Monitor 10As wires from crossovers to drivers
Lalala
Posts: 26
A while ago I posted here and got a lot of help from you all, I was eventually able to get my speakers sounding better than ever. Thank you everyone for that.
When I replaced drivers etc I replaced the soldered on wire connection with fastons to the driver. Twice now I’ve had them become disconnected inside the speaker. I don’t know why that happened, but I live in an apartment building so it could be because of something I can’t control. They are on stands (not original). I put the fastons back on and used needle nose pliers to make them fit tighter. The tabs on the drivers don’t quite seem to fit modern fastons, my theories are that they’re in between sizes or that it could be because of soldering and desoldering wires on changing the size of the tabs; I had to desolder them to allow fastons to attach.
So my question is would soldering the wires to the drivers as they were originally and cutting the wires and using fastons to connect wires where I cut be a good solution? Would it degrade sound quality? If anyone has any other ideas for this I’d love to hear.
I don’t have great ventilation in my apartment, so I’d prefer not to get into a lot of soldering. But I could do the wires as a one time thing.
thanks
When I replaced drivers etc I replaced the soldered on wire connection with fastons to the driver. Twice now I’ve had them become disconnected inside the speaker. I don’t know why that happened, but I live in an apartment building so it could be because of something I can’t control. They are on stands (not original). I put the fastons back on and used needle nose pliers to make them fit tighter. The tabs on the drivers don’t quite seem to fit modern fastons, my theories are that they’re in between sizes or that it could be because of soldering and desoldering wires on changing the size of the tabs; I had to desolder them to allow fastons to attach.
So my question is would soldering the wires to the drivers as they were originally and cutting the wires and using fastons to connect wires where I cut be a good solution? Would it degrade sound quality? If anyone has any other ideas for this I’d love to hear.
I don’t have great ventilation in my apartment, so I’d prefer not to get into a lot of soldering. But I could do the wires as a one time thing.
thanks
Answers
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I suspect you bought .25 fastons. You want .187 such as these.
https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/dorman-disconnect-16-14-gauge-.187-blue-84546/12066709-PPolitical 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 -
thank you. I bought multi size, but that doesn’t mean they had the right size. I take it that’s for the drivers? do you know what size for the tweeters?
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.110Political 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 -
thanks
I’ll try those sizes before considering my other idea -
You're welcomePolitical 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 -
FWIW, I've always bought my fastons at Advanced Auto or AutoZone for a number of years now. They've always had all the sizes I've needed.
The gold plating didn't hurt the sale one bit😉 -
When it comes to fastons, I've discovered that some of them grip tenaciously and other ones loosen up (brass can be a problem). I recently bought some phosphor bronze ones from DigiKey, to solve an intermittent problem I've been having with my NordicTrak Incline Trainer (TMI). I just bought the tin plated ones but I was curious if they were available in silver and gold plating and it turns out they are (for certain sizes).
Here's a phosphor bronze gold plated one that would work with the Peerless Tweeter tabs but you'd have to have them clean/desoldered which is problematic:
https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/te-connectivity-amp-connectors/165565-6/1149339
Lots more choices available if you go with Tin, for the tweeters:
https://www.digikey.com/en/products/filter/terminals/quick-connects-quick-disconnect-connectors/392
Looks like they don't have silver or gold though for the 0.187 tab size unfortunately, but Tin or Nickel would get the job done:
https://www.digikey.com/en/products/filter/terminals/quick-connects-quick-disconnect-connectors/392Post edited by Gardenstater onGeorge / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
Onkyo A-8017 integrated
Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
iFi nano iDSD DAC
iPurifier3
iDefender w/ iPower PS
Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
Always a joy LOL
https://www.meadmetals.com/blog/brass-vs.-phosphor-bronze
In case it isn't clear, phosphor bronze is an actual spring material vs. brass, and has higher hardness, stiffness and fatigue resistance. The ones I bought for my treadmill were so tight I had to use a pair of pliers to separate them, even after a few weeks.George / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
Onkyo A-8017 integrated
Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
iFi nano iDSD DAC
iPurifier3
iDefender w/ iPower PS
Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
Gardenstater wrote: »
Here's a phosphor bronze gold plated one that would work with the Peerless Tweeter tabs but you'd have to have them clean/desoldered which is problematic:
https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/te-connectivity-amp-connectors/165565-6/1149339
That's not the only problem - you'd have to order a minimum of 20,000 for about $53K -
Good catch. I didn't check it. These places often have policies like that for non-stocked items and they don't get a lot of call for gold and silver plated probably.
