Byron D'Arcy Posted January 19, 2023 Posted January 19, 2023 Hey guys I’m very sorry if this is the wrong place to put this but I couldn’t find a place on this website for speaker repair. My Aaron HMF-600’s surrounds have come loose from the cone. There is a small portion on the top right and bottom right that have torn (???) away. Photo is attached. These are the best speakers I’ve ever owned and arguably the best I’ve ever heard. They still sound good. But on a bass heavy movie I can hear the woofer slapping into the surrounds causing a terrible sound. I’m wanting to glue back onto the woofer myself them myself, it seems like as easy enough job but I don’t have any experience in speaker repair. Is there anything I should know? What glue should I use? I was going to use super glue but that makes me nervous. How long should I let it set for before first use? Any useful techniques? Anything I haven’t thought of would be greatly appreciated. Thank you and again I’m sorry if I’m asking in the wrong place
davewantsmoore Posted January 19, 2023 Posted January 19, 2023 1 hour ago, Byron D'Arcy said: I was going to use super glue No, do not do that. It needs to be a specific glue, which is strong but flexible. It dries quite quickly. Something like this: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/140750591406 FWIW, the surrounds on your speaker look damaged, and should really be replaced, if you can source the right ones (but that is a much bigger job than just gluing up what you have).
Byron D'Arcy Posted January 19, 2023 Author Posted January 19, 2023 2 minutes ago, davewantsmoore said: No, do not do that. It needs to be a specific glue, which is strong but flexible. It dries quite quickly. Something like this: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/140750591406 FWIW, the surrounds on your speaker look damaged, and should really be replaced, if you can source the right ones (but that is a much bigger job than just gluing up what you have). Ok thank you. Noted. Wont be doing super glue ahaha. And thanks for the advice on the surrounds. My thinking is that the HMFs are such rare speakers that there’d be a phat chance I’d find anything that could replace the surrounds. So gluing is the best option since most of the time they still sound great any way. And also there’s no way I’d fully replace a surround all on my own, leave that for the pros. Thanks heaps for your advice. P.S if you know a place I could find HMF parts I’d love to hear it
afa Posted January 19, 2023 Posted January 19, 2023 Measure the surrounds and see if suitable replacements are available here, https://speakerrepairshop.nl/en/rubber-surrounds/by-size/g-10000016 If you dont want to replace the surrounds, you could try this glue (or the glue dave recommended) https://www.whitworths.com.au/stormsure-flexible-repair-adhesive-15g But I suspect your surrounds are on the way out, due to environmental factors https://www.martins-rubber.co.uk/blog/what-causes-rubber-to-deteriorate/
stevoz Posted January 20, 2023 Posted January 20, 2023 Or just use black (or clear) silicone sealer....carefully placed into the cracks? Probably best to stick to the above mentioned (Simply Speakers) speaker repair adhesive....as long as it is also suitable for sticking surrounds to each other (ie: filling cracks), which isn't actually mentioned in the ebay product description, it only describes sticking the surrounds to other speaker parts....but one would assume it is indeed fine for the use you require.
Byron D'Arcy Posted January 20, 2023 Author Posted January 20, 2023 2 hours ago, stevoz said: Or just use black (or clear) silicone sealer....carefully placed into the cracks? Probably best to stick to the above mentioned (Simply Speakers) speaker repair adhesive....as long as it is also suitable for sticking surrounds to each other (ie: filling cracks), which isn't actually mentioned in the ebay product description, it only describes sticking the surrounds to other speaker parts....but one would assume it is indeed fine for the use you require. This is great advice thank you 1
Byron D'Arcy Posted January 20, 2023 Author Posted January 20, 2023 Thank you for all your help guys! I have a follow up question. Would replacing the surrounds completely with a 3rd party part diminish or the change the sonic quality in any way?
