Frozen SDA drivers...

Driver_King
Driver_King Posts: 266
edited August 2009 in Vintage Speakers
So I tried using the DIY technique to repair them... That didn't work. :( I live in St. Petersburg, Florida and was wondering where would be the best place to have them professionally re-aligned. I don't want to spend a fortune on it as I've already spent too much time and money trying the DIY way. Any suggestions?:confused:

By the way, I have three MW-5001's that are locked up. I already have replacement drivers but it is really easy for me to tell that they sound completely different (and not as good) than the drivers in the right speaker that are the originals. I would like to put the originals back into working order.:)
Home Theater:

Onkyo TX-SR805
Behringer EP2500 for SDA's

Polk SDA II fronts
Polk Monitor 5Jr. surrounds
Polk Monitor 4 back surrounds

DIY A7-900 and DIY A3-300
Post edited by Driver_King on
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Comments

  • kawizx9r
    kawizx9r Posts: 5,150
    edited August 2009
    I wouldn't know really what to suggest on this matter or anything but could it be that the replacement drivers have never been broken in hence the difference in sound? Just a thought :D Goodluck to you though!
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  • BrettT1
    BrettT1 Posts: 560
    edited August 2009
    I have read about people trying to repair frozen drivers, but I've never read where one was actually repaired.

    By the way, which SDAs use the drivers you are trying to repair?
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  • Driver_King
    Driver_King Posts: 266
    edited August 2009
    kawizx9r wrote: »
    I wouldn't know really what to suggest on this matter or anything but could it be that the replacement drivers have never been broken in hence the difference in sound? Just a thought :D Goodluck to you though!

    I've had the replacements since November so I'm sure they've been broken in by now. They just seem much muddier, have a different tone, and seem so much lesser in quality. That's just something I noticed. I can go right up to the right SDA speaker and easily enjoy its sound though.:D
    BrettT1 wrote: »
    I have read about people trying to repair frozen drivers, but I've never read where one was actually repaired.

    By the way, which SDAs use the drivers you are trying to repair?

    The SDA II's (original ones from '85).
    Home Theater:

    Onkyo TX-SR805
    Behringer EP2500 for SDA's

    Polk SDA II fronts
    Polk Monitor 5Jr. surrounds
    Polk Monitor 4 back surrounds

    DIY A7-900 and DIY A3-300
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,214
    edited August 2009
    It may be the difference between a sealed cabinet and one that is not. Please double check you speaker gaskets and seals.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited August 2009
    I've never heard of anybody successfully realigning their drivers. You'd be best off trying to find some originals.

    Post a WTB ad here...and keep your eye on ebay.

    FWIW, I've noticed a difference between the original and newer style drivers myself. When I got my 2A's, one of the drivers in the left speaker had been replaced with a newer style driver. I'd always noticed that the bass seemed a bit stronger on the right side of my room, but I always attributed that to my room acoustics.

    The different appearances of the drivers was bothering me, so I tracked down an original 6510. I wasn't anticipating any audible differences, but I got them. The bass is a lot more balanced across my room now.

    Upon further inspection, I realized that the newer style drivers definitely don't have as much excursion as the originals, which was probably why I sensed less bass output on the left side.

    It's all good now though.:)
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
    Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
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  • Driver_King
    Driver_King Posts: 266
    edited August 2009
    I've already checked all of the seals. I know that it's not my room acoustics or anything else other than the differences in drivers. When I play bass heavy music, the replacement drivers seem very muddy. They distort and bottom-out when playing test tones or bass test songs while my other SDA speaker with the originals sing away cleanly and deeply.
    Home Theater:

    Onkyo TX-SR805
    Behringer EP2500 for SDA's

    Polk SDA II fronts
    Polk Monitor 5Jr. surrounds
    Polk Monitor 4 back surrounds

