Blog, Speaker Repair Info, Speaker Repair Results

Ohm F Speaker Repairs

Posted on by Cathy
OHM F cone, Speaker Exchange, speakerex
25
Jun

 

Ohm F speaker repairs fall into the Specialty Catagory. These repairs require quite alot more time (and patience) than a standard refoam or recoil.

How We Repair: We are able to replace the 12″ foam surround on the outside edge of the cone, and we replace the foam on the inside narrow end of the cone  throat with felt. If you want to DIY refoam these speakers, the kit we use is the RFK128 JBL (alternate options are RFK12 JBL2214 or RFK12 Angle), but be prepared to  dedicate some time to accomplish this repair.

We can also replace the voice coil. In order to replace the voice coil, we must also replace the spider and surround (how to identify speaker parts), but we must reuse the original  cone body. This repair can only be successful if the cone body is not dented or damaged and can take a few hours to a few days. The installation of the new spider can require that we center the voice coil without shims which can require multiple attempts as corrections are made. The original Ohm F voice coils were 4 ohms and flat wound and we now replace with the same type of voice coil. Again, I stress, to complete either  repair, the remaining original cone must be in good condition and cannot be dented or damaged.

Click here for Pricing and more Info. Our turnaround time for most standard repairs is 2-5 days, but the turnaround for these speakers can be 1-3 weeks.  For more info and pricing.

Sending the speakers: When packaging these speakers, it is best to keep them mounted on the wooden base. Do not wrap anything around the cone or struts. They  are both easily damaged. We suggest packaging the speakers in a tight fitting carton,  cushioning the box with bubble wrap or foam (no shipping peanuts) and then  double boxing. Insure well! 

Cathy

Cathy grew up in NY, moved to Florida in 1975 and graduated from the University of South Florida, with a degree in broadcasting. She and her husband Glenn started The Speaker Exchange in 1977. (Glenn later moved into Audio/Video sales and installations). In 1979, Cathy went to California for JBL speaker repair training and later received advanced training from Frank Spain, the then head of the Electro-Voice service department. She has continued to advance her audio education through many CES, NAMM, and CEDIA trade show classes.

2 thoughts on “Ohm F Speaker Repairs”

  1. Rick Lipinskas says:

    I have a 40-year-old pair of Ohm F’s. I had the foam surrounds replaced 10 years ago. That repair has help up well. The foam damping on the inside of the cone is decaying. The sound has become very exaggerated in the midrange. Can you tell me more about how you repair this? Specifically, how do you remove the black goo that the original foam has turned into? Why do you use felt instead of new foam rubber for the repair? What thickness is the felt? Does it cover the same area as the original damping material? How is it attached? How do the repaired speakers sound?

    • Cathy says:

      Thanks for the interest in our service.
      To start off, I have been repairing Ohm F speakers for the 40 years they have been in circulation and a lot of my info is from experience and from original ohm F drawings and templates. Many of our techniques are proprietary and have been developed over the many years of repair. I use felt to replace the rotting foam. I found it easier to manage and to voice the speaker. It won’t dry rot again. It is permanent.
      On your particular problem you might consider replacing the spider and voice coil if they are original. This can often be another problem.

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