Infinity RSe speakers/EMIT tweeter issue - need help!

[jpreza]

NEW UPDATE: Just finishing up the stain. While removing the woofers, I noticed that the connections between the two speakers are very different. Can someone confirm that this is correct? The speaker that was originally missing the tweeter back has a secondary board (crossover). I'm wondering if something is not correctly connected. I've attached pictures of the inside of both speakers.

I'm hoping someone could help me decipher this riddle?! I've made notations as best as I could.

TIA...JP

 

[MarkRSIIIa]

NEW UPDATE: Just finishing up the stain. While removing the woofers, I noticed that the connections between the two speakers are very different. Can someone confirm that this is correct? The speaker that was originally missing the tweeter back has a secondary board (crossover). I'm wondering if something is not correctly connected. I've attached pictures of the inside of both speakers.

I'm hoping someone could help me decipher this riddle?! I've made notations as best as I could.

TIA...JP

Looks like your secondary crossover is really a replacement crossover. They just ran the power feed from the back of the speaker (binding posts) to the new crossover. I dont know if it's good or bad. Just depends on a lot of stuff that I cant answer. You may want to get a good picture of the new crossover so some here that understand them can see what was done.

 

[goodolpg]

Looks like some sort of aftermarket crossover. Looks like the fuse has been moved inside the cabinet (not handy if it blows) and the EMIT control completely removed from the circuit? I'm not real smart about crossover components and what they do but I'm wondering if the mid/woof is being run full range or do the coils address that? Yellow cap is usually for the EMIT circuit. Being somewhat anal I'd want the two crossovers to be identical.

 

[jpreza]

Looks like some sort of aftermarket crossover. Looks like the fuse has been moved inside the cabinet (not handy if it blows) and the EMIT control completely removed from the circuit? I'm not real smart about crossover components and what they do but I'm wondering if the mid/woof is being run full range or do the coils address that? Yellow cap is usually for the EMIT circuit. Being somewhat anal I'd want the two crossovers to be identical.

I'd agree with you in that I'd like both speakers to be identical. I'm thinking that I'm going to order the caps and rewire the whole thing per the one using a single board. The mystery deepens as to why the speakers are so different!!

 

[goodolpg]

It is indeed a mystery!
While the Infinty group here at AK is very knowledgable about most things Infinity, I think only the person who modified this speaker could provide answers.
The missing backing plate is not as intriguing to me as why was the crossover mod made.
Did the AK'er you bought them from obtain them that way or did that person do the modifcation(s)?
We might never know...
JMO reworking the modified one to match the OEM one is what I'd do. I'd assume the coils are good, and probably the yellow capacitor is good so you'd only need to replace the silver NPE's (non polarized electrolytics). Shouldn't be that expensive unless the NPE's are very large values. I left those in place in my RS II's and I think my RSM's and Infintesimals as well. It seems some folks don't think those are as prone to going out of spec as other smaller value caps.

 

[MarkRSIIIa]

You could always just buy this RSe crossover for 26 bucks on eBay https://www.ebay.com/itm/313784173084 and just plug and play.

 

[jpreza]

You could always just buy this RSe crossover for 26 bucks on eBay https://www.ebay.com/itm/313784173084 and just plug and play.

Sounds like the easy way to go. By the time I buy the caps and rewire everything, the $26 is well worth it! Thanks!

 

[goodolpg]

Sounds like the easy way to go. By the time I buy the caps and rewire everything, the $26 is well worth it! Thanks!

Except the replacement crossover still might need recapping...but that's probably what I'd do. Buy the replacement and remove the other crossovers.
Recapping RSe's shouldn't be all that expensive anyways.

 

[jpreza]

Except the replacement crossover still might need recapping...but that's probably what I'd do. Buy the replacement and remove the other crossovers.
Recapping RSe's shouldn't be all that expensive anyways.

Thanks for the advice! I will most likely recap the replacement crossover. Just bought it off epay, so it should be here in a few days. In the meantime, here's what the speakers look like right now all put together - they look real pretty if I may say so!

EDIT: This is the project that keeps on giving, or should I say taking (more $$) !!

 

[goodolpg]

Thanks for the advice! I will most likely recap the replacement crossover. Just bought it off epay, so it should be here in a few days. In the meantime, here's what the speakers look like right now all put together - they look real pretty if I may say so!

EDIT: This is the project that keeps on giving, or should I say taking (more $$) !!

You should be getting close to less $ invested (after caps) and more time listening. I hope you are happy once they are done. Until you want a bigger pair.
My "habit" started innocently enough, bought a pair of RSa's new around 1981. Then a pair of RSM's in 1983.
I was cured for a while. Then a few years ago bought a pair of Infinitesimals which had to be totally rebuilt, the drivers were ALL bad and the cabs needed a freshining up. Couple years after that I picked an IL120S subwoofer at a local garage sales. A few years ago once I had proper amplification I bought a pair of RS II's. I shudder to think of all the spare parts and drivers I've picked up after I decided I would never be without my RSM's again. Good thing my RS II's use the same 5" midrange and EMIT diaphragms. Of course I HAD to buy 2 pairs of 10" woofers as backups for the RS II's.
I never would have pictured all that happening after I bought that first pair of RSa's decades ago...I suspect a few AK'ers also followed a similar path. Just sayin'...

