Help with some Wharfedale W70s

[Fishead]

Those are beautiful and look pristine. I want them

Very kind, slick.one! Yes, they have only a few small imperfections on the wood, otherwise pretty much as they were when they came from the factory. As I mentioned above, they look to never have been opened. In reading some posts, I find that many suggest placement is a very significant issue and will play around with that when I get them ready for prime time. Something tells me I'll need to make some stands to get them to the proper level for optimum performance. That will be fun as I enjoy woodworking projects such as that.

 

[drbiggles]

Howdy!

Thank you for sharing your catch and the images of the guts. I hadn't seen the internals of the later models. That tweeter box is a new design from what I'm used to. But it still looks like a ceramic Super 3 in there. I realize the online world gushes over the older, more desirable alnico version. But I recently sent of both types of tweeters and had them hooked up to a fancy computer. They're both absolutely wonderful tweeters, the later ceramic version is no slouch. The powers that be, myself included, like the sound from an oil capacitor jacked into the Super 3. However, given how easy it is to replace capacitors I would suggest picking up metalized film capacitors and try them both. At the end of the day, it's all about what you enjoy listening to.

Biggles

 

[onwardjames]

Slick.one, I had a chance to get these, but since they were Fishead's dads, he ought to have them. They look even better than the previous photos.

I use Dayton 1% poly's, but GT is a HUGE fan of the Paper In Oil caps. Worth talking to him about it.

This is going to be cool. Gangtwanger is sure to chime in soon.

 

[Fishead]

Howdy!

Thank you for sharing your catch and the images of the guts. I hadn't seen the internals of the later models. That tweeter box is a new design from what I'm used to. But it still looks like a ceramic Super 3 in there. I realize the online world gushes over the older, more desirable alnico version. But I recently sent of both types of tweeters and had them hooked up to a fancy computer. They're both absolutely wonderful tweeters, the later ceramic version is no slouch. The powers that be, myself included, like the sound from an oil capacitor jacked into the Super 3. However, given how easy it is to replace capacitors I would suggest picking up metalized film capacitors and try them both. At the end of the day, it's all about what you enjoy listening to.

Biggles

And thank you as well for the kind words and valuable information! I will likely do as you say, try them both, but would really like to know where I can get a set of each (metalized film caps and PIO). Do you have a good source?

Tim, always good to hear from you and thanks too for your very kind comments.....

 

[El Cavano]

Very similar to mine. Thank you for the pic of the tweeter without the isolation box. Looks like the box was easy to take off, without affecting the tweeter. I've heard the wiring is tight there and your picture would appear to confirm.

Do you have a mix of red stripe and non-red stripe drivers?

 

[drbiggles]

And thank you as well for the kind words and valuable information! I will likely do as you say, try them both, but would really like to know where I can get a set of each (metalized film caps and PIO). Do you have a good source?

Tim, always good to hear from you and thanks too for your very kind comments.....

Hay,

There are a handful of good places to find appropriate, modern capacitors. For me, my first stop is Madisound. If not there, I head off to Erse and see what they've got on hand. There's another one, but I can't quite remember the name. Their interface is tough for me to navigate, so I pass. Mouser Electronics? And of course, there's Parts Express. Their deliveries take an easy week and a half to get to me, they're always last on my list.

I believe you stated you have a 12uF in there?

https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/solen-capacitors/solen-12-mfd-fast-cap-400v/

For surplus oil filled capacitors I've had good luck with www.electronicsurplus.com, there are others too. I'd give you a direct link, but my connection here is dicey and more than painfully slow. Oh, and fleabay too.

Biggles

 

[bce22]

Those look amazing fishead! They are going to be amazing for you. I recently got a pair of W90s. They aren't in nearly as good condition as yours. I'm a little jealous!

I've recently made some stands for my w90s and I like them alot and they were easy to make. I posted a bunch of pics of them in the Wharfedale Owners Thread in the British Audio forum. You should definitely chime in on the owners thread.

I also replaced my pots on the w90s and am in the process of recapping them with old and new PIOs caps. I'll be sure to share my experience. I'm only like 2 weeks ahead of you in this Wharfie obsession!!!

Welcome to the club my friend

 

[Fishead]

Very similar to mine. Thank you for the pic of the tweeter without the isolation box. Looks like the box was easy to take off, without affecting the tweeter. I've heard the wiring is tight there and your picture would appear to confirm.

Do you have a mix of red stripe and non-red stripe drivers?

I'm not sure what you mean by red stripe? If you are talking about the areas between the magnet and the basket, then yes, the midrange has a red painted area there.....hope that answers you question. Box on tweeter is very easy to remove, 8 screws, but I was very careful when pulling it away because the wires go through a small hole in it that has some putty around it and I didn't want to damage where those wires attached to the tweeter. Pulled away some of the putty gently and then "fed" the wires back towards the tweeter as I was moving the box outward. If you do this the wiring is not really all that tight and it appears one could work on it without much difficulty....

 

[Fishead]

Hay,

There are a handful of good places to find appropriate, modern capacitors. For me, my first stop is Madisound. If not there, I head off to Erse and see what they've got on hand. There's another one, but I can't quite remember the name. Their interface is tough for me to navigate, so I pass. Mouser Electronics? And of course, there's Parts Express. Their deliveries take an easy week and a half to get to me, they're always last on my list.

