JBL type s109 Aquarius IV

[andyrlb]

Don’t ask !!
Something to tinker with I thought, well how on earth are the drivers accessed?
Why am I like a bloody magpie when it comes to quirky things [emoji30]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180529/21ecba60c23779719d185604a3391a10.heichttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180529/e22c03ce3146972f42bf0ac7d0fb1d2c.heichttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180529/2dcd3b3a0d703fb9591574ff76758398.heichttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180529/b72e49b520e6d6fde73971cffd5fd35d.heic


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[andyrlb]

:scratch: Where are the drivers would be my first question.

I know where the tweeters are and boy do they work https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180529/69dece208fa34b865919ea6723d27e83.heic


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[walpurgis]

Very nice. They should contain LE8 or LE8T full range drivers. Those are rather sought after.

Are you sure that tweeter is original? It looks like a piezo unit from the early eighties.

[andyrlb]

Very nice. They should contain LE8 or LE8T full range drivers. Those are rather sought after.

Are you sure that tweeter is original? It looks like a piezo unit from the early eighties.

[emoji23]you’re asking me Geoff ?
I will inspect them shortly


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[TazSob]

Not seen anything like these before, interested to see what is inside too...

[andyrlb]

Very nice. They should contain LE8 or LE8T full range drivers. Those are rather sought after.

Are you sure that tweeter is original? It looks like a piezo unit from the early eighties.

Looks like it’s right Geoff, it has a weird diffraction thing in front of it https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180529/6fbe49fa48cca8d1cf9aa8ab99e35933.heichttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180529/e27fd3928cb2f52cc6458fd10ce64468.heic


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[Macca]

You need to get the baby wipes out, looks like they've been down a coal mine.

Collector's items if you can get them cleaned up and working.

[andyrlb]

You need to get the baby wipes out, looks like they've been down a coal mine.

Collector's items if you can get them cleaned up and working.

Better now https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180529/56134ecbb9b8f4d6a064d86dd5cbd2b1.heic


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[struth]

more gold old chap. :D

[andyrlb]

more gold old chap. :D

Everyone said that about the wharfedales , these were a real impulse!
I had gone to collect a pc that I’d bought for my grandson when I literally bumped into them


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[andyrlb]

[emoji30]well the foam has rotted away, I’m sure there are replacements .
I also acquired the tuner too.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180529/15dd9f9e1f8c3ac9859d9c1e7c1e3bb5.heichttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180529/5648e94193c5efdba2d6dbbde02e7a42.heichttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180529/9cfef41a395389c9395d1178c4fa2594.heichttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180529/c59500656b1712548aa91f5f419679fa.heichttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180529/1778ea2af8759e301c3cb3743edd3527.heic


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[andyrlb]

Are they ok ? https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180529/2875d2eaf0b5931d3ad06cdb49044bbc.heic


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[andyrlb]

This link is interesting:
http://www.lansingheritage.org/html/jbl/specs/home-speakers/1972-s109.htm

page 2 might give you a clue how to access the mid/bass driver

Thanks for that Andrew


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[andyrlb]

That’s great Andrew cheers, the wife loves them !! She’s already talking about piano white


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[walpurgis]

Looks like it’s right Geoff, it has a weird diffraction thing in front of it

So it is. The LE20 is a well known unit. They used them in the famous 'Century' model.

Here is the piezo tweeter I thought it was. You can see why:

http://i63.tinypic.com/2zivkh2.jpg

[walpurgis]

Here's a thread about restoring a pair of the same JBLs:
http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?3054-Aquarius-IV-Rescue-Mission

Unfortunately, not a lot of detail about the re-foaming process. Maybe walpurgis will have some words of wisdom about that.

Replacement cone surrounds are available. Plenty of guides on the net about doing them. I can advise.

[andyrlb]

Replacement cone surrounds are available. Plenty of guides on the net about doing them. I can advise.

Hi Andrew, thanks I’ve also read that if the drivers came into jbl for a re-foam only the senior guys could do it [emoji50]


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[andyrlb]

Hi Andrew, thanks I’ve also read that if the drivers came into jbl for a re-foam only the senior guys could do it [emoji50]


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The white foam surrounds look much nicer imo .
Think this might all be a little too much for my basic skills though . Any Jbl fans on here ?