Gieseler Audio Posted January 20, 2023 Posted January 20, 2023 (edited) I also have a pair of Aaron HMF-600's and eventually the rubber surrounds on all the bass & midrange drivers went hard & starting cracking just like yours. The surrounds are are very odd size & I never managed to find suitable replacements. I then decided to hunt for suitable replacement drivers that would fit the existing hole cutouts. They are fairly odd sized drivers but I eventually found some SB Acoustics Satori drivers that fitted almost perfectly. They are just a fraction under size which is hardly noticeable but required new screw holes. The SB Acoustic Satori are excellent drivers & I found the sound actually better than the originals. Obviously for a flat & accurate frequency response the crossovers should be changed/adjusted to suite different drivers but surprisingly they sounded pretty good with the original crossovers. Years later I did do a quick frequency response measurement using Clio Pocket & the response was a little ragged however I still find the sound quite acceptable. One of these days when I actually have some free time I will readjust the crossovers to suit the new drivers. It is a rather costly exercise though as the Satori drivers are not cheap. http://www.theloudspeakerkit.com/mr13p-8-satori-5-mid-range http://www.theloudspeakerkit.com/mr16p-8-satori-6.5-mid-range Cheers Edited January 20, 2023 by Gieseler Audio more info 1
stevoz Posted January 20, 2023 Posted January 20, 2023 For a few years after Betetec Industries (the maker of Aaron speakers) stopped manufacturing, their website was still operating for spare parts. I checked it out before in the hope they were still going and might have suitable surrounds for your needs but it appears they have finally disappeared altogether. Real pity.....as I have ATS-5's.....so I hope the drivers hang in there for a few more years. 1
Byron D'Arcy Posted January 24, 2023 Author Posted January 24, 2023 On 20/1/2023 at 5:02 PM, Gieseler Audio said: I also have a pair of Aaron HMF-600's and eventually the rubber surrounds on all the bass & midrange drivers went hard & starting cracking just like yours. The surrounds are are very odd size & I never managed to find suitable replacements. I then decided to hunt for suitable replacement drivers that would fit the existing hole cutouts. They are fairly odd sized drivers but I eventually found some SB Acoustics Satori drivers that fitted almost perfectly. They are just a fraction under size which is hardly noticeable but required new screw holes. The SB Acoustic Satori are excellent drivers & I found the sound actually better than the originals. Obviously for a flat & accurate frequency response the crossovers should be changed/adjusted to suite different drivers but surprisingly they sounded pretty good with the original crossovers. Years later I did do a quick frequency response measurement using Clio Pocket & the response was a little ragged however I still find the sound quite acceptable. One of these days when I actually have some free time I will readjust the crossovers to suit the new drivers. It is a rather costly exercise though as the Satori drivers are not cheap. http://www.theloudspeakerkit.com/mr13p-8-satori-5-mid-range http://www.theloudspeakerkit.com/mr16p-8-satori-6.5-mid-range Cheers I ended up taking the speakers in for repair. It was pointed out to me that if they were cracking then that means they have dried up and stiffened, which also means the woofers won’t be moving properly. Hope everything works out and my repairman can find the right surrounds. 1 1
jeromegboyle Posted April 2, 2023 Posted April 2, 2023 @Byron D'Arcy - just wondering what the verdict was with your rubber surrounds at the repair shop? I've just discovered a similar issue with the mid range on my HSS600's *big sigh*
PCboy Posted April 1 Posted April 1 On 20/01/2023 at 6:02 PM, Gieseler Audio said: hey are just a fraction under size which is hardly noticeable but required new screw holes. Hi mate, could you please share the pictures ? I have the same problem , I'm thinking to get SB acoustics speakers too.
Gieseler Audio Posted April 1 Posted April 1 (edited) The midrange is a nice sung fit but there is a small gap with the bass drivers Edited April 1 by Gieseler Audio 1
PCboy Posted April 1 Posted April 1 Thanks a lot mate. That is not bad at all. Did you end up adjusting the crossover?
Gieseler Audio Posted April 2 Posted April 2 No - they are just sitting in storage at the moment. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with them, maybe sell them.
