Also, respect and love to w1jim for threadjacking what was initially his thread. Peace, bud.
XRT20 Speaker System Restoration (and questions)
- Thread starter w1jim
- Start date
A great thread, starting my XTR20 journey it is good to read from those who are happy that made the jump.
I'm not sure how my wall is going to work however, needing over 60" to clear a TV on the wall, ... means I need to use 180" minimum (with the rule of thirds per RR) with the TV in the center, ... which means moving the TV, wife not gonna like it.
Maybe it's time for a zero-offset projector?
I'm not sure how my wall is going to work however, needing over 60" to clear a TV on the wall, ... means I need to use 180" minimum (with the rule of thirds per RR) with the TV in the center, ... which means moving the TV, wife not gonna like it.
Maybe it's time for a zero-offset projector?
maxchau
Member
In updating a pair of XRT18 I got early this year from East coast, I have found the weakest link in XRT system is probably the 5 pin din cable. Once the new cables I made with 20AWG OCC solid core wires were installed, the sound quality of tweeter columns just jumped to a brand new level. Crystal clean, no "softness".
In addition, KLEI Binding posts were installed. Most of the crossover wires replaced with OCC solid core. Electrolytics replaced. Last but not least two fuses/holders were also bypassed (with provision to connect). All connection soldered.
The resulting sound is sublime and upmost pristine. This is coming from a person had owned Soundlab, Maggie, ML ELS, Apogee, Infinity RS II and Ren. 90, among dozens of others.
In addition, KLEI Binding posts were installed. Most of the crossover wires replaced with OCC solid core. Electrolytics replaced. Last but not least two fuses/holders were also bypassed (with provision to connect). All connection soldered.
The resulting sound is sublime and upmost pristine. This is coming from a person had owned Soundlab, Maggie, ML ELS, Apogee, Infinity RS II and Ren. 90, among dozens of others.
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Maclover1962
New Member
I just purchased a set of mcintosh xrt 20 as well. The one base was refoamed and the second base will only need the 2 12 inch refoamed as the 8 in had been done. It came with the MQ 107.
Maclover1962
New Member
Would it be possible at all to power the collums on the xrt 20 with a separate amp ? I have a spare mcintosh 7270 .
Sure, but you'd need an active crossover - and 270W x 2 would be way too much power!
Maclover1962
New Member
Thank you so much for the info. I also have a mcintosh 2125 kicking around. Would that still be too much power ? Both amps im sure your well aware have their own individual power volume controls.
damacman
Resident Psycho
Obtain a service manual for the speakers, study the schematic, and you may decide that the juice ain't worth the squeeze.
Maclover1962
New Member
Good advice, thank you. I have been trying to find one with no luck.
Maclover1962
New Member
Thats fantastic, thank you so much.
Bill Ferris
Lunatic Member
Not in my experience, when I bi-amplified my 1990 purchased XRT-22s, I used a mono configured Crown DC 300 Series II (with IOC clip indicators) driving each tweeter array for over a decade..
I did build and insert a protection interface box between the amp and tweeter array with duplicated original factory tweeter fuse value fuse and a carefully chosen non interfering value plastic type HQ crossover cap for DC protection, in case the powerful mono configured Crown amp tried to freak out and wished to dump major DC into the tweeter array.
Never had the fuse blow the whole time even when the speaker system was cranked to stellar SPL levels, which was most of the time from 1993 until I sold them in 2006 to purchase my current tri-amplified XRT- 30s.
I also used a 20 watt 8 ohm resistor soldered to a matching DIN plug to placate the bass/midrange cabinet`s internal crossover that the 8 ohm tweeter line arrays were originally connected to to prevent any upsetting of the system`s crossover because of no tweeter load affecting the crossover`s performance.
After digitally time aligning the arrays to their respective mid/bass cabinets, the resulting SQ, sound staging exceeded the non bi-amplified configuration..
I had already carefully 1/3rd octave voiced/tuned the XRT-22s before hand.
Bill Ferris
Lunatic Member
You're a complete madman, Bill !!!
Rock on, friend.
Thank you kind Sir. for that most welcome, and no doubt, accurate compliment, Mr. Tim.
Retired SQ quality mindset FOH sound persons are a unusual breed
: " We would always rather have more than we need, and not always need it, than need/desire more than we have, and not have it" ! 
Take care, be safe, my A/K friend.
Maclover1962
New Member
I had the woofers replaced and working great. One colom is working but the other one isnt at all. i checked the fuses and swapped the cable connectors but luck. Any suggestions ?
First step is to move the bad column to the other woofer/mid box to confirm it’s the column.
Next step is to open up the column and test the individual tweeters for continuity. You should see a small resistance (probably close to 6 ohms give or take). The open tweeters will need replacement.
The tweeters are wired in series in groups of five except for one group of 4 with an 8 ohm resistor.
apologies in advance for another mini-highjack, but this great thread deserves a bump and I need some help. I have just re-foamed a pair of xrt18s and upon first check (w/mc2255) the tweeter arrays (both) seem "weak". I've got my fingers crossed that an incoming pair of new 5 pin cables will do the trick, but in the more likely case that it doesn't, looking for a similar first and second steps for diagnosis. I have not checked continuity yet but the fact they are producing at least some sound makes me think that is not the main issue, although I suppose it could be that one or more of the groups are out. Have not checked that yet... thanks to the great contributors on this forum and thread
My guess is that if the tweeters are weak that one or more of the groups have an open tweeter.
I doubt the cable is at fault.
I presume you’ve seen this regarding the XRT18: