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Ess amt 1

skud007

skud007

Active Member
I ended up getting some ESS Amt 1 speakers and found out that the woofers have been replace with some radio shacks :no:
Here is the link in Dollars and Sense http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=680204
The question was brought up about the ribbed woofers and I didn't even think to check them when I bought them. The foam surrounds are a little torn as well. They sound really good (to me) with the woofers that are in there, but I definitely want to replace them.
I have checked most of the exsisting threads and know there are some suitable replacements including the ones from ESS themselves. Some of the others mentioned in some threads are Eminence 1040SF, Goldwood GW-10PC-4, and Dayton Audio PA255-8.
Pretty sure I need a 4 ohm without having to mess with the cross over.
Any suggestions or should I save up a little more coin and get the ESS replacements?
 
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I'd go for the new ESS woofer. That's the driver that the cabinet was tuned for anyways.

Plus it keeps it as original as you could get. Which seems insignificant, but the amount of pyramid models that get the Heil taken off and the cabinet scrapped or butchered is going to make the poor thing an endangered species :no:

On that model there's greater benefit to be had in adding a midrange box than there is giving it an aftermarket woofer IMO.
 
Depends on what you want to do-sound the same-upgrade?
The new ESS woofers are marginal at best. Despite the comments they are fairly generic ESS replacements. They may actually be a slight downgrade from the originals.
You should not have too much trouble finding the correct set. You may have to refoam them.
Adding a midbox yes-but then you need a crossover etc.
At that point sell them and get a set of 3-way AMT3's.
The ST255-8 works awesome in the AMT3-but you have to add two large ports.
I'm not sure what the internal volume of you speaker is-but it's probably too large for them, and would kill the power handling.
Plus you don't have enough port.
They should sound just fine with the stock woofer.
A big upgrade you be to recap and rewire the crossover-makes a bi difference in ESS AMT speakers....
A lot of times these are over driven, and it takes it's toll on the crossover.
 
automojo said:
Adding a midbox yes-but then you need a crossover etc
Click to expand...

I spoke too soon, the Amt-1 appears to be wildly different than the model I'm using. On mine it would require nothing more than an active crossover, but this doesn't look to be the case here.
 
automojo said:
Depends on what you want to do-sound the same-upgrade?
The new ESS woofers are marginal at best. Despite the comments they are fairly generic ESS replacements. They may actually be a slight downgrade from the originals.
You should not have too much trouble finding the correct set. You may have to refoam them.
Adding a midbox yes-but then you need a crossover etc.
At that point sell them and get a set of 3-way AMT3's.
The ST255-8 works awesome in the AMT3-but you have to add two large ports.
I'm not sure what the internal volume of you speaker is-but it's probably too large for them, and would kill the power handling.
Plus you don't have enough port.
They should sound just fine with the stock woofer.
A big upgrade you be to recap and rewire the crossover-makes a bi difference in ESS AMT speakers....
A lot of times these are over driven, and it takes it's toll on the crossover.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply automojo. I have ran across your replies and sharing of knowledge, the most, about these speakers when searching the other threads.
I never heard or knew of these types of speakers until these ones popped up ( a little before my time lol). I'm not sure how they sounded new?
I remember reading a thread where you discussed that the ess replacements were marginal and for the price they are asking for them I would like to find something a little more affordable or something better at that price point.
There are a pair of woofers from amt3s on that auction site that need new surrounds. Not sure if those would work for my box size and ohm rating?
 
Which Model?

Is this one of the truncated pyramids or one of the monitors? Damn the ESS numbering system.
Do they have the passive radiators? That would change things greatly when perusing the Thiel-Small parameters for a replacement woofer - it's doubtful whoever installed the Radio Shack drivers took that into account.
The pyramids have 2 cubic feet of internal volume. The monitors (rectangular) have 2.5.
How about some photos?
 
Porkloin said:
Is this one of the truncated pyramids or one of the monitors? Damn the ESS numbering system.
Do they have the passive radiators? That would change things greatly when perusing the Thiel-Small parameters for a replacement woofer - it's doubtful whoever installed the Radio Shack drivers took that into account.
The pyramids have 2 cubic feet of internal volume. The monitors (rectangular) have 2.5.
How about some photos?
Click to expand...
They are the pyramid style without radiators. I'll try to get some photos up this afternoon.
 
Last edited:
Have you looked at the DC Gold W10R or W10C in their four ohm model?

I am thinking about trying a pair of them with my AMT4's...
 
Drivers mentioned

Of the three drivers mentioned, the Eminence seems to be the best fit. Although billed as a good direct replacement for ANY ESS 10" driver, they need a 2.75 cubic foot enclosure, which rules them out in any of the dual woofer speakers, such as the AMT3. The Goldwood and Dayton are better suited in the dual driver scenario as they need less volume and don't go down as low (damned physics).
Converting the pyramids into 3-ways is easy enough if you don't want to put the stock grills back on. DC Gold makes a mod that I'm sure sounds quite nice, but lacks the imagination necessary to maintain stock dimensions. A bit of work on the calculator and selecting the correct woofer for the volume and you could probably put in a downfiring woofer and throw one of those new-fangled full ranges into the original woofer hole (with the appropriate enclosure behind it).
I could go off on tangents all day long.
Congratulations on your membership into the cult of Oscar Heil.
 
Porkloin said:
Of the three drivers mentioned, the Eminence seems to be the best fit. Although billed as a good direct replacement for ANY ESS 10" driver, they need a 2.75 cubic foot enclosure, which rules them out in any of the dual woofer speakers, such as the AMT3. The Goldwood and Dayton are better suited in the dual driver scenario as they need less volume and don't go down as low (damned physics).
Converting the pyramids into 3-ways is easy enough if you don't want to put the stock grills back on. DC Gold makes a mod that I'm sure sounds quite nice, but lacks the imagination necessary to maintain stock dimensions. A bit of work on the calculator and selecting the correct woofer for the volume and you could probably put in a downfiring woofer and throw one of those new-fangled full ranges into the original woofer hole (with the appropriate enclosure behind it).
I could go off on tangents all day long.
Congratulations on your membership into the cult of Oscar Heil.
Click to expand...
I was thinking the eminence as well. However, it is a 8 ohm speaker. Would that cause problems?
 
Here they are as promised pics :banana:
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Looks like the radio shack was an 8ohm anyways. Pretty sure the Heils are 4ohm?
 
Well the seller with the woofers from the amt4s, on the 'ba,y accepted my offer of $20.00. They need refoamed. I guess I'll try those when they get here and I get them refoamed!
 
I don't see many of the ported versions around. I believe those early models used AlNiCo magnets and a stamped frame. Not sure about the impedance though.

Love the looks of that early Heil! :thmbsp:
 
Crossfade said:
I don't see many of the ported versions around. I believe those early models used AlNiCo magnets and a stamped frame. Not sure about the impedance though.

Love the looks of that early Heil! :thmbsp:
Click to expand...

Yea, the Heil looks sweet. Sounds good too. I made sure those were working before I took them home lol

Here is the link to the auction since I can't copy the pics from it. Hopefully they will be ok replacements. I figure I'm not out that much $$ if they don't work.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Pair-ESS-AMT-4-HEIL-Speakers-Woofer-Air-Motion-Transformer-/281802142050?hash=item419cb77162&nma=true&si=bH0IVt2hipy8twcwzCUn9igrvYo%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
 
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