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#1
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Northern California Kef 104/2 Repair?
Hi All - I've got a pair of Kef 104/2's with foam rot on the the inner
woofers in both speakers. Can anyone suggest a good repair shop in the area that could fix this? Any ideas about what something like this would cost? Also, I lost the grilles during my last move? Not a big deal, but if anyone has suggestions on replacement, I'd like to hear them... Thanks. |
#2
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I've got the same problem, but, so far, it has not been audible. I think the
foam just acts as a dust cover; the surrounds are rubber. Do you hear a deleterious effect? My contractors got paint on my grills; I've been meaning to contact the importer (somewhere in North Jersey I believe) to ask about repair or replacement. Steve Rochlin (sp?) of Enjoy the Music used to have a nice page on maitaining and modding 104s; you might check his site. "Nug186" wrote in message ... Hi All - I've got a pair of Kef 104/2's with foam rot on the the inner woofers in both speakers. Can anyone suggest a good repair shop in the area that could fix this? Any ideas about what something like this would cost? Also, I lost the grilles during my last move? Not a big deal, but if anyone has suggestions on replacement, I'd like to hear them... Thanks. |
#3
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Nug186 wrote:
Hi All - I've got a pair of Kef 104/2's with foam rot on the the inner woofers in both speakers. Can anyone suggest a good repair shop in the area that could fix this? Any ideas about what something like this would cost? You shouldn't necessarily have to go to a repair shop. Pulling the drivers and putting them back in is something you should be able to do yourself, assuming you can either get them reconed or replaced. This is an old loudspeaker and it may well be that there is no replacement for it. Reconing is problematic as well unless it's done by KEF. The problem with reconing is that speaker drivers are electromechanical devices. Their performance is based upon cone weight, density, stiffness, as well as the electromechanical properties of the surround. You can buy reconing kits, but unless it's the exact kit for the particular driver you have, then the result will not be the same driver and the resulting sound will be different. It may be that KEF America will be able to recone or replace your drivers for you. You'll have to talk to them. You can contact KEF America at: KEF AMERICA, Inc. 10 Timber Lane, Marlboro, NJ 07746 Tel: (732) 683 2356 Fax732) 683 2358 www.kefamerica.com If they can't help you, then your next best bet is to call: Madisound Speaker Components P.O. Box 44283 Madison, WI 53744-4283 USA (608)831-3433 They can't sell you a direct replacement, but they can sell you something that will fit in the enclosures. It'll be a different loudspeaker though. Some things just don't last forever. Also, I lost the grilles during my last move? Not a big deal, but if anyone has suggestions on replacement, I'd like to hear them... Fabricate your own. Make a simple wooden frame to fit the area you want. Paint them black. Stretch an open weave material over them and staple it to the back side of the frame. You can attach the covered frames to the front of your loudspeakers with velcro. If you can get your drivers reconed or replaced, then it is easy for you to pull them from your cabinets and replace them. Just be sure to mark the wires, taking note of polarity. The back of the drivers will have one terminal marked with red - either a spot of red, or a red stain on the terminal. That's your hot lead. Take some tape and label the hot lead wire. When you go to put the driver back in the speaker, you'll need to make sure you wire it correctly. Good luck! Russ |
#4
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Thanks guys for the detailed responses. Regarding pulling the speakers
myself, the Kef 104's have a very strange configuration whereby the woofers are both located inside in a band pass type of alignment with a metal rod passing through both opposed speakers, and I don't see any way to crack open the case (no screws visible, etc.). Thoughts? |
#5
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No, nothing obvious (certainly no flapping or anything), but then again
then only 104's I ever heard are my own. I have noticed that the bottom end significantly tails off what seems to be in the 70-80Hz range (guessing by ear). I thought maybe the leaks from the rot is causing a loss of compression, thereby adversly affecting output. |
#6
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Nug186 wrote:
Thanks guys for the detailed responses. Regarding pulling the speakers myself, the Kef 104's have a very strange configuration whereby the woofers are both located inside in a band pass type of alignment with a metal rod passing through both opposed speakers, and I don't see any way to crack open the case (no screws visible, etc.). Thoughts? It's been a long time since I've seen one up close. The drivers aren't mounted from the front of the enclosure? That's very odd. If there aren't any screws, the drivers may just be caulked down to the face and could be pryed off with a flat-head screwdriver. If you can't pull the drivers yourself, then I doubt very much anyone else could. I suppose it's possible the manufacturer built the drivers onto the baffle from the inside and then just glued everything up, but that would make 'em impossible to service. Somehow I doubt KEF is that kind of company. If you can't figure out how to pull the drivers, it may be time to buy another pair of loudspeakers. Why not go to Madisound and buy one of their better kits and build your own? Russ |
#7
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On 28 Jan 2005 00:56:30 GMT, "Nug186" wrote:
Thanks guys for the detailed responses. Regarding pulling the speakers myself, the Kef 104's have a very strange configuration whereby the woofers are both located inside in a band pass type of alignment with a metal rod passing through both opposed speakers, and I don't see any way to crack open the case (no screws visible, etc.). Thoughts? Don't mess about prying things loose. Contact KEF in Maidenhead. They were extremely helpful to me with a pair of 101s, even had original replacement seals. |
#8
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Regarding removing the woofers:
I never went any further than ascertaining that the module with the tweet and mids could be removed. Perhaps after removing them you could reach in and release the woofers. I contemplated taking the things apart about ten years ago but never got any further than tightening all the loose screws and bolts. I don't remember specifics, but I do recall a general feeling that if I was inclined I "could" take them apart, but having no desire at all to undertake the actual task of doing so ;^) "Russ Button" wrote in message ... Nug186 wrote: Thanks guys for the detailed responses. Regarding pulling the speakers myself, the Kef 104's have a very strange configuration whereby the woofers are both located inside in a band pass type of alignment with a metal rod passing through both opposed speakers, and I don't see any way to crack open the case (no screws visible, etc.). Thoughts? It's been a long time since I've seen one up close. The drivers aren't mounted from the front of the enclosure? That's very odd. If there aren't any screws, the drivers may just be caulked down to the face and could be pryed off with a flat-head screwdriver. If you can't pull the drivers yourself, then I doubt very much anyone else could. I suppose it's possible the manufacturer built the drivers onto the baffle from the inside and then just glued everything up, but that would make 'em impossible to service. Somehow I doubt KEF is that kind of company. If you can't figure out how to pull the drivers, it may be time to buy another pair of loudspeakers. Why not go to Madisound and buy one of their better kits and build your own? Russ |
#9
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I use to sell them. Mine sound as good as any pair I remember (better,
actually. the demo room did not sound as good as any room I've had). I noticed someone posted the contact info for the importer. If I can remember, I will contact them to see if it makes sense to haul them out there (if they'll fix them). If it happens, I'll certainly report on any sound quality change. "Nug186" wrote in message ... No, nothing obvious (certainly no flapping or anything), but then again then only 104's I ever heard are my own. I have noticed that the bottom end significantly tails off what seems to be in the 70-80Hz range (guessing by ear). I thought maybe the leaks from the rot is causing a loss of compression, thereby adversly affecting output. |
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