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Replacement drivers for Monitor Audio R352s

Flapper

Flapper

Member
Hello!

Let me preface this message by stating that I am a Hi-Fi novice so my terminology & understanding may be a bit basic.

Back in February I bought some Monitor Audio R352 speakers on Ebay and I've been very pleased with them. I like their sound plus, crucially, they look very stylish so they don't annoy my wife.

These are the speakers:
http://go.avforums.com/?id=223X354&...one.net/Issue/Page/February%201986/100/828063

One of the 8" drivers has now developed a 'crunchy' buzzing which is particularly audible at low volume. This buzzing goes away for a bit if I gently push the cone in. Then it returns. The cone is not torn but has a slight fold in it - it's obviously not in prime condition, but I'm worried that the buzzing is actually caused by the foam or the surround? With my lack of knowledge I can't diagnose it properly.

I would ideally like to fix or replace this as I really like the cabinets on these speakers.

I need some advice please do you think I should:

1) Take the speaker to someone who could repair it.

2) Buy a pair of 8" drivers to replace the current ones. These KEFs look like they would fit - they seem to have the same fixing holes and apparently they fit Monitor Audio M4s:
http://homepage.mac.com/planet10/TLS...200_SP1039.gif

3) Try and buy another pair of Monitor Audio R352s and cannibalise both sets.(they seem quite hard to find though)

4) Any other ideas?

Bear in mind that I don't have the cash to buy new, and that we both really like the look of the R352s (and the sound, til now, has been great).

Many thanks for any advice.
 
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Botrytis - thanks for the welcome & the reply.

I have rotated the driver 180 degree - I thought it had worked but the buzzing has returned.

I'lll have a look at refoaming. This thread looks interesting for diagnosing a 'voice coil rubbing' so I'll have a look at that:
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=244046&highlight=voice+coil+rubbing&page=2


Regarding the KEF drivers - would it be sacrilige to put them in the R352 cabinets? :)

EDIT: I'll try and get some pictures tonight
 
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that tweeter's definitely a vifa d20,or seas t20( same thing basically) , so i'd look at
them for woofers . peerless/vifa/ seas . i have some mission 707's with the same drivers, even the square woofers, which i believe are seas .

i'd call madisound , which is a good bet for a close replacement .

http://www.madisound.com/services/retrofits.php
 
That woofer in the R352 appears to be an Audax. One of the HD20 paper-cone versions should work as a substitute. I would attempt to get a pair of whatever is used as replacement... just so if there are any subtle differences, the imaging and left-right balance aren't compromised.

EDIT: Noting the presence of a slight "fold" in the cone... the driver may simply have a voice-coil misalignment due to the "bent" cone. This is something that a skilled speaker repair tech might be able to fix... remove the dustcap, shim the voice coil, attempt to straighten the cone as much as possible (checking for rub as they go), and when the rub is effectively removed, soak a little stiffening agent into the cone at the "fold". Something like some superglue with activator/accelerator spray could do just fine for this. Reinstall the dustcap, and it might well be just fine afterward...

Regards,
Gordon.
 
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do they resemble these?
 

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Yes, Karlo they look very much like that - The third image is the model that I have.

It's interesting that the Mission 707s seem to have exactly the same woofer as my R352s. I think I'll try and find some suitable replacement drivers armed with the info that you've all given - thx.

I'm in the UK so I won't be able to go to Madisound, but I'll do some research on Audax HD20 paper cone replacements, & the seas mission 707s.

They also look very much like these, would these be suitable?:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160368327888
 
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the frontal view looks like dead-ringers for yours . do you have polypropylene or bextrene woofers ? bextrene is a sort of sandwich of styrene(?) plastics.

kef 200s are 210mm across , my missions are 200mm even , so you might get a precise
measurement of what you have to narrow it down further.

my 707s are paper coned w/ foam surrounds , so slightly different - even if the motor were the same, ..... as gordon suggested , you'd likely want a matched pair of what you decide to use.

here's all about the kef 200 driver :

http://www.t-linespeakers.org/drivers/b200.html

good luck
 
This is Monitor Audio's (speedy) response:

"I am sorry that we no longer have stocks of spares for this speaker anymore.

I can only suggest calling Wilmslow Audio on 01455 286603 who offer a bespoke driver making service."

I suspect that bespoke drivers may be a bit pricey! Thanks all.
 
Excuse the thread necromancy but in case someone runs a search and just to wrap this up: In the end I found the easiest option was to buy another pair of R352s off ebay (They go for £50-odd quid) and swap the drivers. So now I have a pair to cannibalise for spares. Cheaper than bespoke.
 
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