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I am really enjoying my Beovox S50 and was thinking of starting to look for the S120 or MC120.2. I am not in any rush and want to find a nice pair but I have seen on this forum and on some auction sites these speakers with all sorts of non-original woofers. Some are obvious, but some are a bit more difficult to tell apart -- people doing this seem to be on some sort of a quest to improve the low-end.
So assuming I can only inspect photos of the outside of the speaker on ebay or a similar site what should I be looking for to make sure the speakers have the original drivers, especially the woofer? Are there decisive features or could anyone upload a good quality reference photo? Was there only one type of woofer used in each of these or did it change some time during the production?And finally, are there any other issues with these models that I should be aware of?
Thank you in advance!
As always, all information and advice will be highly appreciated! :)
Piotr
Here is a selection of examples I found on the web... some are a bit scary...
The top left woofer could be the real thing.All the others are definitely wrong.Those in the photo with the speakers on stands look like Beovox 2600 woofers, which are excellent drivers in their own right butcompletely unsuitable for this use.It really takes a look at the magnet side to tell for sure if the driver is correct.
I don't think people replaced the woofers in an attempt to improve anything.I think they did it, because they weren't aware that woofers with crumbling surrounds can be repaired.
Whatever they fit won't improve anything, anyways. The original woofers are custom produced for B&O andI have still to see any replacement coming anywhere near.
Martin
Thanks Martin! What about things like diameter of the dust cap, or the material from which the cone or the dust cap is made? Are these known or specified anywhere? My S50 for instance have a soft, "porous" cone - on the pic below (hope that's original...) However, the S120/MC120 on most pictures seem to have a more "solid", shiny cone.
For instance, I could be fooled by the third picture, if the guy selling them would not admit explicitly that he replaced them with Visaton drivers, and this is what scares me.
The drivers specifications are not disclosed, but the cone is polypropylene and thedustcap is some kind of laminated woven thread.The woofer cones and dustcaps in the third photo are too shiny. The original cones are much more silk-like,like the left woofer in the first photo.
The dustcap of that woofer could also be correct, though apparently it shows the result ofa rather messy DIY-refoam job. At least is seems to have been shim'ed.Your last photo looks a bit like Beovox S45/50/55/80 (refoamed but not shim'ed).This woofer is not correct for MC120.2 either, but the dustcap is correct with the shallow inwards going ridge close to its circumference.Martin
Here is a photo of what I believe is a refoamed original, and it fits your description - does this one look correct?
As mentioned earlier, you really need to see the magnetside too to be on the safe side, but this one looks original from the front.
Thanks a lot Martin! I will keep that photo as a reference. I doubt unfortunately that I'll have a chance to look at the magnet side before pulling the trigger on a purchase, so this will have to do. But it is already incredibly helpful. (If I manage to find a pair they will be my 7th pair of B&O speakers).
And by the way, the soft cone posted earlier is indeed from my Beovox S50, I got a very good deal on them with the original stands and in great condition, although I needed to refoam them. They are now playing in my stereo system and I like them very much, even though they're only the bottom of the 80' S-series.
A good indication is the price and foam rot as that would usually be the reason for getting rid of them. It is not meant as a joke but a fact.
I know with my S45.2 and S120 that was the case. My M150 had the drivers replaced I was told.
Dillen serviced both pairs in 2008 and they still play great.
I wish this would be the case, but where I live vintage B&O is primarily imported by firms/people specializing in vintage audio equipment, you cannot get it here from a long-time owner or at a yard sale, unfortunately. There was no B&O behind the iron curtain ;)
So my only options are places like local auction sites or perhaps even ebay. The sellers might swap the driver trying to get a better price for a nice looking speaker, or perhaps not even know themselves the drivers were replaced because they just got them like this elsewhere in Europe, brought them over to sell here, copied the writing on the label into the description and they're done.
In any case, since the S120 are a bit more expensive I certainly wouldn't want to end up with a modified version ;)
I'm resurrecting this old thread since I am looking at a particular pair of Beovox MC120.2, but not everything looks 100% certain:
- the cap on the woofer is shiny, has a similar texture as the midrange/phase link driver, I always saw those caps being matte
- the woofer have been refoamed but the surrounds seem to look narrower than usual.
A pic is below. Can you guys confirm these are worth the investment?
My MC120.2:s looks like this.
Yes, precisely, that's the look I am familiar with - that probably means it is safer to pass on the ones I posted. Thanks!