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A3a Super Mod Kit
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REFOAMING WOOFER  & MIDRANGE SURROUNDS - Sorry I do not sell refoam kits.
RECONING – PRO AND HOME AUDIO
POST REPAIR TESTING
CROSSOVER UPGRADES
CABINET REVITALIZATION
COMPLETE LOUDSPEAKER RESTORATION
GRILLE CLOTH

 
REFOAMING WOOFER & MIDRANGE SURROUNDS
I use only first quality surrounds obtained from the nation’s largest speaker parts supplier. Each surround replacement job involves complete removal of the old surround where it was attached to the cone and frame. Most times I can salvage the original dust cap (DC) in the process. On rare occasions I must remove the DC and shim the VC. I replace the old DC with one of similar size and function.
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RECONING
A reconing job involves replacement of all the moving parts of a woofer. They include the cone, dustcap, spider, voice coil and leadwire. This is the most common type of repair when the voice coil or cone has been damaged. Pro-Audio and guitar speakers are especially prone to voice coil failure simply because of the heavy use and relatively high power service.
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POST REPAIR TESTING
All repair jobs involving drivers undergo either an impedance/phase and/or power response test. Customers are given copies of test results at time of delivery or pickup.
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COMPLETE LOUDSPEAKER RESTORATION
This service is available for customers who are unwilling to undertake the repair, upgrade and do a cabinet finish renewal necessary to completely restore a vintage loudspeaker. An example of this can be found at the Spica enthusiasts website.
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CABINET REVITALIZATION
Over the years, the real wood veneer on vintage loudspeakers can become dull and dried out. I can clean this up and apply a proprietary oil-based finish that will make those vintage cabinets look like new. Even water stains can be improved upon. However, some can never be completely removed.
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GRILLE CLOTH
I have located sources for 100% linen for replacing vintage AR, KLH and Advent grille cloth. A variety weights and colors  are offered. They have been measured and extensively tested to ensure sonic transparency. Call or e-mail for prices and free sample swatches.
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CROSSOVER UPGRADES
Most commercially manufactured home audio loudspeakers contain passive crossovers that have been assembled using inexpensive parts of dubious audio grade quality. In particular, vintage crossovers have components that have been improved upon in their designs over the years and they can benefit most by replacement with modern components. Certain key parts in the series signal path to the drivers could and should be replaced with audiophile grade parts. In most cases, replacement of older capacitors and resistors will result in much improved clarity and detail. Some vintage loudspeaker purists claim the ‘voicing’ of a vintage speaker intended by the initial design will be altered. This may or may not be true because this claim has yet to be proven conclusively. However, today’s modern digital-based music media contains a tremendous amount of detail that can go unheard with old parts in the signal path.

Acoustic Research
For those AR enthusiasts who are willing and capable of taking on a DIY upgrade, I offer AR2a, 2ax, 3, 3a and 4x kits. They contain all the parts and instructions needed to complete a worthwhile upgrade to vintage components*. Kits include very high quality 15 ohm rheostats – not cheap L-pads, metalized polypropylene capacitors and, if required as in the case of the 3a, cost effective high value electrolytics to replace those old, original Industrial Condenser Corp. components. Original air core inductors do not need replacing.

New rheostats are sometimes needed when cleaning of original, Aetna-Pollak units becomes a futile effort. I have selected very high quality, US made industrial grade rheostats for this application. Photos of these are available in the ‘project gallery’ section.

For tweeter and midrange circuits I typically select metalized polypropylene. Specific brands are chosen based on experience that strike an appropriate balance between cost and performance for vintage AR speakers.

Note that components are also available separately. E-mail or call for pricing.

PRICING (for a PAIR of speakers)
• AR2a, 2ax, 3 and 3a kits are $150 plus S&H.
• Without new rheostats - $20 plus S&H
• AR4x kits are $80 plus S&H.
• Without new rheostat - $15 plus S&H

* kits with rheostats do not include a cover to protect the exposed wiper. Plans to build a simple cover are included.

Advent
Kits are available for three versions of Large Advents and also for the New Large Advent model. Most contain new capacitors and resistors as well as instructions. Here again, inductors are not replaced unless burned out. Prices range from $50 to $70 plus S&H for 2 speakers. If you are interested in a Large Advent kit, please check the crossover components in your specific vintage before contacting me. New switches and/or inductors are extra. Below is a list of the 3 vintage variations.

  1. 16 uF/16 uF with a 4 ohm resistor – early 1971
  2. 16 uF/16 uF with a 3 ohm resistor – until mid 1975
  3. 16 uF/8 uF with a 3 ohm resistor – mid 1975 to end of prod. In 1977
UPGRADE SERVICES
Most crossovers in the 10-40 year old range contain parts that have either degraded over time or are of initial dubious quality. Non-polar electrolytic are known for their ageing characteristics. Both of their critical operating properties (uF and ESR) typically drift with age. This drifting phenomenon changes original crossover points and diminishes high frequency output. The “project gallery” contains photos of some of the crossover jobs I have done. Specific types and brands are selected which, I believe, are the most appropriate for the loudspeaker being upgraded. For example, I won’t select a Duelund capacitor for the tweeter circuit in a vintage AR or Advent speaker. Nor will I select a 49 cent NPE for a $3000 high end monitor speaker. I also provide capacitor test reports.Contact me with your upgrade questions.
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