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Ohm H woofer repair advice?

paulrudy

paulrudy

New Member
Hi everyone,

I'm new to vintage speakers and hi fi in general. I bought a pair of Ohm H speakers today and it looks like the woofers blew out their foam surrounds. Am I right that this only requires a refoam? Both woofers were vibrating with music, and nothing else that I can see is torn.

If so, I'd be grateful for pointers as to where to get supplies, what glue to use, what else to check.

They were listed at $250, I paid $125 because of the woofers.

Thanks,

Paul
 

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Thanks, all! After looking through AK for reviews of thr various speakers in my neighborhood on Craigslist, these seemed like the best of the inexpensive bunch.

This is exciting!

mars_volta said:
Nice score! Looks like the main top woofers have been replaced with newer Ohm drivers. The passive radiators need new foam and that should do it. Very easy!
Click to expand...

Any way to tell which are original for those that are upgraded, how do I learn what model they're upgraded to? Numbers on the back, I guess?

ctjetta said:
https://ohmspeaker.com/ Click on "Support". Good luck!
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I see parts and upgrades on Ohm's site, but no foams and glue etc. Would I be fine with something like this? I'm fairly handy but never done this before, so any advice about materials, adhesive, procedure would be welcome.

Also, anyone have opinions as to whether I should spring for the upgrades Ohm has available for the model H?

Harvestor said:
Easy fix phenomenal speakers here's my H's and my model I and my model C2 ohm acoustics are my favorite and I'm known for being a Cerwin Vega guy
View attachment 1296615
Click to expand...

They're gorgeous units. Clearly you love them, what a set up. I'm glad I chose well.
 
paulrudy said:
Thanks, all! After looking through AK for reviews of thr various speakers in my neighborhood on Craigslist, these seemed like the best of the inexpensive bunch.

This is exciting!



Any way to tell which are original for those that are upgraded, how do I learn what model they're upgraded to? Numbers on the back, I guess?



I see parts and upgrades on Ohm's site, but no foams and glue etc. Would I be fine with something like this? I'm fairly handy but never done this before, so any advice about materials, adhesive, procedure would be welcome.

Also, anyone have opinions as to whether I should spring for the upgrades Ohm has available for the model H?



They're gorgeous units. Clearly you love them, what a set up. I'm glad I chose well.
Click to expand...
That's for the 8 in which you shouldn't need as those are the upgrades like my brother got for his OHM H's back around 1994.. ohm acoustics has even better 8 inch woofer upgrades and 12 inch passive radiators. ..
If the ones you got were mine I would spend up to $500 for the newest upgrades on the 8 inch woofer and the 12 inch passive radiator directly from ohm acoustics but that's because I know what these are capable of and they're worth $1,000 in mint condition with original or upgraded drivers that have the ohm Acoustics logo on the dust caps but that is in my experience and opinion
 
You want the 12 in foam if you're looking to do the project yourself it'll be easy and cheap and get you by until if and when you might want the latest upgrades from ohm acoustics
 
Harvestor said:
That's for the 8 in which you shouldn't need as those are the upgrades like my brother got for his OHM H's back around 1994.. ohm acoustics has even better 8 inch woofer upgrades and 12 inch passive radiators. ..
If the ones you got were mine I would spend up to $500 for the newest upgrades on the 8 inch woofer and the 12 inch passive radiator directly from ohm acoustics but that's because I know what these are capable of and they're worth $1,000 in mint condition with original or upgraded drivers that have the ohm Acoustics logo on the dust caps but that is in my experience and opinion
Click to expand...

So you're saying the 8" ones are the latest upgrade? I'm amazed you can tell from a photo. If so, that's good to hear.

Wonder why the ohm dust caps are missing if these are original ohm drivers?

Harvestor said:
You want the 12 in foam if you're looking to do the project yourself it'll be easy and cheap and get you by until if and when you might want the latest upgrades from ohm acoustics
Click to expand...

Sweet.

Also, anyone know how I can tell whether these have the Ohm SubBass Activator installed?
 
Should be on the back of the woofer. I bet its there since those are upgraded woofers.

