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In Reply to: RE: After living with them for over twenty years... posted by blgtrio on April 17, 2014 at 18:38:09
Sorry, not aware of what that involves.
I picked up a set of used 1+1s for a song a couple of years ago, but alas they are an early version. I re-socked them, but I would love to pick up a set of Medallion transformers.
Follow Ups:
Hey E-Stat, could you post any close up pictures of your 1+1's with the spandex material, also maybe a picture showing the full length top to bottom. Just wanted to get an idea what it looks like. Thanks, Blgtrio
I just left the old dirty socks off of mine. I was quite lucky, I picked up a pair with medallion (blue) transformers in perfect working condition (no stretched membranes) for only 120 bucks! I then spent another 100 bucks on upgraded caps and that made a huge improvement.
Lucky Duck
Hey E-Stat. I forgot to mention to you. Wouldn't Roy E. be able to upgrade your Interface units to the Medallion status?
Hey E-Stat. I bought my 1+1's used in 2001. They still have the original burlap socks. If you could tell me what size or how much spandex is needed to do both 1+1's. Is it a special grade of spandex that slips over like a sock. If you could send me a link or a picture it would help me be able to visualize it. Also you mentioned upgrades to the 1+1's in an earlier post. One was replace the Monster cable Stat. Is that something Roy would do as part of his upgrading the MK-121's? Please tell me about the heat treatment? Unfortunately I don't have a hair dryer. To hard on my hair and scalp.
They still have the original burlap socks.Definitely need to upgrade those as the originals deaden the top end response.
If you could tell me what size or how much spandex is needed to do both 1+1's. Is it a special grade of spandex that slips over like a sock.
What I did was remove the old ones and took one to a clothing alterations shop. I told them I wanted to make new socks and the lady provided an estimate of the number of yards required. Sorry - I don't remember the answer! I went to the local Hancock Fabric store and found the most open spandex (stretch fabric used mainly for athletic clothing) and brought it to the seamstress. She cut them to length and sewed them lengthwise in a tube such that the seam runs down the back. I told her that I wanted the fabric stretched tightly such that you can see through it - just like the way my Sound Lab U-1s came from the factory. Total cost was about $100 for materials and labor.
One was replace the Monster cable Stat.
I think its same to assume if you had the original wire that looked like this:
then, he would replace it! The oxidation caused an artificial hard brightness on top.
Ideally, you would use a heat gun, but a high powered hair dryer does work. The mylar stretches over time and causes the surface to "wrinkle". Passing the dryer over the surface at a couple of inches at an angle with a slow constant motion will gradually cause the diaphragm to contract and return to its original tension. Works the same way as weatherproofing kits that use a thin sheet of mylar over a windowsill. You tape around the periphery and use a dryer to pull the surface tight.
If Roy has some extra Medallion transformers, I would be interested in what it might cost to upgrade them. I already purchased the 47uF film caps and would like to be able to put them to use.
Edits: 04/18/14
Not sure it's the right ones for you, but there's a pair of MK121-2a Blue Medallions on that on-line auction site right now. No affiliation, just passing on a tip.
Now I feel both stupid and happy!
My confusion rests with viewing the cap values and thinking they weren't consistent with the Medallions. The big electrolytic is a 220 uF value so I'm still confused. I thought that would be a 47 uF. Need to return to Audio Circuit and bone up on Andy's comments...
The blue Medallions didn't have the "C" mod. The red Medallions came with the "C" mod. It is an improvement but not nearly as much as the Medallion Upgrade.
It's hard to get a clear close up shot. I took one with a light behind it to get a feel for the openness (porosity?).
The key is the fabric can be stretched tightly so that you can almost see through it.
Hey all, just picked up a pair of 2+2 with blue medallion. I haven't heard them yet....spent all day cleaning them off - years of cat/dog hair and dust...
I will be removing the black socks and wash them, and remove the eight panels and give them a little bath too. Then maybe a little heat treatment, do the C-Mod (either Solens or get a cheap Poly caps - anything is better than an electrolytic), then resock and take a listen. No rear pads planned...
