Wharfedale W70d restoration

[jomel68]

Hi to Audiokarma family, my name is Jose from Sydney Australia, a new member. I have been a member for a while now but have not contributed to any forum, but a while ago did a comment regarding wharfedale restoration and did post pics of one of mine, a wharfedale melton.
I recently acquried an old wharfedale w70d which i started restoring.
I feel obliged to post my project since i have been reading on old wharfies restoration in this forum.What motivated me and gave me the courage to start this project were the contributions from members and the suggestions/ advice from expert members.
I welcome any suggestions regarding this project since I am a newbie, any input is much appreciated. Here are the pictures of my project.

 

[jomel68]

It seems that the placement of purple tweeter in relation to upper midrange is different from the other w70d that were posted here, and those three inductor coils are much bigger than what i have seen. It took me long to take out the crossover network since it was nailed to the back panel.
The only option taking the crossover is by taking the woofers out since the back panel is glued permanently. And removing same from front

 

[bigaltx24]

You have the Radio People version, in your part of the world that's what I would expect. To save money, Wharfedale shipped the drivers to Hong Kong and a factory there built the cabs. There are small differences between the Hong Kong and England built models but they don't affect the sound. If the drivers are working I would clean the pots real good. Spray them with contact cleaner, make sure you get it inside the pot. Then operate them thru their full range about 20 times or so. Let them sit for a day or so then repeat the process. Check the tweeters for corrosion on the coil wires where they go under the plastic dome, they are prone to galvanic corrosion. One of mine was bad, they can be fixed, but it's a pain in the ass. I changed both of my tweeters out to some Polks I had laying around, they sound fine. If I ever find some Super 3s at a decent price I would like to try them. The only other thing to do besides whatever you need to do to the cabs is change out the caps. I strongly recommend using paper in oil caps. I tried Clarity PX film caps which I use in most speakers but I just didn't like the sound. I wound up using paper in oil caps on the recommendation of one of the AK members. I used Mundorf Evo Oil caps, they are a big improvement over the film caps.

 

[Fahrezz]

It seems that the placement of purple tweeter in relation to upper midrange is different from the other w70d that were posted here, and those three inductor coils are much bigger than what i have seen. It took me long to take out the crossover network since it was nailed to the back panel.
The only option taking the crossover is by taking the woofers out since the back panel is glued permanently. And removing same from front

+1

 

[quiet]

+1

Welcome to AK.

 

[jomel68]

Hi guys thank you for welcoming me, i just started restoring my old second hand speakers, and i do this during my days off. I work as an RN ( orthopedics)here in down under. In my spare time i look for vintage speakers and just recently started restoration, and i want to share it with you guys here in audiokarma.
Thank you bigaltx24 for the info,thanks quiet for the welcome. I have around 12 pio caps lying around, they’re 4uf 160v and 10 pcs of 2uf 160v also pio caps.
The crossover for my w70d has x1 4uf 50v and and x1 16uf 50v Elcaps and from What i gathered from this forum are problematic. Two pots are busted, i inspected and dissassemble the pots from both midrange since they were not producing any sound when i connected it to my system. Both pots were burnt, pots have marks “50 ohm 822”

 

[jomel68]

I connected x4 4uf of my pio in parallel and x2 2uf in parallel also, i have extra 2 pcs of mundorf supreme resistor 20w 8R2 which i planned on replacing the burnt potentiometers

 

[jomel68]

I started my lay out for my crossover but has not soldered it yet, i also plan to repace the wirings

 

[jomel68]

Both resistors 20w 8R2 will be connected to replace the 2 pots (both upper midrange pots) on each speaker, i will not remove the burnt midrange pots on both speakers to maintain the old look. Thanks again for the input bigaltx24.
Today, sunday here in oz will start sandind the cabs. Will post soon

 

[quiet]

I like my W70Ds, except that purple tweeter. Even when I got two working at the same time I didn't like it. Then another one failed. So I threw in the towel and got other tweeters. All is well now.

 

[jomel68]

I like my W70Ds, except that purple tweeter. Even when I got two working at the same time I didn't like it. Then another one failed. So I threw in the towel and got other tweeters. All is well now.

Yeah one of mine was not working, when i inspected the faulty tweeter the tiny wire from the coil was cut, but i was able to solder it back. I just sort of “uncoil” it a bit to have extra lenght, i hope this wont affect the impedance since it sort of short 1 turn from the tweeter coil

 

[jomel68]

It is working now by the way

 

[Bicyclist]

I like my W70Ds, except that purple tweeter. Even when I got two working at the same time I didn't like it. Then another one failed. So I threw in the towel and got other tweeters. All is well now.

What tweeters did you use? I just finished restoring a pair of w70ds and i love them but i worry about the long term viability of the tweeters

 

[srinath]

Is the Paper in oil also supposed to be in the W90 ?

Mine was recapped - with Dayton audio black with yellow end caps.
These -
Thanks.
Srinath.

 

[srinath]

What tweeters did you use? I just finished restoring a pair of w70ds and i love them but i worry about the long term viability of the tweeters

And the W90's don't have purple tweeters ?
Mine seem to not have them.

Thanks.
Srinath.

 

[quiet]

What tweeters did you use? I just finished restoring a pair of w70ds and i love them but i worry about the long term viability of the tweeters

This is what I had and it fit, so.

 

[quiet]

And the W90's don't have purple tweeters ?
Mine seem to not have them.

Thanks.
Srinath.

You are blessed.

 

[srinath]

You are blessed.

I really question that … LOL.

This is what I had and it fit, so.
View attachment 1654320

What is the diameter of that soft dome you put in bicyclist ? I may have some suggestions for inexpensive and close substitutes.

See, I am a tweeter nut, but of course the real wood and plywood and the super heavy teak wood plywood with impregnated sand, or whatever it is that makes that 1 rear panel weigh 300 kilos all of that have me in awe.
However I hear with my ears, not my eyes, I find the highs in these a bit missing. They're on craigslist, and if sold, I will put in something with a lot more "sparkle" to replace the Khorns I just got out of there. Else in a few months I'll part em out and put some seriously hard hitting speakers in there as well as mod the cab etc to open up and look inside.

Thanks.
Srinath.

 

[quiet]

3-3/4. Very happy with it.
I've seen both W90 and W90D with and without purple. They may not have been stock though.
Not a Wharfedale expert.

 

[Bicyclist]

I really question that … LOL.



What is the diameter of that soft dome you put in bicyclist ? I may have some suggestions for inexpensive and close substitutes.

See, I am a tweeter nut, but of course the real wood and plywood and the super heavy teak wood plywood with impregnated sand, or whatever it is that makes that 1 rear panel weigh 300 kilos all of that have me in awe.
However I hear with my ears, not my eyes, I find the highs in these a bit missing. They're on craigslist, and if sold, I will put in something with a lot more "sparkle" to replace the Khorns I just got out of there. Else in a few months I'll part em out and put some seriously hard hitting speakers in there as well as mod the cab etc to open up and look inside.

Thanks.
Srinath.

The diameter doesnt worry me, i can get ones that fit, was really wondering about efficiency.