Paradigm Studio 80 Tweeter issues.. Replace or Repair?

[Ibemiked]

i picked up a pair of Paradigm Studio 80’s last week and one tweeter is shot and the other produces sound but not good. I’ve done some research and I’m trying to figure out if I should replace the entire tweeter or repair the diaphragms. I found replacement diaphragms for around $30/each shipped, which seems like a good deal. They were on Madisound. They’re the scanspeak 600058 Voice coils. I believe these are the proper ones. I’ve also read the SEAS Prestige 27TBFC/G (H1212) Aluminum/Magnesium Dome Tweeter will also work as An “upgraded” replacement, these are around $60/each shipped. I’m wondering if anyone has had to repair/replace tweeters on their Paradigm Studio 20/40/60/80/100 or v2’s of the Studio series. The tweeters for all the original & v2 Studio series are apparently the same. If anyone has experience with this please let me know. Also if there are other options besides the 2 I mentioned please let me know. I believe the Peerless sl2000 tweeters the old Polks used will also work. I’d prefer to replace the diaphragm and use the original double magnet driver if possible. Again any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[bandg69]

Have you contacted Paradigm to see if originals are available

 

[Ibemiked]

Have you contacted Paradigm to see if originals are available

Thank for the suggestion, I just got off the phone with Paradigm and unfortunately they’re servers are down right now.. The gentleman on the phone was very helpful though and said he would speak with the parts manager and call me back. Hopefully I’ll be able to get the original part from the source. I was actually going to call Paradigm before but forgot.. I did read where some people called and were quoted extremely high prices to rebuild the original tweeter and it was like over $300 for one tweeter! Apparently they said they had to pay $125 to ship the speaker each way! But I’m guessing they didn’t ask the right questions. Hopefully they have the part and my problem is solved. I’m guessing the person asked if Paradigm would do the repair and they probably said they would have to ship the entire speaker to and from. That’s the only thing that would make sense for that price. I know I can manage the repair myself, replacing diaphragms is simple, Just have to buy a torx bit. If Paradigm doesn’t have it I’ll probably just purchase the Scanspeak diaphragms and hope for the best. Thanks again for the suggestion, I’m kicking myself for not calling them from the get go. It’s not very wise to believe everything you read on the internet these days, best to find things out for yourself.

 

[StimpyWan]

From Studio 80 pictures, it looks like your tweeters would use the diaphragm with the 3 screw mount. I don't believe the Aluminum/Magnesium Dome would work, since that uses a 4 hole mount diaphragm.

 

[Ibemiked]

From Studio 80 pictures, it looks like your tweeters would use the diaphragm with the 3 screw mount. I don't believe the Aluminum/Magnesium Dome would work, since that uses a 4 hole mount diaphragm.

I think if you use the aluminum/mag it replaces the old tweeter assembly and all, apparently it will fit where the old one did but you have to drill it into the cabinet. I’d rather not go that route.

 

[jamesm007]

i picked up a pair of Paradigm Studio 80’s last week and one tweeter is shot and the other produces sound but not good. I’ve done some research and I’m trying to figure out if I should replace the entire tweeter or repair the diaphragms. I found replacement diaphragms for around $30/each shipped, which seems like a good deal. They were on Madisound. They’re the scanspeak 600058 Voice coils. I believe these are the proper ones. I’ve also read the SEAS Prestige 27TBFC/G (H1212) Aluminum/Magnesium Dome Tweeter will also work as An “upgraded” replacement, these are around $60/each shipped. I’m wondering if anyone has had to repair/replace tweeters on their Paradigm Studio 20/40/60/80/100 or v2’s of the Studio series. The tweeters for all the original & v2 Studio series are apparently the same. If anyone has experience with this please let me know. Also if there are other options besides the 2 I mentioned please let me know. I believe the Peerless sl2000 tweeters the old Polks used will also work. I’d prefer to replace the diaphragm and use the original double magnet driver if possible. Again any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

That basic tweeter voice coil/diaphragm was used in many brands, models to this day. It was perhaps the most popular tweeter of the last three decades (Vifa/Scanspeek/Peerless D25AG-35-06/D25AG-##-06). Paradigms custom version of this tweeter as shown in the picture the Paradigm (and most others) uses what is called a Butterfly Voice Coil Assembly. Its to make repairing tweeters which are common to blow (as fast as fuses) easy to repair. Everything in that design is to lower distortion and increase power handling. Paradigm made a cost no object version of the very common 1" aluminum dome tweeter.

Any D25AG-##-06 (D25AS Shielded) version will work. It was used in Definitive Technology, and so many others. That is the Aluminum Dome Tweeter with Butterfly Diaphragm. The 600058 is a soft-dome tweeter. It will fit, however. EDIT Maybe NOT! 25mm vc versus 26mm vc

The best way is to buy a (used) D25AG-##-06 on ebay, but I wouldn't pay over $40 for one. No need to, they are all pretty much the same (the butterfly diaphragm). And take out the diaphragm to use in your Studio 80 tweeter.

If for some reason you do want to use the 600058 soft-dome diaphragm you can. That would tell me you want a less detailed high end, which some prefer. Just buy two and see if you like them, Be Warned you will have to cut off the front phase plug, from a custom Paradigm tweeter. I wouldn't do that. I looked at the SEAS tweeters and they use four screws to hold the diaphragm. They won't work. Your Paradigm Studio 80 diaphragm (many used 1" Aluminum Dome Tweeters) will be sold on ebay for years and years to come. The only place I found the Vifa D25AG-35-06 new is from Aliexpress. I have never bought anything from them, nor have any connection to them.

And it can't hurt to call Paradigm to see how much the Diaphragm costs if they still carry it. Happy searching.

 

[Ibemiked]

That basic tweeter voice coil/diaphragm was used in many brands, models to this day. It was perhaps the most popular tweeter of the last three decades (Vifa/Scanspeek/Peerless D25AG-35-06/D25AG-##-06). Paradigms custom version of this tweeter as shown in the picture the Paradigm (and most others) uses what is called a Butterfly Voice Coil Assembly. Its to make repairing tweeters which are common to blow (as fast as fuses) easy to repair. Everything in that design is to lower distortion and increase power handling. Paradigm made a cost no object version of the very common 1" aluminum dome tweeter.

Any D25AG-##-06 (D25AS Shielded) version will work. It was used in Definitive Technology, and so many others. That is the Aluminum Dome Tweeter with Butterfly Diaphragm. The 600058 is a soft-dome tweeter. It will fit, however.

The best way is to buy a (used) D25AG-##-06 on ebay, but I wouldn't pay over $40 for one. No need to, they are all pretty much the same (the butterfly diaphragm). And take out the diaphragm to use in your Studio 80 tweeter.

If for some reason you do want to use the 600058 soft-dome diaphragm you can. That would tell me you want a less detailed high end, which some prefer. Just buy two and see if you like them, Be Warned you will have to cut off the front phase plug, from a custom Paradigm tweeter. I wouldn't do that. I looked at the SEAS tweeters and they use four screws to hold the diaphragm. They won't work. Your Paradigm Studio 80 diaphragm (many used 1" Aluminum Dome Tweeters) will be sold on ebay for years and years to come. The only place I found the Vifa D25AG-35-06 new is from Aliexpress. I have never bought anything from them, nor have any connection to them.

And it can't hurt to call Paradigm to see how much the Diaphragm costs if they still carry it. Happy searching.

View attachment 1683635

Thank you for this information! I appreciate it.