Crud, blown ribbon on 3.6

SteveFord · « **on:** 2 Jan 2011, 09:08 pm »

It's busted right in two about 3' up from the bottom.
I was hoping that it was the fuse but nope.
I don't even know if this is possible but it seemed to me that the top end was getting progressively worse, the foil popped in two but was still working (more or less) and then the two halves finally migrated so far away that it's now just a big bass and midrange panel.

BaMorin · « **Reply #1 on:** 2 Jan 2011, 11:07 pm »

Quote from: SteveFord on 2 Jan 2011, 09:08 pm

It's busted right in two about 3' up from the bottom.
I was hoping that it was the fuse but nope.
I don't even know if this is possible but it seemed to me that the top end was getting progressively worse, the foil popped in two but was still working (more or less) and then the two halves finally migrated so far away that it's now just a big bass and midrange panel.

They're pretty easy to change......Not too expensive. been there, done that.

pelliott321 · « **Reply #2 on:** 3 Jan 2011, 03:47 pm »

I recently exchanged a pair of tired ribbons with Magnepan. It was $200 plus $25 shipping to Baltimore, MD
They cam in a 6ft long box with a PVC pipe inside that holds the ribbons. took less than a week to get.
Take out the new ribbons replace with you old/broken ribbons ship back to Mag and you are only changed the $200 replacement fee. If you do not ship back it cost you $600
The is lots of discussion over on AA/planer about replacing the ribbon yourself. If I ever blow a ribbon I will try this before I exchange.

rollo · « **Reply #3 on:** 3 Jan 2011, 03:51 pm »

Yep a piece of cake to do. Even I did it. Installed 3.6 ribbons in my 3As. Less than a half hour. Just make sure you have a good soldering iron. good luck.
BTW they sound wonderfull with the upgraded ribbons.

charles

steve k · « **Reply #4 on:** 3 Jan 2011, 04:21 pm »

Quote

Yep a piece of cake to do. Even I did it. Installed 3.6 ribbons in my 3As. Less than a half hour. Just make sure you have a good soldering iron. good luck.
BTW they sound wonderfull with the upgraded ribbons.

I'm going to need to replace the ribbons in my 3A's. What is the difference in the 3.6 ribbons from the 3A's?
steve

Letitroll98 · « **Reply #5 on:** 3 Jan 2011, 05:23 pm »

Quote from: SteveFord on 2 Jan 2011, 09:08 pm

It's busted right in two about 3' up from the bottom.
I was hoping that it was the fuse but nope.
I don't even know if this is possible but it seemed to me that the top end was getting progressively worse, the foil popped in two but was still working (more or less) and then the two halves finally migrated so far away that it's now just a big bass and midrange panel.

You could make a case for 3.7's now.......

SteveFord · « **Reply #6 on:** 3 Jan 2011, 10:44 pm »

Quote from: Letitroll98 on 3 Jan 2011, 05:23 pm

You could make a case for 3.7's now.......

The thought did cross my mind...

driguy · « **Reply #7 on:** 4 Jan 2011, 02:29 am »

Quote from: SteveFord on 2 Jan 2011, 09:08 pm

It's busted right in two about 3' up from the bottom.
I was hoping that it was the fuse but nope.
I don't even know if this is possible but it seemed to me that the top end was getting progressively worse, the foil popped in two but was still working (more or less) and then the two halves finally migrated so far away that it's now just a big bass and midrange panel.

I have a pair of 3.3R tweeters that I believe are the same as the 3.6 units. They are about 4 years old (refurbished by Magnepan) but they have only about 6 months of use on them. They have just been sitting around for over 3 years. If you are interested in purchasing them please PM me. That way you always have a spare pair ready to go. I have the protection strips for shipping so I will only need to get a shipping tube.
Regards,
Tony

pelliott321 · « **Reply #8 on:** 4 Jan 2011, 04:02 pm »

From what I understand there has not been a change in the 3 series ribbon since they went from 3ohms to 2ohms. AndyR would be the expert here.
I suspect the ribbon in the 3.7 is the same, only the mid is now a quasi-ribbon (aluminum foil instead of wire).
I think most of the Magic comes from the ribbon. When I was in the possess of rebuilting my IIIa's I put the ribbons in a stand alone stand and used them with another speaker. It sounded great

rollo · « **Reply #9 on:** 4 Jan 2011, 04:50 pm »

Quote from: steve k on 3 Jan 2011, 04:21 pm

I'm going to need to replace the ribbons in my 3A's. What is the difference in the 3.6 ribbons from the 3A's?
steve

A bit more refined overall. Better resolution.

charles

BaMorin · « **Reply #10 on:** 4 Jan 2011, 05:29 pm »

