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Re-Capping ADS 1230 Speakers

C

cybercoach

New Member
Hi - Newbie here. Wondering if anyone can offer any direction or info as to whether I should attempt re-cap of my beloved ADS 1230 speakers. They sound fine, but are lacking in dimensionality, focus and imaging -- thinking re-cap may improve, esp if better components are employed. If anyone has experience or info, I'd appreciate the input. Not much tech skill, so pointers to someone who DOES the recapping, with special expertise about ADS, also appreciated. Certainly don't want to head down a path of blind experimentation and possible doom, as they are OK now. But if there's a tried and TRUE benefit to be had, seems like a worthwhile investment in these old beasts! THANKS!
 
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Replace the 25+ year old electrolytics in the woofer and midrange circuit and then listen again. If you're still not happy, you can try various brands of boutique caps to replace the existing film caps. Don't expect miracles. They were never the best imaging speakers.
 
adam-ads said:
Replace the 25+ year old electrolytics in the woofer and midrange circuit and then listen again. If you're still not happy, you can try various brands of boutique caps to replace the existing film caps. Don't expect miracles. They were never the best imaging speakers.
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Thank you Adam-ads -- good info to know they were never great at imaging. I've had early 710's with Braun Drivers that I thought DID image well, and was hoping to improve on the Wall-of-Sound these offer. They sound fine -- suspect I should better invest in some older Paradigm Studios to get the imaging I'm looking for.
 
vinylhunter said:
I'm thinking something else may be way wrong. What are you comparing them to to arrive at this conclusion? And how's the room set up? Not saying you did this, but I've seen some jaw-droppingly poor arrangements.

I've done plenty of other speakers, but have successfully avoided doing my a/d/s -es just because they didn't have these issues.

Beyond that, I'd advise practicing on something less important first. It's not rocket science, but obviously you don't want to tear up something.
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As I wrote to Adam-ads, comparing to Paradigms -- not fair, right? Different animal. It's not that anything is wrong, and though my setup is not perfect, I am pretty sure lack of imaging and dimensionality is more about the nature of the 1230's than anything else. They sound good. Clear. Great in Home Theater, paired with NHT sub - high marks on realism in that context! But just not so involving or musical. My 710's had more of that. But not these 1230's, and not my 810's. ADS experts and fans, weigh in!
 
Haven't heard the 1230. I currently own the 710s and had 810s I bought new.
The 710s sound better to me. I use them with a sub which actually helps give a feel of the venue.
Suggest selling the 1230 and find some 1530 or 1290s.
 
Last year I spent some time listening to the current version of Studio 100s. They definitely imaged better than my 710s, but it's been too long since I heard the 1290s to compare.
 
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