Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: I_want_an_Omega on 14 September 2012, 19:44:20

Title: Prize speakers dead ...........
Post by: I_want_an_Omega on 14 September 2012, 19:44:20
I'm upset. My prize 1980's Gale GS302 speakers are dead. I haven't used them for a few months due to re-decorating, but when I fired them up today they sounded BAD. Took the fronts off to find that the rubber/foam around bass drivers had started to dissolve. Seems that speakers of this age are prone to this problem.

The good news is that the bass drivers are still available at a reasonable cost. The bad news is that they are also fitted with a 2nd "dummy" bass driver which is bespoke and not available.

So, I'm after either after an expensive bespoke repair or some new (to me) speakers. I've pressed an old pair of my Dads into service as a stopgap. Grrrrrrrrrr
Title: Re: Prize speakers dead ...........
Post by: tigers_gonads on 14 September 2012, 19:51:34
I swear by Mission speakers rob  :y

And pretty much everything else they make tbh  :)

Currently running .............

A pair of 1984 Mission 70 mk2's (for rear surround)
A pair of early 90's 760's (doing the same job at the front)
2 75c's for front and rear centre

And a very nice pair of 734's for music   :-*

What amp are you using ?
As i'm sure you know everything sounds different depending on the source and whats driving them  :)
Title: Re: Prize speakers dead ...........
Post by: Kevin Wood on 14 September 2012, 20:12:48
It might be worth investigating getting the drive units refurbished.
Title: Re: Prize speakers dead ...........
Post by: Dishevelled Den on 14 September 2012, 20:22:21
Still using my DM2A's through the Quad 44/405 and FM3 tuner to listen to the Third programme every day. :-* :-* :y
Title: Re: Prize speakers dead ...........
Post by: I_want_an_Omega on 14 September 2012, 21:00:15
Ah a Quad 405  :y. I bought a 405 Mk2 new in 1981 ....... Wish I'd kept it now. A mate of mine @ the BBC used make copies for a few quid - probably as good but looked very home made.

My amp is a Yamaha AZ2 digital jobbie - only really use it for home theatre purposes TBH. A Bose VCS10 centre speaker and a couple of Bose 501s for rear. I did have a nice Yamaha 800 watt subwoofer - until #1 son decided to use it as a bass guitar amp one day when I was out. BANG  >:( He likes loud noises as I'm sure some of you know what I mean - yes, that son  ::)

Most of the listening gets done in the kitchen TBH - a mini TEAC DAB system which sounds great, and is my daily fix of Radios 4 & 6. All our CD music is on a Brennan JB7.

The speakers I'm using instead of the Gales are a pair of old Dynaco A10s from 1973. They were my Dads but he gave me them when he was having a clearout a few years ago. I was using them in my den with an old Armstrong 625 tuner amp until the shock of today.

New, or even fixed speakers will have to go on the ever extending list of things to do when I get myself sorted  8)

I got the new Joe Walsh album a few months back - "Analog Man" - the lyrics of track 1 summarise me perfectly:


Welcome to cyberspace, I'm lost in the fog
Everything's digital I'm still analog
When something goes wrong
I don't have a clue
Some 10-year-old smart ass has to show me what to do
Sign on with high speed you don't have to wait
Sit there for days and vegetate
I access my email, read all my spam, I'm an analog man.


The whole world's living in a digital dream
It's not really there
It's all on the screen
Makes me forget who I am
I'm an analog man


Yeah I'm an analog man in a digital world
I'm gonna get me an analog girl
Who loves me for what I am
I'm an analog man


What's wrong with vinyl, I think it sounds great
LPs, 45s, 78s but that's just the way I am
I'm an analog man


Turn on the tube, watch until dawn
One hundred channels, nothing is on
Endless commercials, endless commercials, endless commercials


The whole world's glued to the cable TV
It looks so real on the big LCD
Murder and violence are rated PG, too bad for the children
They are what they see


The whole world's living in a digital dream
It's not really there
It's all on the screen
Makes me forget who I am
I'm an analog man


Yeah I'm an analog man in a digital world
I'm gonna get me an analog girl
Who loves me for what I am
I'm an analog man


Yeah I'm an analog man in a digital world

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Prize speakers dead ...........
Post by: albitz on 14 September 2012, 21:06:04
Been meaning to get that album.Youve just remimded me. ;)
Title: Re: Prize speakers dead ...........
Post by: tigers_gonads on 14 September 2012, 21:17:12
My surround / tuner is an old yammy 5640 6.1 for radio / tv / dvd's.

The 734's are sourced by a mission pcm7000 (1987 ish) and 90's Pioneer minidisc player.
The music amps a cyrus 2 with Audioquest Turquoise leads  :-* :-*

Those AZ2's are a pretty good amp rob.  I'm on my third Yamaha amp.

Picked my 734's up off ebay for 120 quid a few years ago so its worth keeping a eye open on there  :y
Title: Re: Prize speakers dead ...........
Post by: I_want_an_Omega on 14 September 2012, 21:28:22
I'm actually on my 4th Yammy amp. I had an A1, then an AX2 and then the AZ2. No real reason for change other than doing deals which seemed a good idea at the time.  The 4th one is a receiver to replace the Teac unit once I get a DAB tuner sorted to go with it.

