Help With Old Akai Speakers

Paul in Canada
Paul in Canada Posts: 178
edited August 2007 in Troubleshooting
I have these Akai speakers that are at least 25 years old that use to belong to my big brother. One of the tweeters does not work. I tried swapping it out with the other so I'm am quite sure it a tweeter problem. Does anyone have a suggestion of how I should fix them. Can I buy 2 new tweeters fairly cheap that would work with these speakers or can I find 1 some where to replace the bad one? Any inexpensive suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.
Polk RTi 8's
Polk CSi 5
FXIA4"s
Outlaw Audio M200 x2
Denon AVR 2805
Sony CDP C345
Paradigm PW2200 Sub
Panasonic 50"

"It's futile to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person." demaples July 29/08
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,557
    edited July 2007
    Burn them.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • dudeinaroom
    dudeinaroom Posts: 3,609
    edited July 2007
    Good luck finding a replacement. You might be able to just swap them both out for something "off the shelf", but It's a guess ing game on how well they will sound. I got an akia receiver I'll sell you if you want.
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited July 2007
    unless they have tremendous sentimental value.. i'd say.. chuck em. not worth your time in trying to find a replacement tweeter.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited July 2007
    Older brother? I'm thinking the sentimental value, and reserving comment. I'd normally go with Jesse's suggestion for ANY speaker out of Japan.
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  • Paul in Canada
    Paul in Canada Posts: 178
    edited July 2007
    dudeinaroom wrote: »
    Good luck finding a replacement. You might be able to just swap them both out for something "off the shelf", but It's a guess ing game on how well they will sound. I got an akia receiver I'll sell you if you want.

    I'm getting the response that I had kind of expected while I was posting. I know that they are crappy speakers but other than the tweeter they seem to be in decent shape, I kind of hate to just toss them but I won't spend much money trying to fix them either. My brothers Akai amp is still around some where and I am trying to find it, in mom's basement somewhere probably. I will probably be asking questions on how to fix the amp when I find it because if I remember right I think there was always something wrong with it. Thanks for the responses.
    Polk RTi 8's
    Polk CSi 5
    FXIA4"s
    Outlaw Audio M200 x2
    Denon AVR 2805
    Sony CDP C345
    Paradigm PW2200 Sub
    Panasonic 50"

    "It's futile to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person." demaples July 29/08
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited July 2007
    Like the folks said before Paul, if there is no sentimental value do not waste your money. If you want to keep it try and find a small audio shop that can repair them for not a ton of cash. I remember there was one in Halifax when I lived in NS, so maybe you can find one in Moncton or St J. Good luck.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,802
    edited July 2007
    Are the tweeters cones or horns? In either case, look at generic replacements at www.partsexpress.com

    As you've already probably gathered, the odds of your Akais being of great sonic merit are small. Nonetheless, their sentimental value may outweigh their "real" value to you. Nothing wrong with that!

    You have two parameters to worry about: efficiency (sensitivity) of the tweeter to be replaced and the crossover frequency. The former can be dealt with in the absence of any knowledge about the original tweeters: you can buy a very efficient tweeter, and add an "L pad" (if the speakers don't have one already) to "pad down the tweeter output to match the other driver(s).

    The crossover question's a little harder to address generically. You'd typically want to pick a tweeter with a resonance (Fs) at least an octave below the crossover frequency in your speaker. It's possible (likely, in fact) that your speakers might have a simple first-order crossover (a nonpolarized capacitor) to the tweeter. The crossover frequency can easily be estimated from its value, IF you know the impedance of the drivers.


    If you can post a picture or a model number, we can probably give more specific advice.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,963
    edited July 2007
    Not worth the time,effort,or cost.Gut them,turn them upside down and use as a planter.
    If you find the amp,take a short rope,tie one end to your leg and the other to the amp,throw off nearby bridge.Just for asking.:p
    HT SYSTEM-
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited July 2007
    They have no redeeming qualities in regards to vintage heritage, technology or anything that makes them unique aside from being old. Burn them.
    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.
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited July 2007
    give us a model number I want to see what they look like.. hee hee hee.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,963
    edited July 2007
    danger boy wrote: »
    give us a model number I want to see what they look like.. hee hee hee.