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[walpurgis]

Hi Andrew, thanks I’ve also read that if the drivers came into jbl for a re-foam only the senior guys could do it

That sounds like cobblers to me. :) It's not a difficult job.

It is worth doing properly on these. They are quite valuable drivers, so I'd get the best surrounds available..

[walpurgis]

I have to say, I'd not seen a JBL Aquarius with a tweeter before. The ones I've seen did not have them, the 'IV' is obviously a later version.

[andyrlb]

That sounds like cobblers to me. :)

It's not a difficult job. It is worth doing properly on these. They are quite valuable drivers, so I'd get the best surrounds available..

I’ve never done foams before, having said that I was bricking it when I decided to replace the ferrofluid on my 104/2’s and it was so bloody easy , as were their surrounds .... hold on [emoji848] yes I have done them before DOH !
I would always get the best quality materials but the foams all look the same


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[struth]

more technique than difficult, but geoff will steer you right.. he's done loads

[walpurgis]

Ignore the stories about taking out the whole cone or removing the centre dust cap to shim the coil, that just inceases the likelihood of damage. You should be able to do these without doing any of that.

And the glue supplied is usually PVA and there's better stuff available.

[andyrlb]

Cheers Grant .
Reading up about them they do appear to have quite a following .
These sound incredibly bright though ( low volume of course)


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[andyrlb]

Would you fancy helping me do it Geoff if I come to you with them ?
Is that too cheeky [emoji848]


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[STD305M]

I had the good fortune of hearing these a long time ago and from memory i seem to recall they were very good indeed,

link below if you want so see a pair in action

weS2oSuBWeY

Regards Steve...

[walpurgis]

Would you fancy helping me do it Geoff if I come to you with them ?
Is that too cheeky [emoji848]

Damn cheeky if you ask me! :)

But I guess you could. You'll need to order a pair of surrounds. I expect most suppliers will be in the US. I'm sure we can sort them.

[andyrlb]

Top [emoji529] , I don’t care what they say , you are the man .
I’ll go search some out now , black or white?


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[walpurgis]

Go for black. Keep it original.

Make sure they are the right ones. They'll be shaped to the cone edge profile. You can't use just any 8" surrounds and be sure of success.

[andyrlb]

Go for black. Keep it original.

Make sure they are the right ones. They'll be shaped to the cone edge profile. You can't use just any 8" surrounds and be sure of success.

Ok


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[andyrlb]

Foam surrounds ordered , I didn’t go for the worldwide express shipping at $138.00 [emoji23]
Now I’m committed I hope they sound bloody remarkable


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[andyrlb]

Stanley knife for getting this rubber ring off ? Very carefully of course https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180529/354e20f529e4ae3eb4d70bc386fc9099.heic


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[walpurgis]

I can't tell from the photo if that's a trim ring or just part of the old surround. If it's a trim, be very careful with it, you'll need it. Might be best to leave it until we have a bash at it together.

[andyrlb]

I can't tell from the photo if that's a trim ring or just part of the old surround. If it's a trim, be very careful with it. Might be best to leave it until we have a bash at it together.

I’ll leave it mate


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[andyrlb]

Some serious engineering has gone into these https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180529/baa70135092c26c8902f57068f1b4e44.heic


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[andyrlb]

Hmmm [emoji30]
Spot the difference! https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180529/c6aa8a38721fdbd695936ccac802306b.heic


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[walpurgis]

I wouldn't worry about that. JBL's were often sold as singles back then and not as matched pairs. Tannoy and others did the same.

[andyrlb]

Cheers Geoff


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[jandl100]

Nice find!
Big JBL fan, here. :)
Never heard a pair of these, though.
I vaguely recall seeing them in the big Lasky's in Totty Ct Rd back in the day.

User Manual (have you seen this link?)

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/284452/Jbl-Aquarius-Iv-S109.html?page=4#manual

[andyrlb]

Cheers Jerry, I’ll download that now [emoji1303]


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[jandl100]

Aha - see web page 11 on that linked manual.

There is a tweeter level control tucked in there somewhere.

[andyrlb]

Aha - see p.11 on that linked manual.

There is a tweeter level control tucked in there somewhere.

Yes and boy do you need that ! To turn it down


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[Macca]

The woofers are completely knackered so that is going to make them sound a bit toppy.

[walpurgis]

You shouldn't be able to tell, because they shouldn't be used with missing cone surrounds.