    DIY A7-900 and DIY A3-300
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,214
    edited August 2009
    Have you contacted Polk directly about this issue?
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • Driver_King
    Driver_King Posts: 266
    edited August 2009
    I would like to post a WTB ad but am still wondering how much it would cost to have the three re-aligned. If I did post a WTB ad and got original replacements, I would need to sell my replacements. Or could Polk take them back for a refund?:confused::p Maybe I could just buy replacements and then have my current drivers fixed for later. What a mess.:o
    Home Theater:

    Onkyo TX-SR805
    Behringer EP2500 for SDA's

    Polk SDA II fronts
    Polk Monitor 5Jr. surrounds
    Polk Monitor 4 back surrounds

    DIY A7-900 and DIY A3-300
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  • Driver_King
    Driver_King Posts: 266
    edited August 2009
    treitz3 wrote: »
    Have you contacted Polk directly about this issue?

    No, I haven't seen it as a big issue. I guess I could but I don't know exactly what I could ask for other than a refund...
    Home Theater:

    Onkyo TX-SR805
    Behringer EP2500 for SDA's

    Polk SDA II fronts
    Polk Monitor 5Jr. surrounds
    Polk Monitor 4 back surrounds

    DIY A7-900 and DIY A3-300
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,214
    edited August 2009
    Advice, suggestions and maybe how to solve the issue professionally. Is that good enough?
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,214
    edited August 2009
    BTW, give up on rebuilding a driver. I have never heard of a successful repair.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited August 2009
    treitz3 wrote: »
    BTW, give up on rebuilding a driver. I have never heard of a successful repair.

    +1

    I've read about MANY MANY people that have tried, and never once have I heard of someone that did it successfully.

    I'd call Polk and get some advice. Or better yet, just try to find some original drivers.
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
    Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
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  • Driver_King
    Driver_King Posts: 266
    edited August 2009
    I'll go ahead and contact them sometime tomorrow. Maybe I can get this all sorted out. :D Thanks for the comments.:)
    Home Theater:

    Onkyo TX-SR805
    Behringer EP2500 for SDA's

    Polk SDA II fronts
    Polk Monitor 5Jr. surrounds
    Polk Monitor 4 back surrounds

    DIY A7-900 and DIY A3-300
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Driver_King
    Driver_King Posts: 266
    edited August 2009
    treitz3 wrote: »
    BTW, give up on rebuilding a driver. I have never heard of a successful repair.

    Trust me. I learned the hard way.:eek::p
    Home Theater:

    Onkyo TX-SR805
    Behringer EP2500 for SDA's

    Polk SDA II fronts
    Polk Monitor 5Jr. surrounds
    Polk Monitor 4 back surrounds

    DIY A7-900 and DIY A3-300
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,751
    edited August 2009
    Your "new" drivers are 9 months old. You really cannot expect Polk to take them back.
    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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  • Driver_King
    Driver_King Posts: 266
    edited August 2009
    I know. That's why I was saying it's a mess.:D
    Home Theater:

    Onkyo TX-SR805
    Behringer EP2500 for SDA's

    Polk SDA II fronts
    Polk Monitor 5Jr. surrounds
    Polk Monitor 4 back surrounds

    DIY A7-900 and DIY A3-300
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited August 2009
    just get some used ones off Ebay.
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  • Driver_King
    Driver_King Posts: 266
    edited August 2009
    Are there any MW5001's on eBay now? I need to check that out..
    Home Theater:

    Onkyo TX-SR805
    Behringer EP2500 for SDA's

    Polk SDA II fronts
    Polk Monitor 5Jr. surrounds
    Polk Monitor 4 back surrounds

    DIY A7-900 and DIY A3-300
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,751
    edited August 2009
    The SDA 2 uses MW6501 mid-drivers.
    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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  • Bobsama
    Bobsama Posts: 526
    edited August 2009
    F1nut wrote: »
    The SDA 2 uses MW6501 mid-drivers.

