Ohm Sound Cylinders - HELP!

[mccarty350]

Purchased a pair of Ohm Sound Cylinders (either Pro 200 or 250, they are not labeled so it's hard to tell) and one of the cans sounds like something is moving/rattling inside of it and has no highs. Something jacked with the walsh is my guess. I removed the can from the top of the cylinder but cannot for the life of me figure out how to get into the internals of the can to see inside of it. I can see the full range driver exposed on the bottom but see no screw holes and it almost seems like it's one large forged piece. Anyone know how to get into these things?

Thanks,

McCarty350

 

[mccarty350]

Bump.

 

[Todd MacDona]

The cans usually need to be pried open. Does Ohm still support this model? Check their web site. You might be able to send it to them for repair.

 

[audiomagnate]

The cans usually need to be pried open. Does Ohm still support this model? Check their web site. You might be able to send it to them for repair.

I think it's great that Ohm still supports their older models, but I think their prices are absurd. $900 to "update" a pair of Walsh 2s? I have one apart to repair the tin can, and there is maybe $75 worth of parts in there.

 

[frommerstop]

It sounds more like the tweeter has broken away... can happen if they are poorly shipped, or dropped. I've never opened a can myself, but I've seen it done. I believe Ohm glue the top & bottom "caps" on, and a bit of prying, & a heat gun will get it off... generally the bottom is removed, so as not to show any damage once reassembled.

FWIW, I agree with Audiomagnate, I love the company's products, but their "upgrade & service" plans are way over priced!

...Actually, I just checked here http://www.ohmspeakers.com/store_item_detail.cfm?item_ID=35&cart_ID=821119225561
and at $75 for repair, they aren't at all off base on just a service (it's the "upgrade" that get you) it might be worth it to send them "OHM" for repair. - Sorry, I couldn't resist!

 

[Ohighway]

I think it's great that Ohm still supports their older models, but I think their prices are absurd. $900 to "update" a pair of Walsh 2s? I have one apart to repair the tin can, and there is maybe $75 worth of parts in there.

It sounds more like the tweeter has broken away... can happen if they are poorly shipped, or dropped. I've never opened a can myself, but I've seen it done. I believe Ohm glue the top & bottom "caps" on, and a bit of prying, & a heat gun will get it off... generally the bottom is removed, so as not to show any damage once reassembled.

FWIW, I agree with Audiomagnate, I love the company's products, but their "upgrade & service" plans are way over priced!

...Actually, I just checked here http://www.ohmspeakers.com/store_item_detail.cfm?item_ID=35&cart_ID=821119225561
and at $75 for repair, they aren't at all off base on just a service (it's the "upgrade" that get you) it might be worth it to send them "OHM" for repair. - Sorry, I couldn't resist!

Well, read further and you'll see that they won't service them unless you send BOTH drivers back. So @$75 each ... now you're talking $150. minimum, plus shipping, insurance, and the risks associated with shipping. Furthermore, that's only for a HF repair and assuming they don't find other problems. If they do that's at additional cost which adds up rapidly.

Now if you are correct about a tweeter coming loose, that would be a easy DIY fix. It was on my Walsh 5 speakers as the tweeters were double back taped to a bracket on the woofer magnet structure. Getting the can off is sort of a pain, but there's nothing magic about it nor any magic/mystery parts inside.

Ohm just does not like people seeing what's actually inside the cans, nor do they support DIY repairs. Making matters worse, when I talked with them, they threatened of needing to charge more if the can had been removed because of 'damage done'. Colossal crock of ****....

 

[mccarty350]

So I concur or did with all of your statements, I had a lot of correspondence with John and he was adamant that I not open them, etc. I did put up an argument and basically stated I wasn't going to pay an arm and a leg and if it came to it I would just part them out since I paid $100 bucks for them I wasn't going to throw a lot more at it because at that stage I could buy a higher model Ohm on AK bartertown or some such. At that point he stated that there is a 40% audiokarma discount so the list price for the repair was $75 for the 'top' and apparently I'm going to get the repair for about $45. Have to pay for shipping both ways but it sounds like I'll be out about another $100 so $200 cumulative to have working sound cylinders. So my negative opinion isn't so harsh any longer although I am still very frustrated by their lack of means to allow DIY repairs which I agree sounds like it was done deliberately.

So what's the overall take, is it worth $200 to have a working pair of sound cylinders? Mine are 44" tall and he believes they are SCT+ models.

