[Captain Humble]

I own a pair of Usher CP-6391's.
They have a compartment for adding lead shot but I've never tried it.

I've been reading the posts concerning lead shot on the Horn Shop forum and think it would make an interesting experiment.  However I occasionally see posts on Audiogon that contain a phrase indicating that no lead shot has ever been used.  The implication seems to be that adding lead shot might be perceived as a negative thing when it comes to resale.

Though I have no intention of selling my 6391's I find it odd that anyone would care especially in speakers that provide a compartment for adding shot.  Yes I know that lead is toxic but is there really any danger when it's housed in a sealed compartment?

Your thoughts or comments would be welcomed.
Thanks,
Jeff

[maxwalrath]

I'd pay at least the normal asking price....probably a little bit more. I didn't know of any danger from it...

[gitarretyp]

The only downsides i could see would be increased shipping costs (also the possibility that the packaging may fail due to the extra weight) and the trouble involved in removing the shot if one wanted to experiment with different amounts or materials. That said, when i sold my CP-6311s, the buyer liked that i had already added lead shot; however, there was no shipping involved.

[gitarretyp]

Aren't there other products that can be used instead of lead, like play sand, or BBs (used in BB guns), or...?

I'm pretty sure BBs are larger than lead shot (ie, poorer filling ability) and cost more. Play sand can be bad due to its moisture content.

[jqp]

To me, the question would be:

Does performing surgery on audio equipment reduce its resale value?

and the general answer would have to be yes, because the general population would rather you just didn't.

Then there is a set of potential buyers who would possibly trust an audiophile who knows what they are doing, who would not feel that this reduced the value in any way.

Then there is a subset of the above set who does not feel good about lead anywhere in their house (do the drivers slowly pump lead dust into baby's lungs..).

There are of course other sets of potential buyers, but basically you have to realize that you will be selling to a particular set of people and excluding others, a situation which probably 99% of audiophiles are in when they sell their gear.

But I see that this is a question more about lead toxicity...

When I visited Pompeii, I learned to my amazement that they had lead pipes running throughout the city into houses and fountains and baths. Did this harm them? The general consensus is no, because a thick coating of mineral deposits formed inside the pipes before there was damage from lead, and alternatively, that something else got to them first (if not a multitude of diseases, then something else such as scorching volcanic ash and boiling mud). Actually many of them did get rescued by sea, and may have gone on to suffer some kind of lead poisoning, but those pipes that I did see had a pretty good layer of white mineral deposits inside them.

[KJ]

Captain,

You can buy steel shot as an alternative, although it costs a fair amount more.

-KJ

[marvda1]

you will have no problem with the lead shot once it is in the compartment, most modern shot is coated to minimize dust and i'm sure no one will be eating from the compartment and if a small child can unscrew all those long screws you have  a lot more to worry about..  if you are worried about being able to get it out once it is in(ushers are heavy) put the shot in a couple of your wife's stockings and tie them in a knot, but don't tell her.  You could also put the lead shot in small zip lock bags.

[Captain Humble]

To me, the question would be:
Does performing surgery on audio equipment reduce its resale value?

jqp,
No surgery involved with the Usher 6 Series.

My 6391's have compartments, accessible from the back of the speaker specifically for adding lead shot, micro bearing fill, etc.  Remove 6 screws, take off the cover and the speaker is ready to receive the fill material of your choice.  I believe the 6391's will hold about 50 pounds each.

You could use this micro bearing steel fill from Starsound Technologies, but's it's pricey:
http://www.starsoundtechnologies.com/micro.html

Thanks tvad4.  I've been to that site before and like you said pretty pricey.  Probably the best solution though.

marvda1
Love the stocking idea.
Have you tried shot in your 6381's?
If so, would you mind sharing your impression of shot vs no shot?

Thanks to all that have responded.
Jeff

[marvda1]

Hello Capt. the lead has the effect of further deadening the cabinet even though mine do weigh a good 120+ lbs each.  While doing this the midrange is focused more and you are able to hear finer details.  I made the mistake of putting 50 lbs of shot in each speaker before they were fully broken in and the resulting dead sound I attached to too much lead shot and because of the way  have to position the speakers to get the shot in I had to use a large spoon to scoop some of the shot out.  Later after the speakers were fully burned in I returned the remainder of the shot but kept it in the original bags so I could remove it if it effected the sound negatively which it did not.
By the way that large spoon I used is still being used in the kitchen and no one has died yet
Marvin

[nathanm]

I take two teaspoons of lead shot with every meal as a dietary supplement.

[marvda1]

come to think of it, i would be more worried about mercury than lead.