Possible issue with some Wharfedale W4 Loudspeakers

[Reffc]

Please see my news blog for detailed information,

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?26397-RFC-News&p=745982#post745982

Basically, rare as these speakers are, some left the Wharfedale factory incorrectly wired and using the wrong value for components. If any of you out there use these speakers or know anyone lucky enough to have a pair, please have them contact me and I will provide FOC the correct circuit and circuit values (for those with the 15 Ohm drive units) in order for you to both check and amend circuit values as appropriate.

Issues include L-pad switches incorrectly wired, HF circuit incorrectly wired, wrong values for HF capacitors, wrong LF inductors.

In all the years I've been doing this, I have never come across a more incompetently and badly wired up loudspeaker. Please note, this could well apply to other similar vintage loudspeakers so best check if in doubt.

[jandl100]

Do you think they came from the factory like this, Paul, or have botched repair jobs been done on them over the years?

[Reffc]

Do you think they came from the factory like this, Paul, or have botched repair jobs been done on them over the years?

Rather surprisingly Jerry, I know that this particular pair came straight from the factory like this. The present owner bought them new some 52 years ago and has owned them ever since. He has never had them apart. He told me that he bought a pair new from a dealer and one had a damaged veneer so the dealer replaced it with another from the factory, albeit with a slightly different rear panel. It wasn't unusual to buy cabinets singly back then for mono use and sometimes there were variations in cabinets and rear panels with these (some had a stereo jack input as well as binding posts).

Upon checking the crossover, I found one had completely the wrong inductor for the bass which as a consequence had been running full range. The variable potentiometer L-pads were all incorrectly wired so that in effect they didn't work at all and the tweeters weren't connected to the positive input rail at all!

The owner complained that they sounded a bit dull and muddled, that the switch position made no difference to sounds and that HF wasn't great but that he valued them for a lively midrange! This was how he had been listening for 52 years. I am repairing them FOC for my time for him. This doesn't make up for the fact he's not benefited from hearing them as Gilbert Briggs intended but in the circumstances, the elderly gent in question deserves to have them back sounding as they ought to at minimal cost to himself.

[jandl100]

:doh: Amazing. And depressing.

Be interesting to hear the owner's reaction when he gets them back.

[Macca]

Bit gutting to find out you've not been getting the best from your speakers for 52 years!

I think there's a few on Audiokarma who have W4s.

[Reffc]

Bit gutting to find out you've not been getting the best from your speakers for 52 years!

I think there's a few on Audiokarma who have W4s.

The gent in question wasn't at all surprised to learn what he did Martin as he always suspected that something was not quite right. If any W4 owners on Audiokarma want to contact me via my website or via an AoS or PFM member known to them, I'll point them in the right direction if they're at all concerned.

[struth]

Whoever built them should be fired ;)

Nice of you to do it foc Paul

[walpurgis]

That's a nice and generous resolution to the chap's problem.

[Macca]

The gent in question wasn't at all surprised to learn what he did Martin as he always suspected that something was not quite right. If any W4 owners on Audiokarma want to contact me via my website or via an AoS or PFM member known to them, I'll point them in the right direction if they're at all concerned.

I'll mention it next time I am on there, Paul.

[dantheman91]

Guys been offered a pair of these local for a sensible price i may have to wait to payday for they seen very good value to add to the collection...

Watch this space...:)

[walpurgis]

Guys been offered a pair of these local for a sensible price i may have to wait to payday for they seen very good value to add to the collection...

Watch this space...:)

I'd not pay a fortune for those Dan. You'll find the sound somewhat 'vintage' and the power handling will not be great, but that is offset to an extent by the high efficiency.

[dantheman91]

I'd not pay a fortune for those Dan. You'll find the sound somewhat 'vintage' and the power handling will not be great, but that is offset to an extent by the high efficiency.

Their £100 - Maybe worth a try....

[engie68]

Please see my news blog for detailed information,

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?26397-RFC-News&p=745982#post745982

Basically, rare as these speakers are, some left the Wharfedale factory incorrectly wired and using the wrong value for components. If any of you out there use these speakers or know anyone lucky enough to have a pair, please have them contact me and I will provide FOC the correct circuit and circuit values (for those with the 15 Ohm drive units) in order for you to both check and amend circuit values as appropriate.

Issues include L-pad switches incorrectly wired, HF circuit incorrectly wired, wrong values for HF capacitors, wrong LF inductors.

In all the years I've been doing this, I have never come across a more incompetently and badly wired up loudspeaker. Please note, this could well apply to other similar vintage loudspeakers so best check if in doubt.

Hi! I just picked up a pair of Wharfedale W-4s and the drivers all work fine, but I'd love to know if they have the correct component values and they are correctly wired. Thanks!!!

[jandl100]

Hi! I just picked up a pair of Wharfedale W-4s and the drivers all work fine, but I'd love to know if they have the correct component values and they are correctly wired. Thanks!!!

Hi Jeff

Paul at RFC hasn't posted on AOS for a while.
You'll probably be better off contacting him directly via his website - http://www.referencefidelitycomponents.co.uk/

[nonuffin]

Whoever built them should be fired ;)



That would be interesting, given that 50 odd years have passed since they were built. At best that person would be long since retired or at worst pushing up the daisies. If so, dig him/her up Grant and give him/her a piece of your mind LOL

[engie68]

Thanks Jerry!