think) than the masonite ones, so I'd continue looking for one of them. They aren't uncommon.

Sorry, I forgot to mention I have a set of Human woofers from a different project that I wanted to try in the 200’s. I have the original woofers as well.

 

[Frode365]

The tweeters in my 200C pair are the gold ring type. The tweeters in my M90 pair are the masonite version. I honestly can't hear any difference. Both pairs have been recapped. You mentioned that you restored the M100 pair, so I assume you recapped them. Are the 200b pair recapped? If no, that could explain the difference in sound.
A friend of mine installed Huw's tweeters in his 200C. They were a drop-in replacement, I think.

View attachment 3620047

I didn’t recap them, but they definitely don’t have the original caps in them. Maybe I will open them up and have a closer look.

 

[Frode365]

So I did eventually find a set of the Gold Ring tweeters for these, I haven't recapped yet as I am in the middle of restoring a set of M150's. But even the change to the Gold Ring is a nice change, still not quite the masonite tweeter to my ear, but great nonetheless. These speakers are great, I had a buddy lives and dies by the L100's over to listen to my ADS L810's and we eventually rotated in the 200B's and I know he had a hard time with just how good these 200B's are. In my opinion, of course every ear is different, these will give the 810 and the L100 everything they can handle in a 10 round bout.

 

[Frode365]

after more and more listening, all things equal as far as content, format, amplification, etc…. the M150’s just have such a sweet warm golden sound on the upper end compared to the 200b, which in their own right sound very good just more “sterile” i guess could be the term on the top end. I am hoping to pull the PR’s today and add an ounce of weight to them per Gordon’s recommendation. just using washers and hot glue, so easily removed if i don’t like it