Ps10 help

[Who’s that?]

I am new here and I was hoping I can benefit from somebody’s knowledge. I have a pair of ps10’s That I just had refoamed. But now a tweeter is dead and I found 2 replacements on eBay ...they do t work either so it wasn’t really the tweeter... any ideas? Can it be the cross over? Keep in mind that I am a complete newbie I know what could the speakers sound like but I don’t know anything about taking them apart and fixing things like crossovers or caps swapping have a driver is no problem but if you have any ideas please let me know in very very simple childlike terms thank you

 

[tyella]

It could be the crossover. The simplest test is to use a multimeter. You can get one at Harbor Freight for a couple of bucks, occasionally even for free with a purchase.

Plug the leads into the bottom two connector holes (V and Com). Set to 200 ohms, the lowest ohm (resistance) setting. Grab one of your tweeters, make sure it's not connected to the speaker anymore. Then touch each of the leads to the terminals of the tweeter. If you get a number, your tweeter is probably fine.

Report back if you can.

 

[GD70]

You're talking about Design Acoustics PS-10's?
A quick way to check if the tweeter is working is to remove it from the cab, hook up the wires from your amp directly to the tweeter leads, and at very low volume see if they produce sound.
Also, check that no wires are disconnected inside the cab.
These are very good sounding speakers.
Glenn

 

[Who’s that?]

It could be the crossover. The simplest test is to use a multimeter. You can get one at Harbor Freight for a couple of bucks,
Yep the tweeters are good so I guess I have to pop open the box and see if anything is disconnected inside.occasionally even for free with a purchase.

Plug the leads into the bottom two connector holes (V and Com). Set to 200 ohms, the lowest ohm (resistance) setting. Grab one of your tweeters, make sure it's not connected to the speaker anymore. Then touch each of the leads to the terminals of the tweeter. If you get a number, your tweeter is probably fine.

Report back if you can.

You're talking about Design Acoustics PS-10's?
A quick way to check if the tweeter is working is to remove it from the cab, hook up the wires from your amp directly to the tweeter leads, and at very low volume see if they produce sound.
Also, check that no wires are disconnected inside the cab.
These are very good sounding speakers.
Glenn

Yep the tweeters are fine. So I guess there could be a wire disconnected in the cabinet which I will check or I need a new crossover and I found the replacement but they are telling me that the frequencies or set a little differently in the original so I should buy one for each speaker and they are slightly larger so I might have a hard time fitting them into the cabinet

 

[teal'c]

Problem with that is the crossovers you are buying will be just as old as the ones you are replacing, so can have the same problems. Plus over the years they often change crossover components as the speakers are changed. IMO it would be better to just replace the parts in the current ones

 

[GD70]

The crossovers are very simple, one or two caps if I remember correctly.

 

[Who’s that?]

Parts express has new ones but the cross over point are slightly different so they suggest changing both so the 2 speakers sound the same

 

[GD70]

Parts express has new ones but the cross over point are slightly different so they suggest changing both so the 2 speakers sound the same

I suggest for best results to replace the caps with new caps with the same values. These sound great, the designers spent a lot of time testing them, woth keeping them the way they were intended to sound. Also check the resistors for any physical issues or burnt looking areas. Replace those too if you see any possible issues.

 

[Who’s that?]

I suggest for best results to replace the caps with new caps with the same values. These sound great, the designers spent a lot of time testing them, woth keeping them the way they were intended to sound. Also check the resistors for any physical issues or burnt looking areas. Replace those too if you see any possible issues.

I really like that idea...like I said I’m not too technically inclined. Maybe I’ll ask a friend.

 

[GD70]

I really like that idea...like I said I’m not too technically inclined. Maybe I’ll ask a friend.

It’s pretty easy. De-solder the cap leads, re-solder new cap. Replace each part one at a time. Take pics for reference and have the other speaker opened up for reference as well.
When the first one is done, temporarily remount the woofer to make sure all is working, then move onto the 2nd speaker. These are a good first speaker to learn on sunset the crossovers are very simple. There’s plenty of YouTube videos showing how to solder if you’ve never done it before.
You can do it and you’ll feel great that you did it yourself. We were all newbs as well.
Glenn

 

[Who’s that?]

It’s pretty easy. De-solder the cap leads, re-solder new cap. Replace each part one at a time. Take pics for reference and have the other speaker opened up for reference as well.
When the first one is done, temporarily remount the woofer to make sure all is working, then move onto the 2nd speaker. These are a good first speaker to learn on sunset the crossovers are very simple. There’s plenty of YouTube videos showing how to solder if you’ve never done it before.
You can do it and you’ll feel great that you did it yourself. We were all newbs as well.
Glenn

Thanks for the help I appreciate it. Where do you suggest I buy caps?

 

[GD70]

Thanks for the help I appreciate it. Where do you suggest I buy caps?

Parts Express and Mouser are good sources. You want non polar film caps. Higher voltage ratings on new caps are fine. The values are important to match. Sometimes you need to connect two caps together for the correct value.

 

[Who’s that?]

parts express seems to be very helpful...so you think it's possible that the capacitor is shot and that's is why the tweeter won't work? Not the whole crossover unit?

 

[tyella]

Statistically speaking, it's a capacitor. Not always, but usually. Replacing caps is really easy to do. The hard part is simply jumping in and just doing it for the first time. Trust me. You got this!

You might not even have to desolder anything. You could just clip the existing leads (wires) and solder on to them. If you go that route, just be sure that the wires don't touch anything else your you might kill your amplifier. You can slip some heat shrink tubing over the wires. You can find heat shrink at Harbor Freight as well. A dab of hot glue will hold the capacitor in place when you're done; you don't want it wiggling around and making noise in the box.

 

[tyella]

If you need more help, just ask here. That's how many of us learned.

 

[GD70]

parts express seems to be very helpful...so you think it's possible that the capacitor is shot and that's is why the tweeter won't work? Not the whole crossover unit?

Start with the cap replacement first. Then test. If still no sound, check the resistors for cracks and darker or burned looking areas. Replace any that look suspect. Again, match their values. Also check all the wires and that they are solidly attached or soldered at their connections.

 

[Soundphile]

Sometimes crossover resistors may not show any physical damage but still not work. Since they are not expensive, might as well replace the resistors when doing the capacitors. It will save you another round of dismantling.
Cheers.

 

[wmgwizard]

Some PS-10's had level controls for the tweeters, be sure to clean them before you buy any parts or break out the soldering iron.

 

[Drugolf]

Yeah, first check all wires and solder connections throughout the chain, all the way back to the binding posts. Then the level controls.