Ring Tweeters for TL replacements

jrausch · June 2002

I just recently brought my things back from California. Among my things were my pair of 2.3tl's and to my dismay, 2 of the tweeters were damaged. The heat inside of my storage unit had distorted the diaphragms and thus killed them

. I called Polk to see if replacements were still available. Wouldnt you know it, they just ran out of the SL3000's and they are in the process of looking for a comparable replacement ( In 6 weeks or so). I realize Polk will probably want to replace them with original spec'd units. I just wondered if it would be more worth it to buy some Vifa ring tweets and modify my current setup. Does anyone here think those new Ring tweeters from Vifa would make great replacements? I have a pair of Lsi 15's and I love those new tweets I think they are way cleaner and image much better than the SL3000s. It would be expensive, but worth the conversion. Any opinions?

rskarvan · June 2002

Micah/Justin:

What... Polk is out of SL3000's??? Pffff.
What's with that?
Didn't they see their stock dwindling slowly away?
Isn't there a minimum inventory order point?
Are they going to replace it with an identical manufactured SL3000, or is it some sort of "tweeter equivalent"?
Six weeks.... can't they expedite for a premium (2.3TL's)
signature-series speaker owner?

Caterpillar would stop production and re-tool the production line to help a customer that is "down in the field". This represents the highest level of commitment of company resources to support their EXISTING customers.

Don't take this thread too personally Micah/Justin. But, come-on, if you accept this sort of mediocre/poor behavior from your company, things are certainly on the way downhill.

WARNING WILL ROBINSON ! !

(I bet when Matt was personally watching the parts bins, he never ran out tweeters).

Tizz a disgrace to ask a customer to wait 6 weeks for a part.
COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE ! ! !

madmax · June 2002

I've been wondering, do you think these Vifa's would equal the ones in the LSi15's?

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&PartNumber=264-555&DID=7

madmax

Micah Cohen · June 2002

Ron. Chill dude. You're talking about a product that's neigh on 20 years old (last used in '92). There comes a time when you run out of parts, man, especially for products you haven't made in 20 years. It's unreasonable in the extreme if you think about it to think that we have a warehouse the size of New Jersey filled with parts of out-of-production products. (Of course, we do have a warehouse filled with parts of out-of-production products, we just happen to be out of the one you need.)

If we ran out of parts I'm sure that Ken and the kids in Kustomer Service are working on getting more for you. We're going to do our best to not leave you hanging, but you have to have some patience in situations like this. Jason's talking to engineers about it, and Helen's waiting for an ETA from the coast... We're all over this. Just be patient.

And me & Justin? We [whew] have nothing at all to do with this end of the biz. We're just here to make you feel good. Just call me Doctor Feelgood.

MC

TroyD · June 2002

Dr. Feelgood...man, I ain't even touching that one....

Gotta agree with MC on this one though.

Isn't there a law or something where replacement parts have to be available for, I think, 10 yrs after it goes out of production??

I could be high, but I think I read that somewhere...

Troy

Aaron · June 2002

I run into this problem all the time when I try to get parts for my 16 year old Audi. All the major parts are still made, but it's the little misc. pieces that you can't find. In those cases it's off to the used market.

Aaron

rskarvan · June 2002

Micah.... I was just rattling your chain.
Of course, there really is no reason to run out of spare parts.
Thats just poor logistics.

You know.... Polk really should capatalize on the fact that they
support all of their product line with spare parts forever.
That way, people know when they buy Polk... they are
guaranteeing themselves working speakers with just
some occasional hassle to make a phone call and have
a next day part delivery. Its not that you don't already do this...
its just that you don't advertise it. That is where some
clever marketing by yourself could win you a big raise from
Matt and you could move yourself out of the ghetto and buy
some nice new warm/fuzzy socks. Think about it dude.

madmax · June 2002

Yea,
You keep the parts for 20 years anyway, why not another 20 years and hype it up big time? For that matter you should be hyping up the 20 years you now keep them. I know, Rskarvan just said the same thing. I don't know of many other companies that do that. I did order a soundcraftsmen schematic a few years ago and the new company that owns it now came through with an old marked up copy. Can't beat that with a stick.
madmax

RuSsMaN · June 2002

Why can't you use the Peerless 810665? What's the difference?

Peerless 810665

Cheers,
Russ

MM, for all intents and purposes, thats the same tweeter....(Vifa RR)

jrausch · June 2002

This is the step above the Vifa, made by Scan-speak the same Danish conglomeration as Vifa. What do ya think?

RuSsMaN · June 2002

Looks cool, yet painful.....

-R

madmax · June 2002

Where can you get the scan-speak? I've seen pics before but never a source.
madmax

jrausch · June 2002

You could probably special order them from these guys. I don't think they carry them because they cost 3 times as much as the Vifa. @ $180 a crack that's an expensive upgrade for the 2.3's 6 tweet design. I could buy another pair of Lsi 15's at that price. The center stem and cover plate are CNC machined aluminum and they contain the companies best technology. Even though they look allot like the Vifa's, they are much more refined. They are also good at killing the competition.
http://www.speakercity.com/scanspeak/scan_speak.shtml#Aluminum%20Dome%20Tweeter

Ring Tweeters for TL replacements

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