Wharfedale W70 to Econowave conversion!

[hrudu]

Wharfedale W70 to Econowave conversion! Uhm...maybe not!

So now I found this Econowave thread and I think before I give the W70 away may be i should converse them to econowave speakers.

 

[hifi_nut]

I would recap the crossovers, before anything else.

You wouldn´t believe the difference that sometimes makes in 45+ year old speakers.

 

[ericson38]

We have two pairs of these (W70Ds) and although they don't have us much bottom end as other speakers of the same wieght, they are very good, in my opinion. We drive 4 with a QRX 7001 Sansui.

 

[Cosmos]

Personally, I have never heard Wharfedale W70 described as poorly as you indicate they are. I'd suspect a problem with your W70s or your expectations are different than most...

 

[hrudu]

When I drive them with the HK A500 I find the music instruments and vocals very good, but the bass is almost complete missing; on the other hand if I drive them with the Sansui 210 (a very small unit) then the bass is plenty but not good and the vocal is not clear and lost in the back ground.

How hard it is to recap the crossovers?
I never do something like that before.

 

[echase55]

Very, very easy. Simply replace existing parts with film capacitors of the same capacitance value and equal or greater voltage rating.

If you can't find the same value you can wire multiples in parallel, their capacitance (the uF number) is then summed.

 

[Harvey/ Ga]

I bought the Wharfedale W70 a few moths a go an I am not happy with them at all.
I run them with my HK A500 and I know the amp is good, but some how the sound is not.

So now I found this Econowave thread and I think before I give the W70 away may be i should converse them to econowave speakers.

Any thoughts, inputs???

Thanks

+1 for what HiFinut sez!!
I capped my crappy sounding W-60E's with 5% Dayton polys and they sang!! great bottom end and great vocals.

 

[Westy56]

I'm planning on recapping mine too.

My 70's only have one 4uf cap.



They are wonderful sounding speakers for many types of music. They really shine with vocals, brass, acoustic bass and strings.

 

[jhoyt]

Make sure you don't have the speakers wired out of phase. I recently hooked up a pair of Polk Monitor 10's that had been in storage, and it was like the bass fell off a cliff. Then I realized they were wired out of phase...made all the difference in the world. I'm not saying that's definitely what's going on with your Wharfies, but I'd check just to be sure.

 

[GordonW]

The W70D should be a wonderful sounding speaker, when working properly.

Make sure the "purple-dome" tweeters are working. If not, they can be replaced with the vintage (but MUCH more common) Philips AD0160 "clear-dome" tweeters. Direct retro-fit that sounds great.

The advice to check out the crossovers- both capacitors and L-pad level adjusters- is quite proper and apt. I wouldn't think of trying to make a judgment, until you can determine the electrical components are working to spec...

Regards,
Gordon.

 

[Goodwill_HiFi]

Any thoughts, inputs???

Yes...... Don't do that. Check the pots in the crossover...... pull on them and see if your tweeters start working.

 

[Westy56]

Yes...... Don't do that. Check the pots in the crossover...... pull on them and see if your tweeters start working.

I have a clamp holding out the (spring loaded) knob on one of my pots to achieve continuity.

Is the pot shot or can it be repaired?

Thanks
Steve

 

[vinylover]

Please don't hurt them. Re-cap them and you'll probably love them
Steve

 

[drknstrmyknight]

Oh, The humanity!

If you don't like them after the crossovers are updated and pots are cleaned, please sell them and find something that suits your tastes better.

 

[Goodwill_HiFi]

I have a clamp holding out the (spring loaded) knob on one of my pots to achieve continuity.

Is the pot shot or can it be repaired?

I used small zip ties. When I had mine, it looked like the back of the pot was missing, but wasn't in the cabinet...... I never got the back off of the other cabinet. I sold them that way, and suspect replacement would be best, but the zip ties worked for me.

 

[Westy56]

I used small zip ties. When I had mine, it looked like the back of the pot was missing, but wasn't in the cabinet...... I never got the back off of the other cabinet. I sold them that way, and suspect replacement would be best, but the zip ties worked for me.

I have other pots from old Fishers and some Criterions. Will one of them work with the right cap installed?

I have them stacked with some University 3-ways. The 4 together sound great.

Steve

 

[Goodwill_HiFi]

I have other pots from old Fishers and some Criterions. Will one of them work with the right cap installed?

I have no idea. I've never replaced a pot....... I would think the key thing would be to match the resistance, but I don't know if that's the only thing to consider. Another thing is an L-pad....... I don't think an L-pad is just a pot.

 

[hrudu]

I'm planning on recapping mine too.

My 70's only have one 4uf cap.



They are wonderful sounding speakers for many types of music. They really shine with vocals, brass, acoustic bass and strings.

You have a pair of W70's too???
So I just go and order 2 4uf caps and replace them???

Hurray...

 

[hrudu]

Oh, The humanity!

If you don't like them after the crossovers are updated and pots are cleaned, please sell them and find something that suits your tastes better.

Don't worry; I won't hurt them.

And yes, the HUMANITY!!!

 

[hrudu]

+1 for what HiFinut sez!!
I capped my crappy sounding W-60E's with 5% Dayton polys and they sang!! great bottom end and great vocals.

Thanks