Looking for replacement woofer for my speakers

[lorax1284]

My front left speaker (18 years old) is starting to give out on me (crackles in the low end).

I took off the cover grille and found the problem: the woofer is torn: you know how the cone is formed of concentric circles? The outermost one is sort of a 'ridge' about a centimetre wide and about half a centimetre high. There are tears along the "seam" and elsewhere through the "ridge" making a kind of 'flap' that vibrates and buzzes when low frequencies are emitted: I was listening to some music at a reasonably low volume and it was still doing this.

So my NEW question is: how would I go about finding and purchasing a replacement woofer for that speaker? They are Cerwin-Vega speakers from about 18 years ago.

I get that I don't want ONE channel having a substantially different sound than the other, so I would be willing to replace the woofers in both cabinets (assuming a being able to handle a screwdriver and soldering iron is all that would be required).

I would rather not just junk the speakers for environmental reasons, so even though I could get replacement speakers I would rather repair the existing ones.

Any thoughts or help appreciated: especially if you know of specific Websites where I might find useful guides on this subject, and advice on any aspect of the speakers / cones that I must make note of in communicating on this matter (diameter? screw placement? voltage? speaker model number? take out the cone and look at the label on the back? etc.)

Thanks in advance!

[lorax1284]

C'mon... SOMEBODY has to have an idea: I'd even entertain the idea of a DIY project where I open my speakers and install a new cone / driver whatever they're called.

Perhaps y'all need more info before you can help me... what KIND of info do you need?

[tjayl]

What kind of budget are you working with? What are you powering them with?

It sounds like you are looking for bookshelf speakers. There's quite a few out there, ranging from consumer (Polk, Mission etc) to audiophile (B&W, Totem etc). There's also the middle ground.

I wish I could afford speakers in the audiophile range, but I tend to go with the middle range.

I've got Mordaunt Short Carnival 2's for 2 channel music listening.
They would work for home theater. For the price, these are amazing sounding. They would work for Home Theater.

I've also heard the Epos ELS3. They also sound amazing.

I've been itching to get these http://www.axiomaudio.com/m22.html for my theater, but what I've got is working fine, so no reason to upgrade. They are 50 cm tall, so should work for you. They get amazing reviews. Axiom is a Toronto based online retailer (they make them locally) and you can audition in your home for 30 days.

Keep in mind if you are matching them with an existing centre channel and rears, you might have non-matching timbre. That will mean surround sound pans won't be seamless due to the different characteristics of the speakers.

[lorax1284]

I'll start by saying thanks for this great reply


What kind of budget are you working with? What are you powering them with?

Well, $1200 for a pair of speakers is beyond my budget, but I think $300 - $600 is not out of bounds. The ones I have were purchased in 1992 (when I got my LaserDisc player!)


It sounds like you are looking for bookshelf speakers. There's quite a few out there, ranging from consumer (Polk, Mission etc) to audiophile (B&W, Totem etc). There's also the middle ground.

When I think bookshelf I think less than 1 foot tall, and since the speakers are basically only 3-6 inches off the ground, I think bookshelf speakers would be too small... that said, I've heard amazing sound out of small speakers, but I don't want them 'pointing' at the ceiling or propped up on something.


I wish I could afford speakers in the audiophile range, but I tend to go with the middle range.

I've got Mordaunt Short Carnival 2's for 2 channel music listening.
They would work for home theater. For the price, these are amazing sounding. They would work for Home Theater.

Is there a Toronto area dealer (preferrably on the Subway line) and could you give me a rough idea of the cost of a pair?


I've been itching to get these http://www.axiomaudio.com/m22.html for my theater, but what I've got is working fine, so no reason to upgrade. They are 50 cm tall, so should work for you. They get amazing reviews. Axiom is a Toronto based online retailer (they make them locally) and you can audition in your home for 30 days.

Well, they're certainly not outside my budget, especially if you factor in sales tax (which they say they don't charge in Canada) the price for comparison purposes is $475, or $238 each... compared to the prices I see for decent quality 'tower' speakers at FS/BB, they're a bargain... the customization options are interesting, too... those Axiom's being a Toronto area company is yet another reason to purchase them... support the local economy!

[tjayl]

I'll start by saying thanks for this great reply

When I think bookshelf I think less than 1 foot tall, and since the speakers are basically only 3-6 inches off the ground, I think bookshelf speakers would be too small... that said, I've heard amazing sound out of small speakers, but I don't want them 'pointing' at the ceiling or propped up on something.

Is there a Toronto area dealer (preferrably on the Subway line) and could you give me a rough idea of the cost of a pair?

Well, they're certainly not outside my budget, especially if you factor in sales tax (which they say they don't charge in Canada) the price for comparison purposes is $475, or $238 each... compared to the prices I see for decent quality 'tower' speakers at FS/BB, they're a bargain... the customization options are interesting, too... those Axiom's being a Toronto area company is yet another reason to purchase them... support the local economy!


If you are mounting them on a very low shelf, the first couple will be too small for sure. The Epos is a mini monitor (it's really tiny), and the Mordaunt Short is a standard small bookshelf. I haven't seen the Axiom to know what size it is (other than going off dimensions listed - but it's always easier to grasp when you see it). You did mean 50 cm max for a speaker correct? Not inches? All smaller speakers like that will be a little low when mounted on a low shelf. The tweeters are meant to be at ear height when seated. Of course this isn't always possible. Also, remember that a lot of this size speaker are rear ported, so if they are put into a small enclosed space (like an enclosed shelf) or are close to the wall, they will get a bit boomy.

I paid $300 for the Carnival 2 a couple years ago. That was from a boutique store in Ottawa (Planet of Sound). They've since gone up in price and are within the same range as the Epos. If they'd have been that close when I bought, I'd have got the Epos. I'm not sure who carries either line in Toronto unfortunately.

The only complaint I've ever heard about Axiom is that some people call them too detailed (or bright). Again, this varies depending on the reviewer. But with their 30 day test policy, you do get a chance to audition them. I almost need to quit reading threads like this, because it gets me wanting new speakers!

[lorax1284]

The only complaint I've ever heard about Axiom is that some people call them too detailed (or bright). Again, this varies depending on the reviewer. But with their 30 day test policy, you do get a chance to audition them. I almost need to quit reading threads like this, because it gets me wanting new speakers!

Again, all great advice: one thing I haven't even tried was to open up the speaker cabinet and see if something has just rattled loose, or if the cone itself is actually damaged: if it's something I can fix, I'll do so, as I am working 2 jobs right now and have little time to enjoy my home theatre anyway, and one of those jobs doesn't pay (yet) so I have to watch my spending (well, a little anyway)

Those Axioms are about right, I think, if I can't manage to fix my bad one.

Thanks again!

[lorax1284]

I'm keen on these Axioms, but I have changed the first post to ask about replacing the torn woofer in my cabinets (not just for the cost-effectiveness, but so as not to have to "throw out" my old speakers: all that is needed is the woofer (or to replace the woofers on both channels)

Any advice would be appreciated.