Blown Crossover

[Will Meyer 2,422]

I have a real fondness for speakers - I really like tinkering with them.

I typically look over Craigslist and pick up speakers needing a little TLC.

 

My latest acquisition was a pristine looking set of Advent Prodigies (these are 8inch 2 ways) that I paid $35.

The speakers needed refoaming but I've done over 2 dozen of these Advents - easy.

 

I like Advents - they use nice cabinetry and good drivers. Advent went real cheap on the crossover and sound insulation and these speakers benefit with a little attention in these areas.

Updating the caps to metalized polypropylene and adding additional sound insulation improves the sound quality significantly without adding significant cost.

I also planned on trying some updated inductors on this set.

Wherever possible, I also update the terminal block with 5 way binding posts.

 

My surprise when I pulled the speaker apart was that both pair had total blown crossovers.

13uF capacitor had grenaded - possibly my experience is limited and this is common but I've never seen this in a speaker.

While the crossovers were toast the drivers test fine - I completed the refoaming on the woofers yesterday.

 

Here is a pic of the blown (and cheap) crossover I pulled out the Prodigy.

I also included a pic of the blown crossover next to the built up replacement mounted on a new terminal block. The new crossover is using Solen caps and new inductors.

I've maintained the same basic circuitry with upgraded components.

 

I don't understand how someone can do this to a speaker.

 

I'll finish these tonight.

Next I'm looking at a Cerwin-Vega AT-8 that needs reconing.

 

 

Edited May 2, 2020 by Will Meyer

[Rob 6,297]

Wow, that crossover looks amazing. lol  Never seen one with so much color.

[4krow 7,383]

Nah,  I have never seen this in a circuit, period. Seeing how this has already occured, it is a good time to make better terminations for the speaker binding posts. I can imagine how crappy the originals were. They practically all were back then.

[Will Meyer 2,422]

Agreed - the original binding posts were pretty poor.

 

I picked these up off Parts Express on closeout for $2.75. Its a complete crossover.  I strip rhe components. I unwound the inductors to get 200 and 300uH as required for these Advents.  I use the 5 way binding posts to upgrade my speakers.  I used these binding posts on a set of my JBLs and 2 sets of Advents. They worked out really well.

 

Btw...  An enterprising individual is buying these from P-E for $2.75 each and reselling them on ebay for $16. Easy money.

Edited May 2, 2020 by Will Meyer

[B-Man 4,784]

Wow - that thing looks like some kind of "modern art".

 

I like Advents too. I still have a pair of the bigger 5002 series. 10" woofer with a tweeter. Great sound, decent cabinetry work. Heavy buggers for sure. Cheesy terminals but an easy to upgrade speaker. Smooth, balanced sound. Henry Kloss had a good ear, IMHO.

 

Advents were the first speakers I drove with my new M1.0t back in 1985 or so.

 

 

 

 

[4krow 7,383]

Will,

 

  i think that you did a fine upgrade. You didn't go over the top either in price or quality. The upgrade/repair matches the need very well. I am also amazed at how little went into most speakers back in the day. Adding a bit of damping material, and sometimes even another brace where there was none can be a worthwhile improvement. A friend of mine has the same fascination for many vintage audio equipment. I enjoy looking it all over and seeing what was done back in the day.