Hello all, returning with an update on my 3.5 mids. I received them back from Tom this week and was able to do an A/B test with the original mids, rebuilt by Rob, and the
Scanspeak 12W/8524G00 speaker, which has been floating around on the web as a suitable replacement for the original Scanspeak mids. The replacements were in my 3.5's when I bought them, I was able to score the mids from a fellow Audiogon contributor and had Rob rebuild them. Anyway, I wasn't expecting much of a difference, if all, simply because I don't consider my ear terribly critical. I replaced on of the mids, put my preamp on mono, and played some ZZ Top (I am originally from Texas, so....) and did a close up comparison as well as sitting position in my listening room. I was surprised at the difference! The original Scanspeak obviously worked better with the crossover, the difference being that the rebuilt original was much clearer and articulate, where the replacement was subdued sounding. So what I thought was an excellent listening experience before the replacement has turned into an exceptional one. I kid you not. So I would say this particular Scanspeak (
Scanspeak 12W/8524G00) is not a good match for the original. I think Rob is recommending another one, and Tom may have something to say soon as well.
Amplifier update, my last post was lamenting on the binding posts on my Yamaha M85 and Denon POA 1500. I replaced the posts on the Denon to 5 way, and sold the Yamaha and bought a Denon POA 2200, which I now need to replace its binding posts as it used the exact same one as the Yamaha. My only comment on replacing the bindings is I was scratching my head on what to use to replace the strip of metal between the old posts and the PCB. Then I remembered I had some romex wire from my basement finish work, so I stripped sections of the solid copper wire and used it. Worked perfectly.
