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Paisley Research .5

So the Image version was called "5" and the Paisley version was ".5"?

Be nice to see a pic of the entire Image line-up!

My Paisley's are off-line at the moment, while I get organized for some serious refoaming. At the moment I am running, on one system, a set of Merak M.5 with some replacement 6.5 woofers (the originals need refoaming) and on my 2nd system, a pair of Mirage M-460's (which definately don't need refoaming - stitched rubber surrounds a la Energy 22's):

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=269760

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=307818
 
audiozaz said:
They look very similar to a pair of Tannoy C6 I own, probably using the same tweeter.

az
Click to expand...
Which leads to the fact that the Tannoy C series are not really Tannoys at all, but were built by API in Canada and re-badged Tannoy. The tweeter is most likely Vifa.
 
sealy said:
Which leads to the fact that the Tannoy C series are not really Tannoys at all, but were built by API in Canada and re-badged Tannoy. The tweeter is most likely Vifa.
Click to expand...

Indeed. I removed the drivers one time and the tweeter is Vifa, but the woofer had no obvious maker name printed on it.

az
 
Following up on an old thread - these have been refoamed with foams from Looneytune2001 - proper ones with the 'tapered' inside edge.
 

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After some research, the speakers I picked up today are IMAGE REFERENCE .5. The foam surrounds are gone. Can anyone tell me where to get refoam kits to do these speakers? They are in otherwise pretty good shape. If you can message me that would be appreciated!:music:
 
Audiodogs on ebay - he is based in Parksville and has the foams with a flat-inside edge (filled-fillet or filet-less design). Or Rick Cobb - looneytune2001 on ebay. I've purchased from both. The 6.5-inch surround (ESM-4, Paradigm 3SE Mini, etc.) will work, unless the Image uses a different sized woofer than the Paisley (unlikely I'd say).

You might also find something at Main Electronics in Vancouver, but it will be a generic - with the standard inside edge / flange.
 
Thanks for the info. I'll contact the guy in Parksville since it's close. I've never refoamed before so hopefully it's not too hard to do!
 
There are lots of threads and how-tos on the internet.

Here is my method:

- to start carefully take off the foam trim (if it is still there). Take the speaker out.
- carefully remove the cardboard gasket, by working a sharp knife betwen the gasket and the speaker flange (where the old surround is sandwiched). Re-use gasket and foam trim.
- clean all traces of the old foam off the cones and the speaker flange and as much of the glue as possible. Alcohol helps, and a sharp knife to scrape. Watch you don't let alcohol dribble down and soak the spider (or it might de-glue!). I also find that Proform PF-511 General Purpose Surface Cleaner (a spray - available at Lordco) seems to help with some adhesive types (on the metal flange only!).
- I shim the voice coils to center them. I cut the dust cap off about 80% of the way (leaving the area where the tinsel leads are connected) and fold it back out of the way.
- I shim (three points around the voice coil). I have a huge roll of old hand-drafting mylar (plastic-like paper) that works great for shimming because it is pretty tuff, slightly rough and you can shim tightly by using multiple layers. But lots of people use strips of cardboard (old business cards).
- I use Aleanes tacky glue, applied with a artist's paint brush.
- Glue the surround to the cone 1st. Bead of glue on both the surround and the cone. Center it on the cone and press it together all around as it sets-up.
- Let it dry
- Glue the surround to the metal flange. One layer of glue on the flange seems to work fine. Push the cone striaight down onto the flange and don't wiggle it around, but again press together all around as it sets-up.
- Let it dry
- Remove the shims
- Glue the dustcap back with a bead of tacky glue on the edge of the dust cap and then a layer overtop the joint (smoothed out with the paint brush).
- Let it dry

Done!
 
Help a guy out...

i just ran across this thread and learned so much about API. i own 2 Image Concept 200's and am in need of tweeter rebuild. i bought one extra tweeter many years ago so one is still working but i would like to get the original pair back on line.

Chris Coote in Halifax, Nova Scotia used to run ABI Technical Service and had much of the original tools and dies from API. i was trying to reach him recently for this rebuild but have not been successful. if anyone can point me in a direction that might help be get my tweeters rebuilt i would really appreciate any help you may offer. i love these towers and hope to get them fixed as close to original as possible but right now i'm not sure where to turn.

thanks again for any help.
 
Well, they may not be able to help you then. I spoke to them about 'refreshing' my Energy Pro 22 tweeters (still operational), a task that they can do. I suppose it's possible they could repair if the voice coil leads are broken ... but if the voice coil is fried, they don't have the replacement diaphragms and press tools (and I doubt ABI Tech do / did either).

I did hear some talk online that ABI Tech was going to start-up doing limited work ... but that was last February or so and I haven't been following any updates.

You might try posting in the forum over at Canuckaudiomart.com. Perhaps some of the discussion regarding Pro 22 replacements can help.

Also aren't some of the Mirage tweeters (M1??) a drop-in replacement for the Image ones?
 
thanks for the info. i will check out the other forum as well.

according to Chris, he had bought and was using the original equipment from API and was going to make more of the diaphragms but somehow it seems this never happened - at least to my knowledge. i had been in email contact for a few years but as of mid 2011, he was always putting me off because he was only doing the work part time and had not made any additional parts. i tried emailing since then a few times but never got any response.

let me know if you have heard any different.

you are correct in that my tweeters are the same as the Mirage m1-1 and it is likely they are fried due to the lack of the original ferrofluid since they are so old. i'm curious where you might have heard about ABI starting up again. maybe i can explore this. i don't seem to have any working email or cell phone for Chris anymore.

thanks for your input.
 
