Allison, RA Labs, RDL information ..

[administrator]

I'm looking for information on the speakers mentioned above. Specifically I would like to find specifications, crossover schematics, replacement part information, and possible upgrades.

I know there is a large community of people still enjoying the Allison speakers, many of whom would like to upgrade them or just get repair services and replacement parts.

Thanks!

Mark

[Guest]

Hey! just found the RDL and IC-20 brochures you just posted...awesome. You should publicize this site better. It's a real find to us speaker freaks. I've got a pair of A-3s and a pair of CD-7s.

Nick

>I'm looking for information on the

>speakers mentioned above. Specifically I

>would like to find specifications,

>crossover schematics, replacement part information,

>and possible upgrades.

>

>I know there is a large

>community of people still enjoying

>the Allison speakers, many of

>whom would like to upgrade

>them or just get repair

>services and replacement parts.

>

>Thanks!

>

>Mark

[administrator]

I could use help advertising the site. I've submitted my URL to the major search engines, but for some reason it's still not showing up!

In any case, if you frequent other audio websites that don't have a link here (http://www.arsenal.net/speakers) please ask the webmaster to create one!

Mark

[Guest]

Have you had any information on service/repairs i.e.

Where to go? Who to approach?

We are in the UK and have a pair of Allison Four speakers, one of which has developed a "popping" sound when heavy bass tracks are played. The speakers are terrific and we would love to get them repaired. Perhaps the fault could be the cross-over network rather than one of the actual speakers.

Does anyone have any experience of repairing these speakers.

Our records showed Allison Acoustics Inc. at 7 Tech Circle, Natick, Massachusetts 01760. But on the internet we find Allison only at 470 Stanford Rd. Danville, KY 40422

Are these the same people? We have e-mailed to them but they have not responded and pictures on their web site don't look like the Allison we have.

[Guest]

>Are these the same people? We

>have e-mailed to them but

>they have not responded and

>pictures on their web site

>don't look like the Allison

>we have.

Yes, they are, sort of.

They are the same company but, as you've come to realize, they don't sell the same lines of speakers.

However, they do have parts for most any Allison product yet. They are a bit slow on the e-mail, so give them a chance. Also, their ISP (searnet.com) isn't the best in the world...I know, I used to use them. I actually used to live in Danville, KY about 3 miles from Allison. They are nice people over there and WILL help you out if at all possible.

If you are very desparate, I would suggest a phone call...

Good luck,

Keith

[administrator]

Hi Wendy!

Here's a response I got on the Allison mailing list from Howard Ferstler, who is extremely knowledgable with the Allison's.

dreadnought@arsenal.net wrote:

>There's a post on the Allison section of my discussion forums >about a problem someone in the UK is having with Allison >Four's. Here's a portion of the post:

>

>"We are in the UK and have a pair of Allison Four speakers, one >of which has developed a "popping" sound when heavy bass tracks >are played. The speakers are terrific and we would love to get >them repaired. Perhaps the fault could be the cross-over >network rather than one of the actual speakers."

>

>If someone could reply to the message I'm sure the poster would >be grateful. (Not having owned a pair of Allison's, or ever >using replacement parts or services from the current Allison >acoustics, I'm not in a good position to reply.)

Hi, Mark,

You can forward the response below to the group, if you

want. I tried logging in, but I am not sure what my password

is, or if I ever had one to begin with. I am really pretty

busy doing editing work on book, and so I have not much

spare time right now.

Probably, this person needs to replace the foam surrounds on

the woofers. The crossover is probably OK.

If they have rotted away (normally, this takes 10-15 years

for the foam to break down enough to be a problem) there

will be a serious air leak and the cone will also be

bottoming and rubbing the voice coil with high-power inputs.

The systems should not be run until this is done, in order

to prevent damage.

I have four A4 systems in place as surround speakers in my

main system, and before I could use them I had to replace

all the woofer foam surrounds. I have replaced the foam on

another A4 pair owned by a friend, and have replaced foam on

maybe a dozen other Allison systems, including A8s, CD-8s,

AL-125s, AL-110s, LC-120s, and LC-130s.

I do not know if foam-replacement kits would be available in

the UK, but certainly there must be outfits over there that

could do the work.

Note that the upward-facing woofers are probably stuck in

there pretty good, and after removing the screws it will

take a bit of care to get the drivers out. If one is unsure

of their abilities, it might be best to take the systems

into a proper shop and let the repair guy there pull the

woofers. Also, unless one has access to new foam gaskets,

care should be taken to not damage them during the removal.

Once removed (taking care to note the wire polarity, and

unplugging the wires carefully), the foam surrounds can be

replaced.

However, the speaker cones will have a LOT of dust on them

(facing upward, after all) and the sticky coating Allison

used will make it impossible to get all of it off. However,

enough can be removed by careful brushing (with a small

brush and not with a rag) to get the cones looking OK. Then,

the old foam should be peeled and picked off and replaced

with new foam.

Howard