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!

[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.

[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.

[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.

[Funk]

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

[Funk]

I've been offered first refusal on a pair of A3s in cherry with the 3-bar tweeter. He wants a lot for them though... I'm also concerned from speaking to other A3 owners that my amp may not be up to the task for A3s.

[Funk]

I think they're too big for my room if I'm honest. The A2s are pushing it.

Edited by Funk on Friday 25th October 13:04

[Funk]

My room is 4m x 5m. I'll stick with the A2s...

[Funk]

StuH said:

Funk said:

My room is 4m x 5m. I'll stick with the A2s...

Probably borderline at that size as long as you have enough room so that they can be at least 1m from any walls?

What do you use to drive your A2's? Even my A1's came alive when fed by the Meridian 557 compared to the Alpha 10.

Cyrus 8vs2 which was bought as a stop-gap when I sold my Naim. It's so good it's never left - for a £900 amp it's remarkable.

http://www.cyrusaudio.com/product-archive/amps/8-v...

[Funk]

StuH said:

Funk said:

Cyrus 8vs2 which was bought as a stop-gap when I sold my Naim. It's so good it's never left - for a £900 amp it's remarkable.

http://www.cyrusaudio.com/product-archive/amps/8-v...

Nice amp - I had a Cyrus2/PSX back in the day, however in my experience I think your A2's would really benefit from something with a bit more grunt.

Interesting... Worth bearing in mind I ran my A2s with a Naim 102/250/HiCAP2/NAPSC, a pretty serious wodge of amplification. I was surprised how much the Cyrus delivered in comparison (and its power output is about the same into 4 ohmns - rated at 110W). Unless the 102/250 was under-powered for the A2s in the first place (which I don't think it was)?

Given my recent realisation that my hearing's not what it once was, I think spending any more on hi-fi may be a moot point anyway.

[Funk]

They do seem to hit their stride when being 'given the beans' - they have remarkable linearity.

[Funk]

StuH, if you ever come to sell a pair of your A3s, would you drop me a line first?

[Funk]

West Sussex. I guess if they're too big or the amp isn't up to the task I can bounce them on...

[Funk]

Thanks Crackie but they're asking nearly double what a pair of A1s is worth... There are A2s going on eBay for £350 and I walked away from a pair of A1s in rosewood for c.£200 a few weeks back (also because they were the single-bar - earlier - version of the tweeter). I was bidding on a pair of A1s on eBay that had cabinet damage, they eventually went for £120.

There have been quite a few pairs up for grabs recently so I'm sure I'll find a pair to use for spares. My thinking was to get A1s to use in the bedroom which can be sacrificed down the line if needs be. Through my conversations with several people in connection with this, a mate of mine should be getting a nice pair of A2s in black in a couple of weeks' time.

[Funk]

Ooh you tinker...

I think I still have to be sensible unfortunately, they'd be overwhelming in my room. What sort of money were you looking for for them though out of interest (and what finish are they in...)?

[Funk]

That's a fair price if it's the cherry/rosewood ones you're shifting and not the black ones; a pair of mint rosewoods went recently for £670.

If I were to go for some, they'd need to be cherry.

Cherry:



Rosewood:



Does that help identifying the finish of yours...?

[Funk]

Weird, that does look like a mix of the two. I'd say they're rosewood which may have lightened over time perhaps?