MCS 8330 (683-8330) speakers

[Copa1934]

I'm trying to help out a guy. He's got a pair, which are in my possession at the moment. Both tweeters are missing and one mid, you aren't going to believe this, is gutted, but it gets better. A driver, at some point, was attached to the frame of the installed driver! I've never seen that done before. Yes they had a driver mounted, effectively, inside the other driver frame. Weird.

Anyway, I've located original and correct tweeters, but not the mids. I did, however, locate mids for the 8225, which are the soft dome 1" mids. I'm just wondering, out loud of course, if the soft dome will make for a good match with the woofer and tweeter. Both original mid and tweeter are sealed back, so the dome would be a good match in that sense, not requiring a bucket/cup behind the driver.

Thoughts, ideas, keep the snide remarks to yourself, trying to help someone who is sentimentally attached.

Thanks!

 

[bakes]

Check the back of the drivers; were there built by Technics for MCS? Once the manufacturer is ID'd you may be able to find the correct driver on that auction site. No idea how the dome mid would interact with the crossover in the speaker you have.

 

[macgolf]

It's great that you are helping out someone with an attachment to these speakers. As already suggested pull the mids and check the auction site. These were probably made for others besides MCS and you may be able to find a match by driver number. My first refoam job was a pair of MCS speakers that had been driven hard after the foams were shot. Had to open the speaker protection circuit to reset it. I was grateful for the experience and it made someone a very nice set of speakers. I would have considered keeping them but floor standing speaker space was already occupied with speakers that had sentimental value.

Consider placing a WTB in BT.

Mark

 

[Copa1934]

SASS12PM01-F. No clue on manufacturer, though stamped "Japan", so assuming it's a decent driver. Sucker is pretty heavy construction. Not at all light weight. Unusually heavy gauge steel. Impressive really.

 

[Copa1934]

I'll pull the other, I haven't tested yet, and try running DATS on it. If I can get T/S I might be able to find a suitable pair of replacements with PE. They have a bunch of sealed back mids, several the correct dimensions.

 

[Hifirob2]

If the midrange from the 8225 is a proper fit, give it a try, and see how it sounds. The 8330s were from Technics, whereas the 8225 was made by United Speaker, so they may not be 100% compatible. Also, the 8330s could handle a lot more power than the 8225s - 120 watts vs. 50 watts, so that midrange may not work at very high volumes?

 

[Copa1934]

Wonder if anyone would be interested in T/S specs for all the drivers. Not too much trouble to do.

 

[drumbum]

I have a pair of 8245's. 10" 3 way, cone tweet w/control, dome mid. The mid isn't orange like a lot of 'em. Original foam on woofer. Have not been able to find much of any info on these, like sensitivity or power handling.

 

[Copa1934]

I'm going to check these out more closely, but honestly they don't seem like foam to me. They're very soft and very pliable. Like cloth, but not, I think.

 

[Hifirob2]

I have a pair of 8245's. 10" 3 way, cone tweet w/control, dome mid. The mid isn't orange like a lot of 'em. Original foam on woofer. Have not been able to find much of any info on these, like sensitivity or power handling.

The 8245s were normally sold along with the 45 wpc rack system of NEC built components in 1979 (3245 int. amp., 3701 tuner, and 3564 cassette). They were different from the line of speakers like the 8225, 8226, 8227, and 8228s (Made in USA). The 8235, 8345, and 8265 models were made in Japan I believe (and some assembled in Canada), and were re-badged NEC speakers (similar to the AUS-7000) - although I don't think NEC made their own speakers. I don't have the sensitivity spec for the 8245s, but I do have this:

Bass reflex design with 10" woofer with 15 oz magnet and 1 5/16" voice coil
5 1/4" cone midrange with 8.6 oz magnet
2 1/2" cone tweeter with 1.71 oz magnet
cabinet is 5/8" thick
power handling of 10-50 wpc
treble adjustment control
8 ohm impedance rating
crossover points at 4000Hz and 9000Hz at 6dB per octave

These numbers are from the 1979 MCS catalog, and weren't always 100% accurate.

 

[drumbum]

The 8245s were normally sold along with the 45 wpc rack system of NEC built components in 1979 (3245 int. amp., 3701 tuner, and 3564 cassette). They were different from the line of speakers like the 8225, 8226, 8227, and 8228s (Made in USA). The 8235, 8345, and 8265 models were made in Japan I believe (and some assembled in Canada), and were re-badged NEC speakers (similar to the AUS-7000) - although I don't think NEC made their own speakers. I don't have the sensitivity spec for the 8245s, but I do have this:

Bass reflex design with 10" woofer with 15 oz magnet and 1 5/16" voice coil
5 1/4" cone midrange with 8.6 oz magnet
2 1/2" cone tweeter with 1.71 oz magnet
cabinet is 5/8" thick
power handling of 10-50 wpc
treble adjustment control
8 ohm impedance rating
crossover points at 4000Hz and 9000Hz at 6dB per octave

These numbers are from the 1979 MCS catalog, and weren't always 100% accurate.

Thanks for that!
Mid is kinda orange/faded brownish upon further inspection with a flashlight. Kinda hidden behind the mesh dome cover.
Definitely a dome mid.
50hz-20khz
683-8245
catalog #853-2137
Made in usa

Do those numbers match your catalog?

 

[Hifirob2]

Thanks for that!
Mid is kinda orange/faded brownish upon further inspection with a flashlight. Kinda hidden behind the mesh dome cover.
Definitely a dome mid.
50hz-20khz
683-8245
catalog #853-2137
Made in usa

Do those numbers match your catalog?

Yeah, those are correct numbers. They changed a few things throughout the production run, so a different mid or tweeter is expected. Some used a horn tweeter. And some were made in Japan, some came from Canada, and some from the USA - wherever the most cost savings could be found. Also, the glossy catalog for each year was shot and printed using advance models and sometimes prototypes, so there are errors and changes that happen. By the time the product showed up in the stores, updates were made to some items. My sister has a set of 8245s, and they came from Japan, and (I think) have a cone midrange. There should be a date code on the rear. The first digit is the last number of the year of production, and the last two numbers are the month. So, if your's say 806 (for example), they were made in June of 1978.

 

[drumbum]

Cool

 

[woofercooker]

Hey, guys! My 8225 mids are the usa made ones. Theres a dude on ebay selling a mid or a pair for the 8225s and they are made in japan. His tweeters also. This is the second time I saw a japan made mid/tweeters for the 8225. The mids in mine are very efficient. At times I wish I could turn them down on certain program material. I can and do it on the 8226. I see the 8330s have a Midrange control and that could help if needed. There are mids and tweets out there for the 8320/8330 on that aution site. Always nice to keep speakers with original drivers.

 

[Copa1934]

Waiting for the guy to get back to me. I'd like to get those drivers on eBay, but I'm not investing in something I can't get back. Hope he calls before they're gone. Timing is everything.

 

[Copa1934]

Long story short, they're up and running with all original drivers. Got lucky and found correct drivers listed on the bay. I've taken measurements of all the drivers, before assembly. I'll post some more images, and more info later.

 

[howzat]

Resurrecting this 8-year-old thread to see if there is any current enthusiasm and knowledge for the MCS 683-8330. I bought a really inexpensive pair about 18 months ago. The grill cloths had a white mold-like discoloration from long term storage but the cabinets and driver surrounds looked great. I removed the grills and gently hand washed them a few times and the discoloration has (almost) gone. You can only see what remains if you specifically look for it. Maybe another wash or two will remove what is left but I suspect the law of diminishing returns.

Anyway, I have been really happy with these speakers. I have several pairs of vintage speakers and also a few pairs of modern speakers and the MCS 683-8330 are one of my favorites. I swap them in and out with every vintage (or newer) amp/receiver/DAC combo that I can try, and they just sound wonderful with everything I have available.

After searching various related threads here, I am wondering how they might sound if I look into a capacitor replacement. As the saying goes...if it isn't broke, don't fix it.

Just wondering if anyone has any recent experience or opinions on this. Also, what is the closest Technics equivalent? I have started searching CL and other avenues.

One last question. If anyone else is using these - what is your favorite amp/ receiver pairing?

 

[Macdaddy]

Resurrecting this 8-year-old thread to see if there is any current enthusiasm and knowledge for the MCS 683-8330. I bought a really inexpensive pair about 18 months ago. The grill cloths had a white mold-like discoloration from long term storage but the cabinets and driver surrounds looked great. I removed the grills and gently hand washed them a few times and the discoloration has (almost) gone. You can only see what remains if you specifically look for it. Maybe another wash or two will remove what is left but I suspect the law of diminishing returns.

Anyway, I have been really happy with these speakers. I have several pairs of vintage speakers and also a few pairs of modern speakers and the MCS 683-8330 are one of my favorites. I swap them in and out with every vintage (or newer) amp/receiver/DAC combo that I can try, and they just sound wonderful with everything I have available.

After searching various related threads here, I am wondering how they might sound if I look into a capacitor replacement. As the saying goes...if it isn't broke, don't fix it.

Just wondering if anyone has any recent experience or opinions on this. Also, what is the closest Technics equivalent? I have started searching CL and other avenues.

One last question. If anyone else is using these - what is your favorite amp/ receiver pairing?

I have a pair of the 8330's I am putting up on marketplace but not taking low ball offers, I let a guy talk me down to to $260 for a pair of HPM 60's and should have just said no. He just nit picked them. The cabinets are about a 8/10 with one small corner missing on back corner and slight peeling on veneer at bottom. I really want to keep them but need to thin the herd and I promised my wife I would get rid of the a lot of my speakers. Mine have the original foam which is intact but new pliable foam would do wonders for these.. They are a pretty solid sounding but I feel a tad on the bright side. I am hoping they dont sell so I can keep them!

 

[Copa1934]

I've finally reached the "time to part, time to downsize" stage in my life. I won't give up buying and restoring, but now with the primary goal of putting the many wonderful speakers of mine into the hands of future "enthusiasts". I'll do more good for the hobby spreading the joy than being a dick and hoarding these fun "blasts from the past". Better to inspire young minds than to sit atop stuff you don't even use. ;-)