BTW, I ripped off the speaker cloth and looked inside and what is floating around in there is the walsh foam, I can barely see inside through the metal grill but I don't see anything else moving around so it's possible that I may not have been able to fix this myself

McCarty350

 

[Ohighway]

I'm not 100% sure what's inside the sound cylinders but if it's like the others it's a woofer and a tweeter mounted unconventionally. Might even have a cardboard diffuser with a piece of foam or two glued to it. That's what was in my Walsh 5. (Shown below with cardboard and foam piece removed when I was replacing a dead tweeter.)

I really wish people wouldn't be intimidated by the hype from the mfg. There's nothing mysterious inside, nothing that will be damaged by removing the can. (Well , no more so than working with any other speaker, if you're super clumsy then you will probably hurt something)

 

[frommerstop]

So I concur or did with all of your statements, I had a lot of correspondence with John and he was adamant that I not open them, etc. I did put up an argument and basically stated I wasn't going to pay an arm and a leg and if it came to it I would just part them out since I paid $100 bucks for them I wasn't going to throw a lot more at it because at that stage I could buy a higher model Ohm on AK bartertown or some such. At that point he stated that there is a 40% audiokarma discount so the list price for the repair was $75 for the 'top' and apparently I'm going to get the repair for about $45. Have to pay for shipping both ways but it sounds like I'll be out about another $100 so $200 cumulative to have working sound cylinders. So my negative opinion isn't so harsh any longer although I am still very frustrated by their lack of means to allow DIY repairs which I agree sounds like it was done deliberately.

So what's the overall take, is it worth $200 to have a working pair of sound cylinders? Mine are 44" tall and he believes they are SCT+ models.

BTW, I ripped off the speaker cloth and looked inside and what is floating around in there is the walsh foam, I can barely see inside through the metal grill but I don't see anything else moving around so it's possible that I may not have been able to fix this myself

McCarty350

Unfortunately, if they are SCT+, and it's the surround, then you're looking at $200 each, and if you need one surround, you'll likely need the other, so $400 for the pair - that's $240 (after the "Karma discount") + shipping.
http://www.ohmspeakers.com/store_item_detail.cfm?item_ID=33&cart_ID=821119225561

Sadly, I don't think they're worth it, with Walsh 2s going for between $200-$400. Walsh 2s go lower, have selectable bass & treble controls, and real wood veneer cabinets... most importantly, they (and the 3s) don't use foam surrounds, so they won't need replacing.

With that in mind, if it were me, I'd pry the cans open, and see what I could do myself. I know several people have replaced surrounds on Walsh speakers, I've done several "conventional" speakers, and it's pretty easy. I don't see why it would be much harder on a Walsh.

 

[frommerstop]

Sorry for the double post... I can't seem to remove it!

 

[UncleAng]

I think it's great that Ohm still supports their older models, but I think their prices are absurd. $900 to "update" a pair of Walsh 2s? I have one apart to repair the tin can, and there is maybe $75 worth of parts in there.

Most of the upgrade or repair costs on Ohm speakers is due to the sonic mirror imaging that the speakers go through after upgrade/repair. This process is exacting and time consuming but required if you want your speakers to sound in sync and balanced. That's why both speakers are required by Ohm for any of these services.

 

[mccarty350]

The surrounds are intact on both of the speakers, it's strictly one tweeter that is out. Ohighway, I had no fear of messing with the drivers it was of destroying the entire can Frommerstop, if I had some Ohm 2's near me I would definitely be interested but I'm in Northern Indianapolis and the nearest sub 300 dollar Ohm 2's are in Detroit and Novi right now. Since I'm already $100 bucks in I might as well throw good money after bad like a dumbass and proceed. Looking through the can it looks like the foam has broken loose and that is what is rattling but I' don't see any visual issues with the tweeter (I cut the speaker fabric loose and shined a light through the metal of the can) so it may be an issue beyond me or an actual shot tweeter.

From talking to John it sounds like they cut the cans themselves internally so it's a bitch for them too, they just happen to have spare parts where as us poor chumps don't.

 

[Ohighway]

The surrounds are intact on both of the speakers, it's strictly one tweeter that is out. Ohighway, I had no fear of messing with the drivers it was of destroying the entire can

Looking through the can it looks like the foam has broken loose and that is what is rattling but I' don't see any visual issues with the tweeter (I cut the speaker fabric loose and shined a light through the metal of the can) so it may be an issue beyond me or an actual shot tweeter.

