While troubleshooting my bad 044 tweeter by swapping from one speaker to the other (to deteremine if the crossover is OK) I discovered what sounded like a rattle in one of the woofers. After further investigation I discovered hairline cracks in the foam surrounds along the edge of the cone. and when the woofer moved this opening and closing of the splits in the foam surround sounds like a rattle. So now I need to do a refoam job as well.
My point here is the narrow-roll foam surround design. I notice when I crank my L96's the woofer excursion is quite dramatic. Can this narrow design handle this excursion? The hairline cracks appear to be caused by this excursion...!? Will I have continual problems with these? ...I expect not as the L96's and particularly the LE10H-1 is so well regarded.
Secondly, does the black gasket at the outer-most edge of the frame (over the foam) need to be removed to refoam?
Experts please advise.
...note: the picture below is taken with the woofer lightly pushed in the forward excursion position.
Thanks.