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MCS 8224 Speakers never used. Keep them as they are or replace all the guts with good stuff?

Keep them as they are or replace everything with Peerless drivers Vifa tweeters and real crossovers.

  • Keep them as they are

    Votes: 17 100.0%

  • Turn them into something worth listening to

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    17
  • Poll closed .
Ric Harris

Ric Harris

Active Member
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The carton was unopened until today. Hard to believe but true. There at the very least 35 years old. So the question is would anyone desire mint MCS speakers (with new surrounds) or do I pull the old stuff out including a crossover that is likely just a resistor and a cap and put Peerless drivers Vifa Tweeters and real crossover with a couple inductor coils, caps and cement resistors and a L-Pad for the tweeter volume. I have all the stuff to do either but I want to hear from you. Tell me why I should preserve these MSC/Technics speakers

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Give the stock stuff a chance then the crate motor.:)

The surrounds are bad.Looks like stored in dry conditions. Any rubbing noises from the voice coil?
 
I'd refoam and recap, then possibly replace the tweeters with inexpensive domes (it;s unlikely much design work went into matching the original woofer and tweeter), if the top end is absent (typical with vintage Panasonic mass-market speakers). I think I'd probably leave the woofers in place.

Have you used Unibox (or some other speaker design software) to see how those Peerless woofers will do in that enclosure?
 
They've made it so far in such great condition, even though you may not appreciate who they are as loudspeakers. There are so many MCS fans out there and they'd absolutely LOVE to have them. You don't even have to refoam them, or put new caps in them. Just find a home where they'll be loved, appreciated and left as they should be, stock. If you do decide to keep them, just a refoam and a recap will do. If you want to try your hand at installing different drivers and crossovers, go for it. But find a pair of speakers that are good candidates for that.

Biggles
 
swechsler said:
I'd refoam and recap, then possibly replace the tweeters with inexpensive domes (it;s unlikely much design work went into matching the original woofer and tweeter), if the top end is absent (typical with vintage Panasonic mass-market speakers). I think I'd probably leave the woofers in place.

Have you used Unibox (or some other speaker design software) to see how those Peerless woofers will do in that enclosure?
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Yes and the cabinet volume is really close. Just a bit larger than optimum.
 
I had a pair of MCS speakers years ago. 12"woofer, mid and tweeter. I seem to remember them having proper crossovers. Inductors, resistors and caps. The sounded pretty good.
 
See my avatar!!! MCS 8225-8228.... If you do not like them for any reason, I live one state over. Your 8224 would complete my collection! If you do enjoy them, then Keep them .:)
 
Ric Harris said:
My grandfather had a Vega wagon and the lifter noise was awful but I'd leave it stock.
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Yeah. I had a 1972 Vega GT. It was actually a lot of fun and, for it's day, that particular one looked really nice. But it was a rustbucket and the second engine was wearing out. Fortunately, some kid rear ended it while it was parked in front of my house and totaled it. :)

But if someone turned up with a new one today, it would be worth a lot more stock than fixed up. I think that is also true with vintage hi-fi. If you want good speakers, buy 'em or build 'em. But when you find a fairly good piece of equipment in NOS condition, you might be able to sell them for a good price to finance what you really want.
 
Here's the working end of the 8224. The crossover is better than I expected. The woofer is rated for 10 watts. These have a frequency rating of 50hz-15khz for the record.100_1111.JPG 100_1116.JPG 100_1121.JPG Now there may be a compromise being the woofers cone is a bit fragile and may not like having it's rotten surround removed. I have a Technics 8" 20 watt driver from the exact same time frame. Looks identical from the front but the magnet/motor is an acorn style like a Boston. Made in Japan as well. Nevertheless I have 8 surrounds on their way and will redo the originals and then stick back in the cabinet and hook them up to and amp and run them continuous for 24 hours so they can be judged fairly. The cabinets are well made and have an attractive vinyl covering.
 
woofercooker said:
See my avatar!!! MCS 8225-8228.... If you do not like them for any reason, I live one state over. Your 8224 would complete my collection! If you do enjoy them, then Keep them .:)
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Now your the type of buyer these need to go to. I have a pair of 3 ways in the rafters of my garage that I've been sitting on. The are identical to a pair of Technics I had more years ago than I care to admit. Those need a loving home too. They just need me to put surrounds in them as well.
I promise to give you first dibs before they are listed on Ebay.
 
Ric Harris said:
Yes and the cabinet volume is really close. Just a bit larger than optimum.
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If that's the case then it might be worthwhile. On the other hand, based on your last photos, the particle board seems awfully thin. Possibly not the greatest enclosure for this sort or project.
 
swechsler said:
If that's the case then it might be worthwhile. On the other hand, based on your last photos, the particle board seems awfully thin. Possibly not the greatest enclosure for this sort or project.
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The baffle's particle board is 18 mm the rest is 16 mm AKA 3/4 and 5/8 give or take. If they remain MCS I won't monkey with the box. If I create "frankenspeakers" I will take 1x2 hardwood and cut them so they span the inside width then add cleats and install them inside. It's to cut down on that hollow box renaissance. Cause no matter how much Dacron you shove in it you'll always get that with lighter weight constructed cabinets.
 
I have a pair that is the same or similar to yours. I refoamed them and capped them and, in my opinion, it was a waste of money.
 
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