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How do I remove a bad tweeter from my Kef Reference Model 103/3's?

intelonetwo

intelonetwo

New Member
Hello,
I have a pair of beautiful Kef Reference Model 103/3's. One of the speakers has a bad tweeter and after a bit of research it appears the popular thing to do is replace the tweeter with a Morel MDT29.

How do you remove the tweeter? I've unscrewed the 4 screws from the tweeter but it won't release. Do I need to pry it out? I've been hesitant to really put any leverage into it for fear of damaging the beautiful cabinet. Do you have any pointer of how to remove the tweeter?

Continuing on, should I be using the 8ohm MDT29 or the 4ohm? Square face or round face?

Any help here would be greatly appreciated.
 

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Thanks for lead. The speaker you linked to is a 103/4 which has different cabinet construction than the 103/3 cabinet. I'm not sure mine has a removable bottom plate through which I can remove the tweeter.
Anyone with more info?
 
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I've owned my 103/3s since new. The tweeters are best removed by pushing from behind. Some people might disagree but don't try to unsolder the wires. Remove them from the crossover or cut them.The magnet is strong and voice coil wires are thin. Use crimp-ons to reinstall.
Why would you consider using any tweeter other than an original? Replacements are out there. Watch the auction site.
BTW--- Is the tweeter dead or just not sounding good? Could be a ferrofluid issue.
Good luck
Jimmy
 
DOBIEGUY said:
I've owned my 103/3s since new. The tweeters are best removed by pushing from behind. Some people might disagree but don't try to unsolder the wires. Remove them from the crossover or cut them.The magnet is strong and voice coil wires are thin. Use crimp-ons to reinstall.
Why would you consider using any tweeter other than an original? Replacements are out there. Watch the auction site.
BTW--- Is the tweeter dead or just not sounding good? Could be a ferrofluid issue.
Good luck
Jimmy
Click to expand...
Thanks for the tips DOBIEGUY. I'll take heed.

Re: Using mdt29's.
I've read several posts stating the originals are not only expensive and hard to find but don't sound all that good compared to the Morel. The MDT29 is readily available and seem to have a good track record of working as a replacement. Apparently Winslow Audio uses or use to use it as a replacement for the T33. Though I do know which version Morel mdt29 to use; 4 or 8 ohm version.

The tweeter has zero output. From my reading it could be ferrofluid, the VC or an xover capacitor in rare cases.
 
Correct me if I'm wrong but the Morel is round and not a drop in replacement.
The T-33 is used in a few KEFs from that era. Do the research.
As for expensive, the speaker is worthless with a dead driver. It deserves a correct repair.
As for what 'others'(especially those in the replacement driver business)say,well-----------
 
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DOBIEGUY said:
Correct me if I'm wrong but the Morel is round and not a drop in replacement.
The T-33 is used in a few KEFs from that era. Do the research.
As for expensive, the speaker is worthless with a dead driver. It deserves a correct repair.
As for what 'others' say,well---------------
Click to expand...
Yeah, I understand. Digging into the speaker just isn't what want to be doing at this point. I'd just as soon sell them then tear into them. Leave it to someone who likes to tinker.
 
Just for the record, the tweeter is round, it's the faceplate that is square. Some folks have gone to the trouble of modifying the faceplate to fit the Morel tweeters into the square faceplate.
 
darkblue94 said:
Just for the record, the tweeter is round, it's the faceplate that is square. Some folks have gone to the trouble of modifying the faceplate to fit the Morel tweeters into the square faceplate.
Click to expand...
The pics I've seen show the tweeter with the faceplate removed. Both are round once faceplate is removed arent they?

Thomas
 
(I posted this to another Kef Reference thread as well. FYI. I'm reposting it here.)

I got the tweeter removed. It tested open so the VC is gone. In the process of pulling the tweeter I had to pull bottom plate off which meant the woofer had to come out as well. Lowandbehold, the donut is shot.

Oh, how I didn't expect to be here! Anywho, the donut repair seems to be just easy enough for me to do. :^) I'll repair the tweeter and donuts on both speakers.

Now the question becomes.
  1. Replace the tweeters with Morel MDT29's or MDT30's?
  2. Repair the stock tweeters with a ferrofluid service?
  3. Who to buy donuts from? Are there rubber one's that won't rot over time?
From this a couple of questions come up.
  1. If replacing the tweeters with MDT29, do I need to modify the crossover any to match the T33 SP1210? I've read that the MDT29 is a bit hotter than the T33.
  2. Will doing the ferrofluid service get the tweeters to within spec as they were when new?
Your thoughts?

Also, can you recommend a company to do the ferrofluid service?
 
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