    Like a yugo.......
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited July 2007
    I don't need to see them to know they suck.
    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.
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited July 2007
    hey, my friend has a Yugo. enough said. ;)
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited July 2007
    dorokusai wrote: »
    I don't need to see them to know they suck.

    but i LOVE seeing people waste their own hard earned money.. it's the only thing that keeps me laughing these days... :p

    I don't come to Club Polk to learn ****, i come here to laugh at the end of a long day at work. :D
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited July 2007
    You should tell your friend that a shotgun barrel fits perfectly in the mouth. I have a picture of a used car lot in Chicago, somewhere, that has a Yugo(s) for sale...."Buy one Get one Free" on a big sign in the hood.
    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.
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  • Paul in Canada
    Paul in Canada Posts: 178
    edited July 2007
    So I guess there aren't many Akai fans here. I just hate to through things a way. I found out last night that the Akai amp was taken to a recycling center in Toronto by my bro years ago. I bet if I put these speakers in FM you guys would be all over them. Ha Ha. I guess I won't waste any more time on them. Thanks again for comments.
    Polk RTi 8's
    Polk CSi 5
    FXIA4"s
    Outlaw Audio M200 x2
    Denon AVR 2805
    Sony CDP C345
    Paradigm PW2200 Sub
    Panasonic 50"

    "It's futile to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person." demaples July 29/08
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited July 2007
    Paul, take them to a repair shop. Then price a comparable pair of speakers to replace those ones. At the end of the day you will have your answer. If you just want to keep them, then spend the money and do not question it. In the end you will have what you want.

    PS - My first stereo was Akai. Two speakers, a receiver and a TT. $350. Then again, that was about 30 years ago.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited July 2007
    if your brother took the Akai amp to a recycling center rather than have a repair shop fix it.. that tells you alot right there. he knew it wasn't worth having it fixed. and instead recycled it.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,963
    edited July 2007
    Yeah,recycle with a baseball bat...pics please.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,644
    edited July 2007
    Send it to me.

    I'll burn it, demolish it, and bury it --- and put it on youtube!
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited July 2007
    Pull the working tweeter, take a picture if you can. Got a multimeter? Measure DCR resistance, and if you had a picture of the crossover, I might be able to determine any efficiency compensation (if there is any) with the other drivers. Measure the out diameter of the tweeter, and the size of the cab cutout.

    If it's a simple cone design, there are still some good Pioneer replacements made, that won't set you back too much. Only you can determine if it's worth it or not, but happy to help (a little) nontheless. You've got Polks, so I figure this is background / party / garage noise at best.

    Lay it on me. I don't have hatred for Akai as I do other Japanese offerings. Their R2R's make up for it.

    Cheers,
    Russ
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited July 2007
    put some of these speaker spinners on your Akai speakers. might make them more user friendly. ;)
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited July 2007
    danger boy wrote: »
    put some of these speaker spinners on your Akai speakers. might make them more user friendly. ;)


    Speaker Spinners....


    Oh yes that will HELP those speakers :D

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,963
    edited July 2007
    Speaker bling....now there's an untapped market.:)
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • Paul in Canada
    Paul in Canada Posts: 178
    edited July 2007
    RuSsMaN wrote: »
    Pull the working tweeter, take a picture if you can. Got a multimeter? Measure DCR resistance, and if you had a picture of the crossover, I might be able to determine any efficiency compensation (if there is any) with the other drivers. Measure the out diameter of the tweeter, and the size of the cab cutout.

    If it's a simple cone design, there are still some good Pioneer replacements made, that won't set you back too much. Only you can determine if it's worth it or not, but happy to help (a little) nontheless. You've got Polks, so I figure this is background / party / garage noise at best.

    Lay it on me. I don't have hatred for Akai as I do other Japanese offerings. Their R2R's make up for it.

    Cheers,
    Russ

    Thanks Mr. Russ. I don't know what a multimeter is but I will try to see if I can find one and post that info in the next couple of days. Just starting my second week of vacation so I'm not getting anything done to quickly.
    Polk RTi 8's
    Polk CSi 5
    FXIA4"s
    Outlaw Audio M200 x2
    Denon AVR 2805
    Sony CDP C345
    Paradigm PW2200 Sub
    Panasonic 50"

    "It's futile to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person." demaples July 29/08
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited July 2007
    The RTR's are quite nice when well taken care of. I just recently sold BlueMDPicker a booty. Even the Japanese companies usually have one good nomenclature to their credit. JVC gave us equalizers, Akai is good for RTR's, Pioneer gave us ................... covered wagons or something like that.
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  • till
    till Posts: 6
    edited August 2007
    I hate to say this...
    I was able to replace the tweeters on my Aksi's with no problem for next to no money...
    The tweeters were piezoelectric type's so it was not hard to do.
    The old monsters rock for what they are. Though I do plan on replacing them with the Monitor 60's that I just go. After I repair them......
    Tedd ILL
    Happy wife, happy life.
    Home for abused audio....
    Denon AVR270 (Blown up when given to me, rebuilt and rocking!!)
    Denon DCD-610
    Denon DVD-1710 (running optical audio)
    Center Polkaudio Monitor 60
    Main Akai SW161A's (Older than dirt, replaced tweeters)
    Rear Mission 707's (Foam suspension rotting)
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