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Looking for Wharfedale components

M

mottlycru

New Member
Hello from the central Oregon coast! I'm new to this site as of a few days ago. I was led here after doing a google search for information on a pair of Wharfedale W70D, 4-way speakers I obtained a few years ago. From this site I was able to download the specification sheet on these speakers, and I would like to thank the member who posted this information. * inappropriate content removed by moderator *
 
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Have you turned the woofer 180 degrees and reinstalled? The drivers have a very small voice coil gap and it is not unusual for the voice coils to settle and rub over the years. Usually turning them and letting them settle will bring them back. Make sure you do not push the speakers. They were not designed for high spl, think polite apartment levels with the Hulk living next door and he does not like music.

You've got a nice set of speakers especially for that system that you just want to be happy listening to the music.
 
* comment on edited portion of post deleted by moderator *

That being said, welcome to AudioKarma, I hope you enjoy your time here amongst the finest audio enthusiasts you will find anywhere!
 
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Hi and welcome to AK. One way to keep moderators happy is to become a subscriber! This place is wonderful and full of good folks . Hope you enjoy it here!
john
 
Welcome to AK, mottlycru! :music: Hope you get the Wharfedale's sorted out, very nice speakers.

imready said:
Hi and welcome to AK. One way to keep moderators happy is to become a subscriber!
Click to expand...
I do *appreciate* folks who subscribe or donate in support of the site, because I enjoy being here as much as any of you guys... but I can't say the entirety of my happiness relies exclusively upon it. :)

Doesn't hurt to be thorough, though. :thmbsp:
 
New Member, also with W70Ds

Hello Mottlycru,

I'm also new to AK and just downloaded the same spec sheets. What a fantastic resource! I've just removed the drivers and crossover networks from my speakers and am refinishing the teak cabinets while I research the crossover rebuilding project. My speakers sounded great to me even with the upper mid driver in one and the lower mid driver in the other not working. I don't know if that's more indicative of how good the speakers are or how bad my hearing is! I used Ace Hardware refinishing liquid (much cheaper than Formby's) to dissolve and remove the old finish, and it worked fine. Only a very light hand sanding was required afterwards to remove a few slight bumps in the overhanging moldings, and to prep the flat surfaces for the new finish. I do yacht restorations on the side and am tempted to go with the zillion coat traditional varnish treatment. It looks great on teak, but a hard oil treatment such as Daly's Pro Fin would be more in keeping with the original oil finish. (faster too)
If you're going to mess around with the crossovers I found that removing the drivers allowed very good access to the inside and back of the cabinet. The plywood sheet that the crossover network is mounted on is tacked and glued to the back of the cabinet. The nails are small and though I removed them with a very small wrecking bar I still had to pry the boards off, and some of the ply remained behind when they came off. No big deal. The crossovers are not that complicated. I think I'll be fine rebuilding them myself with some advice about the various components from the gang here.
Did you see the other threads about the Wharfedales here? Check out "Wharfedale crossover". I don't know how to attach a link to the thread yet or I would. Good luck with your speakers. You're going to love them!

Bruce
 
W70Ds up and running

I recapped the crossover networks, bypassing the mid range potentiameters, but leaving the high range ones intact. All the original drivers are still working. I don't know if the wiring was original, but it wasn't done very well, in particular the connections between the aluminum wires from the induction coils and the potentiameters. I think that those connections were most of the problem with the mid range drivers not working.

The cabinets turned out very nice. Eleven coats of varnish. They're like mirrors! The speakers sound great with my Scott 222C tube amp. When I A/B'd them alongside a pair of Klipsch Fortes driven by a Yamaha CR-620 I had to give a slight edge to the Klipschs, but my seven year old daughter (who still has good hearing) preferred the Wharfedales.

Bottom line: a novice with a little enthusiasm, access to Audiokarma, and a soldering iron can get great results rebuilding deserving vintage gear!
 
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