Paradigm Tweeter Damage Please Help !!

[darth2222]

I recently recieved these speakers in the mail and they came with a damaged tweeter. The speakers are the ADP 470v.3. Theres no way i can get my money back on these so im stuck with them. My question is looking at these pics can this still be used in a surround capacity without causing any major sound issues. If not can these be replaced easily and what does a tweeter like this usaully cost. Please Help !!!!http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v28
5/darth22/Ri<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v285/darth22/Left_Speaker_Tweeter_Damage_002.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>ght_Speaker_Tweeter_Damage_003.jpg<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v285/darth22/Right_Speaker_Tweeter_Damage_003.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

[matt39]

Are you sure that the tweeters are actually damaged? You may just have dented dustcovers which look bad but the speaker will still work ok. If the tweeters are actually damaged my question is, do you have a warranty? If so, contact Paradigm to see what to do. I'm not sure what this particular speaker is like but usually it's not to complicated to remove and replace them. Perhaps, if still under warranty, Paradigm will send you replacements. I'll defer to more knowledgeable member's suggestions if you don't have a warranty and have to repair them on your own. I had a situation like this with my current speakers from Polk. I bought demos and when I got them home I discovered what I thought was a damaged tweeter. Turned out to be the dust cover which wasn't serious. Polk customer service sent me a new tweeter at no charge even after I told them things seemed ok. They said they just wanted to be sure which really impressed me pretty favorably. Paradigm is a pretty well established company so they will, hopefully, give you a hand too. Good luck.

[N. Abstentia]

Well he said he 'received them in the mail' so that means he got them used with no warranty. But that type of abuse wouldn't be covered under anybody's warranty anyway.

The silver dome there is not a dust cover, it's the actual tweeter. That's what makes the sound. If it were me I wouldn't be able to live with them like that as it will definitely affect the sound. However since they are ADP's I assume you are using them just for surrounds? If that's the case you might not actually notice the dented tweeter if that's the case. But at any rate, best thing to do is contact Paradigm for a replacement. You'll have to buy it, as that's obviously not a manufacturing problem, but I'd do it for sure. Then call up whoever you bought them from and tear them a new one for poking the tweeters!

[kexodusc]

Dunno what the cost for a tweeter would be, but I know it's not cheap. I replaced an Atom tweeter a few years back that was $45 or something ridiculous. The tweeter might be worth $8 in that model and that's being generous. In a 470v.3 I'd be afraid to ask. But ya never know. Go down to your local paradigm dealer and they should be able to tell you fairly quickly how much you're looking at.

Why do idiots insist on poking tweeters? There's a really dumb myth out there that this actually is a tweak that improves sound.

Anyway. Just curious, did you buy these knowing they were damaged or was it done in shipping legit? I have been successful at getting UPS to cover shipping damage. It took 8 months though.

[darth2222]

These were supposed to be in excellent shape but they were not new. They had a previous owener. They were packed very well but you think this was done by him on purpose. I also was wondering since with this desing there is another tweeter and woofer on the other side woundt that help keep it from being as noticable exspecally using them as sourrounds not much comes through them any way. How come it took 8 months for your UPS refund i assuming you had Insurance right. Could this have been done but abuse from listening them to loud or is this a physical defect

[N. Abstentia]

Definitely not a physical defect and definitely not caused by loud volume. Only thing that can cause that type of damage direct contact to the dome, whether that be a finger or a packing peanut or whatever.

I would imagine a new tweeter would be in the $100 neighborhood.

[spf]

My coworker had his ADP-370 tweeter replaced (an errant pencil by a curious 2 year old was the culprit here :o) ) and the damage was $220 Cdn ($180 US) shipped and installed by the local dealer. I would wager that the Studio tweeter could be near $300 Cdn($250 US) when its all said and done if you get it installed ... less if you do it yourself. Good luck

Shane

[darth2222]

Ouch thats pretty steep.
How much difference do you think that will make if i dont replace them to the over all sound i mainly use this system for movies

[N. Abstentia]

That is steep, but I notice that also includes installation. The last time I bought a Studio tweeter was mabye 4 years ago and it was around $75. If you can work a screwdriver (or allen wrench in this case) then you can replace the tweeter yourself.

The tweeters should still work fine, they just won't have the dispersion pattern they are designed to have. But being that you are using them for surrounds on movies, plus they are dipole, that shouldn't hurt at all.

