I have an old (30 years?) pair of Paradigm Titan speakers. First real ‘hi-fi’ purchase - saved for a summer to get them based on a review I read in Stereophile. So there’s some degree of emotional attachment there. But not enough that I would use them regularly. Think back in the day they were $200-$300 maybe. So not high-cost.
With that, I think the foam is completely gone. Not even sure of the driver itself. I did try and play them a year ago, and just noise.
So I’m on the fence - they either go in the bin or I keep them and try to restore them. But I have no clue if (1) it’s possible to repair them (2) it’s expensive enough that I should just bin them, or (3) it’s no big deal and I could get it done easily and inexpensively.
Any one done this before? Any advice, info would be greatly appreciated.
Yes done that before with Royd speakers, back to new. But it’s not cheap and a lot of work. So I’d only recommend that for valuable classics and/or things that have special value for you. Otherwise: necessary but not worth it IMO, replacement in order.
Paradigm Titan speakers have gone through various revision stages, (V1, V2, V4, V5, V6) each include updates to drivers and components … so which rev (V) do you have?
Maybe you can’t get the exact new parts and have to find some ‘will-fit’ drive units, that means the crossover values will probably be wrong.
If the drivers are in good shape and reusable, I recommend at least changing the old crossover capacitors to poly-film type if the originals are electrolytic as these change over time, replace with exact same pF value.
My wife had some Rega Ela speakers where the foam in the rear had begun to disintegrate. We were going to throw them out (in 2019). They were her first HiFi speaker purchase - so a lot of emotional attachment.
When we got together (with my Linn Ninka’s - at that time) Rega Elas were relegated to the rear L&R channels on the 5.1 surround system, fronted with Linn Ninak’s and a (pre-owned) B&W centre.
Finally (after the foam had disintegrated), they were for the tip - but an idea came up and we sold the pair for £50 - to somebody who was clearly interested in them!
Good luck with your decision.
PS: We still have all the other Rega Kit (in the loft).
A lot would depend on the specific driver that is goosed, as to whether a repair kit is available, or the same unit still available, or a suitably close equivalent that will fit. And cost of doing will directly relate to same.
I once replaced perished surrounds on midrange units of a speaker, they having been available at the time, for what was a well renowned driver. It was surprisingly easy to do. But those were good speakers, their nearest equivalent today costing around about £6k new, so was definitely worth doing. And many years later the repaired drivers are doing sterling service, though in someone else’s care now.
OK V1 has Vifa drivers, V2 and onwards all have Paradigm units.
My question is … do Vifa still have stocks of this exact driver.
Reality is, will it be worth it? I accept these were very good speakers for the budget end market in those days, but … ???
Some years ago the surrounds on my Acoustic Energy AE1s (mk 1) were perished and I felt that “I could fix that”. Did a bit of searching on the ‘tube’ and all seemed fair enough. Ordered the new surrounds from AE for literally a few ££s each, so I bought four in case I made a mess.
I sat down and got to work, only for the brakes to come on right away!! I released the first Allen bolt to remove woofer, as I did there was a ‘clink’ sound from inside! With trepidation I gently loosened the remaining 3 bolts but stopping before the clink. The woofer was still held fast! That was it, I rang my dealer and asked if Ross could work his magic again, which he certainly did, at an appropriate cost which I was fine with.
The moral here is be aware of all that stuff on the ‘tube’! Ross didn’t reveal how to remove the woofers but he did say that with the AE1 aluminium cones you have to be so so careful removing the old foam and residues. That’s where the costs were ! I told him about the videos and that none of them should how to remove the units and there was one geezer attacking the cone with a wood chisel!!
If something like that is worth the cost of repair it’s best leaving it to the professionals.
And the cost of DIY vs professionals is part of the choice - some things can be worth doing at DIY prices but not professional prices. .. And of course depends on what materials are available, and the skills or skill learning ability of the individual.
Regardless, if a surround repair or re-coning kit is not available then repairing the driver is probably a non-starter, while the success of replacing drive unit would depend on how closely matched a replacement driver is electrically, acoustically and in terms or mounting requirements, and if the first two of thee are different from the original then, as someone observed, the crossover may need changing or modifying - and of course for the resultant change in performance to sound right both speakers should be done even of only one driver faulty. Personally I wouldn’t bother in the case of a spare, old, and less than great sounding spare speaker.
! I told him about the videos and that none of them should how to remove the units and there was one geezer attacking the cone with a wood chisel!!