I believe you stated you have a 12uF in there?

https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/solen-capacitors/solen-12-mfd-fast-cap-400v/

For surplus oil filled capacitors I've had good luck with www.electronicsurplus.com, there are others too. I'd give you a direct link, but my connection here is dicey and more than painfully slow. Oh, and fleabay too.

Biggles

Thanks much for all that info.....looks like I will be busy for a while hunting those down, but yours and others' assistance has given me lots of confidence. Thanks again to all for the help and kind words.....I'll let you all know how it goes!

 

[El Cavano]

A red stripe on the base of the driver, visible from the side of the speaker, indicates it is the Alnico speaker. Some say that is most desirable. Mine have one alnico (red stripe) and one "regular".

 

[Fishead]

A red stripe on the base of the driver, visible from the side of the speaker, indicates it is the Alnico speaker. Some say that is most desirable. Mine have one alnico (red stripe) and one "regular".

Here is a pic of my midrange.....is that what you are referring to as "red stripe?"

IMG_2455

• Fishead
• Nov 5, 2015

 

[El Cavano]

Yes, that is absolutely right. See my attached pic. Looks identical! Is the Woofer also red striped?

 

[drbiggles]

Thanks much for all that info.....looks like I will be busy for a while hunting those down, but yours and others' assistance has given me lots of confidence. Thanks again to all for the help and kind words.....I'll let you all know how it goes!

Hey,

You're more than welcome. Others came to my need when I was in exactly the same place a few years ago. I couldn't have done what I did without AK's users!

If you're looking for something to modify. Maybe not today, but some time down the road? The midrange could use a box built around it. The backwaves from the midrange and the woofer, to my ears, kinda mess with each other. On my W70 thread I was also given a real crossover design for the W70, something else I'm going to tackle some day. It's towards the end of the thread, there's a lot of blather in there.

http://audiokarma.org/forums/index....fedale-w70s-biggles-dream-is-realized.638442/

Biggles

 

[BilboBaggins]

Beautiful speakers fishead! I had a pair not nearly in as good condition as yours and with a tiny plywood box around the tweeter. A bit harder to get at.

You should experiment with different amps until you get one that sounds really good with them. They don't seem to like big honking power amps as much as they love the older smaller gear. Mine sounded best with tubes, which would support your own statement about how they sounded before the lightning strike. I had decent luck with a Sansui Model 2000, an older Sherwood, and Pilot receivers. I wanted to hear them and experiment with amplifiers with them, but in the end, they didn't stay with me.

 

[Fishead]

Yes, that is absolutely right. See my attached pic. Looks identical! Is the Woofer also red striped?

Nope, just the midrange speaker has that red stripe on mine. Perhaps just the year they were built. Do yours have a date on the cones of the mid and bass drivers? Mine are 6/66.....I would venture a bet that yours are close to that.....thanks for the heads-up!

 

[Fishead]

Beautiful speakers fishead! I had a pair not nearly in as good condition as yours and with a tiny plywood box around the tweeter. A bit harder to get at.

You should experiment with different amps until you get one that sounds really good with them. They don't seem to like big honking power amps as much as they love the older smaller gear. Mine sounded best with tubes, which would support your own statement about how they sounded before the lightning strike. I had decent luck with a Sansui Model 2000, an older Sherwood, and Pilot receivers. I wanted to hear them and experiment with amplifiers with them, but in the end, they didn't stay with me.

Hey Bilbo, will do exactly that. I have a really pristine Pioneer SA-9100 that I'm going to try with them once I have the crossovers rehabbed. Am going to be on the lookout for something even more vintage though, would be totally amazing if I can find one of those Scotts my Dad had.....haven't seen any for sale anywhere though. Thanks for your suggestions and those of biggles too!

 

[drbiggles]

Hey,

The red magnet rigs are Alnico magnet versions. The Alnico Super 3 has a gold magnet. The later drivers were ceramic magnets and were flat and round, like the ones on your woofer and tweeter. It's just fun to see what's tucked into the cabinets. And if you're going to be flipping or parting them out, the red/Alnico versions will fetch more cash than their ceramic counterparts.

Biggles

 

[Drugolf]

Fish, I assume yo have the cable for these? Can't quite tell if the connections at the back are a banana hole or if they are the RCA type? That may be something worth changing at some point. Let's see what others think about that. one of my pairs has an even odder connection with a single hole and cables that came with the speakers.

 

[N8Nagel]

Interesting, I just looked at the pics and see that these are labeled "Rank Wharfedale" I thought that the W70Ds (later than W70) postdated the Rank buyout. Or was it the "E" etc. that were the first Rank-influenced designs? (I'm still learning here.) My own D's are no help as they are Radio People cabs so they are dual labeled "Wharfedale" and "Radio People".

 

[El Cavano]

Nope, just the midrange speaker has that red stripe on mine. Perhaps just the year they were built. Do yours have a date on the cones of the mid and bass drivers? Mine are 6/66.....I would venture a bet that yours are close to that.....thanks for the heads-up!

I opened my cabinets a few months ago, and it was hard to read the date code. I thought it said 68, but I need to open them up and take another look. Might take the tweeter isolation box off as well to inspect the driver.

One thing about mine that I haven't seen elsewhere is the badge is on the upper right part of the grill, but at an angle (see attached pic). It says "Wharfedale 70". So many variations in the W70 speaker. Very interesting. I think mine might be the B model (split Alinco/Ceramic and ported).