hally wrote:Hi,
I have blow one of the LF drivers in my PMC TB1 monitors and PMC want to charge me a whole lotta cash to replace it... Does anybody know what driver i need to get to do the job myself or is it possible to upgrade the drivers in both speakers, any help or info would be much appreciated, I really like my TB1's and would love to continue to use them
thanks
hally
Hi Hally,
Like being stated by the other forum members, don't go that path.
(sidekick) I wonder how you ended up blowing the LF driver, normally you would listen at a level around 85 to 90 dB. The amount of amplifier power to produce that level can't blow up a driver, since its sensitivity os 90dB, it is 1 watt of power.
PMC uses their version of a Transmission Line. The "line" being the internals of the enclosure, is specific for the driver. I know they sometimes have other manufacturers make drivers for them. For the TB1, I understand they us a 170 mm driver, with "VIFA" as the manufacturer, don't have type numbers for that driver. EvenIF you would know which driver from VIFA, you wouldn't know the voice-coil specifics of the PMC (your) version.
Also, PMC states that they try to match 2 drivers for each pair of boxes as much as possible. I don't know the specific driver here, but I would NEVER buy an off the shelve driver not being a PMC version, no matter how good it is by itself. You just don't know if it matches the transmission line. It is possible, with a fair amount of man-hours to do reverse engineering and figure out IF the / a specific driver matches the line, but than we need to figure out the dimensions of the parts of the line AND (most difficult / almost impossible) figure out the TYPE and damping characteristics of the damping foam they used in that model produced at that time.
This (choose a different driver) may MOST LIKELY end up in the low end of the spectrum produced being bad (at least NOT like the other cabinet). Even being BETTER than the PMC one you now have still working is NOT GOOD. They are still not matched to a good enough level, this will influence your mixing / producing / mastering you do.
So, you spend time and money and end up in a bad sounding monitor set from a good manufacturer.
HOWEVER, you have options:
1 - I do see now and than a set of PMC's for sale for a fair amount of money (saw one for 250 pounds as stated perfect condition). Go for a second hand pair and keep your's as spare parts (or sell it with the broken driver, some one els might like to do the repairs) to have less financial impact.
My complete studio is at least second hand and works fine.
2 - Have the driver repaired by a loudspeaker repair shop. Be critical on who to give the job, you only have 1 chance to blow it. That shop would REALLY to know what and how to do this, but (since I guess the coil is gone) repairing is a serious option. ASK COST first, you may end up spending kind of the same as getting a driver from PMC.
3 - Google on PMC drivers being offered, some dealers may have a version somewhere in a closet and want to get rid of them. If it would be an original TB1 version, I'd go for it. It is exactly the same as what PMC can offer you.
4 - As a last one (you might need some time to adapt this one) sell them (stated one LF driver broken) and look on the market for a other brand. There are MANY alternatives, if you life does not depend on a set of PMC's. They are really good speakers, but they are not "the only heaven on earth", other brands can really be an option for the same price.
Good luck.
kind regards, Frans