Modulus woofers blown: Looking for replacement or repair

[SuperKris]

Hi,

A horrible error while switching sources caused the 5,5" woofers from my modulus to blow. These are the 902-4095 woofers by IMG.

I really need my modulus set to be restored because i really do not want to switch speakers. So far i have not been able to source 2 woofers or a new set of the whole speaker locally. I see one set in the UK, and 2 in the USA but those are going to cost me over €400,- including shipping and tax. Also i want to restore this one because there are to little of these left.

1) Can anyone point me to a source for 2 new or used woofers. Preferably within Europe (I live in the Netherlands)

2) Are there companys out there that can replace the coil? If so, will the effect the sound of the speaker? If anyone knows somebody that can help with this in the Netherlands, please let me know!

Thanks for your replys!

 

[swechsler]

Woofers can frequently be repaired. When a voice coil burns out, more often than not it happens where the VC wire attaches to the tinsel, which makes for a relatively easy repair (although it usually requires complete disassembly of the driver, which is a lot more difficult with a cone than a dome). Start with Google, see if you can find any speaker repair places in your area. If all else fails, contact Millersound in the US and see if they'd be willing to deal with an international transaction - I'd be willing to bet that they can repair it.

I found Speaker Repair Shop in the Netherlands who sell speaker parts. While they don't appear to do repairs, it's possible that they know somebody who can. An audio dealer (either home or pro audio) may be another resource that may be able to give you some referrals.

 

[SuperKris]

Thank you. After a google search it seems there are plenty of company's in the Netherlands that offert this service. I'll contact a few and ask if they can help me and at what cost. If anyone can recommend a specific repair service please let me know.

Is a repair likely to have a negative effect on the performance of the speaker? A coil with a lower resistance or inductance might effect the working of the filter. I can also imagine that not all coils will have the same magnetic strength and shape of field effecting the moving of the speaker.

I do not want to change the very well balanced performance of the speaker.

 

[Grenadeslio]

Thank you. After a google search it seems there are plenty of company's in the Netherlands that offert this service. I'll contact a few and ask if they can help me and at what cost. If anyone can recommend a specific repair service please let me know.

Is a repair likely to have a negative effect on the performance of the speaker? A coil with a lower resistance or inductance might effect the working of the filter. I can also imagine that not all coils will have the same magnetic strength and shape of field effecting the moving of the speaker.

I do not want to change the very well balanced performance of the speaker.

The mid/bass driver is not "by" IMG, it's made of Injection molded graphite, in other words, IMG.
it just so happens I have a pair but one cone is damaged. I repaired it with black fingernail polish and used it that way for many many yrs, only recently replaced them even though I had the replacements for yrs lol. They still work fine but I just figured it was time I used the replacements.

Now before anyone gets their panties in a bunch I'm not offering to sell them. Only mentioning this to let the OP know replacements do show up, keep your eye on eBay. I know I've seen them recently, but even as rare as these are be aware there are 3 different iterations.

The earliest had a curvilinear dustcap made of the same IMG material as the driver.

The second had a smaller dustcap that was concave and plastic.

The third I've only seen in pictures and appears to be a flat plastic disc.

 

[swechsler]

Is a repair likely to have a negative effect on the performance of the speaker? A coil with a lower resistance or inductance might effect the working of the filter. I can also imagine that not all coils will have the same magnetic strength and shape of field effecting the moving of the speaker.

I do not want to change the very well balanced performance of the speaker.

Typically they'll only need to remove one revolution of the winding, which on a woofer is an inconsequential change. AKers who have repaired tweeters (which usually have shorter VC windings) this way have reported no audible change in performance. The change that we're talking about is probably less than the manufacturing tolerance between individual units.

 

[SuperKris]

.... but even as rare as these are be aware there are 3 different iterations.

The earliest had a curvilinear dustcap made of the same IMG material as the driver.

The second had a smaller dustcap that was concave and plastic.

The third I've only seen in pictures and appears to be a flat plastic disc.

I seem to have the 1st one. Personally i have never seen different versions IRL.
Do you know is anything else is different than just the dust cap?

Typically they'll only need to remove one revolution of the winding, which on a woofer is an inconsequential change. AKers who have repaired tweeters (which usually have shorter VC windings) this way have reported no audible change in performance. The change that we're talking about is probably less than the manufacturing tolerance between individual units.

So typically they burn at the end/beginning of the coil? If this is the case it might be possible to do the repair myself. Just remove the dustcap. (if possible) unwind a little, and resolder the wire.
Any advice on how to remove and glue back the dustcap? I can imagine this is not hold together by the most typical of glue.

 

[swechsler]

No, removing the dust cap won't allow you to do it (not that I think you'll be able to remove the dust cap without destroying the entire thing). The dust cap allows you access to the inside of the coil former, but the coil is is wound on the outside of the former. To get to the coil will require removing the cone from the frame, which at the very least involves ungluing the spider and the surround (although either or both may end up needing to be replaced; that's something that your tech can tell you).

 

[Russya]

I know it seems crazy, but give Infinity/Harman a call. Just in case.

About ten years ago I called them about getting a replacement midbass coupler for my Ren90's and they didn't have any, five years later I was calling them for something different and low and behold they had a few of those drivers available. I've also gotten a replacement Modulus woofer from them, but that was 2010ish. Not promising they will have them, but you should at least reach out and try.