From talking to John it sounds like they cut the cans themselves internally so it's a bitch for them too, they just happen to have spare parts where as us poor chumps don't.

I didn't aim that comment specifically at you, it was a general comment about how the hype from the factory scares people off from performing repairs that are well within their abilities.

On my W5, there was no issue with the tweeter that showed up visually. However once I had the can open, I could electrically disconnect the tweeter from the crossover and check for continuity with an ohmmeter. It had none so I suspect the voice coil was fried or broken. Toughest part was locating the right tweeter as , of course, Ohm offers ZERO help if you're repairing your own speakers.

Regarding Ohm having a bitch of a time opening their own cans. Hey.... they're the ones that chose to build them that way. They could have easily attached the can and bottom grill with fasteners but purposely chose not to.... I'm convinced..... to keep people from seeing what was actually inside. So, I have no sympathy for them.

 

[audiomagnate]

Ohm ust does not like people seeing what's actually inside the cans, nor do they support DIY repairs. Making matters worse, when I talked with them, they threatened of needing to charge more if the can had been removed because of 'damage done'. Colossal crock of ****....

The emperor has no clothes. His dad was cool but the kid is a total gouger. That's the meanest thing I've ever said on AK but it's the truth. Please forgive me. You can fix your own for almost nothing. I can help.

 

[frommerstop]

The surrounds are intact on both of the speakers, it's strictly one tweeter that is out. Ohighway, I had no fear of messing with the drivers it was of destroying the entire can Frommerstop, if I had some Ohm 2's near me I would definitely be interested but I'm in Northern Indianapolis and the nearest sub 300 dollar Ohm 2's are in Detroit and Novi right now. Since I'm already $100 bucks in I might as well throw good money after bad like a dumbass and proceed. Looking through the can it looks like the foam has broken loose and that is what is rattling but I' don't see any visual issues with the tweeter (I cut the speaker fabric loose and shined a light through the metal of the can) so it may be an issue beyond me or an actual shot tweeter.

From talking to John it sounds like they cut the cans themselves internally so it's a bitch for them too, they just happen to have spare parts where as us poor chumps don't.

I didn't mean the cylinders weren't worth repairing, only that it didn't sound like they were worth sending to Ohm to have it done. I'm pretty sure I've read posts from others who have opened up the cans with a heat gun and careful prying... implying that the caps are held on with some sort of adhesive, not welded. If so, I find it hard to believe Ohm cut them open, unless they do so just to save time, and replace the entire can. I have listened to Walsh 4s that had the cans removed, and thought they didn't sound as good over all - they were a bit too bright, and imaging suffered. Ohm places damping material strategically around the can (inside, and on some models like the 4 & 5, outside as well) for dispersion control, having found with the "pure" Walsh models (A & F), that few people really want a true omnidirectional speaker in their house. It's much easier to place a controlled dispersion speaker in a room, so that it one reason for the "can" ...to support sound deadening pads.
I misunderstood your reference to "Walsh foam" as being the surrounds, but reattaching the foam on the inside of the can would seem important too.

 

[mccarty350]

Frommerstop, that's what I wasn't sure of whether they were worth fixing. Since I'm already in 100 bucks I thik I'll stay the course as I can't sell them again as they are regardless.

Audiomagnate, if that's the meanest you've said then you are a good guy. Okay, I'll give it a brief shot before I fold and send these off. Spending 40-some odd bucks isn't too bad in my mind to get these operational so it's not a big deal, if I fail early then I'll just ship them off. I have no real fear of working on any speakers so I'm game. I have no heat gun and I still see no means of getting these cans off without destroying them (and in effect probably precluding my ability to ship them in) so if you know of a good way to get them off without annihilating them I'm game.

McCarty350

 

[Ohighway]

I removed the cans from my Walsh 5 speakers using a single edge razor blade and a flat screwdriver to remove the goo they use to bond the can to the woofer frame. Took awhile, not a fun job, but the can came off intact and can be reattached if I so choose.

 

[mccarty350]

So this point of attachment is actually where the metal mesh meets the plastic base on the outside, not underneath right? Since I can't see any real seam it's been tough to determine where to even start working on it.

 

[Ohighway]

Can you post a picture of yours?

Hmmm. Maybe these are a different animal entirely from what I'm used to working on.... ??

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=408316

 

[mccarty350]

Here are the two possible areas I can see to potentially gain ingress. The path on the bottom when I scrape off the glue shows no seam so I don't think that will work.