[Hashpot]

I have a damaged tweeter its alittle more dented than yours, yours doesnt look bad at all but if you insist on repairing it some guy Royphil345 told me to get a vacum and turn it on put the hose over the dome that should pop out the dent, turn it off before it reaches full power if the vacum is strong enough it could suck out the whole tweeter so becareful

[Woochifer]

If you have a test disc, try running an out-of-phase test tone through the ADPs and compare the two surround speakers for how their tonality differs. (Running the test tone out-of-phase should allow you to localize each speaker) If you hear a drastic difference, then you'll definitely need to replace the tweeter. If they sound reasonably close, then you might be able to get away with using the speaker as-is, considering that you're not looking to do precise imaging cues with dipolar speakers anyway.

Paradigm makes their own drivers, so they're the only supplier and can charge you whatever amount suits them.

[MikeyBC]

Contact Paradigm direct...not some dealer, those domes should be replaceable, remove the tweeter and those 3 little screws you see hold the faceplate on, remove the faceplate then you should see screws to hold the dome assembly to the magnet structure. I've seen this done with older Paradigm tweeters using their replacement domes. But then again nowadays Paradigm might not sell you the dome but the entire tweeter just to take more of your money.

[hermanv]

Step 1. Listen.
Step 2. Panic as needed.

Do not reverse the sequence as you appearently have. Tweeters average $35 if you replace one I suggest you replace both as improvements in design might make the two no longer identical. Expensive dome tweeters push $200, I doubt you have those. Note the polarity of the wires, use some goop to seal the new one in.

[MikeyBC]

Step 1. Listen.
Step 2. Panic as needed.

Do not reverse the sequence as you appearently have. Tweeters average $35 if you replace one I suggest you replace both as improvements in design might make the two no longer identical. Expensive dome tweeters push $200, I doubt you have those. Note the polarity of the wires, use some goop to seal the new one in.


Your right about the price except when buying from the manufacturer. I replaced both my PSB Stratus silver's tweeter because one got crumpled and PSB wouldn't sell me a replacement dome, even though i took the tweeter apart and pushed ot the wrinkle from behind....anyway PSB charged me 250.00 bucks for a pair of replacements though the almost identical Vifa D25 series aluminum dome tweeters sell for around 35 bucks or so at Madisound and Solen, The Stratus series drivers (woofers and tweeters) are all made by Vifa...they even had the Vifa sticker and part number on the magnets. I called PSB to get a quote for a replacement 8" woofer for my original Stratus's (just in case the kids get heavy handed) and they quoted me over 400.00 each when i can buy a similar Vifa woofer from Madisound for 65 bucks. The manufacturers really make a ton off selling their drivers especially when they pay less than the retail prices i quotes above.

[kexodusc]

Your right about the price except when buying from the manufacturer. I replaced both my PSB Stratus silver's tweeter because one got crumpled and PSB wouldn't sell me a replacement dome, even though i took the tweeter apart and pushed ot the wrinkle from behind....anyway PSB charged me 250.00 bucks for a pair of replacements though the almost identical Vifa D25 series aluminum dome tweeters sell for around 35 bucks or so at Madisound and Solen, The Stratus series drivers (woofers and tweeters) are all made by Vifa...they even had the Vifa sticker and part number on the magnets. I called PSB to get a quote for a replacement 8" woofer for my original Stratus's (just in case the kids get heavy handed) and they quoted me over 400.00 each when i can buy a similar Vifa woofer for 65 bucks. The manufacturers really make a ton off selling their drivers especially when they pay less than the retail prices i quotes above.

Yep, my drivers in my Paradigm's were Vifa, I've fixed a few different models now. Every time I had to buy a driver it cost several multiples of the comparable OEM driver (and in some cases the exact same). I dunno if it's a supply issue, or if these companies just know they can get away with it. Don't care. Paradigm now makes their own drivers (or claim to anyway) and they definitely aren't Vifa, anymore. I'm afraid to ask how much a driver is now. Not to pick on PSB or Paradigm though, most manufacturers do this.

[hermanv]

This site has details, information and links to more manufacturers of drivers than you can count.

http://ldsg.snippets.org/

Another DIY favorite supplier is Madisound:

http://www.madisound.com/about/loudspeakers.php

They are knowledgable and helpful, and will even design you a new crossover if you choose an alternate tweeter (not free, but reasonable).

[darth2222]

Thanks to everyone who replied. I will listen to them and decide from there what i should do hopefully they will be ok. Since im mostly into HT instead of Music i think i can tolerate it a little more if i know somethings wrong. Thanks again