Speaking of spiders....

[DonQuixote99]

You are hearing high frequency noise that the other speakers apparently cannot reproduce.

You are correct! Tracked problem down to the POS Samsung DVD I was playing CDs on.

 

[DonQuixote99]

Not sure why this wasn't mentioned, but stiffer spider also means you'll drive the speakers harder to achieve the same "level" of performance. This in turn means generating more heat in the VC, which you really want to avoid at all costs.

Total agreement on keeping it original, not just for acoustic reasons, but for mechanical reasons.

Good info, thanks. I am told the spiders that were used were OEM spec. Sounds good for sure!

 

[dumptruck]

Good info, thanks. I am told the spiders that were used were OEM spec. Sounds good for sure!

Wait so you did end up replacing the spiders? That's not how I read your earlier posts, but if he did put in new ones then you will have significant break-in changes to look forward to (or fear, I suppose).

 

[DonQuixote99]

Hmmm. Yes, spiders were replaced. Old ones worn out and sloppy.

I 'broke them in' by running the speakers a long time at 'low' vol without even listening to them all the time, last night. Today I've used 'em some loud. So what's good break-in procedure?

 

[dumptruck]

So what's good break-in procedure?

Unless you're trying to do some kind of measurements, just keep using 'em. :thmbsp:

 

[DonQuixote99]

I did the crossover caps! Went with "Solen Fast Caps" for all except the big 80 mfd for the low end. Used electrolytic there, for economy reasons (poly here would have doubled the cost of the whole project) and because someone suggested that bass capacitor type was less critical....

The bass seems unchanged to my ears, which is great as I thought it was fine before. And the top end has opened up very nicely! These are now far and away the best speakers I've ever had, in every way. Very musical, very detailed, none of the fatigue-making high end distortion that I hate. Trust me, bad high-end makes my ears shut down.

Pics show the crossovers before and after. Interestingly, the old electrolytics for the bass were considerably bigger that the single new one that replaces them, even though the old were only rated at 50V.