• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Genesis 320 restoration

leesonic

leesonic

Captured on security camera...
Subscriber
I picked up a pair of Genesis 320s a while ago. They needed refoaming, there were some pushed in dust caps, and I suspect the caps were probably the originals as well.

Since the dust caps had been pushed in, I decided to remove them and shim the woofers. I forgot to take pictures of the old foams, but here are two of the woofers with the surrounds gluing to the cones (I got the surrounds from Rick Cobb).

Genesis320-01.jpg

Here are all four woofers, with the surrounds glued to the basket.

Genesis320-02.jpg

To make sure I got the new dust caps perfectly centered, I measured from the surround lip, and used a strategically placed piece of masking tape as a guide. I always stick the tape on my shirt or jeans first to reduce its stickiness. I also made some new gaskets for the front.

Genesis320-03.jpg

The midranges looked like they had suffered the pokey finger syndrome as well.

Genesis320-04.jpg

After looking at a bunch of snake oil recommendations for stabilizing a paper cone, I eventually ordered some of the black wet look speaker paint from Parts Express.

Genesis320-05.jpg

Old crossovers had the original caps on. Notice the really thin wire used to connect the drivers.

Genesis320-06.jpg

I replaced these with new caps from Erse Audio. The crossovers in my 320s differ from all the schematics over on the Human Speakers web site. My woofers have two 30uF caps shunted across them, and then another two shunted as well but these ones have a 4 ohm resistor in series with them. Erse didn't have any 30uF electrolytics in stock, so I doubled up a pair of 15uF. I also used thicker wire for the connections to the drivers.

Genesis320-07.jpg

The midrange sub-enclosure goes all the way from front to back, making an effective brace for the top of the cabinet. I added this brace between the two woofers.

Genesis320-08.jpg

Here they are all put together, without the camera flash...

Genesis320-09.jpg

...and with it.

Genesis320-10.jpg

Lee.
 
Last edited:
Register to hide this ad
Very nice! I have been on the lookout for a pair of III/3/320's for awhile. Haven't been lucky enough to come across a pair yet.
 
Hi Big Congrats on the 320's!! They are forsure one of my all time favorite speaker's Genesis ever made. I just loved the way they sounded, I bought a bran new pair from the old Sound of Music Audio store that latter turned into Best Buy.Not so sure I would have coated that midrange with the paint though because it may dampen it to much.Those 4 1/2" midranges are very nice an natural sounding paper cones with the very durable doped cloth surrounds, I would have left them factory but hey who knows maybe they sound even better coated. Also I liked the 320's better then the 410's for sound quality but to my knowledge at that time the 320's weren't available Walnut veneer they came in vinyl. Those 8" long throw woofer's are very durable having there great 4 layer solid copper voice coils they could handle lot's of juice/current. I never seen a melted voice coil on those 8's. Pluss they also had a rubber impact/shock bumper on the backs of the magnet plates to protect the voice coils from excessive travel. Only problem I had was I kept blowing up the very nice sounding inverted 1" dome Tweeter's. I like my rock played loud an continuous cranking of my fav Led Zeppelin would take them out. Ended up selling them in the late 80's because at that time they were out of business an replacement Tweeter's were hard to come by. But now with those Tweeter's all over flee bay that's not a concern like it was back then. Congrats and Enjoy those 320's there very nice sounding Speaker's an can be especially hard to find. :thmbsp: :beerchug:
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Thank you all for your compliments so far.

dhanson64 said:
Not so sure I would have coated that midrange with the paint though because it may dampen it to much.Those 4 1/2" midranges are very nice an natural sounding paper cones with the very durable doped cloth surrounds, I would have left them factory but hey who knows maybe they sound even better coated.
Click to expand...

The only reason I coated the midrange cones was because it looked like they had been poked in by little fingers at some point. You can see a crease in the cone in the before (and after) pictures, I wanted some way to stabilize and strengthen the cone. After looking around at alternatives, I decided to use the Parts Express product as it was made for the job. It's just a very light coating, I doubt if it has affected the sound quality at all. Those inverted dome tweeters are really detailed. And the bass from those two 8" woofers? It's deep, but tight, it sounds a lot tighter than the 8" woofer 10" passive radiator combo the Genesis 2s used to have.

Lee.
 
zebra03 said:
The main thing , how do they sound ?
Click to expand...

I've actually been spending a lot of time switching between these and a pair of KEF 104/2s that I restored for a fellow AKer. While I would consider the KEFs to be more accurate, the Genesis have a slightly deeper bass, and a slightly louder treble response. You can definitely hear the thump of a bass drum more with the Genesis. But they both pass the saxophone and female vocals test I usually give a pair of speakers, IMHO these are difficult for speakers to reproduce without sounding "shouty" or raucous.

If both pairs were mine, it would be a difficult choice if I had to get rid of one pair, they both have really good imaging. When you close your eyes, you lose track of where the speakers actually are.

Lee.
 
Last edited:
Edit: I just checked Human Speakers. They look more like 3's or 3+ rather than 320. They might be a worthwhile project anyway.


FWIW, I saw on the Philadelphia Craigslist that somebody in Medford, NJ is selling a pair of Genesis speakers for $50.00.

By the dimensions given, they look like they could be 320's.

I would hate to see these speakees end up in a dumpster due to lack of interest.

Road trip anyone?:scratch2:
 
Last edited:
CKDC said:
Edit: I just checked Human Speakers. They look more like 3's or 3+ rather than 320. They might be a worthwhile project anyway.


FWIW, I saw on the Philadelphia Craigslist that somebody in Medford, NJ is selling a pair of Genesis speakers for $50.00.

By the dimensions given, they look like they could be 320's.

I would hate to see these speakees end up in a dumpster due to lack of interest.

Road trip anyone?:scratch2:
Click to expand...
Nice heads up on the speakers. Just a bit too far for me.
 
CKDC said:
Edit: I just checked Human Speakers. They look more like 3's or 3+ rather than 320. They might be a worthwhile project anyway.


FWIW, I saw on the Philadelphia Craigslist that somebody in Medford, NJ is selling a pair of Genesis speakers for $50.00.

By the dimensions given, they look like they could be 320's.

I would hate to see these speakees end up in a dumpster due to lack of interest.
Click to expand...

Got 'em. They are a pair of Threes, look to be the earlier ones as there are pieces of green foam around the passive radiators. The woofers have been replaced with something else, not Genesis though, and not Human replacements. The midranges have octagonal frames and rubber surrounds, so maybe they are really early ones.

Lee.
 
I am glad someone here got them!

Keep us posted on the restoration and a critique when finished.
 
Updated dead picture links. Thanks to @Pete B for giving me a like, which made me realize all the pictures had gone. These speakers are long since gone, but I have fond memories of them.

Genesis320-11.jpg

Genesis320-12.jpg
 
Great pics, thanks!
Did you notice if the voice coil formers were metal on the 320 woofers?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom