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Mirage M1 maintenance

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birillone

New Member
Greetings to all

I would like to know if it is possible - when it may be necessary - to change the foam on the midrange (4) of my Mirage M1 first series (Mirage M1 BW 1989). I don't think there is a need for it yet but - perhaps - too many years have passed and the foam is aging (like me).

There are four identical speakers in all. The original foam is treated /covered with a non-definable substance. I do not know what it is. I contacted Simply Speaker but they say their replacement (foam speaker repair kit - Section Mirage M-1 Midrange 4DR5 1690 5) is not exactly ideal. maybe not even correct for my M1.
From this honest answer I deduce that the replacement foam with the right characteristics is not easy to find.

Other advice. My tweeters in the Mirages are still okay but I felt it would be wise to perhaps change or renew the ferrofluid. Here too, I'm just curious: Repeat: everything works but the years pass.

Is it an easy operation? Is worth? Surely I will have to contact a specialized operator. My fear is that the tweeters are the original ones (n 4) Mirage Hiperbolic - practically unobtainable - and I want to keep them. After all, the Mirage M1s sound like God.

Thanks for a possible answer or advice
 
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Yes...i'm unlucky wth forums... maybe i ask uninteresting things...or that interest me only.....I apologize and thanks to oll
 
I can understand wanting to do preventative maintenance in this case though I would go with the old If ain't broke don't fix it adage.
 
Thanks for the reply. True. Anxiety to prevent and also to know what and how to do, and who to ask, if trouble will happen.
But you are absolutely right. Until all is well ..... do nothing!
Greetings
 
If you pull the socks down and inspect the foam surrounds, you'll find that they are most likely deteriorated like the 6 speakers I have and found all to be rotten. The Simply Speakers foam will work, and for no more movement that the midranges move, should be fine.The first 4 midrange are done, now have 4 more to go.

There are people who replace ferrofluid, as by their videos on Youtube. Once you would replace the ferrofluid, you'll be good for many years.
Here is one place:

the big Mirage M series are spectacular in providing the room-filling "Wall of Sound"
 
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Thanks for the reply.
The guy in the video knows what to do and certainly above my expertise.
But it is good to know that - perhaps - it can also be done on the very special tweeters of the M1.

For SimplySpeak's midrange foam, they've also told me it's the latest change. But just in case I'll take that into consideration.

And, yes, listening to the M1s are great and it's difficult to replace them with equal satisfaction (I've tried over the years to find something better but those that exceed them are much much more expensive (IMHO)
 
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Were it me,... I would consider that once you replace that foam it's no longer an M! as it was designed ..
That driver with it's characteristics was chosen from a selection of drivers for a specific reason ...

I would be operating on the if it ain't broke principle here ..

Re-foams are common but if you're not using an OEM part, the characteristics of the driver are being modified ..

Read an interesting piece somewhere by Peter Snell about the importance of the foam in his drivers ..
Took him a good while to get it right and it was a very specialized foam as I recall ..
 
It's pretty easy to just see some foam that holds a cone in place, but a designer is looking at specific compliance and resonance specs ..
 
@Akustic..Thanks. Absolutely correct. I share. That's why I looked for advice in the forum. And this also explains SimplySpeaker's answer about the - perhaps - inadequacy of their foam. I's not easy to find foam with the same characteristics and so - as long as everything is fine ... do nothing! The same goes for tweeters, where i think the replacement of the ferrofluid is the only intervention allowed (and only if necessary).
Anyway for me always hot topic..........

Thank you all (Dswankey-Hobie1dog)
 
birillone said:
Thanks for the tip. I had found this indication on the net a few years ago. But I understand that Cris has not been operational for many years and does not respond to emails. Maybe I'm wrong.
Thanks
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I obviously can’t talk for him but I have been in contact recently and he just did a pair of Energy 22’s over for me. I think during Covid he may have a little more time for the speakers.
 
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stratjeep said:
I obviously can’t talk for him but I have been in contact recently and he just did a pair of Energy 22’s over for me. I think during Covid he may have a little more time for the speakers.
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It is good news. I will try to contact him. It is certainly a resource you can rely on in case of need.
thanks
 
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