I've performed the above and I clearly have scraping on 3 of the 4 woofers. A slight tap on the 3 scraping woofers clearly creates a bad sound that I hear terribly when these are playing. Looks like I know what needs to be done. Now to find someone. Thanks all for your input.
My system is getting worse - now what?
Hi all,
First post and I need some guidance. My system started out in the mid-80s with a Hafler DH-500 amp, Adcom GFP-1A preamp and ADS 810-2 speakers. I was perfectly happy with this system for 15+ years except for the occasional cut-out of the Hafler during high-volume sessions, which it did for protection. Eventually the Adcom had a channel signal drop happen enough I had to retire it. I replaced it with a Paradigm as it was one of the few affordable preamps with a phono section. I am nowhere as pleased with it musically as with the Adcom. Recently I grew increasingly frustrated with the Hafler cutouts at volume as well is its general fan noise during low volume operation and sold it. I replaced it with an Adcom GFA-555 based on friends having them and reviews, but I am not happu with it. My ADS speakers hate it at volume, resulting in woofer distortion and it just sounds far less musical. So now I am in a quandary. I can tell the Adcom is more of volume amp and I think I can live with it after I get my ADC equalizer set, but I don't think the ADS speakers will ever take what it gets handed. So I think I want an affordable floor standing speaker that will take whatever I can throw at it. I will even consider getting another GFA-555 and bridge to mono if that will help. So ... is there any affordable ($1000-1500) speaker that will sound as acoustically beautiful as my ADS's and be allowed to be driven to extremely loud volumes when the occasion arises?
First post and I need some guidance. My system started out in the mid-80s with a Hafler DH-500 amp, Adcom GFP-1A preamp and ADS 810-2 speakers. I was perfectly happy with this system for 15+ years except for the occasional cut-out of the Hafler during high-volume sessions, which it did for protection. Eventually the Adcom had a channel signal drop happen enough I had to retire it. I replaced it with a Paradigm as it was one of the few affordable preamps with a phono section. I am nowhere as pleased with it musically as with the Adcom. Recently I grew increasingly frustrated with the Hafler cutouts at volume as well is its general fan noise during low volume operation and sold it. I replaced it with an Adcom GFA-555 based on friends having them and reviews, but I am not happu with it. My ADS speakers hate it at volume, resulting in woofer distortion and it just sounds far less musical. So now I am in a quandary. I can tell the Adcom is more of volume amp and I think I can live with it after I get my ADC equalizer set, but I don't think the ADS speakers will ever take what it gets handed. So I think I want an affordable floor standing speaker that will take whatever I can throw at it. I will even consider getting another GFA-555 and bridge to mono if that will help. So ... is there any affordable ($1000-1500) speaker that will sound as acoustically beautiful as my ADS's and be allowed to be driven to extremely loud volumes when the occasion arises?
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- 15 posts total
You might try calling or emailing Bill LeGall of MillerSound, http://www.millersound.net (note that it is .net, not .com). He may not do that kind of repair (he mainly does reconing and surround repairs, and he is THE BEST in those areas), but he is extremely knowledgeable about speakers and speaker repairs, and he may be able to point you in the right direction. He is also a delight to talk to. Regards, -- Al |
Stonedeaf, Your advice is right on. The whispy sound is sometimes sounding as if air was leaking out of the speaker. Another trick I use is to touch the woofer rubber surround very lightly while playing music softly - normally the sound does not change - if it does then VC rubbing may be a problem. Another check is to lightly "tap" the edge of the cone (about an inch inside the surround rubber) with a finger and listen to the sound as you go round the cone...if the sound changes at some point around the circumference then it may indicate a rubbing coil. I would add that DIY re-coning is not hard to do IF you can find the correct replacement parts (this may be a problem for ADS who is now defunct). See this for a discussion on ADS drivers |
- 15 posts total