What would you do??


I currently own a set of ProAc Super Towers that are about twelve years old. They sounded terrific when I purchased them but the sound has really degraded with the subsequent destruction of the speaker surrounds by my cats. I have already replaced two of the four drivers and three are currently in sad shape right now. The cabinets are not too bad but they are not perfect. My question is would you go to the expense of replacing all the drivers or just go buy set of new speakers. The drivers are about $200 Can. a peice.It has been a few years since they have sounded really nice but I know that my wife would never let me spend the kind of dollars that those size ProAc's would fetch today so its either cheap replacement speakers or refurbish what I got. What would you do?
pricha00
I can second Pbbs approval of the Paradigms. Never have heard the Pro-acs, but when I went CDP shopping, I heard a CAL demo'd with NAD and Paradigms and was quite impressed. Very good imaging, taut and fast. A little too analytical for my taste (I have Vandersteens) but this wasn't the ideal set up with lots of other speakers and mid-fi electronics. I WAS definately impressed with sound/$. Just my $0.02.
Declaw the cats. Use the citrus spray. My cat liked jazz as evidenced by her being there during most listening sessions, at times on her back in front of the speaker with feet up and eyes closed. I have more experience with cats and kids( I told the kids at an early age that there were few things in the house they couldn't touch, but if they touched the stereo they would die.Seems to have worked.)I have the Paradigm Ref. 100's and am happy. My guess what I would would be investigate what redoing the current speakers would entail, investigate used/ demo options, obsess over the whole thing and make a decision, currently having no wife to contend with, and refusing to consult the dogs.
I had the same problem. I had a great pair of full range floorstanders, very old JBL's . I liked them but so did the cat and dog and the kids. Eventually I replaced all the drivers and kid proofed them with metal covers over each driver. This worked so well that I refinished the cabinets and then sold them to a friend who was having the same problem with dogs and kids. The speakers are still standing and sound better with driver covers than with dents and holes. After that I learned that in my house all electronics need to be inside a cabinet. All speakers are now wall mounted monitor type. All subwoofers are are downfiring type. And most important the Joule Electra monoblocks are on waist high stands with French doors protecting them. Best of both, the cat is cool.
Keep the speakers, they have wonderfuld crossovers which are typically more expensive than the drivers in high end speakers. Replace the drivers with Dynaudio. Get rid of the cats. Buy a dog.