26 replies to this topic

[ToastedAlmond]

Your speakers may seem, or actually be heavy due to the fact that some Wharfdale enclosure cabinet walls were/could be sand filled. This supposedly helps to control cabinet resonance. Personally, I don't like the beach.

George

[Rlowe]

I picked up a pair of Warfdale XP2 speakers. I find them nice to listen to (No real bass of course). Does anyone have any comments on their back ground?

Thanks

[soundminded]

As I recall, the largest in the series was the floor standing W90. The double enclosure with sand fill between them was designed to damp out all cabinet resonances and I thought it was extremely clever. I've always wondered why nobody else seems to have tried it. As I recall, the W90 was a dual 3 way system, having two 3 way 12 inch systems in the same enclosure. It was their most ambitious effort at that time. Wharfedale was always regarded as a very high quality British manufacturer and their products were distributed by among others, Lafayette Radio and Electronics. Anyone recall their main store in Syosset Long Island or their large branch store on Liberty Avenue in Jamaica Queens? In the 1950s and 1960s these were among the largest retail electronics store outlets in the New York Metropolitan area. Oh how I wish I had saved their large and fascinating catalogues. They sold everything from Audio equipment, to electronics parts, to microscopes and telescopes including their own brand name products. Brings back a lot of memories.

[soundminded]

The double wall sand filled enclosures may have been designated WD90 or possibly W90/2. Memory fades.

[jimi55lp]

As I recall, the largest in the series was the floor standing W90. The double enclosure with sand fill between them was designed to damp out all cabinet resonances and I thought it was extremely clever. I've always wondered why nobody else seems to have tried it. As I recall, the W90 was a dual 3 way system, having two 3 way 12 inch systems in the same enclosure. It was their most ambitious effort at that time. Wharfedale was always regarded as a very high quality British manufacturer and their products were distributed by among others, Lafayette Radio and Electronics. Anyone recall their main store in Syosset Long Island or their large branch store on Liberty Avenue in Jamaica Queens? In the 1950s and 1960s these were among the largest retail electronics store outlets in the New York Metropolitan area. Oh how I wish I had saved their large and fascinating catalogues. They sold everything from Audio equipment, to electronics parts, to microscopes and telescopes including their own brand name products. Brings back a lot of memories.

I need to find out if anyone can tell me what type of jacks were used on the W-90's, as I have tried banana plugs and 1/8 inch plugs but neither will fit into the small jacks(two on each speaker).

[jimi55lp]

I believe my W 90's are 1964 models, and only the unvented rear panel is sand filled. There are two rear panels that cover the devided cabinets, and the right side (when looking at the backs) is the solid panel that is route and sand filled whith a thin panel over the route to contain the sand, and the left side cover is vented with slots going side to side from top to bottom. There is no sand filled panels on the outer walls of the cabinets or the divider panel. I did change out the Motarola style input jacks and installed Banana 24K plated jacks for easy of hookup and swapping speakers. These speakers sound wonderful compared to my W 70's, and my only concern is that my 60 watt per channel Dynaco Mark III amps may be too powerful for the W 90 and the W 70 speakers. I'm keeping the volume below 4 to play it safe!

[jodyscott]

Hi,

I have a pair of Wharfedale W90 speakers (sand-filled model).
I'm desperately looking for someone who has a photograph of the crossover
for these, or some know-how of the configuration.

I've been attempting to repair them for a year and have had some techs playing around with bypassing the crossover (didn't work).

Any help would be greatly appreciated, as I've almost given up. Wharfedale informed me that they lost this information when one of their facilities burnt several years ago.
Finding someone with some know-how is my only hope.

Kind thanks

[dynaco_dan]

Hi,

I have a pair of Wharfedale W90 speakers (sand-filled model).
I'm desperately looking for someone who has a photograph of the crossover
for these, or some know-how of the configuration.

I've been attempting to repair them for a year and have had some techs playing around with bypassing the crossover (didn't work).

Any help would be greatly appreciated, as I've almost given up. Wharfedale informed me that they lost this information when one of their facilities burnt several years ago.
Finding someone with some know-how is my only hope.

Kind thanks

Hi there

Do you have all the old crossover pieces?

Can you post a good closeup of your crossover of both speakers, if both have not been altered?

[jodyscott]

Hi Dan,

Thanks for your attention to my post. I managed to find a helpful gentleman today that sent me original crossover specs from Wharfedale.
I'm going to contact my tech and see if he can help me get the speakers back in shape.
Unfortunately, the photos of my current crossover scheme aren't original and were altered in an attempt to bypass the pots in the back that equalize the mids and tweets.
Will be in touch, as I need all the help I can get with this project

[jimi55lp]

Depending on which series W90 speakers you have, the cross overs will be different. My W90's are 1964 with the two pots and 6 possion switch on each cross over. Later model don't have the 6 way switch.

[Transmaster]

Wow I am sure glad I found this forum, Looking at the list of AR speakers brings back memories for me I had AR 2A's, and AR-3A's wish I still had them. I have a pair of Wharfedale W35's I purchased new back in 1972. I purchased a new Onkyo receiver and decided to take the W35's out of the very careful storage they have been in for most of the last 15 years, When I first fired them up getting fed with a proper amount of power for the first time I was disappointed with the sound I figured the long period of storeage had not kind to them, However as the speakers loosened up they sounded better and better. Now as I listen to them I am astonished by just how good they are. Can anyone point me in the direction to find the proper binding post nuts for these speakers I am missing one I have a simple nut for now but I would like to obtain the proper part.

I wonder if the present line of Wharfedales are as good?

[JKent]

Can anyone point me in the direction to find the proper binding post nuts for these speakers I am missing one I have a simple nut for now but I would like to obtain the proper part

Welcome to the CSP!
I saw a photo of the back of some W25s and it looks like they have knurled nuts, just like the 8-32 nuts used on AR, KLH and others. If that's the case, you "should" be able to find solid brass ones in a good hardware store. If you want nickle-plated brass those are harder to find but I have some. Send me a PM if interested. Please try to confirm the thread size.
Here's the kind I'm talking about:
http://www.ebay.com/...=item3a7150fcf0
If that's what you need, let me know.
Also, if your W35 crossover is more or less similar to the W25 shown here, http://www.ebay.com/...7057#vi-content (except that the 25 is 2-way and the 35 is 3-way), you should replace the capacitors. It looks like the 25 has the dreaded black and red Callins type PVC cap. These are notorious for leaking. ALSO--if you have not done so--examine your woofer surrounds. If they are foam they are probably beginning to rot.
Kent