Fried Model H upgrades/tweaks/DIY
EndersShadow
Posts: 17,682
This thread is a continuation of my journey with the new speakers and setup (more on that here).
The speakers I recently snagged are fairly unique in that they utilize an external crossover that splits the signal into one output per speaker driver, and each channel has a tweeter, mid, and bass driver that’s housed in a separate enclosure. This means I need 4 wires to the satellites so the Furez 14/4 I bought from Douglas Connection lets me run a single wire from the crossover to each satellite, cleaning up my setup quite a bit.
The speaker terminals are old enough that they are screw down and 14 gauge wire is about as thick as will fit comfortably around the terminal.
I dig buy a single set of quality spades from Douglas Connection (big fan ) to see if they would on the speaker terminals and thankfully they will, so I will be buying those from him. I also plan to snatch up some cable splitters (he’s only one of two sources I can find for the nice ones I want) and other stuff to “bling out” my cables.
I am still looking for a good quality bananas for the crossover and amp connections as the Monsters I’m currently using are 15 years old and really my backups that I’m sure I can do better than.
I’m not a fan of the Audioquest type banana as they are prone to bend under weight like the 14/4 I am using. Instead I prefer the Monster style, and am looking at the Kimber Kable style SBAN, but those run 15 a pair and I need 10 of them (eek!) so I’m hoping someone might have a cheaper option outside Amazon Basics version of the Monsters (which I use for my garage/outdoor setup).
Some recent changes to my system include:
1. A new linear powersupply for the WiiM (purchased as a package of three locally)
2. A Cullen Cable Crossover series power cable that connects to the linear powersupply
3. Incorporating a Furman AC-215 I already owned to help align the two power cables in a more optimal fashion to run along the wall
4. Moving existing shorter lengths of 14/2 Furez for the amp to crossover connection (replaces a longer length of 12/2)
5. Moving each satellite to a single 10 foot run of 14/4 Furez
Future upgrades include:
1. Totally rebuild of the external crossover, in a custom mixed enclosure of aluminum and wood with new binding posts, that incorporates a CNCd custom wood faceplate that mimics the exiting one
2. Better quality wires for the linear powersupply from Ghent Audio. Will likely buy a few USB-A to USB-C, Shielded DC to USB-C and DC to DC (to use with adapters as needed)
3. Better RCA cables, likely Kimber Kable Hero’s or PBJ
4. Custom adjustable speaker stands that mimic Usher Audio ones in a finish to match the speakers and includes
5. Custom grills for the speakers and woofer enclosure using speaker fabric from that era, or that appears to be
The speakers I recently snagged are fairly unique in that they utilize an external crossover that splits the signal into one output per speaker driver, and each channel has a tweeter, mid, and bass driver that’s housed in a separate enclosure. This means I need 4 wires to the satellites so the Furez 14/4 I bought from Douglas Connection lets me run a single wire from the crossover to each satellite, cleaning up my setup quite a bit.
The speaker terminals are old enough that they are screw down and 14 gauge wire is about as thick as will fit comfortably around the terminal.
I dig buy a single set of quality spades from Douglas Connection (big fan ) to see if they would on the speaker terminals and thankfully they will, so I will be buying those from him. I also plan to snatch up some cable splitters (he’s only one of two sources I can find for the nice ones I want) and other stuff to “bling out” my cables.
I am still looking for a good quality bananas for the crossover and amp connections as the Monsters I’m currently using are 15 years old and really my backups that I’m sure I can do better than.
I’m not a fan of the Audioquest type banana as they are prone to bend under weight like the 14/4 I am using. Instead I prefer the Monster style, and am looking at the Kimber Kable style SBAN, but those run 15 a pair and I need 10 of them (eek!) so I’m hoping someone might have a cheaper option outside Amazon Basics version of the Monsters (which I use for my garage/outdoor setup).
Some recent changes to my system include:
1. A new linear powersupply for the WiiM (purchased as a package of three locally)
2. A Cullen Cable Crossover series power cable that connects to the linear powersupply
3. Incorporating a Furman AC-215 I already owned to help align the two power cables in a more optimal fashion to run along the wall
4. Moving existing shorter lengths of 14/2 Furez for the amp to crossover connection (replaces a longer length of 12/2)
5. Moving each satellite to a single 10 foot run of 14/4 Furez
Future upgrades include:
1. Totally rebuild of the external crossover, in a custom mixed enclosure of aluminum and wood with new binding posts, that incorporates a CNCd custom wood faceplate that mimics the exiting one
2. Better quality wires for the linear powersupply from Ghent Audio. Will likely buy a few USB-A to USB-C, Shielded DC to USB-C and DC to DC (to use with adapters as needed)
3. Better RCA cables, likely Kimber Kable Hero’s or PBJ
4. Custom adjustable speaker stands that mimic Usher Audio ones in a finish to match the speakers and includes
5. Custom grills for the speakers and woofer enclosure using speaker fabric from that era, or that appears to be
"....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
Post edited by EndersShadow on
Comments
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Here are the afters (the before pictures can be found in the thread linked to in my original post).
So much nicer with just one wire per speaker. Terminations will be upgraded to spades in the near future. I plan to leave the speakers and woofer enclosure stock despite seeing some people replace the screws with newer binding posts that takes bananas natively.
Crossover cleaned up quite a bit. I am not sure if I want reduce the woofer down to 14/4 as well or leave them as independent runs. Either way I will be moving Furez wire (from the current Amazon basic) just to be consistent. Not in love with the terminations but for now they work. Thoughts on better bananas appreciated.
Spades that I will be using for the speaker terminals. Link to specs:
15w linear powersupply from Weiliang (dime a dozen Chinese manufacturer) that has the upgraded telema transformer. Link to specs. Connected using a 5 foot Cullen Cable Crossover Series powercable. Link to specs.
Note: I also have parts to build a Twisted Pear Centaur linear powersupply thanks to @SCompRacer and will be building that and trying it against the Weiliang.
Furman AC-215a at the wall. No plans to upgrade its cable from stock. Eliminates the power cables from sticking far out from the wall before turning. Link to specs
Note: I realize it’s only 10 amp and the outlet is 25 but I don’t think it will be a problem.
Cleaned up setup
"....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963) -
What a nice neat little system! Good work Dan!
The Centaur is a very good low noise PS used with their DAC's. Sadly, Twisted Pear is no more.Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 * -
Dan, I've got a bunch of bananas, they carried the Magnavox, RCA and Philips name. They were used in my home theater cables. Spring end like the monster. Seeing how much yours stick out mine may actually stick out more.
I was going to shoot a picture but try as I might I couldn't find the bag of them to do so. They are set screw down on the wire, unlike they way the monsters do. -
SCompRacer wrote: »What a nice neat little system! Good work Dan!
The Centaur is a very good low noise PS used with their DAC's. Sadly, Twisted Pear is no more.
Yes. Very unfortunate."....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963) -
Dan, I've got a bunch of bananas, they carried the Magnavox, RCA and Philips name. They were used in my home theater cables. Spring end like the monster. Seeing how much yours stick out mine may actually stick out more.
I was going to shoot a picture but try as I might I couldn't find the bag of them to do so. They are set screw down on the wire, unlike they way the monsters do.
The reason the monsters stick out is that the crossover isn’t exactly setup for bananas like we have now, they just happen to barely fit right. Once I redo the crossover with new binding posts it will help immensely.
I do prefer the screw down type (which hat the SBAN are) over the monsters as I plan to heat shrink everything to make them look nice at some point and the screw down type are ideal for that.
Also the 14/4 is a bit heavy since it runs straight down the back so it pulls a bit."....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
