To MOD Or Not To MOD ?????

[Fretless]

sounds like the guy needs some cash "unforeseen circumstances"
but its a big price tag.

[Dr Bunsen Honeydew]

All Harbeths have acquired this over inflated price tag because they have convinced people they are the modern holder of the BBC magic - my arse what magic

[AshM750.]

I could almost buy a set of Cubes for that! Where did all the hype come from? Was it just because its BBC or something?


Bought 3 of these last night, I hope its enough.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271777839525? ... EBIDX%3AIT

[Alfi]

Here is another example of over inflated price stupidity

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HARBETH-P3ESR ... 2c970c01f9

I would love someone to Doc mod these just to put the company in perspective!!

They *live* on saying they are the inheritors of BBC magic

I would too Doc, but the P3ESR are probably the best of the "bad bunch" are they not and a pricey pair to start the mods? However, I would be confident your mods would improve them no end for the music enthusiasts (some of us are converts) on this forum.

But when you can turn a pair of AP2 into something quite special why spend shed loads on P3ESR's?

There again it maybe worth it just to prove a turd really can be polished!

Alfi

[Welder]

Some auto sound deadening mastic between the steel plates and enclosures wouldn’t go amiss. I would try a brace from front to back between the two drivers.

I’m still amazed at the appalling standard of enclosure builds, particularly with some of the so called hi end speakers. As for the BBC style tuned resonating enclosures.

I’m all for modding. My way is to aim for as flat a response first and then try to tune to the room and my hearing, but just aiming for a sound that puts a grin on your face is plenty good enough.

[AshM750.]

Some auto sound deadening mastic between the steel plates and enclosures wouldn’t go amiss. I would try a brace from front to back between the two drivers.

Is this what you mean ?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DYNAMAT-Sound ... 5d3fdcf56d

I was thinking about puting a wooden brace in the cabinet from side to side, not front to back, shall I go front to back then?

[Dr Bunsen Honeydew]

Some auto sound deadening mastic between the steel plates and enclosures wouldn’t go amiss.

That would completely negate what we are trying to do.

[Fretless]

I now have an unbearable itching desire to hear/mod/convert/destroy all the speakers I can find. The total focus on small boxes in the recent past meant that I had forgotten about two big wooden things collecting dust in a distant corner of the farmhouse.

Having chased away the spiders that were setting up a colony complete with restaurant and swimming-pool around them, I had a look:



These are AKAI SA-1200 dating from the late middle-ages (1970's). The woofer is huge, about 12". These were last in action about 5 years ago, used purely for background noise and I can only remember that they produce a very full & warm sound that is lacking in detail.
However I've never heard them properly set up or through a good amp - so that might be something I'll do this weekend.

Any of the vintage speaker fans out there know anything about these, and are they worth considering for a mod-project ?

[AshM750.]

MOD away Fretless, I think this is the new fashion! I am already lineing up my next MOD and havnt even started my first
Ive got the Quad 11s on the stands running through the A40s, I dont care what anyone says they are great little speakers, in fact I would say they are on a similar level as my Doublets with slightly less detail and with a slightly coughing bass, musical and smooth though. I put it down to the great amplification ! I will be Modding these at some stage

Some auto sound deadening mastic between the steel plates and enclosures wouldn’t go amiss.

That would completely negate what we are trying to do.

Not a good idea then

[_D_S_J_R_]

Here is another example of over inflated price stupidity

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HARBETH-P3ESR ... 2c970c01f9

I would love someone to Doc mod these just to put the company in perspective!!

They *live* on saying they are the inheritors of BBC magic

You may know a lot more than I (as you told me in no uncertain terms the other day), but in this case you're way off the beam!

Firstly, the driver is a totally different and far better thing than the BBC could ever manage and the whole sound is actually different to the LS3/5A that isn't really its ancestor, apart from number of drive units and box size. I've heard these ESR's plenty of times, but I don't believe you have Doc. Have a go at the bullshit please, but not the product, which is actually rather good at communicating music to the listener. It's not a raucous screamer, which seem to go down well in these parts, but it's really good at disappearing from the music, no matter how complex it is inside.

Rant over - leave Harbeth alone. By the way (Doc and DQ), I respect and support the products, having known the brand since its inception (Harbeth products were never bought by the BBC in the early Harwood days), but currently, I've fallen out big time with their owner, who threw some unjustified (IMO) ad hominem my way on their forum a few months ago.