 

[jpreza]

You should be getting close to less $ invested (after caps) and more time listening. I hope you are happy once they are done. Until you want a bigger pair.
My "habit" started innocently enough, bought a pair of RSa's new around 1981. Then a pair of RSM's in 1983.
I was cured for a while. Then a few years ago bought a pair of Infinitesimals which had to be totally rebuilt, the drivers were ALL bad and the cabs needed a freshining up. Couple years after that I picked an IL120S subwoofer at a local garage sales. A few years ago once I had proper amplification I bought a pair of RS II's. I shudder to think of all the spare parts and drivers I've picked up after I decided I would never be without my RSM's again. Good thing my RS II's use the same 5" midrange and EMIT diaphragms. Of course I HAD to buy 2 pairs of 10" woofers as backups for the RS II's.
I never would have pictured all that happening after I bought that first pair of RSa's decades ago...I suspect a few AK'ers also followed a similar path. Just sayin'...

Funny you say that, because I just contacted a local seller who has a pair of RSa's that I was planning to buy as a backup. If I understand correctly, the RSa's are a little beefier than my RSe's. Sooo, here I go again....

I'll update the forum once I get the RSe crossover; I also ordered the caps from Digikey so my project will continue into this weekend most likely.

Thanks again....JP

 

[goodolpg]

Yup, that's how it starts.
If you do get them you should be somewhat familiar with the treble range as it's similar to the RSe's. The RSa's do go a bit lower in the bass compared to the RSe's.
A recap and refoam if not done already should get them in good working order.

 

[jpreza]

Yup, that's how it starts.
If you do get them you should be somewhat familiar with the treble range as it's similar to the RSe's. The RSa's do go a bit lower in the bass compared to the RSe's.
A recap and refoam if not done already should get them in good working order.

I'll be picking them up on Friday, so really excited to get them!

 

[goodolpg]

Did you get the RSa's?

 

[jpreza]

Did you get the RSa's?

I did! I picked them up late last night before going out of town on a business trip, so my project will have to wait until this weekend. They sounded good, they look a little rough on the outside - one of them has what appeared to be a water stain. I asked the seller and he was very honest about it - he said they were his college speakers back in the 80s. He remembers that at one of the parties, someone put the one speaker under the keg. Talk about a balancing act! Most likely it's how it got the water stain. He said it was time to give them a good home as they've been sitting in his basement for most of this millennium.

That said, I'm very happy with my purchase, as they appear to be ready to go, as he refoamed them way back when. So, the only thing I need to do is sand them, and stain them to give them new life.

Regarding my RSe crossover, it arrived in the mail on Saturday, but with my trip, I didn't have a chance to install it. So actually, I have two projects waiting for me when I get home this weekend. Really looking forward to it. I will post pictures of the RSa's before and after.

JP

 

[MarkRSIIIa]

I delt with a couple water stains in the video I posted on page 1.

 

[jpreza]

I did! I picked them up late last night before going out of town on a business trip, so my project will have to wait until this weekend. They sounded good, they look a little rough on the outside - one of them has what appeared to be a water stain. I asked the seller and he was very honest about it - he said they were his college speakers back in the 80s. He remembers that at one of the parties, someone put the one speaker under the keg. Talk about a balancing act! Most likely it's how it got the water stain. He said it was time to give them a good home as they've been sitting in his basement for most of this millennium.

That said, I'm very happy with my purchase, as they appear to be ready to go, as he refoamed them way back when. So, the only thing I need to do is sand them, and stain them to give them new life.

Regarding my RSe crossover, it arrived in the mail on Saturday, but with my trip, I didn't have a chance to install it. So actually, I have two projects waiting for me when I get home this weekend. Really looking forward to it. I will post pictures of the RSa's before and after.

JP

Here they are. This is the before pictures. I’ll get them sanded today. If I have time I’ll get at least one stain coat before applying the sealant. More pictures to come!

 

[MarkRSIIIa]

They dont look like the right woofers....

 

[goodolpg]

They are not the correct woofers.
They were most likely built with the gray bullet nose phase plug, the clear bullet nose phase plug is a proper replacement driver.
I don't know if the seller didn't disclose they were replacment woofers. I've encouraged people to check Google or ebay images to make sure the speakers they are going to audition contain the correct drivers.
At this point I'm not sure what to recommend. A pair of the correct original gray or replacement clear woofers will most likely cost at least $80 (or more) plus shipping. At some point it becomes "is it worth getting the right parts" compared to what they would be worth if selling.

 

[jpreza]

They are not the correct woofers.
They were most likely built with the gray bullet nose phase plug, the clear bullet nose phase plug is a proper replacement driver.
I don't know if the seller didn't disclose they were replacment woofers. I've encouraged people to check Google or ebay images to make sure the speakers they are going to audition contain the correct drivers.
At this point I'm not sure what to recommend. A pair of the correct original gray or replacement clear woofers will most likely cost at least $80 (or more) plus shipping. At some point it becomes "is it worth getting the right parts" compared to what they would be worth if selling.
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Thanks for pointing that out. I should've looked at the ad more closely. The woofers are rat shack replacements! The ad read "newer woofers" and I missed that! So, at this point, I'll have to keep looking for replacement woofers. :-( would you be able to point me as to what I should be looking for in terms of replacing them with correct woofers?