New speaker project - Goodmans Magisters
I'm very happy with my 1st system speakers (Goodmans Goodwoods, reworked by RFC Paul), but couldn't resist making a play for these, as a possible project...
Probably not those exact Goodmans Magisters (were those Alan's...?), but exactly like those.
Looking forward to seeing how the big (15 inch @-) 
woofers perform, when I pick them up on Friday.
woofers perform, when I pick them up on Friday.Will start with a basic installing of some new binding posts and rewire to crossover.
Not so where to go after that... Try to rebuild the crossover (like for like)...? Try to installing some new tweeters (possibly the same Monacor ones that Paul fitted in my Goodmans)...? Who knows. No idea what I'm going to do with them ultimately, or where they might live...
Comments
I like it.
I can't stop my brain equating Goodmans with the 1970s BBC of my childhood home (quality, elitist, aspirational, middle class) and Wharfdale with with ITV (populist, base, look-down-onable). ;-)
Re my speakers, I do see my Wharfdalea as a bit more plasticy / flimsy / brash than my Goodmans. I'm polarising to make a point there, but there is a sense of difference between the two (i think).
Now get back to your Jeremy Kyle filled PVR, David... ;-)
I'm sure the Wharfedales retailed for much less than the Goodmans, and probably came from a decade or two later. So I'm sure they are flimsier.
And less about my PVR proclivities!
To concur, the Goodmans I have seem and sound more substantial and "quality" than the Whardales I've had. I don't know their exact respective release dates, tho as you suggest, the Glendales look more recent than the Goodwoods. Possibly late v early 70s...?
I have some Goodman's RB20 that may be more contemporaries of the Glendales. The Whsrfdale Shelton's I have are especially weak. Leant then to a friend who (surprisingly) is very happy with them. Oddly he uses them with a Musical Fidelity A3.2 amp. £1k monster integrated from the 2000s meets £20 charity shop 1970s speakers... :-/
Yes indeed! A nice little drive down to the south coast this morning...
Basically they're about the size of a washing machine. Hilarious how they dwarf the Goodwoods. :-D
First thing was to stick in a temporary tweeter replacement on the left channel. I pinched one form an RB20 from my loft collectiojn...
With all 6 drivers working, they sound huge. Exactly what I like in that respect. Being only 5' 6.5" myself, I usually play down the "size matters" truism in all things but speakers. Love big boys like this, I do. The bass on the Magisters is pretty effortless and deep, but it is the overall scale that is really addictive. Utterly engaging.
They are no where near as polished, balanced or smooth as the RFC - Goodwoods, but they do sound gorgeous.
I'm about to fit some proper binding posts.
Also, the only significant fly in the ointment is that the trebble is a little brash. In the hope of smoothing things in the upper registers I've ordered a pair of new Monacor ones. Hopefully they'll bed-in OK. We'll see how that goes.
I may also tackle a bit of a crossover rebuild at some point. I'll need some guidance with that...(caps and stuff...?) I'll get some piccies of the existing ones when I get out the monster 15 inch drivers to fit the binding posts...
...Binding posts sorted, so I can use my usual speaker cable direct to the speakers now.
Also, I took out all the foam (about 4 inch thick, against all the internal walls). Sounds better with none of it in than it does with all of it in, but may be worth experimenting with some of it in.
Loving the photo of the poor wee RB20 that has been organ harvested then cast aside there! And the image of your lift collection.
Let us know how the Monacors work out.
Btw, 5' 6.5"..... You didn't really think I'd let you get away with that did you???
And yes, I'd hope you'd let me get away with the truth.
;-)
Been addressing an issue with the doping around the dust cap on one of the woofers today. This happens on a lot of 70s Goodmans. At first glance it appears that excess doping must have pooled around in the centre of the speaker cone when the doping was first applied, but actually what's happened is that over the years the doping pulls away from the speaker cone towards its centre and with it, lifts the dust cap.
I've just (very carefully) cut out the lifted doping with a Stanley knife, and then used PVA to stick down the dust cap and dope the the cone where the old lifted doping has been surgically removed.
The PVA dries clear.
(The large wine glass acts as a paper weight while the glue is setting.)
You're pretty experienced at addressing these doping issues now I reckon. I can't work out when you say...
"At first glance it appears that excess doping must have pooled around in the centre of the speaker cone when the doping was first applied, but actually what's happened is that over the years the doping pulls away from the speaker cone towards its centre and with it, lifts the dust cap"
....if this is something you knew from past experience, or worked out on this project.
I have to admit that your adventures in speaker refurbishment is inspiring. Tho I think I'd start on a pair that I could actually fit into my house!!
I suppose what I'm really saying is that "at my first glance it appeared to me..."... :-D
The doping is some sort of thick liquid that was painted on to the drivers in the factory (40 or more years ago).
I imagined the person who did the painting to have applied lashings of the stuff. Really slopping it on (quite often the metal surround of the driver is splattered with it).
Here is a reasonably recent picture of a pair of Goodwoods (not mine) where the bass drivers have been doped...
You see around the dust caps that the doping looks a bit different... It has a surface which is "flat", not sloping in sympathy with the surface of the driver underneath.
My misconception was that This was due to an excess of doping being painted on back in the day, and that the excess had run down into the centre of the speaker where it had collected in a little pool.
I was wrong.
What has actually happened is that over the years the (dried) doping has (for some reason) lifted away from the surface of the driver (and taken the dustcap up with it). Hence there is a small gap in between the driver and the lifted layer of doping. The doping over the rest of the surface of the driver is fine.
It only occurred to me yesterday. Probably because the lifted doping in the centre of one of my Magister bass drivers was only lifted on one side of the dust-cap, giving a lie to the "pool of excess doping" myth in my brain.
Tho odd how the Maggies are so charming despite some lack of top end sweetness.
(I'm relieved to read that Allan's lusty needs were not met for free.)
Cabinet dumping.
Two things I suppose: a shrewd businessman, and a sensitive lover.
Get a few proofs printed with the adjectives switched. Have a look and see which you prefer.
Still in Meldrew mode!
(I've been doing some readin'. :-) )
It looks a nice simple set up so beyond simply refreshing the capacitors I'd leave well alone. If the driver ends of the wiring are push on tabs (spades) you could substitute at least the binding post to xover and bass wires with whatever speaker cable you're using. If soldered I'd be worried of frazzling the fragile connecting wires to the driver.
Which caps would you recommend?
I can see the big blue one has "10uF" on it and "150v", but other stuff too.
Also, what are the red ones...? I can see the number "20" on it, but I don't what that refers to.
The wires to the drivers are soldered both ends. I soldered in the temporary tweeter, and I also had to disconnect (and then re-solder) the bass units to get at crossovers.
I connected the new binding posts to the crossover using the left-overs of some cable that Colin kindly gave to me when I was building his kit amp. I soldered this to the binding posts and to the crossover. Luckily, I managed to avoid fragile wire frazzling. (Perhaps thankfully, I hadn't considered that to be a potential problem :-/ ).
I'd be happy to rewire from crossover to drivers. Though I'd have to buy some cable as I've pretty much run out of the stuff that Colin gave me, and my speaker cable is TQ UB, and I won't be forking out for more of that.
Any suggestions for good quality wiring for the crossover > driver wiring...?
Thankfully, I think that the Magisters are more simple 1st order ones.
It was obvious from the moment I opened up the cabinet that those 43 year old fingers were knackered.
I've got some new ones on order from Maplin.