Resonance-2-Rythm Posted April 3 Posted April 3 (edited) On 19/01/2023 at 7:41 PM, Byron D'Arcy said: Hey guys I’m very sorry if this is the wrong place to put this but I couldn’t find a place on this website for speaker repair. My Aaron HMF-600’s surrounds have come loose from the cone. There is a small portion on the top right and bottom right that have torn (???) away. Photo is attached. These are the best speakers I’ve ever owned and arguably the best I’ve ever heard. They still sound good. But on a bass heavy movie I can hear the woofer slapping into the surrounds causing a terrible sound. I’m wanting to glue back onto the woofer myself them myself, it seems like as easy enough job but I don’t have any experience in speaker repair. Is there anything I should know? What glue should I use? I was going to use super glue but that makes me nervous. How long should I let it set for before first use? Any useful techniques? Anything I haven’t thought of would be greatly appreciated. Thank you and again I’m sorry if I’m asking in the wrong place For a quick, cheap and easy fix, I'd remove the drivers and brush silicon on the inside (concave side) of the surround. You can wait for it to dry and repeat the process to make sure. You can do this to the whole surround (inside and outside) to prevent further breaks as the clear silicon would just make the surrounds look a bit glossy. It wont be pretty but would keep the woofer functioning as it should at least for awhile. Edited April 3 by Resonance-2-Rythm
georgehifi Posted April 3 Posted April 3 (edited) 15 hours ago, Resonance-2-Rythm said: For a quick, cheap and easy fix, I'd remove the drivers and brush silicon on the inside (concave side) of the surround. This is the cheap way out but will also change the T&S Parameters, "compliance ect ect" figures of the driver. But those surrounds look to me like they've more like they've dried out and perished/hardened with age, they are over 20 years old now, that's why I advocate nourishing rubber surrounds inside and out with castor oil, keeps them natural and soft and stops them drying out and cracking like yours look to have. If you love them like you say you do, I think you need to get them re-done with new roll surrounds by a competent speaker repairer that will use the same new roll surround or close to it. See if you can contact AARON for the driver manufacture make, and see if they have new roll surrounds for them. Aaron (brand), Betetec Industries Pty. Ltd.; Ballina, NSW (AUS) Abbreviation:aaron Products:Model types Summary: Betetec Industries Pty. Ltd. 17 DeHavilland Crescent, Ballina, NSW Brands: Aaron, Hyperboloid Cheers George Edited April 3 by georgehifi
pete_mac Posted April 3 Posted April 3 1 hour ago, georgehifi said: This is the cheap way out but will also change the T&S Parameters, "compliance ect ect" figures of the driver. But those surrounds look to me like they've more like they've dried out and perished/hardened with age, they are over 20 years old now, that's why I advocate nourishing rubber surrounds inside and out with castor oil, keeps them natural and soft and stops them drying out and cracking like yours look to have. If you love them like you say you do, I think you need to get them re-done with new roll surrounds by a competent speaker repairer that will use the same new roll surround or close to it. See if you can contact AARON for the driver manufacture make, and see if they have new roll surrounds for them. Aaron (brand), Betetec Industries Pty. Ltd.; Ballina, NSW (AUS) Abbreviation:aaron Products:Model types Summary: Betetec Industries Pty. Ltd. 17 DeHavilland Crescent, Ballina, NSW Brands: Aaron, Hyperboloid Cheers George Fully agreed on the need to maintain rubber surrounds. I use a product called "gummi pflege" which I use primarily for maintaining car door and sunroof seals, but also for the occasional driver surround treatment. Nextzett Rubber Care Stick Gummi Pflege 100mL | Product Re: Aaron, sadly they completely shut a few years back when the owner retired, and sold all of their remaining bits and pieces
georgehifi Posted April 3 Posted April 3 (edited) 33 minutes ago, pete_mac said: I use a product called "gummi pflege" Too many chemicals for me Pete, "could" even attack the adhering cone to surround, surround to frame glue. https://nextzettusa.com/content/SDS/91480615-Gummi-Pflege.pdf?srsltid=AfmBOorYUNrV3gmbe3PHofh9e8_oe8rp90vdrUtcLqaQ3XL0EUCARYZB Caster oil is a natural rubber conditioner from castor plant seeds. Cheers George Edited April 3 by georgehifi 1
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