mpent
04-01-2013, 06:55 AM
Hello all,
I am new to this forum and this is my first post. Please bare with me. I have searched the forums for an answer to my questions but I suppose because I am so new to this I am trying to learn the technical basics of sound output, etc on a much more basic level which sometimes gets lost in all the more experienced, technical jargon that is out there (at least for me). Over the weekend, I acquired what I believe to be a very decent pair of Heathkit AS101s. Cabinets are in pretty good shape with the prerequisite dings and scratches that such an item usually comes with after 40 years of use. Grills are excellent. The seller told me that the components are all original and up to spec upon having them assessed by a speaker tech. After getting them home and hooking them up to a heathkit aa-151 and playing with the attentuator, what I am hearing appears to be anything but "up to spec". I opened the cabinets and inspected the crossovers. The L Pads in both crossovers were pretty crusty with a lime green coating which I am assuming is oxidation? Original caps were observed but for one crossover which appears to have had one cap replaced...and it may have been a poor replacement in that the top wire from the cap to the L-pad is bound in electrical tape. I cleaned the L-Pads and all eletrical contacts within the crossover as well as the speaker taps with contact cleaner. Noticed a definite improvement in sound...also, improved the function of one of the attentuators which would not rotate fully back and forth..presumably from the oxidation/crust?
I am brand new to DIY audio. Have been performing alot of research on this model in particular, as well as DIY restoration/rebuild. I understand that cap replacement is an absolute necessity. I am wondering if anyone can clue me in to whether a cap replacement will address the deficiency in sound output that I am hearing. After turning the attentuator all the way up, the sound output from the horns sound pretty good to my ears. Vocals are clear, resonant, and lifelike. What appears to be of issue is the low end sound output which sounds very muddy and bloated (not sure if I am using this term correctly). In fact, it's really hard to discern much low end at all....the sound is not cohesive or well integrated with the high end. Turning the attentuator all the way down in both speakers drastically enhances this problem. High frequencies are very muffled and the bloat and muddiness I hear in the low end is more pronounced and muffled as well (although louder). I am certain that this is not how these speakers should sound considering all that I have read about their sonic capabilities. I have a pair of Klipsch Fortes that I was previously driving with the heathkit amp and the difference is night and day. The Forte's sound very cohesive, crustal clear and just plain wonderful. I purchased the Forte's already modded with Crites diaphrams and new crossovers. So, my question is very basic I suppose...should cap replacement address this problem? Or could I be looking at something more complex?
Thank you.
Michael
I am new to this forum and this is my first post. Please bare with me. I have searched the forums for an answer to my questions but I suppose because I am so new to this I am trying to learn the technical basics of sound output, etc on a much more basic level which sometimes gets lost in all the more experienced, technical jargon that is out there (at least for me). Over the weekend, I acquired what I believe to be a very decent pair of Heathkit AS101s. Cabinets are in pretty good shape with the prerequisite dings and scratches that such an item usually comes with after 40 years of use. Grills are excellent. The seller told me that the components are all original and up to spec upon having them assessed by a speaker tech. After getting them home and hooking them up to a heathkit aa-151 and playing with the attentuator, what I am hearing appears to be anything but "up to spec". I opened the cabinets and inspected the crossovers. The L Pads in both crossovers were pretty crusty with a lime green coating which I am assuming is oxidation? Original caps were observed but for one crossover which appears to have had one cap replaced...and it may have been a poor replacement in that the top wire from the cap to the L-pad is bound in electrical tape. I cleaned the L-Pads and all eletrical contacts within the crossover as well as the speaker taps with contact cleaner. Noticed a definite improvement in sound...also, improved the function of one of the attentuators which would not rotate fully back and forth..presumably from the oxidation/crust?
I am brand new to DIY audio. Have been performing alot of research on this model in particular, as well as DIY restoration/rebuild. I understand that cap replacement is an absolute necessity. I am wondering if anyone can clue me in to whether a cap replacement will address the deficiency in sound output that I am hearing. After turning the attentuator all the way up, the sound output from the horns sound pretty good to my ears. Vocals are clear, resonant, and lifelike. What appears to be of issue is the low end sound output which sounds very muddy and bloated (not sure if I am using this term correctly). In fact, it's really hard to discern much low end at all....the sound is not cohesive or well integrated with the high end. Turning the attentuator all the way down in both speakers drastically enhances this problem. High frequencies are very muffled and the bloat and muddiness I hear in the low end is more pronounced and muffled as well (although louder). I am certain that this is not how these speakers should sound considering all that I have read about their sonic capabilities. I have a pair of Klipsch Fortes that I was previously driving with the heathkit amp and the difference is night and day. The Forte's sound very cohesive, crustal clear and just plain wonderful. I purchased the Forte's already modded with Crites diaphrams and new crossovers. So, my question is very basic I suppose...should cap replacement address this problem? Or could I be looking at something more complex?
Thank you.
Michael