I was passing Audio T in High Wycombe some years ago and saw that they had a mint used AX2 for sale for £250. They agreed to give me £150 for my old A1. Then sold the AX2 for £450 a year later on ebay and immediately purchased the AZ2 for £250. So, all in all I've actually been paid to own Yamaha kit.   ;D

I had a Cyrus 2 as well once - bought it with the Gales actually and am sure I sold it for more than I paid for it.
Title: Re: Prize speakers dead ...........
Post by: Kevin Wood on 14 September 2012, 21:39:28
This thread needs some bottles.  :P

(https://dl.dropbox.com/u/26795734/Valve%20Amplifier/IMGP5757.JPG)
Title: Re: Prize speakers dead ...........
Post by: I_want_an_Omega on 14 September 2012, 21:49:48
This thread needs some bottles.  :P


Yours ?
Title: Re: Prize speakers dead ...........
Post by: Nickbat on 14 September 2012, 21:50:53
I'm quite pleased with my bog standard 9IN CH unit, which is wired to my twin G0 NADs. I reckon it performs well, especially when synchronised with a pair of Forty-4 IN B 00B units.  :y
Title: Re: Prize speakers dead ...........
Post by: tigers_gonads on 14 September 2012, 22:03:55
I'm quite pleased with my bog standard 9IN CH unit, which is wired to my twin G0 NADs. I reckon it performs well, especially when synchronised with a pair of Forty-4 IN B 00B units.  :y

Pml   ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Prize speakers dead ...........
Post by: tigers_gonads on 14 September 2012, 22:04:58
This thread needs some bottles.  :P

(https://dl.dropbox.com/u/26795734/Valve%20Amplifier/IMGP5757.JPG)



ooooh you are a sexy beast  :-* :-* :-*
Title: Re: Prize speakers dead ...........
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 14 September 2012, 22:08:25
Distortion city!  ;D

The dummy subs wil be 'passiv radiators', very vouge in the 80's
Title: Re: Prize speakers dead ...........
Post by: I_want_an_Omega on 14 September 2012, 22:19:37
Distortion city!  ;D

The dummy subs wil be 'passiv radiators', very vouge in the 80's

The guy @ Wilsmlow audio (actually in Leicester  ::) ) described them as aux bass radiators - which is essentially the same as passive 
Title: Re: Prize speakers dead ...........
Post by: Dishevelled Den on 14 September 2012, 22:33:09
This thread needs some bottles.  :P

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/26795734/Valve%20Amplifier/IMGP5757.JPG

Aah - the soft glow and warm sound of tubes, so redolent of the days of single party government, Fleet Street, the Third programme and the Home Service, two channel quality television, - well one channel since it would have been difficult to justify the epithet upon ITV - a proper civil service staffed by educated people and the satisfaction of living in a sovereign nation unsullied by the avarice of unelected bureaucrats from far off lands.

Happy days indeed. :-* :-*
Title: Re: Prize speakers dead ...........
Post by: Nickbat on 14 September 2012, 22:41:32
This thread needs some bottles.  :P

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/26795734/Valve%20Amplifier/IMGP5757.JPG

Aah - the soft glow and warm sound of tubes, so redolent of the days of single party government, Fleet Street, the Third programme and the Home Service, two channel quality television, - well one channel since it would have been difficult to justify the epithet upon ITV - a proper civil service staffed by educated people and the satisfaction of living in a sovereign nation unsullied by the avarice of unelected bureaucrats from far off lands.

Happy days indeed. :-* :-*

Not to mention the nightly Horlicks. ;)
Title: Re: Prize speakers dead ...........
Post by: cleggy on 14 September 2012, 22:44:51
Rob,

I've got a pair of Gales in the garage you can have, don't know the model number will look tomorrow :y

Dave
Title: Re: Prize speakers dead ...........
Post by: Dishevelled Den on 14 September 2012, 22:54:59
This thread needs some bottles.  :P

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/26795734/Valve%20Amplifier/IMGP5757.JPG

Aah - the soft glow and warm sound of tubes, so redolent of the days of single party government, Fleet Street, the Third programme and the Home Service, two channel quality television, - well one channel since it would have been difficult to justify the epithet upon ITV - a proper civil service staffed by educated people and the satisfaction of living in a sovereign nation unsullied by the avarice of unelected bureaucrats from far off lands.

Happy days indeed. :-* :-*

Not to mention the nightly Horlicks. ;)

Quite so, before retiring to a bedroom devoid of a television or computer to dream of one’s exploits that day and other great things all within in the fold of what was always expected to be this great nation- solid, reliable and unshakable.
Title: Re: Prize speakers dead ...........
Post by: I_want_an_Omega on 14 September 2012, 22:59:16
Rob,

I've got a pair of Gales in the garage you can have, don't know the model number will look tomorrow :y

Dave

Thanks Dave - I'll keep my fingers crossed. The Gale name was taken over by Richers at some point in history - with my speakers being from the old camp. If the fronts come off then check to see that they haven't suffered the same fate as mine did ..........  :'(
Title: Re: Prize speakers dead ...........
Post by: cleggy on 15 September 2012, 09:12:43
Rob,

The speakers are Gale 3030, and yes I think they did come from Richer Sounds.

Floor standing, with grounding spikes, up to 100 Watt amp. with a 4.8 ohm impedance.

The rubbers look fine to me. :y

I now use a Bose dock for an Ipod downstairs and a small pair of B & O shelf speakers in the office, gosh they are heavy for the size!!
Title: Re: Prize speakers dead ...........
Post by: I_want_an_Omega on 15 September 2012, 09:28:25
Rob,

The speakers are Gale 3030, and yes I think they did come from Richer Sounds.

Floor standing, with grounding spikes, up to 100 Watt amp. with a 4.8 ohm impedance.

The rubbers look fine to me. :y

I now use a Bose dock for an Ipod downstairs and a small pair of B & O shelf speakers in the office, gosh they are heavy for the size!!

PM sent  :y
Title: Re: Prize speakers dead ...........
Post by: D on 15 September 2012, 12:23:39
Have a look around. There are quite a few outfits who refurb drive units. For e.g.:

http://www.wembleyloudspeaker.com (http://www.wembleyloudspeaker.com)

No personal experience, but others have reported good results.