Wanted - Celestion A-series tweeters

[Funk]

Not sure if I'm allowed to ask this - if not, please delete mods.

I'm after a pair of tweeters for my Celestion A2 speakers. I've noticed the sound isn't as good as it used to be and one is 'quieter' than the other. I think they're just old and have had thousands and thousands of hours of playing time over the years.

If anyone has a pair of A1, A2 or A3 speakers with working '3-bar' tweeters or knows where replacements can be found, I'd very much appreciate a PM or a reply here. The tweeters in these models are identical and the '3-bar' grille denotes the later version of the tweeter.

I've got a number for Celestion but it's been many years since the A2s were manufactured so I'm not holding out much hope that they have spares. Even if they do, I think the potential cost might make me wince!

[Crackie]

Have a word with Paul Seago at http://www.audioloudspeakers.co.uk/ .

http://www.audioloudspeakers.co.uk/contact.shtml

Paul has an incredible range of original spare drive unit parts and can also remagnetise weak magnets. He is top guy and if your tweeters can be repaired Paul is likely to make it happen; if you can't get hold of original units. Good luck.

Edited by Crackie on Sunday 6th October 16:27

[Funk]

Smashing, thanks Crackie. I'll get in touch with him and see if he can help.

[Funk]

Drawn a blank Paul doesn't have any and they don't repair tweeters.

Looks like I'm back to trying to source some A1s or cut my losses on the A2s and buy something else (they've had a great innings to be fair).

[Funk]

Oddly, listening tonight it sounds fine. Perhaps it's just me getting older.

[StuH]

I've taken to cannibalising A1's!

I don't think i'll ever find anything to replace my A3's with for less than £5k so if a few A1's have to meet their makes it's a small price to pay.

[StuH]

I've taken to cannibalising A1's!

I don't think i'll ever find anything to replace my A3's with for less than £5k so if a few A1's have to meet their makes it's a small price to pay.

[StuH]

I've taken to cannibalising A1's!

I don't think i'll ever find anything to replace my A3's with for less than £5k so if a few A1's have to meet their makes it's a small price to pay.

[Funk]

I'd still be interested in some spare tweeters if you come across any Stu.

Do you have some knocking about?

[Funk]

Well I tested with another pair of speakers tonight and unfortunately it seems like it's my hearing rather than a fault with the speakers. The other speakers also didn't have the same clarity I was expecting and slightly worse on one side. I downloaded Audacity and generated some test tones going up in frequency; I was struggling to hear anything above 11kHz which would explain things. Seeing as it's also unlikely my hearing is deteriorating at the same rate in both ears, this would explain why I thought one tweeter wasn't working as well. Measuring with an app on the phone (rudimentary, but it shows there's output there) showed the tweeters generating the right output higher up the frequency range than I could hear.

Bit sad to realise my enjoyment of hi-fi is downhill from here but at least I can still enjoy the music.

[legzr1]

StuH said:

I've taken to cannibalising A1's!

I don't think i'll ever find anything to replace my A3's with for less than £5k so if a few A1's have to meet their makes it's a small price to pay.

I replaced mine for £1K !

[sjwb]

Wilmslow Audio Ltd, 50 Main Street, Broughton Astley, Leicester LE9 6RD

Try these folk, they are very good.

[andysgriff]

I have the same speakers and also need a new tweeter (2nd one..). I noticed this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Celestion-A2-Floorstandi...

Mention of tweeters being replaced by KEF..

[Funk]

andysgriff said:

I have the same speakers and also need a new tweeter (2nd one..). I noticed this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Celestion-A2-Floorstandi...

Mention of tweeters being replaced by KEF..

I spotted those a while back, they've been up and down on eBay more than a we's proverbials (I don't think he's sussed they're over-priced with those non-original tweeters). That said, there shouldn't be any logistical reasons why you couldn't replace the tweeters with something else - as long as you can get them to fit the baffle.. I'd be interested to know what he's done to them but I can't help but think it may have altered the sound drastically. I can't remember where I picked up the info now, but Celestion apparently made the tweeters themselves for the A-Series range, they weren't an off-the-shelf part from a third party manufacturer (almost a pity, as a good OEM part would make maintenance easier!). The tweeters look very similar to the ones in the F-Series but those are, apparently, vastly inferior units. The A-Series ones are ferro-fluid cooled.

As it happens, I've been offered a pair of A2s in black which I was going to rob for parts. Now I know that's not the issue, a mate of mine has expressed interest in them for his system. If that falls through, would you like first dibs on them Andy? If you give up on trying to find a replacement tweeter, would you let me know as I'd be interested in purchasing all your remaining drive units and the crossovers as a spares stockpile.

[andysgriff]

Funk said:

andysgriff said:

I have the same speakers and also need a new tweeter (2nd one..). I noticed this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Celestion-A2-Floorstandi...

Mention of tweeters being replaced by KEF..

