Danbandan Posted October 3, 2019 Posted October 3, 2019 Just sourced nice pair of Dali 400 and sound is just fabulous. After 1.5 hrs on 40-50w of music, they started leaking some thick liquid, sticky and it looks like it solidified after some time. Still sound good, no difference. Anyone had similar experience? Time to replace woofers? Time to replace everything :-) ?
tubularbells Posted October 3, 2019 Posted October 3, 2019 [In Arnie voice].....If it bleeds we can kill it! But no I have no idea what that could be. Ferrofluid is not used on woofers to my knowledge something must have gotten inside the voice coil. If you look on the back of the driver there might be an opening(vent) in which some foam could have got inside and liquefied due to the heat of the voice coil but pure speculation on my part.
LogicprObe Posted October 3, 2019 Posted October 3, 2019 I'm guessing that they have been repaired and something like a glue gun was used which can reflow at a certain temperature. That, or the manufacturer used it. The dust cover is a fair way from the coil itself and should act as a seal anyway.
bob_m_54 Posted October 3, 2019 Posted October 3, 2019 I agree with 2 hours ago, LogicprObe said: I'm guessing that they have been repaired and something like a glue gun was used which can reflow at a certain temperature. That, or the manufacturer used it. The dust cover is a fair way from the coil itself and should act as a seal anyway. Definitely the wrong type of glue of some sort.
PKay Posted October 3, 2019 Posted October 3, 2019 12 hours ago, Danbandan said: Just sourced nice pair of Dali 400 and sound is just fabulous. After 1.5 hrs on 40-50w of music, they started leaking some thick liquid, sticky and it looks like it solidified after some time. Still sound good, no difference. Anyone had similar experience? Time to replace woofers? Time to replace everything ? I would go back to the seller and ask them what they have done to the speakers. You might be able to reverse it. Or if you used PayPal lodge a claim.
bob_m_54 Posted October 3, 2019 Posted October 3, 2019 It looks like the dust cover has come adrift in the top rh arc too.
Danbandan Posted October 4, 2019 Author Posted October 4, 2019 last photo with arrows .. it is just light reflection, no dent or bump. It looks to me like dust cover was replaced on some stage and glued with wrong glue . Another thought, speakers are from Brisbane and i believe not used much. High humidity affected glue and when pushed for couple of hrs heat +humidity affected glue and started to leak. Thank you ppl for comments and time cheers
aussievintage Posted October 4, 2019 Posted October 4, 2019 Looks like a bad job of replacing the dustcap. If that's all, it's not a big problem, and can be fixed. 1
knight2001dts Posted October 4, 2019 Posted October 4, 2019 (edited) They used clag to recone the driver Edited October 4, 2019 by knight2001dts 1
Danbandan Posted October 4, 2019 Author Posted October 4, 2019 I think you are right, bad dust cap repair job. I will leave it as it is , it is not affecting anything how they sound. I was prepared that old drivers will give up on some stage and plan was to bay new ones. At around $100 per peace , (for $400 extra) it will give me years of beautiful sound. Any Australian suppliers that you will recommend ( to support local businesses) ?
bob_m_54 Posted October 4, 2019 Posted October 4, 2019 40 minutes ago, aussievintage said: Looks like a bad job of replacing the dustcap. If that's all, it's not a big problem, and can be fixed. Possibly the foam surround too. It looks uneven, and there is some unusual discolouration especially around the lower RH corner.
bob_m_54 Posted October 4, 2019 Posted October 4, 2019 Look at the gap between the edge of the surround and the mounting screws, at the top RH and bottom RH. Looks like a replacement to me, from what you can see in the pic. Not necessarily a problem if it sounds ok to you though.
afa Posted October 4, 2019 Posted October 4, 2019 Its a Vifa P17 WJ driver, so it has a rubber surround and the discoloration is what happens as the plasticisers leach out (or decompose etc) from the surround (happens on quite a few of the old Vifa and peerless drivers) it is usually a faint browny/yellowy coloured powder and becomes more evident if you touch or rub the surround. Plus, you can see the white powdery specks of corrosion on the rear of the magnesium alloy chassis, and that corrosion is most likely happening underneath the spider and this powder will eventually end up in the voice coil gap Arthur.
knight2001dts Posted October 4, 2019 Posted October 4, 2019 (edited) I've brought some VIFA drivers with that yellowing rubber issue back to new look by using some belt rejuvenator (designed to be used on automotive belt to stop them from going hard - can get it at any auto store eg. Repco/Bursons or likely even Bunnings). Spray it onto a rag, and wipe it around the rubber surrounds only - once cleaned up the rubber feels more like it should - soft and flexible not hard and tough. Your choice to use it or not, but I did mine years ago and still going strong! ******Of course, if your surrounds are foam, not rubber - don't use the rubber rejuvenator on that or it will probably perish....... Edited October 4, 2019 by knight2001dts
Danbandan Posted October 4, 2019 Author Posted October 4, 2019 sounds good to me , thanks for advice, cheers. hmm if this leak continues and riches rubber surrounds it will be big issue.
Danbandan Posted October 5, 2019 Author Posted October 5, 2019 (edited) Ok , time to do something about it ... Replacement woofers will cost me $400 and with initial purchasing cost it is still very good deal, as I will get beautiful,“almost” new speakers under $800 and they will last for long time . Should I replace tweeters as well , check crossover and upgrade with new condensers, maybe something else? Cheers Edited October 5, 2019 by Danbandan
aussievintage Posted October 5, 2019 Posted October 5, 2019 17 minutes ago, Danbandan said: Ok , time to do something about it ... Replacement woofers will cost me $400 and with initial purchasing cost it is still very good deal, as I will get beautiful,“almost” new speakers under $800 and they will last for long time . Should I replace tweeters as well , check crossover and upgrade with new condensers, maybe something else? Cheers If you are contemplating replacement, I would definitely try a cleanup first
Danbandan Posted October 5, 2019 Author Posted October 5, 2019 there it is ,easy to make decision now
aussievintage Posted October 5, 2019 Posted October 5, 2019 I would cleanup all the old glue off the speaker and dustcap, then replace it with a better glue. Clear contact works well. I used the clear rubbery contact they sell for gluing shoes. looks neat because it is clear, and sticks in place easy because it is a contact type of glue. 1
Addicted to music Posted October 5, 2019 Posted October 5, 2019 I wonder if it sounds better with the dust cap off???
aussievintage Posted October 5, 2019 Posted October 5, 2019 Just now, Addicted to music said: I wonder if it sounds better with the dust cap off??? I can't stand looking at speakers with no dust cap
Addicted to music Posted October 5, 2019 Posted October 5, 2019 Just now, aussievintage said: I can't stand looking at speakers with no dust cap Agreed
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