Yeah oh well. DigiKey only seems to stock the phosphor bronze silver plated ones in 0.25 in. tab width which doesn't do us much good (although I could rewire my treadmill with it lol). The search continues.......
https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/te-connectivity-amp-connectors/170330-2/1152968George / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
Onkyo A-8017 integrated
Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
iFi nano iDSD DAC
iPurifier3
iDefender w/ iPower PS
Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
OK it turns out Furutech has gold plated phosphor bronze ones (proper spring material) for 16 - 14 AWG (blue), or you can get the ones for 12 - 10 AWG (yellow) that are made out of pure copper (not a spring material!) that they advise you have to frequently retighten them with needle nose LOL LOL
https://partsconnexion.com/product_images/downloads/FTECH-77940.pdf
https://partsconnexion.com/product_images/downloads/FTECH-77942.pdf
George / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
Onkyo A-8017 integrated
Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
iFi nano iDSD DAC
iPurifier3
iDefender w/ iPower PS
Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
Gardenstater wrote: »OK it turns out Furutech has gold plated phosphor bronze ones (proper spring material) for 16 - 14 AWG (blue), or you can get the ones for 12 - 10 AWG (yellow) that are made out of pure copper (not a spring material!) that they advise you have to frequently retighten them with needle nose LOL LOL
https://partsconnexion.com/product_images/downloads/FTECH-77940.pdf
https://partsconnexion.com/product_images/downloads/FTECH-77942.pdf
the copy for all these gold-plated Furutech fastons states: Note: No Sales to the USA
Believe me, I turned over every rock back when I was trying to source these - the only game in town are those Auto parts store Dormans, and I'm not fond of the way the insulation cracked and grazed when I crimped them.
(maybe just a bad batch?) -
Wow! Crazy. Tariff related? I bought the WBT ones (tweeters were $2.50 ea., midwoofers were $3.00 ea.) from Partsconnexion back in 2020. Those only say copper alloy so most likely not phosphor bronze. I haven't checked to see if they have loosened 😬😆George / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
Onkyo A-8017 integrated
Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
iFi nano iDSD DAC
iPurifier3
iDefender w/ iPower PS
Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
update:
I removed drivers, tweeter and crossover from one speaker, I could not fit the .187s on the driver or .110s on to the tweeter and the few times one did fit they seemed like they might tear off the tab. I tried two different brands. I can see that these should be the right size, but solder is preventing that. And I still have little ventilation in my apartment. I don’t have another place nearby I can go desolder these. (maybe I have bad technique but I find desoldering far more fumy than soldering). So how much would my idea of cutting the wires, solder the original end to the driver and putting fastons to connect the cut wire degrade sound quality? Or other ideas? -
In what way do they not fit? Blobs of solder causing problems? Tab too wide?
I have used a brand new Xacto blade in Xacto knife to carefully (!) remove excess solder.
The drivers I have have tabs that are around 0.20 to 0.205 in. or 5.2 mm, so not really 0.187 which is 4.8 mm.. They are about 0.020 in. thick. You could take a needle file and file them narrower. The metal dust particles are non magnetic but you of course need to insure that they don't get into the driver.
These are really 5.2 mm wide tabs, not 4.8 mm. Some 0.187 in. (4.8 mm) fastons might be manufactured to a loose enough tolerance to fit and some might not. 5.2 mm. is actually a standard size also.
These phosphor bronze tin plated ones from Digikey would fit if you crimped them a bit tighter with needle nose because they are for a 0.032 in. tab thickness, not 0.020 in.
https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/te-connectivity-amp-connectors/42233-7/2284428George / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
Onkyo A-8017 integrated
Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
iFi nano iDSD DAC
iPurifier3
iDefender w/ iPower PS
Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
Of course, the fastons won't fit if the tabs have blobs of solder on them. Why are you worried about some soldering fumes???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 -
File the solder off the tweeter and MW tabs until the fastons fit better.
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I always remove the plastic collar after crimping. I also solder them after crimping with Cardas solder then use adhesive lined shrink tubing over the crimp/solder area.slow_polk7 wrote: »Believe me, I turned over every rock back when I was trying to source these - the only game in town are those Auto parts store Dormans, and I'm not fond of the way the insulation cracked and grazed when I crimped them.
(maybe just a bad batch?)
