Bonzo Posted September 6, 2008 Share Posted September 6, 2008 I just picked up a mint pair of KLF-30's from a fellow member. They have been in the boxes since they were new, at least that is what the "Good Guys" told the buyer when he purchased them. One speaker works pefectly. Both woffers on the other speaker have issues. It sounds like both voice coils are rubbing and they are making very distorted sounds. The tweeter is also not functioning. Oh, they have consecutive serial numbers. Any clue how this could have happened to one speaker and not the other? They both appear to be in identical physical conditon and are as new in appearance. Does anyone know if the binding posts on this model had caps covering the holes that accept bananna plugs? If so, they are missing which may be a clue, provided they came with them in the first place. I am wondering if they were maybe dealer demos or??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoubleJ Posted September 6, 2008 Share Posted September 6, 2008 Bonzo: I just checked my KLF-30's and they do not have caps, but they have inserts in all the binding posts. As for the woofer issues, the only thing I can suggest is to make sure nothing has come loose. Is there any indication that something is rolling around in or against the cabinet? JJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonzo Posted September 6, 2008 Author Share Posted September 6, 2008 Hi DoubleJ, Nothing rolling around inside. I'm certain it's the voice coils. I can hear them rubbing when the cone is pushed in and out. Would the inserts prevent a bananna jack from being plugged into the binding posts unless the inserts were removed? Thanks, Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoubleJ Posted September 6, 2008 Share Posted September 6, 2008 Mark: Yes. You would have to remove the rubber inserts in order to utilize banana plugs. I tried pulling one out with just my fingers and they are in pretty tight so it would take a lot to have them just fall out. Just for the record, all my RF-3 series (RS-3, RC-3, and RF-3's) have a hard plastic cap covering the binding posts instead of the rubber inserts the KLF 30's have. Hopefully someone else will chime in regarding the woofers, but the audible sound of rubbing voice coils pretty much rules out a lot of potential problems. JJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonzo Posted September 6, 2008 Author Share Posted September 6, 2008 The rubber inserts are missing so I'm thinking someone has used them unless the factory neglected to put them in. I don't think that is too likely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerwoodKhorns Posted September 7, 2008 Share Posted September 7, 2008 Bonzo, If it is just the voice coils rubbing and no other problem you can fix these by re-foaming the speakers, which you already know because you are a JBL fan. Sounds liek its time to get out a screwdriver and take the bad one apart. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonzo Posted September 7, 2008 Author Share Posted September 7, 2008 Hi Chris, This particular driver has rubber surrounds. I have been told by a very reliable source that there is no re-cone kit available. Klipsch does still use this woofer in the Jubilee so I should be able to get a replacement. One of the reasons I'm going away from older JBL's is that damn foam! To have them fixed correctly, they should be sent to an authorized JBL tech. When you consider packing and shipping costs, it can get very expensive. Also, the vintage JBL parts are getting harder and harder to find. If I need a diaphragm or part for a Klipsch speaker, I just give BEC a yell. All that said, I am keeping my L100's for the garage and my trusty L1's for the shop. They aint' pretty but they sure sound good. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted September 7, 2008 Share Posted September 7, 2008 All that said, I am keeping my L100's for the garage and my trusty L1's for the shop. They aint' pretty but they sure sound good. [Y] I still love my JBLs, and have an upgrade or two in mind for my 4311s. I think that the caps on the banana plugs was to prevent someone in certain foreign countries plugging then into the wall with 250 volts going to them. Even though it would be the reverse, people do strange things. Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colterphoto1 Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 If the push test gives a scraping sound, they're toast unfortunately. The final test would be to run a frequency sweep over them, this will isolate the frequency(s) that they rattle at, confirming burnt voice coils. Call Klipsch Parts, replacements for bona fide Klipsch owners are available. Recone not an option. If you bought these as NIB, you could have an issue to bring up to the seller. Mssr Marvel is quite correct about the banana jack plugs. We would not want 220V a/c run through our Klipsch would we? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TNRabbit Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 It sounds like you got screwed. I'd go back to this guy; voice coilsrubbing is usually caused by overexcursion or some type of physicaldamage to the cone itself, neither of which would happen if they were"in the original boxes never used".... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colterphoto1 Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 Were these shipped to you? Sometimes if a speaker carton takes a very hard direct jolt (unloaded hard from truck onto ground), the carton and cabinet may be undamaged. However the interior of a speaker can suffer magnet shifts (seizing the vc), horns snapped off, woofer baskets distorted. Examine a woofer closely does it appear as though there is some kind of shock damage to it? If so, and it was shipped, shipper dropped the box causing damage not apparent during initial inspection to the consignee (you). yes, if the plastic banana jack plugs were missing, I'd bet that someone plugged them in. Are you seeing red yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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