Maintenance Tips
I've been meaning to add this for a while as I'm often asked questions about the subject. So here's a few tips -
I've been meaning to add this for a while as I'm often asked questions about the subject. So here's a few tips -
- Best tip - " If you're not sure then don't do it without asking for advice first"
- Always handle your speakers gently, corners and edges are vulnerable to knocks, especially the aerolam cabinets.
- Don't use the rear speaker terminals to pick up the speakers, they can snap off.
- Keep the grilles clean with a clothes brush, use on both sides.
- If the cloth is coming away from the frame catch it early with a dab of UHU glue.
- Clean the bass units, front plates and tweeters with a 1" flat paintbrush.
- The plates can be washed in warm soapy water if they need it. Not with the tweeter attached though!
- Black cabinets can benefit from a clean using a furniture polish. I use Mr Sheen hard surface spray.
- Unvarnished wood veneer cabinets, especially with cup rings on top, can be brought back to life with HG Meubeline wood restorer. I also use beeswax polish.
- Check the tightness of the front plates and units occasionally, you need a 3/32" allen key for the tweeter bolts a 4mm allen key for the front plates and a 3mm allen key for the bass units with lugs. I use the screwdriver type as it's harder to overtighten the bolts. But 4mm is the standard IKEA key so you'll probably have one of those!
- Check the crossovers every few years as the components can work loose as the glue which holds them in place deteriorates over the years. I use a hot melt glue gun to refix them and resolder them if they've worked loose.
- If you buy a capacitance meter then you can also check that the capacitors are still within spec. they're not too expensive these days.
- Replacing the capacitors can make a big difference, component technology has moved on the the last thrity or fourty years.
- Check your stands and keep the spikes or studs tight. I have dismantled a speaker which had developed a rattle, scratching my head as to what caused it until I tightened a bolt on a spike!
- If using top spikes or studs on aerolam cabinets then use a protective disc to stop them damaging the cabinet.
- If your two piece bass unit starts to split badly then fix it or replace it, continued use can destroy the coil and potentially other parts of your system.
- Always turn off the power before unplugging speakers; amps can be expensive.
- Use quality plugs, metal covered in a non conductive sheath are best. Take them out and plug them in every so often to keep a good contact, gold plated plugs tarnish less.
- By all means play your music as loud as you like, I'm not your neighbour, but if it doesn't sound good then it's too loud and something will fail eventually. A good system is not tiring to listen to at volume.
- If you can bi-amp then do so, it's a simple upgrade and one of the most cost effective.
- Use good quality interconnects and speaker cable which suits your taste, try a few options. But there's no need to spend a lot of money on exotic cables, the law of diminishing returns always applies to cables.
- All the tools you need, allen keys, soldering iron, meters etc. are available from me or your local DiY or hardware shop. But there is eBay. Standard eBay rule applies - If it's too cheap then it's probably not a bargain!