I spotted those a while back, they've been up and down on eBay more than a we's proverbials (I don't think he's sussed they're over-priced with those non-original tweeters). That said, there shouldn't be any logistical reasons why you couldn't replace the tweeters with something else - as long as you can get them to fit the baffle.. I'd be interested to know what he's done to them but I can't help but think it may have altered the sound drastically. I can't remember where I picked up the info now, but Celestion apparently made the tweeters themselves for the A-Series range, they weren't an off-the-shelf part from a third party manufacturer (almost a pity, as a good OEM part would make maintenance easier!). The tweeters look very similar to the ones in the F-Series but those are, apparently, vastly inferior units. The A-Series ones are ferro-fluid cooled.

As it happens, I've been offered a pair of A2s in black which I was going to rob for parts. Now I know that's not the issue, a mate of mine has expressed interest in them for his system. If that falls through, would you like first dibs on them Andy? If you give up on trying to find a replacement tweeter, would you let me know as I'd be interested in purchasing all your remaining drive units and the crossovers as a spares stockpile.

The tweeter is indented but seems to play OK strangely enough....
I will be using the speakers as long as possible, I might chase up KEF to see of they can provide a new tweeter

Edited by andysgriff on Wednesday 16th October 19:05

[Funk]

Keep me updated as to how it goes, I'm intrigued to hear what their proposal is.

[StuH]

andysgriff said:

I have the same speakers and also need a new tweeter (2nd one..). I noticed this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Celestion-A2-Floorstandi...

Mention of tweeters being replaced by KEF..

I spoke to KEF - As mentioned these tweeters were custom made by Celestion to a very high standard and sadly all the equipment for the windings etc are no longer available. The upshot being they cannot be repaired. There are alternates that can be fitted with a bit of jigging but they aren't a patch on the original sadly.

[StuH]

legzr1 said:

I replaced mine for £1K !

With another set of A3's?

I have A3's and B&W 802's and whilst the 802 wins in terms of ultimate resolution, they lose out to the A3's in weight, scale and drama. Only caveat with the A's is that they need huge power to give their best.

What did you replace yours with?

[legzr1]

A3's are excellent and some of the most underrated speakers out there (IMHO) and I enjoyed my time with them but that Ti tweeter could tend to sound a little strident with the 'wrong' material - hardly a fault with a high resolution speaker naturally but it was always in the back of my mind.

I got better mids, highs and image & scale with (used) Martin Logan Sequel II's but missed the bass and impact of 'normal' moving cone speakers.

Then came Kef ref. 4.2's five years ago and they remain to this day - impact and sheer volume of the A3 with more (!) depth alongside sweet mids and treble very close to the best electrostatics thanks to matched Uni-Q drivers.

I'll be keeping them until they die (already sourced some replacement Uni-Q upper mid/treble units from Kef themselves but stock is running low and £170 a pop - £340 a pair..).

Both the ML and Kef were nigh on £4K designs which I found for less than a grand - the A3's cost me £800 and I sold them for the same money - all used naturally.

B&W 802's have always interested me but the diamond range are out of budget and the bass doesn't match the Kefs in the odd couple of demos Ive had over the years.

Now, the 800 !! One speaker that really tested my resolve and thankfully I didn't have my credit card with me.

Still, good luck in the hunt for tweeters - the Celestions are well worth sticking with.

[StuH]

legzr1 said:

A3's are excellent and some of the most underrated speakers out there (IMHO) and I enjoyed my time with them but that Ti tweeter could tend to sound a little strident with the 'wrong' material - hardly a fault with a high resolution speaker naturally but it was always in the back of my mind.

I got better mids, highs and image & scale with (used) Martin Logan Sequel II's but missed the bass and impact of 'normal' moving cone speakers.

Then came Kef ref. 4.2's five years ago and they remain to this day - impact and sheer volume of the A3 with more (!) depth alongside sweet mids and treble very close to the best electrostatics thanks to matched Uni-Q drivers.

I'll be keeping them until they die (already sourced some replacement Uni-Q upper mid/treble units from Kef themselves but stock is running low and £170 a pop - £340 a pair..).

Both the ML and Kef were nigh on £4K designs which I found for less than a grand - the A3's cost me £800 and I sold them for the same money - all used naturally.

B&W 802's have always interested me but the diamond range are out of budget and the bass doesn't match the Kefs in the odd couple of demos Ive had over the years.

Now, the 800 !! One speaker that really tested my resolve and thankfully I didn't have my credit card with me.

Still, good luck in the hunt for tweeters - the Celestions are well worth sticking with.

Yes, the 800's are quite something aren't they. Hopefully a pair will drop into my budget in a few years time!

I haven't heard the 4.2' but I previously owned 105/3's and was quite dissappointed in a demo of the reference 207 a couple of years back (compared to my 802's) so they hadn't really been of any interest to me. Perhaps something to consider if any come up on eBay in the future!