Quote from: driguy on 4 Jan 2011, 02:29 am

I have a pair of 3.3R tweeters that I believe are the same as the 3.6 units. They are about 4 years old (refurbished by Magnepan) but they have only about 6 months of use on them. They have just been sitting around for over 3 years. If you are interested in purchasing them please PM me. That way you always have a spare pair ready to go. I have the protection strips for shipping so I will only need to get a shipping tube.
Regards,
Tony

I think the tweeters have to be shipped opposing each other to cancel the magnetic field.......Magnepan ships them this way as well. When getting a replacement tweeter, it comes with a bare tweeter section stuck to it.

andyr · « **Reply #11 on:** 5 Jan 2011, 03:31 am »

Quote from: Letitroll98 on 3 Jan 2011, 05:23 pm

You could make a case for 3.7's now.......

Depends which serial no. IIIas you have, L98.

IIIas initially came with a 3ohm ribbon. Partway through the model, Magnepan changed this to a slightly wider, 2ohm ribbon and inserted a 1ohm white, ceramic resistor into the ribbon circuit, to make the HP filter work properly. (So if your IIIas have this 1ohm resistor, you have the wider, 2ohm ribbon.)

Then they changed to a slightly narrower, 3ohm ribbon with the 3.3 - and continued it right through to the 3.6. I'd love to know whether this is the same as the ribbon they started off with (in the first IIIa)!!

Regards,

Andy

pelliott321 · « **Reply #12 on:** 5 Jan 2011, 05:41 pm »

andy always has the right answer
you should replace both at the same time so they are balanced
when I got mine the were face to face in the PVC tube

pelliott321 · « **Reply #13 on:** 5 Jan 2011, 05:46 pm »

just one other thing as a side note
steve you noticed the fuse did you now good so get rid of them, everyone who has has remarked on better sound. (get rid of the stupid steel connectors, as well.
I have had no fuses in mine since I rebuilt them, I have less power than you do and play them very loud from time to time

SteveFord · « **Reply #14 on:** 6 Jan 2011, 12:26 am »

I'm going to go with better fuse holders and binding posts.
Good news is that a new ribbon was only $110 providing you return the old core.
Karen at Magnepan was saying that when the ribbons get floppy you lose top end (which I was pretty evident) and once they pop that's it.
I was driving myself crazy as the sound just wasn't right from the L/H speaker but I did notice the ribbon moving around a bit. The R/H ribbon, knock on wood, is not flopping around at all.

pelliott321 · « **Reply #15 on:** 6 Jan 2011, 03:34 pm »

I would replace both, Serial numbers will not be consecutive, might detract from resell value

SteveFord · « **Reply #16 on:** 7 Jan 2011, 01:11 am »

The order is already placed and these speakers aren't going up for sale but I do appreciate the thought.
I wonder if close proximity to a subwoofer is what rippled the ribbon in the first place? I let a message with Karen at Magnepan but haven't heard back.
It may seem far fetched but the problem started when I moved the sub behind the left hand speaker - before the sub was in front of the r/h speaker.
Where the ribbon broke is right about the same height as the top of the sub. I could be full of it, though.

pelliott321 · « **Reply #17 on:** 7 Jan 2011, 04:22 pm »

If your subwoofer did it you must have been really rocking. I kind of doubt it.
Hech Ive hate to admit it but I have dropped one of my ribbons with out the protecting strip and did not damage. I think they are more rugged that people think. They just cannot take squarewaves.

BaMorin · « **Reply #18 on:** 7 Jan 2011, 07:05 pm »

Quote from: SteveFord on 7 Jan 2011, 01:11 am

The order is already placed and these speakers aren't going up for sale but I do appreciate the thought.
I wonder if close proximity to a subwoofer is what rippled the ribbon in the first place? I let a message with Karen at Magnepan but haven't heard back.
It may seem far fetched but the problem started when I moved the sub behind the left hand speaker - before the sub was in front of the r/h speaker.
Where the ribbon broke is right about the same height as the top of the sub. I could be full of it, though.

That is possible I guess........as you know, you're not supposed to be moving the speaker around without the tweeter protective strip in place. According to magnepan, the rapid air movement can rupture the ribbon.

SteveFord · « **Reply #19 on:** 11 Jan 2011, 01:12 am »

New ribbon installed thanks to really quick service from Magnepan and just to play it safe the sub is moved in front of the r/h speaker - the Maggie Magic is back!
I'm not sure what caused the damage and not a peep from Magnepan - I don't think I was driving the amps into clipping but I'm the third owner so who knows what kind of abuse they went through.
I do know they went through a divorce and ended up being stashed in the ex-wife's garage! If only these speakers could talk...