Advent A3 Questions

[schiddy]

Hi All, new to the forum.  Recently, I was fortunate enough to pick up some free Advent A3's.  I have some questions perhaps you can help with.  I initially hooked these up to receiver playing FM as I didn't have any other source.  Normal sound came out so I thought they were in original condition until I took the grill off ...  Looks like the original woofers have been replaced with some kind of 9 or 10" drivers.  They aren't even sealed and there's a huge gap!  I would like to replace the woofers with advent original 10's or simply speaker's official replacements, but they are all pretty expensive options for free speakers I happened into for free.  Also, the veneer on the cabinets is in rough shape so not so sure I want to sink money into them.  I'd feel bad to part them out though.

1.) Is there a suitable more economical replacement woofer (Like maybe from parts express) that would fit this odd sized cutout of around 10.25" diameter, and have similar specs to the original?

2.) I see a lot of talk about replacing the caps on the crossover.  Is this worth it even if the crossover appears to be functionally normally?

3.) How do I determine manufacture date from the serial #?  Interesting history here since I live in CT.

Woofer: http://imgur.com/u46zCc4

Grill: http://imgur.com/lyOpXN7

Terminal and model #: http://imgur.com/BctASo4    

Appreciate any help guys, thanks.

[JKent]

Welcome to the CSP!

What you have there is the Advent Loudspeaker. Since it was the 1st Advent it's usually called the Original Large Advent or OLA (not A3). Very collectible and highly regarded.

You should only use an OLA woofer--anything else will not sound like the original.

First things first: Decide whether you want to keep them. Maybe place a free add in our Wanted/For Sale section asking if any member has OLa woofers for sale. Also, pull one of the woofers and take photos of the back. See if there are any markings. Maybe someone here can help identify them and maybe (if you are lucky) they have some value and you could sell them to subsidize the purchase of OLA woofs.

CSP member/moderator (and fellow CT resident) Carl used these replacements in an OLA project: https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/approx-10-woofers/advent-10-replacement-woofer/    $90 each, but throw in new caps from the same seller and you should have some really nice speakers for about $200. Capacitor values are different for different revisions of the OLA so you'll have to examine yours to see what's in there. Mine had one 8uF and one 16uF per speaker. Madisound has Carli caps in 8uF and 15uF (close enough) at reasonable prices.

Here's Carl's thread: 

Also look through this Advent section for anything related to OLA or Large Advent--could find some interesting reading.

Also see member PeteB's Advent crossover page here: http://baselaudiolab.com/ADVENT_LA_XO.html

Congrats on the find.

-Kent

[leemelone]

On 6/23/2016 at 11:57 AM, JKent said:

"What you have there is the Advent Loudspeaker. Since it was the 1st Advent it's usually called the Original Large Advent or OLA (not A3). Very collectible and highly regarded.

You should only use an OLA woofer--anything else will not sound like the original."

I hate to differ but those pics are of the later models commonly called the NEW Large Advent or NLA. The square tweeter cut out on the grill, the flush tweeter without the large metal plate and the higher woofer position clearly are from the later models. Simply Speakers sells a direct drop in replacement that will fit perfectly. It's a 10 inch woofer in a 12 inch frame.

 

[JKent]

Quote

I hate to differ but those pics are of the later models commonly called the NEW Large Advent or NLA. The square tweeter cut out on the grill, the flush tweeter without the large metal plate and the higher woofer position clearly are from the later models. Simply Speakers sells a direct drop in replacement that will fit perfectly. It's a 10 inch woofer in a 12 inch frame.

Welcome leemealone! And thanks for the correction. I just saw the name "The Advent Loudspeaker" and "assumed". You know what they say......

Anyway, I "think" the ones at Madisound are the same as SS but less expensive. The NLA used the steel basket woofer instead of the Masonite-ring, although I believe they are interchangeable. Here's everything you'd want to know about identifying Advents: http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/identifying-your-advent-loudspeakers.126376/

Kent

[schiddy]

Welp, pulled the drivers.  Can't tell what they are yet as numbers have been corroded off the square magnet cover.  Perhaps a jenson or CTS speaker?  The baskets and square magnet covers looks very similar.

http://imgur.com/Mz0Za0F

 

http://imgur.com/iMjVXsP

[lARrybody]

At first i thought they may be some 10 in AR woofers, but now I am not so sure.  What you have is bull-nose Advents from about 1978.

Here is a guy that has what you need listed on that auction site. 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LARGE-ADVENT-LOUDSPEAKER-WOOFERS-/322149179087?hash=item4b01965ecf:g:fegAAOSwgApXAuWa

If you want to re-foam a pair you could probably find some for less. I just ran into a guy with some NLA (New Large Advent) utility speakers for ninety dollars. I have too many Advents already. He is moving and may sell them for less.

Here are some rebuilt crossovers.

[schiddy]

Thanks for the info!  I'm going to try to identify and sell these incorrect woofers before buying the correct ones, to offset the cost.  Otherwise I may part it out as the crossovers and tweeters are in great condition but the enclosures are pretty bad.

This woofer look like anything you recognize?

http://imgur.com/iMjVXsP

http://imgur.com/Mz0Za0F

http://imgur.com/u46zCc4