Apexjr has Aerovox 35uf Met-Poly caps for $3.50 each (tell Steve I said Hi). Just add another small poly cap and your good to go.
I VOID WARRANTIES
Love those speakers.
Pretty impressed so far....I do not believe I have the C Mod (think I saw that blue electrolytic) so that will be the first thing, then add another Cap/Diode onto the multiplier, Charge indicator Neon Lamp (al la Quad), then jumper the secondary side bass resistors...these may have some staying power after all...
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I think that outside of their outlandishly tall stature and tendency to beam high freq, they are great ESLs. I spent 2 weeks at a friend's with them and was very impressed. They convinced me to drop the Vandersteens and go for planars when budget allowed. I got the Tympani IV then modded it and in subsequent visits I was surprised by how well my midrange did in comparison considering how the memory of that 2+2 midrange was so deeply etched.
Hey all, I went ahead and did the C-Mod today - removed the 220uf electrolytic cap and added four 10uf polypropylene caps (total 55uf), and the 10 ohm resistor across the HF tranny, and kept the HF pot. I also jumpered both the 50k resistors (another tweak to clear and boost the mids). So far quite impressed. It now has the clarity as my modified CLS. I still need to spend a little more time on them, but thinking it did clear up the mids / highs.One thing I found strange was the bass tranny was set to 2 panels not four... wondering if this was the original setup, or previous owners attempt to boost the bass response?
I VOID WARRANTIES
Edits: 05/09/14
Hello inmates, yesterday I had a great day driving to Binghamton NY to pick up a pair of Acoustat 2+2's in perfect shape. They have the latest red Medallion transformers the grill cloth is perfect and no marks or scuffs on the bases. I set them up next to my 1+1's. Went back and forth between the two for a while then decides to try both together for a while. It is staggering how powerful and deep the bass goes while the mids and highs are airy and sweet, such a wonderful relaxed but very tight sound. I have a Jeff Rowland Model 2 on the way so am looking forward to that combination. The Bryston amp sounds surprisingly good yet I known the JR will be a nice upgrade, I'll share the results once when it arrives the early part of next week. It sure is nice to be listening to 2+2's again.
Big Trio and John:
Congratulations to you both...Truly Magnificent speakers. I once owned the ML CLS in 1988 and these are much more dynamic speakers with more reach and heft...Wil always wonder if they were as good as I remember them...Joy to you both.
Thanks Utley1, I owned a pair of 2+2's from 1987 to 2001. I sold them(should have kept them). I aquired a pair of 1+1's in 2002 and I am still enjoying them. Now I have the 2+2's and 1+1's side by side. I switch between them. More intimate music I play on the 1+1's. When I am in the mood for techno,bluegrass or jazz I like the bigger fuller sound of the 2+2's. I was really lucky to find a pair. A few days before I made a deal with a guy in Hatteras, NC. I was to go pick them up. He never again returned my phone calls. I found these at Audio Classics in Binghamton, NY. Never dreamed I could come across another pair so soon. BTW my moniker is BLGtrio.
It takes passion and love to make them sing again, ordinarily.....You won the lottery....
I've been really enjoying the Acoustat 2+2's that I picked up on Thursday. I have had them playing about 4 hours a day the last few days. I go back and forth between the 2+2's and the 1+1's which stand right beside them. I'm sending the MK121-C's from my 1+1's to Roy E. in Fla. to get the mods and upgrade service that he offers so I've unplugged the interfaces so they can discharge for a day, then I will pack them and send them on their way. I'm getting the "Air Mod" along with the servicing of the interface units. Roy said it is about 3 weeks turn around time not counting shipping. So for right now it's just the 2+2's. I think I can get by with just one set of Acoustats. LOL
Thanks E-Stat. I appreciate the helpful info. I don't think Roy would have extra Medallion transformers. I just figured he could modify the non Medallions up to Medallion status. I believe the high frequency biformer has changes in its windings, the low frequency biformer remained the same.
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