    Not all. My SDA-1's use MW7600's and MW7500's. Polk produced a lot of variations of each speaker.
    polkaudio Monitor 5 Series II
    polkaudio SDA-1 (with the SL1000)
    TEAC AG-H300 MK III stereo receiver
    beyerdynamic DT-880 Premium (600 Ω) headphones
    SENNHEISER HD-555 headphones
    Little Dot MK IV tube headphone amp
    Little Dot DAC_I balanced D/A converter
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  • Driver_King
    Driver_King Posts: 266
    edited August 2009
    F1nut wrote: »
    The SDA 2 uses MW6501 mid-drivers.

    Oops. My mistake. Thanks for the correction.:)
    Home Theater:

    Onkyo TX-SR805
    Behringer EP2500 for SDA's

    Polk SDA II fronts
    Polk Monitor 5Jr. surrounds
    Polk Monitor 4 back surrounds

    DIY A7-900 and DIY A3-300
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,751
    edited August 2009
    Bobsama wrote: »
    Not all. My SDA-1's use MW7600's and MW7500's.

    We're talking about SDA 2's, not 1's.

    For S&G, what version do you have, the one with 4 mid-drivers or 3?
    Polk produced a lot of variations of each speaker.

    Some models had a few changes here and there, but not every model had variations.
    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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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,751
    edited August 2009
    Driver_King wrote: »
    Oops. My mistake. Thanks for the correction.:)

    Did you pull the drivers to see what is on the label?
    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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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,463
    edited August 2009
    give this guy a call... his name is Carl, and he may be able to restore the drivers you have. He has a vintage rebuild/repair shop. I do not have his website info at the moment, but it showed a completely disassembled Polk driver having the voice coil replaced. I just got off the phone with him and he indicates that he may be able to do it, but of course needs to see it first.

    his number is 860-986-9156
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
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  • Bobsama
    Bobsama Posts: 526
    edited August 2009
    nooshinjohn wrote: »
    give this guy a call... his name is Carl, and he may be able to restore the drivers you have. He has a vintage rebuild/repair shop. I do not have his website info at the moment, but it showed a completely disassembled Polk driver having the voice coil replaced. I just got off the phone with him and he indicates that he may be able to do it, but of course needs to see it first.

    his number is 860-986-9156

    Connecticut Audio Society
    Carl Richard
    9 Hillside Ave.
    Enfield, CT 06082
    (860) 986-9156
    carlspeak@aol.com
    http://www.ctaudio.org
    polkaudio Monitor 5 Series II
    polkaudio SDA-1 (with the SL1000)
    TEAC AG-H300 MK III stereo receiver
    beyerdynamic DT-880 Premium (600 Ω) headphones
    SENNHEISER HD-555 headphones
    Little Dot MK IV tube headphone amp
    Little Dot DAC_I balanced D/A converter
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Driver_King
    Driver_King Posts: 266
    edited August 2009
    F1nut wrote: »
    Did you pull the drivers to see what is on the label?

    Yep. They are the MW6501's.
    Home Theater:

    Onkyo TX-SR805
    Behringer EP2500 for SDA's

    Polk SDA II fronts
    Polk Monitor 5Jr. surrounds
    Polk Monitor 4 back surrounds

    DIY A7-900 and DIY A3-300
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,463
    edited August 2009
    Driver_King wrote: »
    Yep. They are the MW6501's.
    I have a few of them... I will let you have them for 18.00 each
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
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  • Driver_King
    Driver_King Posts: 266
    edited August 2009
    You have three MW6501's in proper working condition? That would be awesome.:D Would you happen to want to trade for three MW6503's? Thanks.:cool:
    Home Theater:

    Onkyo TX-SR805
    Behringer EP2500 for SDA's

    Polk SDA II fronts
    Polk Monitor 5Jr. surrounds
    Polk Monitor 4 back surrounds

    DIY A7-900 and DIY A3-300
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,463
    edited August 2009
    let me make certain they work properly and lets talk...
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
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  • Driver_King
    Driver_King Posts: 266
    edited August 2009
    No problem.
    Home Theater:

    Onkyo TX-SR805
    Behringer EP2500 for SDA's

    Polk SDA II fronts
    Polk Monitor 5Jr. surrounds
    Polk Monitor 4 back surrounds

    DIY A7-900 and DIY A3-300
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter