Don’t look now, but Bonded Logic UltraTouch+ denim insulation has become damn near impossible to buy, especially in quantities of less than a pallet.
Altec 604-8G sanity check
- Thread starter J. Frum
- Start date
It’s reasons like this, why I have stashed away random things for those “just in case I can’t find this later” moments.
Best not to make a list…there’s at least a half dozen would-be projects if I do…
Same, I have enough parts “stashed” for another two or three speaker projects.
I got the speakers buttoned up for a test last night. One tweeter isn’t working. There seems to be continuity everywhere there needs to be, so I’m assuming I made a dumb mistake with the crossover.
I also think I likely wired both L-pads (here acting strictly as variable resistors) incorrectly, which would limit the range of tweeter adjustment, but doesn’t explain one being out entirely.
Further troubleshooting and re-working of crossovers as I have time.
I also think I likely wired both L-pads (here acting strictly as variable resistors) incorrectly, which would limit the range of tweeter adjustment, but doesn’t explain one being out entirely.
Further troubleshooting and re-working of crossovers as I have time.
Of flipping course. We need production and distribution to take a step back in this country and diversify. Way too many excuses. The paint supply challenge right now is a real pain. And where did all the truck drivers go?
Not to derail this thread too much but supposedly there was already a shortage of drivers pre-COVID. Then some retired, passed, or were let go… It’s affecting our hobby, construction, trades… really everything.
Tentatively, yes.
Looks like an L-pad problem made worse by the initial mis-wiring. Eventually, I’d like to take out the L-pads and beef up R4, but I’m going to listen a while as-is and gain a full understanding of the speakers as they are before I make that leap.
I’m not sure if there’s still a slight level imbalance, or if I’m chasing ghosts. I should be able to figure it out in the next couple of days.
Yup. This was in the news in 2018-19. It's increasingly hard for independent truckers to afford the equipment and overhead, and trucking companies have been overworking and underpaying those who remain, and as a result there's a lack of people who are interested in trucking as a career.
Wait - the mythical Yamaha L-pads are letting you down? Bummer!
Damn...those look amazing! I'm sure you will be very happy once you get the gremlins ironed out! Beautiful job!
If you get it. A truck brought it.
If the deviation stays with the CD, then perhaps it didn't get the requisite magnet recharge when GPA had them (or got bounced hard during travel). Hopefully it is the diaphragm as that's easier to address.
Truthfully, I’d been avoiding tonight. Futzing with diaphragms is ticklish business, and no matter what I’d find out, it would be bad news.
Swapping diaphragms moves the problem from one speaker to the other. Thank God.
The two diaphragms have different production dates - May 2018 and January 2019. The earlier one is the weaker of the two, showing again about a 5dB difference when swapped.
I’ll call GPA tomorrow. This project dragged on enough that any warranty is long expired, but hopefully my SOB story will cause them to give me some consideration on the purchase of a new diaphragm. If not, I’m out another $150. It’s not like I won’t pay it, at this point.
It sucks, but it could be worse.
Swapping diaphragms moves the problem from one speaker to the other. Thank God.
The two diaphragms have different production dates - May 2018 and January 2019. The earlier one is the weaker of the two, showing again about a 5dB difference when swapped.
I’ll call GPA tomorrow. This project dragged on enough that any warranty is long expired, but hopefully my SOB story will cause them to give me some consideration on the purchase of a new diaphragm. If not, I’m out another $150. It’s not like I won’t pay it, at this point.
It sucks, but it could be worse.
there's no shortage of drivers. There a shortage of Co's willing to pay OTR drivers, a decent wage, and not pay the drivers by the mile
as the crow flies, but actual Hub Miles. shall I mention Delay/retention time, Dead head miles,/Driving an empty truck/trailer.
and non paid layover time.
How about, when delivering to an Amazon Where house, and more than an hour late, due to traffic, they make the driver wait
12 hours, not paid. as punishment, even though there's 100 open bays to back into.
Rant over. Back to our regular scheduled HI FI talk
An L-pad is only as good as the idiot hooking it up and the speaker it’s ultimately controlling. I did manage to completely destroy one knocking over the back baffle while it was out-of-cabinet, but I fortunately have two spares.Wait - the mythical Yamaha L-pads are letting you down? Bummer!
I still could eventually eliminate it in favor of fixed resistance.
GPA made it right, and the weak May 2018 diaphragm has been replaced with a brand new one dated October 2021.
Testing both speakers again before I buttoned up the cabinets, the SPL difference between the two drivers is now negligible.
I don’t want to say too much about the fully-functional Altecs’ performance until they’ve had further break-in and I’ve had time for deep listening and playing with placement.
But for now, listening to the title cut from Jamiroquai’s 1996 album Travelling Without Moving, initial impressions are very, very good.
Testing both speakers again before I buttoned up the cabinets, the SPL difference between the two drivers is now negligible.
I don’t want to say too much about the fully-functional Altecs’ performance until they’ve had further break-in and I’ve had time for deep listening and playing with placement.
But for now, listening to the title cut from Jamiroquai’s 1996 album Travelling Without Moving, initial impressions are very, very good.
