Gone.
Having read that last post - great system - now I really hope you do get those ES14’s out to play with…
Make sure to give them time to loosen up again, if they have not been used for a while.
Really want to know what you think.
Be sure to share some photos too.
KR
R
How did the 6 months holiday go?
(Secretly hoping you still have and use your ES14’s)
Does anyone know whether ES14 mid/bass surrounds are available anywhere?
Do you mean the seals gaskets surrounding the driver?
I’ve seen replacement alternatives being offered. Let me think about where I saw them
The rubber driver surrounds. One of mine has been in the light/sun and I can see the start of tiny little cracks.
Richard
Thoughts for you…
(1) Maybe start with Lockwood Audio.
It’s most likely they won’t have any ES14 spares. But they might help with a specification for that part. They have helped me in the past.
(2) Search the internet.
In the past, I’ve come across OEM suppliers that make an alternative, that is same or similar size.
I’ve seen these in the past. Including on a certain marketplace.
(3) Make one
Failing all other options, make one (or two).
Using best advice and hopefully specifications from Lockwood, make two replacements.
Worse case, take the existing speaker apart and examine.
Cut neoprene sheet, using a laser cutter. (Craft knife if you are brave).
Apologies, don’t wish to tell granny how to, etc. But maybe make two and do both speakers. So as to match acoustics, etc. (In fact, that advice for any one else reading this really. In case that’s not obvious when you do such things).
Finally, as we are unable to post links, I have sent you one, via another method.
Hope all that helps?
KR
R
p.s. would love to see a snap of your ES14’s in use.
Richard, ‘speakerrepairshop’ based in the Netherlands appears to have rubber surrounds for the ES14. Reasonably priced so might be worth a punt.
Of course I had to check mine for cracking. Seem ok despite slumming it in the workshop for a few years. And yes they do work surprisingly well laying on their sides (it’s a Gale 401 user foible)
Here you go. These are in my “pod” office. The pod is mostly for late spring to early autumn as otherwise it’s too cold…
What a super place for a pair of speakers. And for a work space.
Richard, they look really really nice condition. I would say exceptional.
Now I’m a little envious. As much as I love mine, they show signs of being much loved (used).
Thanks for sharing on this forum. Those really are a stunning example, (of the mk2’s).
Lovely, Richard!
I had a walnut pair. It’s sad that I didn’t care to take any photos of them
at that time… I just enjoyed my time listening. Maybe I did take photos
but they are from over 20 years ago and I don’t know where these might
be. I had run them with the 72-180 with an Arcam Alpha + player. My
first system. The Hi-cap was added some months later…
Sade never sounded so near and clear…on “Kiss of Life”.
Indeed the ES14s were.
They were wonderful… then the SBLs showed up as an upgrade but
it wasn’t fair comparison because the ES14s were classic quintessential
bookshelf speakers paired to olive Naims - a beautiful sound, so musical
and free and the SBLs were floorstanders at a different pricing point.
I always felt the pinch of piercing the bottom of my 14s as the
very sharp spikes from the dedicated stands really made their mark.
No choice really.
Lovely speakers… thanks gents for all the lovely images…
a walk down memory lane for me. I’m smiling seeing these
musical speakers again.
Cheers
At least you have them, ratrat! Enjoy!
Thanks. This is the one with the cracking just starting to the rubber surrounds. Probably because it’s closest to the french doors. They originally belonged to a good friend and I helped him choose them at the hifi shop when he was living out in HK. When he came back to the UK I sorted him out with a new pair of Neats and he gave me the ES14s. I alternate these with a pair of KANs.
Kans just as musical… a classic too.
@Richard.Dane Yes that is a well-known established outfit here in NL and they do indeed carry these rubber surrounds, good find @Mr.Tibbs !
ES14s are one of my favourite speakers ever, I owned a pair when I first got into hifi and foolishly sold them. On elf the best sounds I heard ever was in Studio 99 with CDS, 72/Hicap/140 into ES14. At a show once, the Naim room (or was it the Epos room) had ACTIVE es14 with a NAXO or something. Don’t know how many people had heard of that.
Superb speakers, they are less-refined than my SBLs but probably more fun. I have a pair in the other room unconnected until I revamp it with a projector (in) and AV amp. Previously had SBLs as front speakers and Epos ES14s as rear surround/effect speakers. Naff KEF center speaker.
Crikey that’s bonkers indeed Dev! - especially given the often quoted selling point that ES14s essentially have practically no crossover (apart from 1 capacitor on the tweeter). Instead the ‘crossover’ is essentially designed into the two drive units ( mechanically and electrically) and therefore is not removable to allow for proper active operation.
What an iconic speaker! I used a pair for over twenty years. I was running an audio dealers when I bought mine (new) and was familiar with a lot of speakers. They were my choice over a lot of more expensive offerings - Briks and SBL’s for example. They were only replaced by, heavily rebuilt, Yamaha NS1000’s. I be still have mine.