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Thread: My Speakers gave me a scare!

  1. #1
    Join Date: Apr 2015

    Location: Central Virginia

    Posts: 1,736
    I'm Russell.

    Default My Speakers gave me a scare!

    Several days back, I was playing the stereo at a rather moderate volume, and suddenly the left speaker was not as loud as the right. Panic! I started to investigate and found the the midrange speakers in my big Legacy Focus 20/20’s were not playing. And laying my hand on my amp, it seemed hotter than I ever remember it being. Not sure what was going on I quickly shut it down.

    So the next day I got motivated to look inside. I removed the rear jack plate, and saw nothing really, so I pulled the rear woofer out. I had always assumed it was a passive radiator, seeing there are two 12” speakers in the front, but no! It’s a full fledged woofer, all three wired to the same points. And now I had a clear view of the crossover circuits. I wish I had taken more pictures, not one, but two large boards! One on each side. About 8” square. What’s that? 200mm? The board on the left was for the woofers, and the board on the right was for midrange, treble, and extra treble. I did take a photo of that.



    At this point I emailed Legacy, and I am proud to say they responded the very next day! I told them there was no way I was shipping the speaker, so any help they could offer would be appreciated. Their tech gave me advice to verify the midranges were functioning. And how to remove the circuit board.

    So once I had it out, it sat on my desk for two days, as I went over it checking components, and connections. I really didn’t find anything wrong, and feared I would be shipping it back. But on the jack plate are three toggle switches, bass, mids, and highs. By flipping these switches you can drop any range by approximately one decibel, to help fine tune the speaker to the room. The midrange toggle switch was not reading full short when engaged. Looking at the circuit design, I’m not sure how this could cause the symptoms. But I decided to hard wire that circuit to the “high”, position. I tidied up the board and put it back, and it worked!

    So I am very pleased with myself! Also, on the rear of that circuit board was the date of 1997, so these speakers are 21 years old now! And like new if I do say so. I could go back and replace that toggle switch, but, I don’t recall ever using the midrange switch, it’s always been in the high position. And the toggle switches are glued in with a big gob of hot glue, so, it would be a chore to get it out. I may go back and fix it if I ever decide to sell them. And after nearly a week without the stereo, I came to realize just how much I missed it! And I have to say, I’ve never seen such crossover circuits in my life! Two 8” boards, there must have been over 30 parts just on the top end board, and the parts on the low end board were huge! Expensive looking stuff. And again, extra thanks to Legacy for all their help without question, real customer service to brag about!

    Anyone else had any hi-fi emergencies lately? It really does cause one to worry. I was very lucky to get out without spending any money.




    Russell


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

  2. #2
    Join Date: Apr 2012

    Location: Southall, West London

    Posts: 51,621
    I'm Geoff.

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    Is that last photo a 'selfie?

  3. #3
    Join Date: Apr 2015

    Location: Central Virginia

    Posts: 1,736
    I'm Russell.

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    Quote Originally Posted by walpurgis View Post
    Is that last photo a 'selfie?
    I’m trying something new with my hair, do you like it?

    Russ

  4. #4
    Join Date: Apr 2012

    Location: Southall, West London

    Posts: 51,621
    I'm Geoff.

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    Quote Originally Posted by alphaGT View Post
    I’m trying something new with my hair, do you like it?

    Russ
    Yeah. Suits you.

  5. #5
    Audio Al is offline Pishanto Specialist & Super-Daftee
    Join Date: May 2012

    Location: Dagenham Essex

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    I'm Allen.

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    Well done you
    [

  6. #6
    Join Date: Apr 2011

    Location: derbyish

    Posts: 56
    I'm DAVID.

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    Interesting post . It looks a bit scary to an electronics novice ! The X over in my B W DM2a s have several bits but tidy looking and high quality components . Not tempted to adjust- if it ain't broke don't fix it!!
    My audible range 20hz to 10Khz Yours?

  7. #7
    Join Date: Apr 2015

    Location: Central Virginia

    Posts: 1,736
    I'm Russell.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by navigator View Post
    Interesting post . It looks a bit scary to an electronics novice ! The X over in my B W DM2a s have several bits but tidy looking and high quality components . Not tempted to adjust- if it ain't broke don't fix it!!
    It is intimidating, I studied electronics in college, about 28 years ago. So, I really had to put on my thinking cap. I worked on some computer stuff after school, but got away from component level after a few years. All the wires in the photo make it look a bit messy, but without the wires its rather tidy looking. I’m sure there was a good measure of luck involved.

    Russ

  8. #8
    Join Date: Feb 2014

    Location: Indianapolis, Indiana USA

    Posts: 779
    I'm Timothy.

    Default

    Good job, Russel! Glad your tunes are back, and yes, I would miss my tunes as well. I used to live not far from where Legacy speakers were made years ago, Springfield, Illinois if I recall, or close to there. Not sure if they are still in that location, seems to me they have moved...anyway, enjoy the music!

    Just checked, still in Springfield!
    Holbo TT-Nag 110-Croft phono/Innuos Zen MK2/LinnenberG Telemann DAC-Preamp/LinnenberG Allegro monoblocs/Duevel Venus/LinnenberG Maestro SE-Senn. 660S DH Labs cabling

    Croft Series 7 amps, WLM La Scala, Naim Uniti1, Naim Nait XS3, Naim ND5XS2, Guru Junior

  9. #9
    Join Date: Mar 2017

    Location: Seaford UK

    Posts: 1,861
    I'm Dennis.

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    They look like a serious attempt at Hi end to me, and it is surprising at the sort of price they must be, that a switch should fail. But then they do little work and so oxidation will occur.

    I had that on an ATC integrated because the motor driven volume control had not been used for years, my using it as a master gain control only. A few turns and the carbon brush commutator relationship was restored. That might also be the case with your switches.

    The appearance of the wiring does worry me, (having been trained to Def. Spec. standards), I am currently re-wiring my ATC SCA2 to tidy it up.

    Your speaker's company name to me implies a concern for longevity, and so not quickly outdated.
    What was the original purchase price, and when?

  10. #10
    Join Date: Apr 2010

    Location: Bristol, since 1978. Current house since 1996!

    Posts: 905
    I'm Chris.

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    All those 70s/80s speakers that had adjustable pots on them, that began to crackle with age (carbon tracks?)
    e.g. my Leaks Sandwiches. (You should see the X-over in the 3090s!)
    At least that's one thing 'full range'/single units don't have to worry about!
    Chris.

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