Rose Batons

[WillMeyer]

I have a pair of Rose Batons that I use with my tube amp. Best sounding speakers I've heard with my amp; they are a well matched set and I'm pleased with them. Like much of my gear, they are older units. They still sound well. The electrolytics have been changed to metalized polypropylene caps. They are 2 driver speakers with 6.5 inch woofers. The woofers are dual voice coil, and the V.C.s crossover at different frequencies so I'd really consider it a 2.5 way crossover.

My issue is, due to the age, the finish on the woofers are deteriorating. They still sound great and I keep the grills on but I suspect it will be affecting the sound as they continue to deteriorate. Is there a way to restore the cones?

I was wondering if redoping them is a possibility? Another thought is reconing. Replacing the woofer with anything other than OEM is a non-starter for me. Here are some pics.

 

[Nat]

I'm not certain that small delaminations in the doping have much effect. Bextrene (or whatever the cones are) behaves differently from the doping when temperature and humidity change, so it may be that such deterioration is inevitable.
But can you hear a difference? Damping is funny - it is easiest, and most psychologically satisfying, to slather it on, but actually, much less, but in specific locations, may do a better job. So they may be just fine as they are.
I would guess that redoping on top would do nothing positive - it won't rebond the delaminations, and it will change the mass, and removing and redoping the cones would require more specialized knowledge than most of us have.

 

[WillMeyer]

Good points.
For now the speakers sound fine, they just look bad.
If the sound deteriorates I'll have to do something, but it's quite possible that the sound quality will remain high.

If it does deteriorate, reconing will probably be my only option.

 

[Nat]

Put the grills on and listen with an unburdened heart.