Trying to re-create my fathers setup

I guess it's sag in the bass cone and that's pushing the voice coil out of alignment and so it catches causing the scratching noise. We have to remember that back in the day this was innovative but not fully researched or perfected as cones were later to become.

I would look into obtaining a paper surround replacement drive unit, something like a Fane Sovereign 500LF. I am sure you'd get good sound from it. I think such a low-compliance driver should help the cabinets produce an acceptable sound.

In fact, the 12-300 should do it!

https://www.thomann.de/gb/fane_sovereign_12300.htm

This being 8 Ohms and your Leaks maybe 15 Ohms? The simple crossover might well produce a decent sound, and the mid/tweeter would be attenuated by comparison meaning you could place them away from the walls and could get a decent tonal balance.

The fit might be a fiddle. Would I do it? Yes, but I'm an experimenter...


Edited by Graham Slee - 28 Jan 2018 at 8:01am

Hi Graham. Well you were right on both counts - the new woofers were quite a hassle to fit but the speakers now sound great. Thanks again for your suggestions.