Sorry I can't recall which thread / board I read it on ... but it's sounding a lot like the discussion you had with him and I don't think, AFAIK, anything came of it.
 
Hello.

i have just had a couple of Image Concept 200 tweeters rebuilt by Chris. i live in Connecticut and was in contact several years ago with Chris but as you all know he disappeared for awhile. Just thought i would post that i searched and found his facebook page so i contacted him and to my surprise he responded. Hope this helps those of you still searching. I am once again a happy camper listening to my speakers.
icon_biggrin.gif
 
Just wanted to clarify that the speakers originally discussed in this thread .... Paisley Research .5 use the common Vifa D19 TD-5 3/4" Polymer 8-ohm dome tweeter.

I had an email conversation with Chris Coote almost exactly 1 year ago and he confirmed he was back in business then. So nice to hear he's still trucking along.

I've sold off my Paisley Research .5 and one set of Model 5.5 and hopefully soon a pair of Model 10. I also got rid of my 2 pairs of Energy Pro 22's. I'm actually using a pair of Paisley Research AE-400 now .... along with some JBL L19 ... but I've got those rotated out at the moment for a pair of Tangent RS6.

One of these days I'll finish-up renovating the pair of Energy One that I have... with the "Shadow-Ribbed' tweeter that looks for all the world like a prototype Dual Hyperdome.
 
I have acquired a set of Paisley 5.5s, and Reference .5s and since the folks in this thread know Paisley, I thought this would be a good place to ask....
The surrounds are shot on both sets and I'm wondering what the best option is:

1) replace surrounds (would have to have this done by someone)
2) replace drivers (I can do this)
3) sell as-is
4) donate to Restore

Any opinions or suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks!!
 
Welcome to AK!

Don't replace the drivers. Especially with the 5.5s that have the Bextrene cone material for the woofer - the crossover is designed to handle that somewhat difficult material (Bextrene (polystyrene) was used for a time for drivers, being stiffer and more consistent than paper cones, but it was difficult to design for due to strong 1st order resonance .... it was ultimately replaced in speaker design with polypropylene and other composite materials).

Why do you say you couldn't replace the surrounds? .... it's not that difficult. We could talk you through it. Or let us know where you are located and perhaps some local Aker could do it for you, or talk you through it (maintaining proper social distancing of course! - hey! Speaker re-foaming via Zoom! That's the ticket!).

Post up some pictures of the two sets of speakers, just to confirm your models.
 
Van_Isle said:
Just wanted to clarify that the speakers originally discussed in this thread .... Paisley Research .5 use the common Vifa D19 TD-5 3/4" Polymer 8-ohm dome tweeter.

I had an email conversation with Chris Coote almost exactly 1 year ago and he confirmed he was back in business then. So nice to hear he's still trucking along.

I've sold off my Paisley Research .5 and one set of Model 5.5 and hopefully soon a pair of Model 10. I also got rid of my 2 pairs of Energy Pro 22's. I'm actually using a pair of Paisley Research AE-400 now .... along with some JBL L19 ... but I've got those rotated out at the moment for a pair of Tangent RS6.

One of these days I'll finish-up renovating the pair of Energy One that I have... with the "Shadow-Ribbed' tweeter that looks for all the world like a prototype Dual Hyperdome.
Click to expand...

Update ... Still have one pair of 5.5. Sold the Model 10s. Still have the AE-400 - they are connected to the main system right now. Still have the JBLs. Still have the Tangent RS-6. I finished the Energy One speakers many moons ago and ended up selling them off. I had a pair of Energy 22.3 and went through quite a process of getting replacement tweeters and having them serviced with new ferrofluid. Now I've got a pair of Energy Reference Connoisseur 30 (RC-30) speakers. I also have a pair of 'project' Image Concept 100.

BUT, just this past Sunday, I acquired another pair of Energy Pro 22s, with the original stands, for $50 (CAD)! That's worth a:banana:!
 
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Van_Isle said:
Welcome to AK!

Don't replace the drivers. Especially with the 5.5s that have the Bextrene cone material for the woofer - the crossover is designed to handle that somewhat difficult material (Bextrene (polystyrene) was used for a time for drivers, being stiffer and more consistent than paper cones, but it was difficult to design for due to strong 1st order resonance .... it was ultimately replaced in speaker design with polypropylene and other composite materials).

Why do you say you couldn't replace the surrounds? .... it's not that difficult. We could talk you through it. Or let us know where you are located and perhaps some local Aker could do it for you, or talk you through it (maintaining proper social distancing of course! - hey! Speaker re-foaming via Zoom! That's the ticket!).

Post up some pictures of the two sets of speakers, just to confirm your models.
Click to expand...

Hey Van, thanks for the welcome and the info!
And thanks for the offer, I'd like to do the surrounds, even researched the steps and suppliers, but right now I'm up to my elbows in projects and i need to get this one done. Here are some pics, complete w/ manuals for the 5.5s :)
image0.jpegimage2.jpegimage3.jpegimage4.jpegimage5.jpeg
 
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