LAB Series 3

I picked up a pair of LAB Series 3 speakers on spec this weekend. I know nothing about these monsters but I did note the Philips dome mid range and tweeter. The cabinets looked like real wood veneer and the big 12 inch woofers need to be re foamed. On the inside the crossover indicates that they were built in Vancouver with an address and phone number on the circuit board. 1835 West 4th Ave.

From what I have read on the internet, the Philips dome mid range was a copy of the famous Braun mid range. 

Someone along the line also pushed the mid range domes in, it was an easy fix to disassemble the mid range and push the domes back out.

The speakers also came with a NAD 712 receiver with the typical burnt out LED display and back plate bulb. I will probably not put the effort into the repair of the receiver. The NAD is now playing duty in the living room in place of a Yamaha R-5 receiver. Powering the Celestion C-6 speakers I recently refurbished. The sound is very nice with this combo.

Dual CL390 Speakers

I came across a pair of Dual CL390 speakers awhile back at a thrift store. Once I took the covers off and saw the large dome midrange I knew that these speakers are from the same lineage as A/D/S and Braun.

The Dual CL390 had the original metal screens over the drivers in typical German industrial design. Those had to go. This is a file photo as I was not going to put screens back on for a photo op.

I had to replace the crappy DIN connectors with proper 5 way binding posts.

A few things about these speakers, they are butt ugly and have a terrible industrial vinyl veneer and terrible covers. But they sound incredible, the dome midrange reveals music passages that I have not heard before.
These CL390 speakers set an image and sound stage that is fantastic. The acoustic suspension ensures that the bass is nice and tight, the midrange dome adds the presence and sound stage while the tweeter is crisp.

These were definitely a awesome score at the thrift store.

Very little information can be found on these speakers and most searches come up with German websites.
From what I take they are very similar to the Braun L730 and L830 or the A/D/S 880. The A/D/S did not have L pads but the Braun's did.

BTW if you need to find an extensive data base on Braun and A/D/S/ speakers follow this link.

JBL L60T refinished

Finally a nice day to refinish the cabinets on the JBL L60's, since I had all the stuff out I also re-finished the Audio Spec Perseus cabinets also.

I used 220 grit sand paper and sanded in the same direction as the wood grain. Then I used fine steel wool.

There is some UV fading on the JBL cabinets that I did not want to sand to deep to get out. I can live with it.

I used Min Wax natural stain.

I recapped the crossover and took out the 6uf electrolytic capacitor and replaced it with a poly film cap.
It has calmed the tweeter down and still needs a few hours to fully burn in.

The last thing I need to do is put the cosmetic ring back around the woofer on the JBL's

The JBL L60's have the signature JBL sound with deep tight bass and the titanium tweeter has nice clear highs. It sounds like the loudness button is on with these speakers.

I have read that they lack mid range presence and I would have to agree that they are not forward in the mid range. I would not fault these beautiful speakers for that as they have nice warm bass and a good sound stage. I will keep these in the line up for some time to come.

JBL L60 crossover work

Tannoy C-6 update

The Tannoy C-6 are back to original condition today after I re foamed the woofers. This job was pretty easy to do.

Update: one flex lead going into the voice coil gave up today so the doner woofers are back in.

All fixed again

 

Tannoy C-6

I scored a pair of Tannoy C-6 speakers today at a local thrift store that had rotted surrounds.

These little guys were made by API and sport the Vifa TD19 tweeters.

I have a pair of spare set of 6 1/2 inch woofers that came in these EPI C70 that I also scored at the same thrift store. The woofers from the EPI were replacements and for the EPI the throw of the woofer was insufficient for adequate bass response.

Since the Tannoy is ported i figured these woofers would work better for this speaker than the EPI.

I have hooked them up and they image quite nice but lack bass response for my big room.

 

JBL L60t project update

I finally got the JBL L60t woofers refoamed. I also mixed up a bit of saw dust and glue to patch the veneer.

I got everything reassembled to have a test listen. I still need to sand and oil the cabinets and replace the capacitor to a film cap.

So far the sound is not bad. I had one tweeter in to repair the tinsel leads to the voice coil. Right now I hear a bit of resonance at certain frequencies and I may need to get the repair shop to do a sound sweep again and sort the problem out.

Once the weather is nicer I will do the JBL and Audio Spec cabinets in the same day.

  I need to sand this spot and add another round of filler.

JBL L60t in the mix with the Audio Spec Perseus and the Advent/EPI

Audio Spec Perseus

Ages ago I found this pair of Audio Spec Perseus at a local Sally Anne. Once I saw the Audax woofer and tweeter I knew that these can be little gems.

The have a beautiful real walnut veneer and weigh at least 20 Lbs each. There is craftsmen like construction of the boxes. Even heavy tar was stapled to the tops and bottoms to deaden the cabinet.

They are not the most efficient speakers I own and the large room they are in do not do them justice, they are best suited for my office.

A friend of mine has a pair of these also and he said they were sold out of Bay Bloor Audio in Toronto and retailed for $1000 way back, I would guess early 80'.

Not much information can be found online about these speakers.

When the weather gets nicer I will sand and oil the cabinets to bring back the beauty of the veneer.