A Quick Thanks to Vintage Posters

markamerica

I just wanted to take a moment to say how much I appreciate members here. When I first signed up years ago and then disappeared, abandoning everything audio-related, it was a sad and depressing time in my life. When I signed back in a few weeks ago, I doubted anyone would remember me, but was surprised to find a few did. In that time, I've done a good deal of reading and have learned some things. One is that I think a debt of gratitude is owed to Darqueknight, among others, who have together here assembled a reference library that will provide almost anything we vintage fans want to know about our favorite speakers. The information on mods, upgrades, and simple troubleshooting is all in here somewhere.

I'm working toward modding/upgrading the SRS crossovers. VR3 has been a good deal of assistance. It may take a while with the price of some of those capacitors, but I know when it's done, it will be right. Got the order for inductors in, resistors next. Then the caps. Darquenight's caps upgrade post actually inspired me to design my own boards for the project. (still tweaking and want to mock-up before ordering them, naturally.)

Last weekend, I made a long trek to pick up a pair of 1.2TLs. They need cosmetic work, and they needed a few "adjustments," and over the next year, as I work on my crossover upgrades on the SRSs, I will likewise begin the same process with the 1.2TLs, and maybe a few other projects. I'm certain I will annoy VR3 to death, but hopefully, my business will make it worth at least some of the trouble.

Looking at the cloth on the 1.2TLs, and even the fact that a cat got ahold of the corner of one of my SRSs, I was much interested in how to remove the side panels. There was Darqueknight's post on the subject with the answers. In the discussion that followed, others discussed other models with different side panels, and from that, I learned how to tackle the 2Bs that need similar attention.

It's hard to say enough about the SDA Handbook, however. Some prefer to keep it simply as a pdf, but I have found that I like it best in printed form. Why? Well, I work on computers all day anyway, so I get tired of staring at monitors, but more, in a situation like last week, going to pick up a pair, it was invaluable. I took my trusty multimeter, and referencing the table on page 36, I was able to know that there were problems in the right channel speaker before doing anything, or handing the guy the first dollar. Because I had the manual and all the included schematics, I was able to make an educated guess about the worst of it before deciding what I would do about it.

When I paid my money, wrapped them up, loaded them, and carted them home, all the way I was already thinking what steps I should take. As I knew from hearing them, there was a tweeter issue, and at least one driver that had issues, but I had something else going on too. When I cracked them open, I knew right where to look because the values at the binding posts hadn't matched, or even close, and what it told me was something was broken, or intermittently broken between the stereo and dimensional arrays. The hardened old hot-glue having separated from the 1.0mH inductor was the giveaway. Sure enough, one of its leads was broken but making intermittent contact because the zip-tie was still holding it in relatively close association despite the failure of the glue. Once I corrected that issue, replaced the bad driver and the bad tweeter, I then found the readings matched pretty closely. Of course, I hooked them up and played them. Now they sounded right, and then I lost another tweeter at a volume that shouldn't have been taxing. I've since posted on the repairs.

With a repaired tweeter, despite being a little out of spec, I spent about an hour today listening to the speakers with a variety of music. I wanted to listen for a bit, having glued all my magnets with advice from WestMassGuy on the best adhesive and approach. I still have a 6511 that sounds a little "off" though electrically close to specs. Still, I know where it lives and how to fix it. I enjoyed music again. Really enjoyed it.

For that reason, I want to thank all of you who have offered kind words, encouragement, and assistance. Even now, one of you is helping me with my dodgy tweeter issue. I can't say thanks enough, even to Polk for keeping a site like this. I look forward to more information, and a few laughs too. Thanks for making my return pleasant, warm, and educational. My mods and upgrades will go forward. My cabinets and cloth will be refurbished. I may even experiment with an "oil change" in some tweeters as time goes on. It really doesn't much matter. The music is finally playing again. :biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

Thank you everyone!

Mark

zane77

You expressed my sentiments a lot more elaquently than I could but I know exactly how you feel. Have fun with your new (to you) speakers

markamerica

Thank you Zane! It's difficult to express what a terribly valuable resource this forum is for a guy like me.

TNHNDYMAN

Glad you are enjoying the journey again Mark. Best of luck on the upgrades on both sets and by now you know... pics or it didn't happen. (This is how those after you can learn just as you, myself, and many others have learned from various members own projects.)

markamerica

TNHNDYMAN wrote: »

Glad you are enjoying the journey again Mark. Best of luck on the upgrades on both sets and by now you know... pics or it didn't happen. (This is how those after you can learn just as you, myself, and many others have learned from various members own projects.)

Guess I should get a camera, huh?

Thanks!

Mark

stretchl

OK. Now where can I pick up these vintage posters? I have a lot of empty wall space in my new office.

markamerica

Thanks Stretch, you've given me an idea sure to freak out my wife...LOL Remember the original glossy marketing material that came out with the SRS, with MP in a lab-coat? I think I'll make a vintage, life-size poster from that and place it on the wall next to the SRS. That way, I have a "vintage poster" and get a laugh when she jumps.

halo71

I always look for vintage posters when I am out and about. Some bring big bucks too! :cheesygrin:

Polkie2009

markamerica wrote: »

Thanks Stretch, you've given me an idea sure to freak out my wife...LOL Remember the original glossy marketing material that came out with the SRS, with MP in a lab-coat? I think I'll make a vintage, life-size poster from that and place it on the wall next to the SRS. That way, I have a "vintage poster" and get a laugh when she jumps.

Great idea Mark, it would be interesting to see what a reprographics shop charges to make a lifesize print of it.:cheesygrin:

westmassguy

markamerica wrote: »

Thanks Stretch, you've given me an idea sure to freak out my wife...LOL Remember the original glossy marketing material that came out with the SRS, with MP in a lab-coat? I think I'll make a vintage, life-size poster from that and place it on the wall next to the SRS. That way, I have a "vintage poster" and get a laugh when she jumps.

Better yet, have one of those life size cutouts, so it looks like MP is Standing next to them

stretchl

markamerica wrote: »

Thanks Stretch, you've given me an idea sure to freak out my wife...LOL Remember the original glossy marketing material that came out with the SRS, with MP in a lab-coat? I think I'll make a vintage, life-size poster from that and place it on the wall next to the SRS. That way, I have a "vintage poster" and get a laugh when she jumps.

Nice! Be sure to post a photo!

markamerica

Heh, yes, that would be tremendous. A cut-out of MP standing next to 28 year-old speakers. After she over-came the shock, my bride would become convinced I had entered some sort of "mid-life crisis" in search of my youth... and my cover would be blown.

drumminman

Glad to see you came back and things are going your way. I agree, those on this site are just a tremendous resource. These SDA's, RTA's and monitor speakers are too good to let them go to the junk heap.

As much fun as the modding is, the listening is pretty sweet too. Gotta say though, tweaking is addictive and you will be amazed at how good your SDA's are gonna sound when you're done. Spend as much time as you can listening to them in stock form cause the mods take them several levels above that.

markamerica

DrumminMan,

Thanks! All the way 'round, you make an oustanding contribution here too. As for the original sound, I have a plan for that too...

I like working on them, and then hearing my work. I still remember listening to the SRSs for the first time, way back in 1986 at a AAFES PX in Ansbach, Germany. They had a pretty decent auditioning room, and I fell in love. I think I probably spent 85% of my after-tax Army paycheck on sound equipment back then.

Thanks Drumminman!