Jump to content

CSW Ambiance mini-monitor by Henry Kloss


Recommended Posts

A really neat mini-monitor. I bought a pair of beautiful solid oak (not veneer) Ambiance speakers around 1990 IIRC and still use them as surround speakers in the home theater. The standard finish was "Nextel" and I had one of those, used as a center channel. These are so old, when I phoned CSW to ask if they had a schematic they said there was no such thing as an "Ambiance bookshelf" (they use that designation for some ceiling speakers now). Had to send them a photo!

Here is a review from Stereophile: http://www.stereophi...0cam/index.html Here's an excerpt:

The Ambiance, Cambridge SoundWorks' second product, is a more conventional minimonitor that resembles a slightly larger-scale version of the Ensemble satellite. Though specifications and literature state that the Ambiance features a 6.5" woofer, this dimension misleadingly includes the mounting plate. The actual radiating diameter of the pulp cone is 4.5". Bass alignment is sealed-box or "acoustic suspension," while the tweeter is a ferrofluid-cooled unit with a plastic phase plate over the dome. A metal grille protects the drive-units, which are mounted on a slightly recessed baffle, while electrical connection is via gold-plated five-way binding posts on the rear. A "keyhole" is included on the rear panel to allow the speaker to be wall-mounted, and a rear brass bush is also fitted so that the Ambiance can be bolted to an optional stand. The review samples were finished in gray Nextel, but primed wood (ready for painting) and solid oak finishes are also available.

So I found a pair in Nextel on ebay for a low price. Over the years, the Nextel had been scratched and had turned kind of gummy. When I tried wiping them down with lacquer thinner, the Nextel came off!

Next step: Get out the paint stripper and have at 'em.

post-101828-0-23788400-1339469313_thumb.

post-101828-0-97626800-1339469524_thumb.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

After stripping the cabinets down to the primer (they are MDF) I re-did the crossovers. The original xo had 2 coils, 2 resistors and 3 caps. Don't know the values of the inductors--I just left them alone. The resistors were 5w so I decided to replace them--one 3.8 ohm and one 9 ohm. The caps were NPEs--two 6.8uF and one 10uF. I replaced those with film caps.

On my first try, I installed standard Dayton 10w resistors vertically, as the originals were, but later learned there was not enough clearance for the woofer! So I installed one Eagle 9 ohm that fit fine and wired the Dayton (it's a 3.9) to lie flat.

post-101828-0-69835600-1339470149_thumb.

post-101828-0-20065600-1339470156_thumb.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So....how to replace the Nextel?

A trip to my local auto parts store turned up.......Truck Bed Liner! It sprayed on easily and made a black nice textured finish. It must be durable if it's used as truck bed liner.

I like the look. And they sound great!

I may use the Truck Bed Liner spray to re-do the rubbery finish on the "plinth" of my AR turntable.

Kent

post-101828-0-50070500-1339470378_thumb.

post-101828-0-70396500-1339470395_thumb.

post-101828-0-49212300-1339470406_thumb.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice little speaker restoration, Kent. I love the fact that you had to explain to the manufacturer about one of their products.

If I read this correctly, the crossover boards are fully removable with 6 screws each - - - I like this convenience - - - especially for this x-o with relatively many components. Are these wood screws directly into the MDF rear panel or machine screws with t-nuts? And, is there a gasket seal between x-o board and rear cabinet panel? Stuffing?

I have used this paint many years ago for other types of projects - - - I think at my local auto parts stores it was called "trunk paint", but I just called it "spatter paint" because of the small flecks of contrasting color - - sorta hard to see in your pics. My recollection was that it came in three flavors: black with grey flecks; black with green; and grey with white.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks!
Yes--the xo board comes out with 6 wood screws, screwed directly into the MDF. The pc board is attached to the Masonite plate by way of the 2 banana jacks at one end and a dab of hot melt glue at the other. There is a thin gasket that I did not replace--maybe should have. Stuffing is nice non-itchy polyester (?) fiberfill.

This is not trunk paint. No speckles. Rustoleum Truck Bed Coating: http://www.rustoleum...uct.asp?pid=367 It goes on thick and is sort of rubbery with a very definite texture. You can search YouTube for "Rustoleum Truck Bed Coating" for more info.

I used Rustoleum gray sandable primer first. Unfortunately the black color does not photograph that well.

Kent

Link to comment
Share on other sites

OK, my mistake - - - we're definitely talking about different paint products, and this Rustoleum looks interesting. I did happen to find the stuff I was referring to, and lo and behold, my memory was actually correct regarding the color options.

http://www.duplicolo...s/trunkSpatter/

...... and here's Dupli-color's bed liner paint

http://www.duplicolo...edArmorAerosol/

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, now that the project's done, I see it was NOT an original idea! :unsure: There is discussion on the PE Tech Talk forum regarding bed liner, and some nice photos. Some people apparently prefer the Duplicolor stuff but I was very satisfied with Rustoleum. There are other brands, too, including Rhino, and a product specifically marketed for coating speaker cabs, called Duratex, but it's apparently only sold by the gallon so it's more expensive and there's the issue of how to spray it. Looks like you can apply it with a roller, too. http://www.speakerhardware.com/duratex-spray-grade.php

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...

Hi Jkent.. I also just got an old pair of these.. haven't tried plugging in em yet, but they def need work on the outside, plus they seem to strong mold/mildew odor. Do you think I can follow your process to save their cabinets, or should I just gut them for the parts and build my own?

