Speaker Horn/Tweeter Problem

[jacqui01]

It's seems to be my year for speaker problems.
Two weeks ago, with 30 minutes to go on a Gig,I noticed a strange sound coming from one of the Speakers, sounded like Bacon Frying, when I got home and tested it, it appeared to be the Horn /Tweeter making this noise, a friend went to a shop near him and they said they could not get this particular make- Foxtex FH300 Horn Tweeter-8Q- cont 120w but had another better type of 200w, which would sound much Superior to what I already had, but I would need to replace both speaker horns to get an equal sound.

After bringing the parts over and fitting the first one in the faulty speaker, I decided to try it first and compare the sound, the first thing I noticed was that I was having to turn the sound up far more than normal, then when I changed leads from the speaker with the new horn to the, other speaker the sound was just rubbish, nothing like the old one at all, no clarity, and a really dull sound.
This was enough to decide that these were not going to be Superior by a long shot and would have to go back to the shop.

The shop still claim that they can not get the make I already have, but do have another BETTER type I could try, but I think they just want a sale, I felt I may as well try and find the same model I already have, if the sound is already proven to be good.

Well that not been an easy task, turns out the company no longer make this Speaker or supply any parts, they gave me two numbers for company's in UK that may keep them in stock, with no luck, and in turn they gave me numbers in Germany and France, after numerous emails to various company's on the Continent, I'm still searching, without success.
What I'm not sure off, is when it comes to spec, does this need to be the same as I already had exactly, eg: Watt and Imp to be compatible, or is higher better? how would I know what other make if I can't get what I already have should sound equal to what I had, is there a major difference between various types of Horn/Tweeter
The Speakers are Studiomaster KMX Vision 12, 350 watt, 4 ohm.
Any advise much appreciated. Thanks Jacqui

[levi2]

have you tried a google for the fostex homepage they would be best to get advice might still have some of the horns your after

www.fostexinternational.com/

[jacqui01]

Yes I did try them, they dont't do them in the UK, they said to contact their european partners listed on the site in Germany and France, but they have comeback and said they only do home audio equipment.

[weegeo]

Hi there Jacqui how the heck are you keeping lol i`ve done a search and come up with a site called audiofanzine and they have your FH300 in stock might be worth a wee look hope this is of some help to you

Best Regards weegeo xx

[jacqui01]

Hi WG
Thanks
I did check out that site, audiofanzine but on further research it appears to be a information directory site, and the link to buy refers you to Sennheizer France, who I tried without any success.

I could do with knowing what alternative I should be looking for, if I can't find the same thing, as I don't really understand the technical side of speakers and their specs.
Jacqui

[gibbo]

Hi Jacquie, If the replacement horn was considerably lower in volume/clarity it's probably an 8 ohm horn rather than the original 4 ohm horn. Double the impedance equates to roughly half the power as far as the ear is concerned. Have you tried a replacement horn diaphragm (you'll get that done at a speaker repairer or any able-bodied man can replace it for you) or else use a pair of piezo horns which are not impedance dependent, they should work just fine. Many musos replace their blown horn drivers with piezos because the piezos are very hardy and about a quarter of the price!
Cheers, Dave.

[thingyy]

I'm with Gibbo,they should be easy to repair and piezos are robust and cheaper.Stear clear of Motorola.

[weegeo]

i`m with Gibbo and Thingy as well go for the piezo`s there very robust and quite punchy but crystal clear and the price suits everybody`s pocket i thought that you wanted to change for the same hornd sorry i misread lol lol

weegeo

[paulo]

Here's one for you possibly.
Peavey make a bass cab called tx210 I think thats the model number.The horn in that one is a Fostex not sure of the model but any peavey dealer could look it up for you and if its the right one order it up for you.
Give that a try before going for piezos.It cant hurt......!!

[levi2]

I agree with Paulo PA and speaker/cabs have part made by different manufactuers my peveys have black widow speakers in where some cabs will have eminence in prolly same will go for the horns

[jacqui01]

Hi
Just a quick update as to how I got on with the Speaker problem, I eventually found a couple of places in Europe that could supply the part, costing about £40.00 for the part plus delivery, but I decided to take it to a couple of shops for a second opinion of the problem first, I was told by two places the Tweeter/Horn was gone, and could be replaced by them with an alternative type, but they would need to send it off to a workshop, and that would take time,then I had a chat with a lovely man in Liverpool, a company called John Gee who put me on to someone in Essex, I took the speaker in and to my amazement it turned out to be a another one of those d**n Festoons Fuses gone again, the last thing I expected, the Tweeter was just fine., even though everyone who had listened to it (three shops )told me it was the horn.
When it went on the other speaker before, you could see the bulb had blown, and the Tweeter never worked at all, this time the fuse looked OK, and the tweeter was working but making bad cracking sounds.
So all seems OK now, Thank God, but I'm going to get a few spare Festoon Bulbs just in case!
Jacqui

[weegeo]

Hey thats great news jacqui and very inexpensive for you glad you`ve it all sorted

Regards George ------------------weegeo is hiding blushing in the corner lol lol lol lol lol

[JohnG]

Great news Jacqui.
Thinking of your lovely story about the purchase of the last one still makes me chuckle. Who'd think that a simple bulb could play such a large role in your life!
JohnG.

[poloperson]

I'm having a hell of a problem also trying to find a replacement tweeter / horn for my speakers.

I have a pair of ASP speakers and I managed to fry them. So, I've bought a couple of replacment 12" speakers but the horns are fried as well (didnt I do well !!) and I cant find any equivalent.

I'm not too bothered about what make I get as these will only be used as spares / monitors in the future, but I just cant find any to fit. The problem is the dimensions: mine are 124mm by 228 mm which in old money is 9" by just under 5" (4 and 7/8ths). They are made by Le Son (?). I'd use the little piezo tweeters if I could find some to fit in the hole in the speakers, but they all seem to be too small as well.

If I could find one to fit that would be great so any help would be wonderful!

thanks

Simon

[thingyy]

Why not make new fronts ?

[gibbo]

Yep, if you can't find the exact replacement just use a piece of 3 or 5-ply to cover the existing cutout and make a new cutout for a different horn, paint it black and voila!!!