Here is mine. The passive had the original inverted foam (normal flat surround upside down). If you order the new upgraded passives they will have a nice accordian style surround. The 8" woofer has a massive magnet. Be careful if you do remove it ;)

index.php
 
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mars_volta said:
Should be on the back of the woofer. I bet its there since those are upgraded woofers.

Here is mine. The passive had the original inverted foam (normal flat surround upside down). If you order the new upgraded passives they will have a nice accordian style surround. The 8" woofer has a massive magnet. Be careful if you do remove it ;)

index.php
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My brothers 8 inch Woofers did not get the sub bass activator back then .. I suspect because it was done in 1994 or just before.. ..
And I believe that the new upgraded Woofers have the original baskets and magnets..my brother's didn't and the Magnets were small..
The "old uprade" from the early 90's had the same felt dust cap with a center hole just like yours. ..
IMG_2169.JPG
look closely at these..
They have the upgrade Pleated surrounds and 8 in woofers are still paper. ..
front.jpg
Second picture both upgraded to Polypropylene...

I prefer original paper..
00w0w_46Nb7XZEoDt_600x450~2.jpg
This is original Magnet on the ohm H 8 inch Woofers
 
I think it's up to you, what your budget is and your expectations. You can investigate refoaming the passives yourself. There are dealers offering kits with what you likely will likely need for maybe $30. If no other issues you could stop there. Or, add recapping the crossovers yourself. Might like sound changes from upgraded drivers. Who knows. Poly cone replacements likely will change sound.
I upgraded the 10" woofers and added the SBA from Ohm on my model C2 in about 2015. At time I was not aware I could refoam them myself. I like the sound of them. But interval of weeks getting them done, didn't remember what previously sounded like. Ive had mine about 40 years and thought worth, it to me!
I would fix the passives and see if you like them, before spending big money that might just be incremental change.
They should sound nice. And you can still get spares from Ohm. Enjoy
 
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SCORE. I love my Ohm speakers.
Good job on excellent choice and cost.
Watch some YouTube videos of people replacing surrounds, and take your time, that’s how I started and I’ve done a couple dozen sets at this point and have not messed a single one up yet.
 
Thanks everyone, this is very helpful.

mars_volta, your photo doesn't seem to have been correctly uploaded. To me, anyway.

Ok, let me see if I understand based on what you all have shared:

I have original passives because the cones are paper, and because the surrounds are upside-down (fillet of foam faces forward).
My 8" woofers are probably early 1990's upgrade because of the polypropylene cone and center hole. And there is a subsequent upgrade available after that.

Correct?

It sounds like the consensus is it may not make too much of a difference to buy upgrades beyond what I have, once I get the passives refoamed. Or do I misunderstand?

I'm preparing to take out the 8" woofers and see if I have SBA installed, but I need to research removing it. It doesn't just pop out after removing screws, and I don't want to break anything.

Edit: The woofers were just a little sticky. Got them out no problem. Looking at the photo, do I have SBA installed?

Also, reattaching one of the woofers, I slipped with the screwdriver and put a little hole in the foam (see photo). :( Should I worry about repairing that? And if so, with what?
 

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paulrudy said:
Thanks everyone, this is very helpful.

My 8" woofers are probably early 1990's upgrade because of the polypropylene cone and center hole. And there is a subsequent upgrade available after that.

Correct?




Edit: The woofers were just a little sticky. Got them out no problem. Looking at the photo, do I have SBA installed?

Also, reattaching one of the woofers, I slipped with the screwdriver and put a little hole in the foam (see photo). :( Should I worry about repairing that? And if so, with what?
Click to expand...
Yes
Yes
Yes
I'd refoam the 12 inch Passive radiators and enjoy for a few months...
Then I'd be saving money for Newer upgraded ohm Woofers. .. Or find Original 8 inch Woofers on eBay or elsewhere. ..
The OHM Model L use the same Woofers
 
My Brothers upgrades from the early 90s looked identical on the front but did not have as big a magnets as yours with the sub-base Activators
 
And I would use a dab of Elmer's glue on the back side of the foam and pinch back together the screwdriver hole
 
And once you get the 12 inch Passive radiators back to operating condition .. .
You are going to be falling in love with them Speakers!
 
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