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Recognize this speaker?

C

Cormy1

New Member
DSCN2125.jpg
Noname inside and out, the tweeter is an old Motorola model but the rest is out of Taiwan.

Tweeter: Motorola 212 15d87141e02
Midrange: 8490 K01M04910918-10SM
Woofer: 9242 K01W012911114-4SM

That's all I was able to get out of this thing. It's easily 20+ years old, there's no crossover board on it, just 1 component on each wire to each driver.
1 still works fine, the other seems to have had a failure in both the midrange driver and the tweeter. Bypassing the components didn't yield any sound.

Anyone have a clue?
 
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Heh, this is both what I expected and a bit of a surprise at the same time.
What is it about this speaker that merits such a lackluster response?
I think Furburger is quite right, this does look like it might be a white van scam speaker, and based on what my father remembered I think that's right on the nose, though he had said he gotten them from a residential project and not in a retail parking lot.
Personally I have always thought these sounded great, and I haven't heard any other speakers that I really thought sounded better, even though I've been in recording studios/control rooms and I have a pair of Kef 103.2s which are quite good as I understand it.
So what is it that makes these speakers belong in a dumpster or a "meh" rental piece? Is it just the lack of branding?

On another note, for the non-working tweeter and mid driver, what issue do they likely have that I get no sound out of them? Is there a possible fix?
 
Cormy1 said:
What is it about this speaker that merits such a lackluster response? On another note, for the non-working tweeter and mid driver, what issue do they likely have that I get no sound out of them? Is there a possible fix?
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The carpeted box would be the first demerit.

Unless they have some sort of family value, I personally wouldn't waste the time, money, or effort on them. If they do, maybe keep them for decoration.
 
Cormy1 said:
1 still works fine, the other seems to have had a failure in both the midrange driver and the tweeter. Bypassing the components didn't yield any sound.

Anyone have a clue?
Click to expand...

Check the signal chain from the input terminals to each driver. Maybe remove the non working drivers and install them in the associated locations in the working speaker if you do not have a multi meter.
Given there is mostlikly one capacitor on the input wires to each tweeter and midrange and one coil if at all on the woofer, the components would be easy to replace.
Take a pic of the rear, is there an Lpad, level adjustment for the highs, or some sort of fuse?
Also you can’t check those Motorola peizo tweeters with an ohm meter, there is a specific way to test them. I forgot but have tested them before many years ago. They are cheap to replace if needed.
Feel free to take some clear pics of the capacitors, you can replace them with much better caps at little cost. As much information as you can add will help out to get them back up and running.
 
avguytx said:
The carpeted box would be the first demerit.

Unless they have some sort of family value, I personally wouldn't waste the time, money, or effort on them. If they do, maybe keep them for decoration.
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Along with the plastic baskets protecting the cheap drivers, lack of a real crossover, cheesy plastic waveguide, etc, etc. It's just we've seen these before, and usually in rent to own type stores.

But to the OP, as mentioned, if you like them that's really all that matters, our opinions are just that, ours, not yours, so enjoy them without reservation.
 
The OP mentioned he likes them, so according to that statement I assume he would like them to be operational, which is cool. Apparently no one knows the make and model just that they were most likely sold through low cost outlets. I don’t remember reading the OP asking opinion on value or perceived sound quality, especially if no one has ever heard them.
I have a friend who has an 84 Accord, he loves and cherishes it. I have a friend who has an Audi R8 who loves and cherishes it, they are one in the same.
 
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I confirmed the origin story with my father, it's definitely a white van scam situation.
At the time, he believed they were stolen goods that the guy was trying to get rid of.

avguytx said:
The carpeted box would be the first demerit.
I personally wouldn't waste the time, money, or effort on them.
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What exactly is the demerit of the carpeted box? Is there a downside or is it just an indicator of what is likely shoddy construction underneath?
Depending on the time, money and effort needed to fix them, it wouldn't be a waste to me.
I definitely like the carpeting, as I have hardwood cherry floors and we rotate 1 quite often to serve as just a radio ambience while cleaning the house. It's just nicer to deal with in general.
merdy said:
It's not carpeted it's Rat fur.
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So low quality carpeting...?
Justgotohm said:
Check the signal chain from the input terminals to each driver.
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I did mention having bypassed the components and connecting bare wire directly to the drivers, no sound, so I imagine the fault is in the drivers themselves
Grenadeslio said:
Along with the plastic baskets protecting the cheap drivers, cheesy plastic waveguide, etc
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They are metal baskets, I won't pretend I have any idea whether the drivers or waveguide are any good. What makes a cheap driver?

So what might cause a piezo and coil driver to fail to produce any sound when connected directly to an amplified bare wire signal?
 
See, now this right here is another clue to their quality.

"So what might cause a piezo and coil driver to fail to produce any sound when connected directly to an amplified bare wire signal?"

It's just that we've seen these so many times we know what they are if not the name. Again, no reason to defend, if they produce the SQ you like that's all that matters.
 
Replacement tweeters;
https://www.parts-express.com/grs-pz1005-3-1-4-piezo-horn-tweeter-similar-to-ksn1005a--292-442
Measure the diameter of the midrange driver and the impedance of the one that works, I have a couple from some Peavey PRM 308s speakers I’ll give you if they work for you.
You can also look at the values of the capacitors that are in each cabinet and order those from Parts Express if you order the tweeters. Go ahead and order two tweeters. If you really like these speakers I wouldn’t put more than $20 into them. It will be a fun cheap way to mess around with some speakers. The order from Parts Express shouldn’t be more than $15 or so with shipping for two tweeters and four capacitors.
 
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