AL Silver internal troubleshooting pics

[niccolosito 328]

FWIW, and from personal experience albeit with a totally different set of speakers, I am inclined to opine that there's nothing seriously wrong with the subject speaker, otherwise it will not play well in relative loudness. It could be that some components in it may have just deteriorated from age and a free hand with the volume knob more so than the other speaker that it can't play louder past a certain point and blows its fuse when played louder than that "threshold".

The fuse on my left channel DQ-10 used to pop open with regularity but more from transient, high frequency notes than from over-all louder than normal-to-me volumes. Haven't happened to the right speaker's fuse. Experienced this with two different amps(Crown PSA-2D & SF 300x2) so I would say it's not the amp. Didn't feel the need to switch the speaker cables to see if the other fuse pops up, too. 

 

Needless to say, slightly lowering the volume is the simplest fix if indeed the speaker is just showing its age, like mine was. Or it could also be why they lowered the speakers' power handling rating-to make a subtle warning that they cannot handle that much power and play that loud safely. I think  it's safe to say that Bob didn't design his speakers for brute loud playing although to my ears, they are more than loud!

Nevertheless, with all the amp power available to most of us and the belief that our speakers can handle anything, moderation is easier said than done. Turning the knob increasingly closer to the right is so tempting and...fulfilling...then a trip to the Shack for the next cache of fuses follows.

My electronics know-how is limited to remove and replace so it's close to nothing. Hence, this is a very simplistic but practical take on an issue that may be more serious but costly to diagnose and fix. It costs you nothing and your ears will love you for it.

Unfortunately, it's too late to follow my own advise. Tinnitus!! 

 

 

[aslan7 955]

That is well said Nick. Thank you for the post.

 

I am going to recap these as I believe that's a fairly simple refresh.

 

In the meantime, I keep plenty of 3.2V fuses on hand and go thru maybe one every couple months. Like you said, probably just showing their age--had new ribbons installed in 1995 and new woofers in 2005 but original crossovers.

 

 

[UncleMeat 1,174]

why were new ribbons needed Jack?

[aslan7 955]

 

 

why were new ribbons needed Jack?

 

The Air Force damaged them when they moved me from Pittsburgh to Oklahoma for pilot training. They paid for new ribbons and an install.

[UncleMeat 1,174]

Can't trust those Airmen Movers, they're almost as bad as UPS! J/K, glad you got them fixed!

 

Thank You for your service to our Nation, Jack. Have a great 4'th!