OA 116 reno + tweeters

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Toptip
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OA 116 reno + tweeters

Post by Toptip »

I have been a Sonab fan since I first listened to a pair in a Munich hifi shop in 1976, as a budding teenage audiophile. For years I had OA14s, which were OK. Finally now I have a pair of 116s I am very happy with. This has been a long running project, with a number of stop-and-go periods.

I renewed the woofer and midranges a number of years ago. At the same time I ordered the Peerless tweeters which were then suggested as an upgrade (was it the CT62s?). But I could not find an elegant way to mount them, a way that resembled how the originals were mounted. Then two things happened -- 1. These glue-like plastic rings inside the Peerless's started peeling off, without ever being used (has that happened to anyone else?) and; 2. The upgrade recommendation was now for Obi T22 tweeters with a new crossover.

As I was thinking whether to spend another $400 to buy the Obis, I came across a lot of JAMO 20132 tweeters on sale. They looked a bit like the originals and were ferrofluid cooled. At $2 each I bought 12 (should have bought more...they are gone and on eBay they sell for $20+).

So this is the end product! I built the Obi crossover and fitted it next to the original, which I left in place. I mounted the JAMOs with two cable ties each, one end screwed to the original baffle board -- easy and secure.

So far I like the sound, a lot. It is a bit bright. I bought some 8 ohm L-pads to adjust the tweeter volume down a bit. In any case wanted to share this with the community.
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New crossover and tweeters
New crossover and tweeters
Toptip
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OA 2212

Post by Toptip »

Hi,

I have written in the past that I own a pair of OA 116s, which I have renovated with new woofers, tweeters and crossover. They work beautifully and I use them as my everyday speakers.

I have since been looking for a pair of OA 2212s. After many years, I have given up — at least in the US, they do not come up for sale. I remember in 1987 I saw a pair in a NYC hi-fi shop. The owner was asking $750. I should have bought them. But they had been covered in a metallic silver sheet (for a disco look?) and I passed. Big mistake — NYC does not even have a single hi-fi shop left since.

I figure I can make my own 2212 by cuttting up a pair of OA-14s. I already have one pair and they are available plentifully. I can glue together two woofer mounts. I thought I will make the box out of semi-transparent acrylic, kind of like the advertisement pictures Sonab once had.

In any case I am curious to hear from owners os 2212s with their renovation / upgrade experiences while I get going.

Ali Elam
NYC
JanA
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Re: OA 116 reno + tweeters

Post by JanA »

Hi!

Sounds like you have some serious work ahead of you :)
As i am sure of, you are familiar with the shape of the woofer mounts on the 2212? It is not like the OA14 og OA116 where the midrange speakers are tilted so that the lower part is beneath surface, as if sunken in to it. 2212 has them tilted much in the same way but the whole speaker is above the surface.

Perhaps someone here in the forum has construction drawings of the 2212? make a new post and ask around.
There are a lot of pictures online, but if you need specific details i can take make some snapshots if you describe what you are after.

best of luck

Jan A
Toptip
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Re: OA 116 reno + tweeters

Post by Toptip »

"...but the whole speaker is above the surface." Yes, thank you, I noticed that. Kind of makes the construction easier.

If you do not mind -- and it would be very kind -- if you took a picture straight down (from the top) so that I could see how the woofer mounts are positioned on the top plate, that would be very helpful. I also need the exact measurements of the top (ABS plastic) plate. That would go a very long way for me to get it started.

In terms of construction drawings...that would be incredibly useful. Do you think anyone would have them?

Ali Elam
JanA
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Re: OA 116 reno + tweeters

Post by JanA »

Ali!

Sure thing, i´ll takes a few snapshots. As in regards of drawings, i am pretty sure they exist in one way or another, and that someone in her might actually have them. If you search the forum you will find at least one DIY 2212 project. However it is poorly documented, stil there is a few pictures. I suspect there must have been more pictures around, due to the context in some of the comments.

I would advice you to contact Per Guldbrandsen, He is the founding father and chief editor of this fine community. He helped my out considerably when i restored the bass and mids on my 2212s. He went above and beyond helping me replace a FACTORY MISPLACED (!!) bass element in one of my 2212s.
If anyone, Per could hopefully point you in the right direction in your search for the grail.
JanA
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Re: OA 116 reno + tweeters

Post by JanA »

Hi!

Ok, so i found the old ruler and took some measurements. Mind you, these are close to accurate measurements. I would not bet my life on them being 100%. It was as close as i was able to get without taking them (2212) apart (I am not up for that at the moment).
As you can see the top plate consists of two units. The blue, holding the tweeters is overlapping the orange rectangular shaped unit. The two peaces are mounted to a frame inside the cabinet.

Ill throw in a few shots from when i upgraded the speaker surrounds to give you a better idea of the construction.

Jan A
Attachments
Skjermbilde 2017-12-17 kl. 16.35.03.png
Last edited by JanA on Sun 17 Dec 2017, 20:19, edited 5 times in total.
JanA
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Re: OA 116 reno + tweeters

Post by JanA »

Here is a few snapshots to further clarify the construction.
Attachments
Skjermbilde 2017-12-17 kl. 16.53.54.png
Skjermbilde 2017-12-17 kl. 16.52.39.png
Skjermbilde 2017-12-17 kl. 16.51.43.png
JanA
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Re: OA 116 reno + tweeters

Post by JanA »

These are fairly straight so you should be able to make out the angles at play.
The one containing the ruler shows the distance from the top of the housing holding the mids, to the head of the mounting screw (if that made any sense).
Attachments
Skjermbilde 2017-12-17 kl. 16.55.54.png
Skjermbilde 2017-12-17 kl. 16.55.44.png
Skjermbilde 2017-12-17 kl. 16.54.44.png
Last edited by JanA on Sun 17 Dec 2017, 20:23, edited 2 times in total.
JanA
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Re: OA 116 reno + tweeters

Post by JanA »

Some more snaps that might give you an idea of the construction. And showing of the new surrounds :)
Attachments
Skjermbilde 2017-12-17 kl. 16.55.01.png
Skjermbilde 2017-12-17 kl. 16.55.12.png
Skjermbilde 2017-12-17 kl. 16.55.27.png
Skjermbilde 2017-12-17 kl. 16.56.11.png
JanA
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Re: OA 116 reno + tweeters

Post by JanA »

Finally the measurements of the housing.

Hight: 61 cm
depth: 53,5 cm
With: 31 cm

Constructed of 12mm veneer
Attachments
Skjermbilde 2017-12-17 kl. 17.31.48.png
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