Cleaning the surface of ADS tweeters?

cnh
cnh Posts: 13,284
edited October 2011 in Vintage Speakers
Hi,

I just got a set of ADS L520s delivered today. And, they're in good condition. But in the UPS shipping, the grills, which were dust laden, bent in a bit (metal grills) and they touched the surface of the tweeters, more so in one case....leaving an lattice like imprint of dust stuck to the surface.

I tried to use, gently, a light wet sponge to clear this off, which worked on the one, but the other still has some dust patterns clinging to it.

The 'glossy' surface of these tweeters make me a little nervous because I am not sure that even a slightly moist sponge might not remove some coating.

Can anyone who knows these suggest a safe agent to use to get off the rest of the material.

So far, though, they sound just fine even as is? Very detailed, airy and open throughout the entire musical spectrum.

Thanks guys!

cnh
Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
[sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
Post edited by cnh on

Comments

  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited October 2011
    Well, I was told, on another forum, that I might be better off letting them be as the have a sticky coating that does tend to attract dust and I might damage that.

    Anyone else agree with that or have an alternative?

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
  • Evrythngmatters
    Evrythngmatters Posts: 187
    edited October 2011
    I agree to leaving the tweeters as they are. I have some ADS speakers and after alot of reading through forums about cleaning them I came to this conclusion. Buy replacement tweeters and leave the original ones alone. I was going to do the tape thing.the tweezer thing but in the end it's just me being overly critical about how my gear looks. Just my .02 btw. Gl and if you do try something daring and it works please share. :idea:
    Everything matters. That is all.
    Money cannot buy happiness, but it sure can buy a bad **** boat to pull up along side it though.
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,804
    edited October 2011
    Sir Paul McCartney put it best when he wrote that immortal line...
    Let It Be
  • DaveHo
    DaveHo Posts: 3,529
    edited October 2011
    I have a pair of vintage Canton's that also have sticky dome mids & tweets. I cleaned the dust off them the same way as most of us clean the sticky Polk MW drivers. A lint free cloth & some Windex. Worked great. Domes are still sticky. Everything sounds great.

    -Dave
  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited October 2011
    They are naturally sticky. Take a real nice paintbrush, seriously spend some money for a nice one, and simply, lightly brush off what you can. Don't worry about the rest. You should always have a nice squirrel hair or better brush in your goody box for things like this, and for cleaning PCB or whatever you come across in audio. It's a solid $10 investment or less.

    I wouldn't use any solvents or water.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited October 2011
    Warm soapy water or just a little windex and a lint free cloth. Windex is can be pretty harsh if not used sparingly.
  • victor. askew
    victor. askew Posts: 50
    edited October 2011
    If you must use only a damp lint free towel wet with warm water only. I have had my L1290 towers since 1987 and have never felt the need to clean what little dust/lint there is present from them. Best to leave them be and play them loudly.
    Amps- Nakamichi PA 7 & PA 5.
    P Amp- Classie Audio. Nakamichi CA 5
    Tape- Tandberg 3014A.
    Tape- Nakamichi 600.
    CD Calif Audio Tercet 3.
    CD-Rotel 1078.
    Spkrs- Polk Audio RTI 150 Towers.
    Spkrs- ADS L1290 Towers.
    Spkrs- Yamaha- NS 670,NS 500m,NS 200m, NS 200ma
    NS 200ma hybrids.