emaidel
02-23-2009, 05:42 AM
Just briefly, in case one hasn't read my previous posts, I heard annoying distortion coming from one of my DQ-10's, and believed incorrectly that it was coming from the mid bass driver. I replaced both drivers in each speaker, so as not to have an imbalance, with far superior Dayton Audio drivers, but still had the problem. After careful listening, with the grille off the speaker, it was clear that the crackling/distortion was coming from the woofer. Then, it was either send the woofer off to Regnar in NY for a rebuild for $175, or purchase a new (or perhaps two new) woofers from Simply Speakers in Florida for $129 each.
I did neither, and noticed recently that the problem had lessened some, and in certain instances wasn't even there. That made no sense whatsoever, as a blown woofer is either blown, or it isn't - there isn't any "in between." Since I had not soldered the leads onto the new upper bass drivers, and just crimped them in place (my DQ-10's predated the use of clip-on connectors), I decided to do that yesterday. Remembering a conversation I had with Regnar's service manager, Joe, about the two large resistors in the upper right corner of the crossover circuit board being critical to the operation of the woofer, I decided to touch them to see if they were crumbling, or anything like that, though I truly didn't believe they would be. To my complete astonishment, I noticed that one of the two had become disconnected! It connects to two other leads from two other crossoer components, and the solder connection simply came loose and needed to be reattached. And that did it! No more crackling, or any problems whatsoever from the speaker!
So, I wound up inadvertently "updating" my speakers with new upper bass drivers, though I have to admit the difference is very small. Most importantly, I don't have to buy a new woofer, or have the existing one rebuilt.
Despite having had the woofers rebuilt about 3 o 4 years ago, and adding the different upper bass drivers, the only really noticeable upgrade I've performed on the DQ-10's was the installation of two "Hi-Fi Tuning Fuses" a few months back. One is the main/power fuse, and the other is directly in line with the tweeters. I've said this before, and I'll say it again: $40 for a fuse seems outrageous, but $80 for a noticeable upgrade on a pair of DQ-10's is peanuts, and well worth anyone's time and expense. Based on my admittedly limited experience, I'd have to heartily recommend the use of these fuses in any loudspeaker with a fuse in it.
I did neither, and noticed recently that the problem had lessened some, and in certain instances wasn't even there. That made no sense whatsoever, as a blown woofer is either blown, or it isn't - there isn't any "in between." Since I had not soldered the leads onto the new upper bass drivers, and just crimped them in place (my DQ-10's predated the use of clip-on connectors), I decided to do that yesterday. Remembering a conversation I had with Regnar's service manager, Joe, about the two large resistors in the upper right corner of the crossover circuit board being critical to the operation of the woofer, I decided to touch them to see if they were crumbling, or anything like that, though I truly didn't believe they would be. To my complete astonishment, I noticed that one of the two had become disconnected! It connects to two other leads from two other crossoer components, and the solder connection simply came loose and needed to be reattached. And that did it! No more crackling, or any problems whatsoever from the speaker!
So, I wound up inadvertently "updating" my speakers with new upper bass drivers, though I have to admit the difference is very small. Most importantly, I don't have to buy a new woofer, or have the existing one rebuilt.
Despite having had the woofers rebuilt about 3 o 4 years ago, and adding the different upper bass drivers, the only really noticeable upgrade I've performed on the DQ-10's was the installation of two "Hi-Fi Tuning Fuses" a few months back. One is the main/power fuse, and the other is directly in line with the tweeters. I've said this before, and I'll say it again: $40 for a fuse seems outrageous, but $80 for a noticeable upgrade on a pair of DQ-10's is peanuts, and well worth anyone's time and expense. Based on my admittedly limited experience, I'd have to heartily recommend the use of these fuses in any loudspeaker with a fuse in it.