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they don’t have blobs of solder, I desoldered them when I first got them, but it didn’t get it all, there is still a little there though. I can try filing with an exacto knife as suggested. I think part of the issue is that they are slightly too wide for .187s, when I measured them, they seem to be slightly over 5 mm. Though because of angles I couldn’t put the ruler right next to all tabs to get a more accurate number. They are also possibly slightly too thick, but I think that is mainly a thin layer of solder and that some of the tabs have obviously been bent and straightened.
And I don’t like doing too much soldering and especially desoldering in enclosed indoor spaces. I have two vent fans and neither in a place good for soldering and my windows all face the same direction so the fumes linger
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I love the smell of solder in the morning
The fumes won't kill you, so get to it.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 -
Here's some phosphor bronze ones that would work on the Peerless tweeters. Tin plated like Polk used but these should definitely stay permanently tight whereas brass ones can be sketchy:
https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/te-connectivity-amp-connectors/174778-2/2307932
Get yourself one of the crimping tools that does both the wire and the insulation at the same time, with crimps that bundle the strands in two tight groupings.
From the catalog https://www.te.com/commerce/DocumentDelivery/DDEController
Post edited by Gardenstater onGeorge / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
Onkyo A-8017 integrated
Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
iFi nano iDSD DAC
iPurifier3
iDefender w/ iPower PS
Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
From the catalog above, a clue as to why some brass fastons might not stay tight and others do. Lack of stress relieving step being performed in the manufacturing:
George / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
Onkyo A-8017 integrated
Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
iFi nano iDSD DAC
iPurifier3
iDefender w/ iPower PS
Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
Bad link to catalog above. Correction: https://www.te.com/commerce/DocumentDelivery/DDEController?Action=srchrtrv&DocNm=82004_FASTON_TERMINALS_-_FULL_CATALOG&DocType=CS&DocLang=EN
It hasn't been updated to include new part nos. Date is 2011.George / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
Onkyo A-8017 integrated
Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
iFi nano iDSD DAC
iPurifier3
iDefender w/ iPower PS
Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
they don’t have blobs of solder, I desoldered them when I first got them, but it didn’t get it all, there is still a little there though. I can try filing with an exacto knife as suggested. I think part of the issue is that they are slightly too wide for .187s, when I measured them, they seem to be slightly over 5 mm. Though because of angles I couldn’t put the ruler right next to all tabs to get a more accurate number. They are also possibly slightly too thick, but I think that is mainly a thin layer of solder and that some of the tabs have obviously been bent and straightened.
And I don’t like doing too much soldering and especially desoldering in enclosed indoor spaces. I have two vent fans and neither in a place good for soldering and my windows all face the same direction so the fumes linger
Got a Dremel?Don't take experimental gene therapies from known eugenicists. -
no dremel
you’re suggesting to shave sides of tabs? -
Don't take experimental gene therapies from known eugenicists.
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Internal widths of Fastons (Polk tab width approx. 0.202 to 0.204 in.)
Polk OEM: 0.221 in.
Dorman 84546 0.202 in.
WBT 82856 0.200 in.
Welp thar's your problem!
Parts Express has tin plated brass Molex ones that are 0.205 in. although non specified tab thickness (Polk tabs are 0.020 in.)
https://www.parts-express.com/0.205-16-14-Female-Disconnect-50-Pcs.-095-282?quantity=1
Also, you do get less contact area because of the hole in the Polk tabs which is approx. 0.070 in. wide and 0.12 in. long and the spacing on the receptacles of 0.32 to 0.55 depending..George / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
Onkyo A-8017 integrated
Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
iFi nano iDSD DAC
iPurifier3
iDefender w/ iPower PS
Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
Dorman .187 on a MW6502...no problem.
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 -
Those are the ones I used on my drivers (earlier MW6500s) but luck of the draw fo sho and obviously some will have interference fit. I can't remember but I think I filed the tabs slightly, or maybe I just forced them on. Having it tight on the sides has an advantage in that it increases contact area to make up for the large elongated hole in the tabs but it could cause them to spring open and decrease contact force on the flat.
Radio Shack 64-3134 0.199 in. internal width (Good luck finding lol.....probably Molex). This one has 0.017 in. thick material whereas the newer ones are 0.015 in.. Another example of cost cutting over the years.
That's all the ones I have in my inventory.George / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
Onkyo A-8017 integrated
Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
iFi nano iDSD DAC
iPurifier3
iDefender w/ iPower PS
Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
Different driver, random Dorman fastons...no problem.
TIP: if one encounters a faston that seems a bit difficult to push on take a small jewelers screwdriver and slip it in under the curled ear, one ear at a time. Very gently and very slightly pry up on the curled ear. The faston will now slip on the tab without issue.
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
