LoudspeakerUpgradeHandbook.pdf

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Loudspeaker
Upgrade Handbook
© 2009 Russ Andrews Accessories Ltd
Contents
Introduction
How to get the best out of your Loudspeakers
Tools and Solder
Chapter 1: Cabinets
Chapter 2: Internal Damping Materials
Chapter 3: Drive Units
Chapter 4: Speaker Terminals
Chapter 5: Internal Wiring
Chapter 6: Earthing your Speakers
Chapter 7: Crossover Network - Quality first
Upgrading your speaker’s crossover
with our Capacitor Kit
Rewiring with existing cable
Rewiring with Kimber cable
Chapter 8: Speaker Stands
2
3
4
5
6
7
9
9
10
11
13
14
15
17
© 2009 Russ Andrews Accessories Ltd
Russ Andrews Accessories Ltd, 2b Moreland Court, Westmorland Business Park, Shap Road, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 6NS, UK.
Call UK Local Rate
0845 345 1550
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, from abroad +44 1539 797300 Email info@russandrews.com Website
www.russandrews.com
1
The Russ Andrews Solution
A large number of Hi-Fi enthusiasts own systems which they have built up
over many years; a personal selection of equipment providing a well loved
sound. The urge to improve is, however, inevitable especially when we are
constantly being told by the Hi-Fi press of the desirable improvements
offered by new technology. The traditional approach to improving a
system is to buy ever more expensive bits of hardware, but is this really
the best solution?
At Russ Andrews we believe that this approach is misguided. New models
do not necessarily perform better, are frequently more expensive and
rather than solving problems often just lead to different ones. We believe
that (with very few exceptions) the most cost effective and satisfying way
to improve the sound of your system is to upgrade the equipment by
using better quality internal components: resistor, capacitor, wire etc.
That way you get to keep the well-loved sound of your system whilst
improving the quality of it – and save yourself disappointment, frustration
and money!
If you have some electronic know-how, upgrading your own system is an
enormously rewarding and enjoyable project. Many of the improvements
described here require only patience – which you provide free! – but the
results can be quite stunning.
If you do get stuck whilst carrying out the upgrade, we are happy to
help you out if you run into difficulties. We have the facilities to repair
almost all equipment if you get
really
stuck!
© 2009 Russ Andrews Accessories Ltd
Russ Andrews Accessories Ltd, 2b Moreland Court, Westmorland Business Park, Shap Road, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 6NS, UK.
Call UK Local Rate
0845 345 1550
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, from abroad +44 1539 797300 Email info@russandrews.com Website
www.russandrews.com
2
How to get the best out of your
loudspeakers
The loudspeaker is a good place to begin the process of upgrading, both
because it generally has the greatest potential for improvement, and
because the components are large and easy to handle so making it the
easiest unit for the amateur home upgrader to tackle. Improvements are
largely gained by improving the crossover and by improving the quality
of wiring. There are other modifications which can be made to cabinets,
drivers and damping that improve performance further.
Upgrade Areas in a Loudspeaker
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Cabinets
Internal Damping
Drive Units
Speaker Terminals
Internal Wiring
Earthing your speakers
Crossover Network
Speaker Stands
Burn In Period
After upgrade, your loudspeakers will need at least 300 hours of use
(burn-in) before they settle down and give their best. The quickest way to
achieve this is to leave them running quietly 24 hours a day for 3 weeks
(in between playing them loudly just for the fun of it!)
© 2009 Russ Andrews Accessories Ltd
Russ Andrews Accessories Ltd, 2b Moreland Court, Westmorland Business Park, Shap Road, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 6NS, UK.
Call UK Local Rate
0845 345 1550
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, from abroad +44 1539 797300 Email info@russandrews.com Website
www.russandrews.com
3
Tools & Solder
Soldering irons
Two types of soldering iron will be helpful. A 30 watt with a reasonably
small tip is perfect for small signal wire and printed circuit board (PCB)
work, and a large 40 to 50 watt is ideal for bigger work like cables inside
speaker cabinets. Don’t be tempted to use or buy one of those pathetic
little 15W irons they advise you to use with transistors. They do more
harm than good. The secret of good soldering is to use an iron with a high
thermal mass so that the tip can maintain its temperature, and a tip of the
right size for the job. We use 50 watt irons with 4mm to 6mm tips for large
joints and 30 watt irons with needle points to 3mm tips for fine work.
It is well worth investing in good tools if you want good results.
Solder
Solder is now an issue with the Restriction of Hazardous Substances
Directive and all new equipment must be made with lead-free solder.
Repairs, or rework with leaded solder is still permitted for equipment
made with leaded solder. It is important not to mix the two because they
don’t work well together and dry joints (a type of badly soldered joint
where the solder fails to wet the metal) are difficult to avoid. We stock
both types of Wonder Solder (the best sounding solder we can find). We
use it on all our own work: it contains 5% silver and the leaded version
only 3% lead.
Other tools
Be prepared to use any of the following tools – I have!
•
Hot melt glue gun
•
PVA wood glue- for sealing cabinet joints
•
Wire cutters
•
Wire strippers
•
Screwdrivers
•
Spanner
•
Pliers
•
Jigsaw
•
Hammer
•
Chisel
•
Scalpel
•
Jemmy (aka. Pry-bar, crow bar)
•
Rasp file
•
Electric drill
•
Wax stick (wood colour)
•
Cabinet maker
© 2009 Russ Andrews Accessories Ltd
Russ Andrews Accessories Ltd, 2b Moreland Court, Westmorland Business Park, Shap Road, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 6NS, UK.
Call UK Local Rate
0845 345 1550
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, from abroad +44 1539 797300 Email info@russandrews.com Website
www.russandrews.com
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