SL3 Replacement Woofers

[JEFFakaMAX]

I know this has been gone over a few times here.

What is the closest replacement aside from the $240 one offered from ML?
I have new panels in production and a torn spider on one of my woofers now but would rather not shell out $500 for the ML replacements.

Thanks!

 

[j beede]

I can feel your pain... For some reason ML has set their pricing on replacement components at a level that makes even loyal customers hesitate. It almost seems like they are charging retail prices for replacement components that we have already paid for once. I would like to see ML adopt a policy of rebuilding these components instead of forcing us to buy duplicates. A new set of panels for my CLS are ~$1600. I'd much rather send my panels to ML to have my perfect stators "reloaded" with near zero cost new diaphragms, insulators and spacers.

 

[JEFFakaMAX]

Agreed, seems like quite the waste to just toss the old panels and not rebuild them.
Regarding the woofers, after some searching any decent aluminum cone comparable replacement is nearly $200 so I just had ML add 2 new woofers onto my panel order.

So $1200 and my SL3's should be better than new. Or at least they better be...

 

[j beede]

Will you do the installation and check out? The $1200 should get you "like new" speakers including an electrical check out that shows the new pieces and crossover are performing as new. Do you have dealer that can do this? I have been struggling with a similar decision... My panels have developed wrinkles but sound good for now. Do I spend $1600 for new panels, or do I allocate the $1600 towards a different speaker? I hadn't realized that diaphragm wrinkling was so prevalent in ML ESLs.
...j

 

[JEFFakaMAX]

I'm 90% sure my crossovers are still in working order. Hard to tell though with 15 yr old panels.

 

[JEFFakaMAX]

For those following, here is what $500 will get you

 

[Cosmos]

I can feel your pain... For some reason ML has set their pricing on replacement components at a level that makes even loyal customers hesitate. It almost seems like they are charging retail prices for replacement components that we have already paid for once. I would like to see ML adopt a policy of rebuilding these components instead of forcing us to buy duplicates. A new set of panels for my CLS are ~$1600. I'd much rather send my panels to ML to have my perfect stators "reloaded" with near zero cost new diaphragms, insulators and spacers.

Martin Logan is in a quandary regarding parts pricing. If they charge you $ 75 for a woofer and the panels are the $300 that they should be, somehow it's hard to justify why a new pair speakers cost $ 5,000.

 

[Cosmos]

Agreed, seems like quite the waste to just toss the old panels and not rebuild them.

The rebuilding process would be more expensive because of labor cost than new panels. They don't even make you return the ones you replaced because the freight cost is far more than any value.

Let's think about what a panel is:

1. Two sheets of perforated metal that is curved in a press and powder coated.
2. A few square feet of membrane which is pennies.
3. A resistive yet conductive coating on the membrane - pennies.
4. Some self adhesive foam tape for insulators/spacing. - pennies.

You are looking at less than a couple hundred dollars, almost all of which is steel and powder coat cost.

The fact is, the power supply and maybe even the cabinet and hardware are more expensive components than a panel.

 

[Cosmos]

Agreed, seems like quite the waste to just toss the old panels and not rebuild them.

The rebuilding process would be more expensive because of labor cost than new panels. They don't even make you return the ones you replaced because the freight cost is far more than any value.

Let's think about what a panel is:

1. Two sheets of perforated metal that is curved in a press and powder coated. The
2. A few square feet of membrane which is relatively pennies
3. A resistive yet conductive coating on the membrane - pennies
4. Some self adhesive foam tape for insulators/spacing. - pennies

You are looking at less than a couple hundred dollars, almost all of which is steel and powder coat cost.

The fact is, the power supply and maybe even the cabinet and hardware are more expensive components than a panel.

 

[netroll123]

I had a lot of hopes when I purchased a new speaker from Martin Logan. I had paid nearly $8500 for that. But soon it started giving me headaches. Just after some months the diaphragm started to wrinkle. It also affected the sound clarity. I have the feeling that I have wasted my hard earned money by buying it.