If you have physical access, you can test the voice coil with your fingers. The frames are sometimes plastic, and can be very small. Forces are minimal in tweeters, so less structural strength is required. Tweeters are a little different than other drivers, but the basic concepts are the same. Rust on the frame, however, doesn’t hinder the performance of the voice coil, but rust may indicate that moisture was abundant in the cabinet, which doesn’t bode well for the condition of any components in that unit (unless it’s been established that the rusted frame was sourced from a different cabinet). Often called the “basket.” It's typically in good shape on most speakers, though steel ones can rust.
#Historic speaker enclosure design driver#
Rusty driver frames won't affect sound, but they're a red flag for other issues.Ī driver's frame is the stamped or cast metal structure that holds everything. (They'r pretty easily DIY’d if you’re any good at soldering). That may be ok, as repairs aren’t always required, and repairs are not terribly involved or expensive. Note, however, that most sellers do not address the crossover condition. Also, make sure that if electrical components have been replaced that the replacements are as close to original spec as possible so that the sound stays close to original. There is no one answer here, as every speaker is a bit different, as is its usage history.īut if your seller isn’t telling you that the crossover is fine, then ask and be wary. However, and surprisingly often, crossovers work fine after 50 years or more. Sometimes the electrical components need to be replaced, especially capacitors. Good crossover condition is crucial, but they aren't too hard to replace.Ĭrossovers are (typically passive) electronic networks that divide the audio signal into different frequency ranges and send those signals to the appropriate driver in the speaker. If your seller isn’t promising solid, inert cabinets, ask questions and be wary. Sometimes it’s quite obvious visually, but sometimes it’s a small vibration where panels are pulling apart, or some other hidden weakness. It may be hard to determine if a speaker cabinet has issues.
#Historic speaker enclosure design drivers#
But cabinet condition is very important for sound, too, because a cabinet needs to be as inert as possible for the drivers to do their job efficiently.Īny speaker that has structural problems with the cabinet should be avoided, full stop. The Small Advents were my father’s first pair of decent speakers, so I grew up between them, eventually inherited them, and proceeded to destroy them with punk records on 11 pointed out my bedroom window at my half-pipe.Ĭabinet condition is not just an aesthetic concern - it affects sound too.Ĭabinet condition obviously impacts the aesthetic experience, and many speakers feature beautiful woods, metals, and in some cases even luxurious leathers (e.g.
A somewhat larger bookshelf format, these simple 2-way speakers had the right components to bring a lot more to the soundfield than their price and size suggested.
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