Curious how you got em open.. haven't spent time yet trying but a quick scan and they seem quite sealed.

-S

post-121591-0-85218000-1348960124_thumb.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi and welcome!

You have to pry the metal grilles off. They have some black goop in the corners but if you are patient you can put an awl or similar tool in a hole and pull. Then go to the opposite side. Eventually you can pull it off. Don't be over-enthusiastic or you may bend the metal.

Once that's off, the woofer and tweeter unscrew, allowing you to get inside. Put the drivers aside, pull out the stuffing. Find the smell. You can wash the cabinets with a bleach/water solution (remove the crossover first) and if the poly stuffing is smelly replace that with an equal amount from a craft or fabric store.

I've become a big fan of the truck bed liner. It's similar to the original Nextel in appearance, and it's very tough. I'm in the process of fixing up an Advent 400 radio that was extremely yellowed from age and UV exposure. The truck bed stuff ain't authentic but it looks pretty good IMHO. When I get around to the receiver cabinet I'll post photos.

OTOH, if you are an expert woodworker you could build new cabinets. I have some Ambiance speakers that are solid oak with finger-jointed corners. They look very cool.

Good luck.

Kent

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Jkent.. I also just got an old pair of these.. haven't tried plugging in em yet, but they def need work on the outside, plus they seem to strong mold/mildew odor. Do you think I can follow your process to save their cabinets, or should I just gut them for the parts and build my own?

Curious how you got em open.. haven't spent time yet trying but a quick scan and they seem quite sealed.

-S

Unless the cabinets are splitting or show signs of damage, you should be able to clean off the old Nextel paint . Paint stripper works well. ( either the gel type or denatured alcohol worked for me). Access to the drivers - Use a credit card to get the grills off or a spatula , I've used a paper clip through the grills as well) they are held in place by some type of tacky putty along a few edges.

The mildew smell should go when you get the paint off. Before you go through all of that. Plug them in and make sure they work :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have some Ambiance speakers that are solid oak with finger-jointed corners. They look very cool.

Good luck.

Kent

The Oak cabinet version are by far the nicest of the Ambiance line ( there was also a calcium injected ABS cabinet "outdoor" Ambiance) . A set of the Oak Ambiance on the original CSW Tripod Stands look Sharp!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 10 months later...

Got another pair of Ambiance speakers! The Nextel was sticky and scratched up, so after gutting the cabinets I glopped on the Citri-Strip. Based on a recent magazine article I plan to try Soy Gel when I run out of Citri-Strip.

The xo board is easily removed--7 screws removes it from the cabinet and then the PCB is attached by way of the banana plugs (2 nuts) and a blob of hot melt glue.

Here are the components that were replaced:

  • 1) 10uF 50v NPE replaced with 10uF 250v Panasonic film "drop" ($3.43 ea.)
  • 2) 6.8 50v NPEs replaced with 6.8uF 250v Panasonic film "drops" ($2.28 ea.)
  • 1) 3.8 ohm 5 watt 10% resistor replaced with 4.0 ohm 8 watt 5% Ohmite resistor ($3.60 ea.)
  • 1) 9 ohm 5 watt 10% resistor replaced with 9.1 ohm 7 watt 5% Bourns resistor ($0.67 ea.)

The inductors were not replaced. The resistors "could" have been kept but I've had a bad experience (scorched & burned) with 5 watt resistors so I always replace them with at least 7 watt.

All parts were purchased from Mouser. An important consideration was that they not stick up higher than the inductors so they would not rub against the back of the woofer.

The crossover in Post#1 was done with components from Madisound, plus a Dayton resistor from PE. Madisound no longer carries the Eagle 9 ohm resistor so I turned to Mouser. They had a nearly identical Bourns 9.1 ohm resistor and an Ohmite 4.0 ohm that was kind of expensive, but the right physical size. The caps are radial film "chiclets" that fit pretty well.

Nokia drivers are marked "High Quality Loudspeaker--Made in Western Germany".

A great tool for removing the old components was a Hakko 808. Check it out! http://www.starlino.com/hakko-808-desoldering-tool-review.html

Will post pics of the cabinets when finished.

Kent

post-101828-0-36454600-1377575067_thumb.

post-101828-0-08042800-1377575076_thumb.

post-101828-0-56784100-1377575086_thumb.

post-101828-0-59650200-1377575095_thumb.

post-101828-0-25770800-1377575107_thumb.

post-101828-0-63398700-1377978108_thumb.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

While working on the second pair of Nextel/truck bed liner Ambiance speakers I scored my second pair of oak Ambiance speakers. I really like these! I have a pair that I bought about 30 years ago that are my rear surround speakers. This pair may end up as a gift.

The oak cabinets are genuine SOLID oak, with dovetail joints at the corners (or more accurately, finger joints). The construction is therefore similar to the Cizek KA-1 koa wood speakers I use as front main speakers.

The wood was in good shape so I just wiped it down with a cloth saturated with Howard Restore-a-Finish (Natural). I will probably apply a coat of wax. The crossovers were rebuilt exactly the same as the ones in the previous post.

Meanwhile, the Nextel ones are coming along. Stripping was a slow and messy job. Ideally you want to remove the Nextel without removing the primer because the stripper can raise the fibers of the MDF and the original primer also filled the seams. I ended up sanding after stripping, then applying some sandable primer and sanding again. Photos to follow.......

Kent

edit: OK. Just attached the Nextel-now-truck-bed-liner photo.

post-101828-0-49277900-1377917234_thumb.

post-101828-0-81881300-1378149149_thumb.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...