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Rectilinear IIIs

T

tubed

Lunatic Member
I couldn't resist a CL ad for a pair of "floors speakers".
The pic showed showed some large speakers sporting the recognizable Rectilinear logo.
I'd never heard a pair and for the price of a fish taco I couldn't resist grabbing them.
They're now hooked up to a Rotel 990bx amp and I listening to my local Jazz station.
I'm surprised and impressed a 40 year old speaker can sound so good.
 

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relaximus said:
Give 'em a recap and prepare to be floored! :thmbsp:

Dave
Click to expand...

There are a ton of threads about which model is which and which capacitor values are correct.

I'm still a bit in the dark as to which model I have, tallboy/single attenuator.

I'd like to replace the black electrolytics, one of which shows a crack.
I assume this is 60uf?
 

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You may have the original design as reviewed by J Hirsch in S.R. Jensen woofers etc and I believe 60MFD caps. Recap all the NPE's.
 
tubed said:
There are a ton of threads about which model is which and which capacitor values are correct.

I'm still a bit in the dark as to which model I have, tallboy/single attenuator.

I'd like to replace the black electrolytics, one of which shows a crack.
I assume this is 60uf?
Click to expand...

Is the value not printed on the side? That's not an electrolytic cap, by the way.
 
Freds.Bands said:
You may have the original design as reviewed by J Hirsch in S.R. Jensen woofers etc and I believe 60MFD caps. Recap all the NPE's.
Click to expand...

They seem to be the originals from the loads of conjecture I can decipher from the net:)
I thought they seemed rather special sounding before I read the review and compared them to my ESL 57s.

http://sportsbil.com/stereo/rectilinear-db/highboy-review-hirsch-12-1967.pdf

kirk57 said:
Is the value not printed on the side? That's not an electrolytic cap, by the way.
Click to expand...

I thought they were Callens electrolytics, because of the look and have read all the caps are mylar/poly on the originals.
No printing is visible and I've not dismantled the crossover to take a peek

These sure sound remarkable.
 
Ah, the debate about the little black cap.

When I did mine, my research, based on the version of the speaker I have, led me to the conclusion that the cap labeled "XMC" was 100mF.

picture.php


picture.php


So that's how I replaced it. Good thing there's plenty of room inside the box:

picture.php


Sure sounds good!
 
I measured mine at 94uF, but I don't know if it drifted. I believe it's some sort of film/mylar cap so drift shouldn't be a big issue, but that's not a certainty.

The larger value cap lets the midrange play a bit lower (around 250 Hz or so depending on Z) not an issue for the Philips.
 
Moon_Man said:
Ah, the debate about the little black cap.

When I did mine, my research, based on the version of the speaker I have, led me to the conclusion that the cap labeled "XMC" was 100mF.

picture.php


picture.php


So that's how I replaced it. Good thing there's plenty of room inside the box:

picture.php


Sure sounds good!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the pics, Moonman.
Your diagram shows you have one tone control just as mine, xover looks the same.
As to the black cap, it sure seems a non electrolytic would be comparatively huge even back in 1967.
 
Keep in mind when looking at the size of modern-day film caps that most are rated for much higher voltage than needed for a speaker, often 400v and up. (it looks like the Clarity caps in the pic above are 250V) The original spec caps would were often more along the lines of 50v (still way higher than needed) and hence much smaller than modern-day, high voltage replacements. I haven't had much luck finding modern film caps with lower voltage ratings, for whatever reason. My guess is it's because there is a perception that higher voltage is better (founded upon... well, I don't know what that's founded upon :) )
 
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kirk57 said:
According to this site:

http://sportsbil.com/stereo/rectilinear-db/

60 uF is the correct value.

I agree they sound very good. One of the few vintage speakers that I've found to be worthwhile, IMO. I did a lot of work to mine, but they sounded pretty great before I did anything.
Click to expand...

I've been running back and forth listening to the III's in the studio and the Quads 57s set up in the living room.
Very interesting.

I won't make a judgement on what's what with that black cap until I dismantle and examine.
 
Congrats on the speaker find. I recently found a pair as well. I'm in the process of getting them back into operating condition. My larger value capacitor ended up being 60uf, but in my research I have seen both values (60 & ~100). I am excited to finish mine and get a chance to hear them. It is encouraging to hear that you like yours. Thanks for sharing.
 
tubed said:
I couldn't resist a CL ad for a pair of "floors speakers".
The pic showed showed some large speakers sporting the recognizable Rectilinear logo.
I'd never heard a pair and for the price of a fish taco I couldn't resist grabbing them.
They're now hooked up to a Rotel 990bx amp and I listening to my local Jazz station.
I'm surprised and impressed a 40 year old speaker can sound so good.
Click to expand...

Oh, don't be so surprised how great "old" speakers can sound.
My 55 year old AR3's are one of my best!

Nice score! I too have not heard them, but would love to some day!

How are the cabs?

Glenn
 
kirk57 said:
Keep in mind when looking at the size of modern-day film caps that most are rated for much higher voltage than needed for a speaker, often 400v and up. (it looks like the ones in the pic above are 250V) The original spec caps would were often more along the lines of 50v (still way higher than needed) and hence much smaller than modern-day, high voltage replacements. I haven't had much luck finding modern film caps with lower voltage ratings, for whatever reason. My guess is it's because there is a perception that higher voltage is better (founded upon... well, I don't know what that's founded upon :) )
Click to expand...

That's a very good point.
Big old film films it will be.
 
onwardjames said:
Paging Dr. Biggles, Dr. Biggles.....
Click to expand...

"Is there a doctor in the house?"

Leben said:
Congrats on the speaker find. I recently found a pair as well. I'm in the process of getting them back into operating condition. My larger value capacitor ended up being 60uf, but in my research I have seen both values (60 & ~100). I am excited to finish mine and get a chance to hear them. It is encouraging to hear that you like yours. Thanks for sharing.
Click to expand...

60uf?
Any idea what version yours are?:)

GD70 said:
Oh, don't be so surprised how great "old" speakers can sound.
My 55 year old AR3's are one of my best!

Nice score! I too have not heard them, but would love to some day!

How are the cabs?

Glenn
Click to expand...

Actually I meant old ones that looked like these:)

The cabs are lovely.
 

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Hey,

OoOoOOoO, III's !!! Oh, I don't have anything much to add. Kirk has got more on the ball here than I do. I'm just a huge enthusiast and love these particular rigs.

My earlier III's have the 100uF cap and the later versions have the 60uF. New caps are necessary with all those tweeters and that nice midrange, you want them at their best.

Congratulations !!!

Biggles

RectilinearII045.jpg
 
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