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Image .5 or Paisley Research .5--Anyone familiar with these?


JKent

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Found these at the Sal, with rotted foams (of course) and picked them up for $4.99. The only identifying information on them were the "Image" logos on the grilles and Serial numbers on the backs. No model numbers but the SN label said "Made in Canada" and the tweeters looked like Vifas, so I bought them. Never heard of a bad Canadian speaker.

The boxes don't look like much and they're covered in black ash grained vinyl. Tried researching these and there is very little on the web. I did find a thread over on Audiokarma and learned these were developed by Canadian icon Ian Paisley and they are similar (maybe identical) to the Paisley Research .5. Mine seem to be Image Reference .5 speakers. They were manufactured by API, who also produced Mirage, Sound Dynamics, Athena, Energy, etc.

The tweeter is indeed a Vifa but there is a label over the Viva part number and when I tried to peel it off I basically destroyed the Vifa label. Think it's a D19TD (photo of front & back attached below). The Woofer is a 6.5" polypropylene unit manufactured by an Ontario company, Cambridge Speakers.

The unimpressive-looking box's dimensions are 9.5"w x 16"h x 8.75"d. Photo below was "borrowed" from the web, but that's what they look like.

Anyone familiar with these? I'm ordering a foam kit from M Sound, will probably replace the single 5.6uF NPE with film. I'd like to install binding posts to replace the speaker wire clips and "may" try to tear off the ugly vinyl and apply an oak veneer.

Comments and suggestions welcome!

Kent

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I don't know anything about these speakers but based on what I could find out about Ian Paisley is that anything by Paisley Research was TOTL. Yours are most likely a cheaper version of the Paisley .5. I would think it is still a good sounding speaker because API made quality products and so did Cambridge Speakers. I have heard that Cambridge Speakers is still in business but I've also heard other wise. As far as I could figure out for API, Mirage was there best and everything else seemed to be cheaper versions of the same thing useing the same drivers. I think early on most of the drivers were audax or polydax. I don't think they every made there own drivers. API is now a shadow of it's former self if it's still in business. So non of this information is going to help you but enjoy your speakers. LOL

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  • 3 weeks later...

Finished the speakers (maybe): New foam surround kit from MSound using the correct "filled fillet" type surround, replaced the 5.6uF NPE with two 2.7uF Panasonic surplus caps from Madisound plus a 0.2 from Mouser. The 3 chiclet-shape caps stacked easily. Replaced the spring clip speaker terminal cup with a nice nickel plated binding post cup from P.E.

The little PC board for the XO had to be modified slightly--it had been soldered directly to the lugs of the terminal cup. I broke the lugs off and added short wires from the new cup to the PCB. Moved the inductor a bit to clear those wires and hot melt glued the PCB to the cabinet.

Cleaned up the speaker grilles. The woofers have an extra foam ring to cover the gasket and screws--nice neat touch.

Fired them up and was very impressed with the sound, so now I'm thinking it could be worthwhile to tear off the slightly damaged black vinyl and maybe veneer the cabinets.

Kent

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  • 5 weeks later...

Mine are covered in "black ash vinyl woodgrain" and the top of one speaker had what appeared to be a cigarette burn. Parts Express has this blemished stuff for 10 bucks. It's a near-perfect match for the Image speakers and some Celestions I'm working on. I found the easiest way to apply it was NOT to remove the original--it doesn't want to come off. Instead I sanded the original vinyl with an orbital sander and feathered any rough edges, then went right over it. Easy. Hint: any small air bubbles that won't roll out can be deflated by making a small (1/4") slice with a razor blade, then rolling again.

I still hate any flavor "wood-grain vinyl" but this was the easiest solution.

Kent

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I'm quite enjoying my Paisley .5's since I refoamed them (again using the 'filled filet' surround (Rick Cobb supplied). Haven't done the crossover yet.

Hi Van_Isle, my name is roly c from Montreal. I will be getting a pair of Paisley .5 in a couple of weeks. Can you tell me anything about them? Specs or anything else.

Thanks

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  • 4 weeks later...

hi Roly

Assuming they are similar to (or better than) the Image .5 I think you will enjoy them. I have too many speakers, so I sold mine (wish I had saved them to give as a gift).

Be sure to used the correct "filled fillet" type surrounds.

Good luck with them!
Kent

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  • 4 weeks later...

Hi, have now refoamed my Paisleys (This was my first attempt at refoaming) and other than messing up with the glue (You will see in the pics) they sound very good. As suggested by other Paisley owners I put in some "Filled fillet" foams and find them to have a nice mellow sound. I am very pleased. I now know what not to do the next time I do a refoam job.

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