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these bad boys popped up on my radar a few weeks ago and after selling my last pair I simply couldn't resist.
Problem is the rt panel will buzz if played over 75db. That's fairly loud but I'm already looking into refurbishing them myself.
Follow Ups:
Nice! And until M3 Lover said about the screen, I glossed over that part thinking it was a projector screen. That is one massive TV!!!
BenQ projector, 4k, I like it!
Which one? I have an HT3550.
Great find, BTW.
Hi Josh, long time no hear from!
BenQ
Hi GL,
Yeah, I've been pretty busy -- I got my new projector half way set up and moved my audio gear to a new room. Having a separate space is great, I can have a much bigger screen and do a better job of speaker setup.
Of course, it also means that I need a sound system for the theater room! I was thinking of getting a line of Neo clones and borrowing one pair of Tympani bass panels . . . or even borrowing the ribbon tweeters and using the original midrange (the Neos do pretty well without, if your ears are as old as mine, anyway).
Anyway, glad to see that everyone is doing cool stuff!
GL,Congrats on picking these up. I was quite sure you would go for them, you've talked so much about Apogees since selling your previous pair.
Unless you've sold off a pair or two you have quite the speaker collection now.
PS -- That's a really big screen you added!
Stay well.
"The only cats worth anything are the cats who take chances. Sometimes I play things I never heard myself." Thelonious Monk
Edits: 02/05/21
your former residence.They don't pop up often, especially locally with the ability to audition so I said what the heck- :)
Edits: 02/05/21
Just plain TERRIFIC. Best luck on the self-repair. (If that doesn't work out, I'm sure you already know the rest.)
Very nice!
Definitely try the foam repair first. My Duettas still don't buzz after 15 years since I did mine.
question: do you have a link to the procedure?
Here is what I wrote up for the old Apogee forum:
My thanks go to Henk for correctly identifying the source of my Duetta woofer buzz and suggesting a solution. The problem stems from deterioration of the foam dampers surrounding the woofer diaphragm. As they disintegrate the aluminum conductor begins to make contact with the hard wood clamp causing a buzzing sound. The buzz emanates from the conductor itself and not the clamp. Since the conductor is corrugated it is the raised portion of the aluminum that buzzes as it vibrates against the clamp - just like a tin can would buzz if set in a sink with the disposal running. I know many of you Duetta owners are experiencing the same problem, and if your not now you will be in the not too distant future as the environment and use take its toll on the foam. My feeling is if the buzzing is not eliminated the aluminum will eventually wear out at the point of contact and cause the driver to fail. Fortunately Henk suggested a solution which I implemented and refined and will now share with the rest of the group. The standard apogee work cautions apply to remove all metal objects from your pockets and work area in addition to keeping your fingernails short.
I experimented with a couple of foam types and found the Frost King, "Vinyl Foam Weatherseal Self Stick Tape" to work very well. Obtain the ¾" X 3/16" X 17' roll package which says 3 year warranty (I am certain it will last a lot longer) and moderate compression. It is grey in color.
Lay the speaker down on a large box or low table and remove the speaker's supports and cover. Reattach the support legs and stand the speaker up. You should work with the speaker standing up and not laying down so that you do not accidentally damage the woofer with the tape roll as you work. Carefully remove the top and bottom dampers by unscrewing them and very slowly lifting them off (the yellow Kapton showing between the conductors is sticky). Note that the rear beige material may be stapled to the top clamp as it was with one of my speakers. Before removing the clamp pry the staples out with a small screwdriver to release the material. Scrape the rotten foam off the dampers with a putty knife and replace it with a piece of new foam.
Unravel enough foam to reach from the top of the speaker to the floor with the roll lying on the floor (be careful as the tape adhesive is now exposed and it is very sticky). Beginning on one side of the woofer frame attach the free end of the tape to the top of the clamp side perpendicular to the ribbon (not on the ribbon!). The area is the same width as the tape, ¾". Start 1mm from the edge of the clamp closest to you and gently press the tape on with a rolling motion from the outside edge toward the ribbon edge. You will notice the tape pushing on the ribbon as you attach it. You need this slight force to make sure contact is made with the conductor after the tape compresses. In my trials I found if the contact weren't adequate it would be ineffective an hour after the foam compresses. Keeping that 1mm gap work your way down the length of the ribbon and cut the tape at the other clamp end. Repeat for the other side of the driver. Replace the two dampers tightening the screws only enough to keep the damper in place and pushing on the ribbon. Lay the speaker back down, remove the supports, reattach the cover, put the supports back on and enjoy buzz free sound.
We are all rooting for you Greenie. Is it possible to combine both solutions?
Hi Will, here's a pic of a Duetta repair on DIY audio; am I safe to assume the small beads along the frame are the injected cured silicone/oil?
thanks in adv-
If you read my write up you will see that I chose a different repair method using new external foam.
I was wondering once the bracket (wood slat) is removed to expose the foam, how does the ribbons maintain their tension?thanking you in advance!
Edits: 02/16/21
Davey, If I remember correctly Olaf removed the clamp and lifted the ribbon enough to do the backside, tilted on an angle and let the silicone flow down along the kapton to the bottom, has to be done slow, I think he thinned it a bit more as well. Al
GL, leave the side vertical clamps alone, no need to fool with them, the top and bottom clamps are a tad loose :) and can be removed and foam replaced :)
noted, thanks-
GL
Correct. But that's only the front side pictured. The rear side should be treated as well.....and that's where the very tedious process begins. :)
However, just treating the front side will yield an audible improvement.Olaf is still using his treated speakers many years after his silicone oil treatment and claims they are still buzz-free.
It is a terrific technique certainly worth the time/trouble.
It's too bad those turds on the Apogee forum, new and old, removed all of his posts describing the process.Dave.
Edits: 02/06/21
thanks Davey, what would be tedious regarding the back side? I have the silicone, oil, syringe, tube and tire needle on the way.
Is there any loosening of the brackets involved?
Doesn't seem to be a lot of room to be jabbing a tire needle in those cracks. I wonder how folks are doing it w/o damaging the foil?
Here (from DIYaudio.com) john states shooting it on the foam itself:
Laid the speaker on its side and supported it so it would not tip.Sucked up some silicone goop and laid a nice bead over the front foam, right on top. The foam sucked up the silicone. I just kept laying more beads until the foam cavity was filled. Then did the other speaker, and let it dry for 6 hours. Then I turned it over and did the other front side... Didn't bother with the top or bottom foam...
So I guess my question would be is the objective to simply 'rebuild' the existing foam that deteriorated over time by hitting it with the silicone/oil and allowing the foam to act as a sponge?
It's more tedious doing the backside because you can't see nearly as well and you need to negotiate your syringe through the perforated back plate. A syringe with a curved needle is what I used. But, whatever you feel works for you.
You're trying to rebuild what's left of the foam remaining. The foam, if not completely gone, will act as a key to give the silicon oil something to coagulate with.
Dave.
going to explore this deeply!
Silicone and oil ordered!
they look worthy of at least giving it a good try, so take your time and good luck!
.
Nice.
I suspect all Apogee's are buzzing at this point. I would suggest you try the foam fix technique before destroying the ribbons to rebuild them.
Dave.
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