Solution to foam rot in RedLine 60 speakers

20 replies
S(
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stevem (archived)
Bronze
Posted May 18, 2007 at 08:43 GMT
#1803492

Hi everyone, just thought you might like to know that I've found an answer to the ABR (Auxiliary Bass Radiator) foam surrounds rotting in the original RedLine 60 speakers.  B&O still sell a conversion kit (about £60 in the UK) to allow you to replace the ABR with the bass reflex port used in the later RL60.2 and RL6000 models.  I bought a pair of RedLines on eBay and found the ABRs to be completely missing!  The replacement ports from B&O (big thanks to the staff at the Nottingham Store who located and ordered these for me) include a steel plate to completely cover the hole where the ABR went.

However, I didn't think to check the two woofers (didn't want to disturb them), so I was wondering if anyone knows whether these are liable to suffer from foam rot as well?  I think these are 6.25 inches in diameter, but can't be certain.  Can anyone advise me please, to save me having to strip the speakers down again?

Thanks,

Steve.

 

M(
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Medogsfat (archived)
Bronze
Posted May 18, 2007 at 10:13 GMT
#1803493

I'm not 100% sure but I think the RL60.2's have rubber surrounds as opposed to the foam surrounds of the earlier RL60's so rot shouldn't be an issue here.

EDIT: - I've just re-read your post and it seems you have the RL60's so yes they do suffer foam rot unfortunately🙁

 

Chris.

S(
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stevem (archived)
Bronze
Posted May 18, 2007 at 13:31 GMT
#1803494
Thanks Chris,

I'll strip down the speakers tonight and check the woofers for the dreaded foam rot!  If I find out anything that could be useful to others on the forum, I'll post an update later on.

Cheers,

Steve.
M(
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Medogsfat (archived)
Bronze
Posted May 18, 2007 at 15:03 GMT
#1803495

Hi Steve,

            if you've refoamed drivers before then ignore this, but if you want any help with this feel free to drop me a line as I've done more than my fair share. Since you've managed to actually sort out the original problem I'm sure you are a pretty handy chap with a screwdriver, crowbar, pot of glue & a soldering iron - pretty much like a fair few of us on here.Stick out tongue

BTW if the foam surrounds are intact but tacky to the touch then they're on their last legs anyway so you may as well do them whilst the cabinets are split.

Anything helpful that you think worth posting would be more than welcome in the "workbench" section of the forum where it won't get so buried in the huge amount of traffic that we get on the general forum.😁

 

Chris.

S(
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stevem (archived)
Bronze
Posted May 18, 2007 at 16:50 GMT
#1803496
Hi Chris,

Thanks for the advice, I've stripped down the speakers again and found that the woofers have rubber surrounds, not foam (HURRAY!)  I will try to find the "Workbench" section of the forum and post a quick update so that people with original RL60s can benefit.

Steve.
J(
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jandyt (archived)
Bronze
Posted May 18, 2007 at 17:15 GMT
#1803497

Chris, or anyone else.
 Is there any particular ambience that causes foam rot in the first place?
Is it coz they don't like central heating or the opposite?
Is it too humid or not humid enough?
Why do some speakers fare worse than others of the same model?
Is it bacterial or merely a chemical transition?
This problem has been known for years, Why haven't manufacturers sorted it.
My Pentas are from 1993 and I have never had the covers off. They still sound great but how would I know if they're suffering?

Andy T.

JO
Offline
joeyboygolf
BronzeFounder
Posted May 19, 2007 at 02:42 GMT
#1803498
The only real way of checking properly is to take the covers off and look. However, it is possible to shine a bright light on the fret and see through it but the view is not that good.
F(
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franE (archived)
Bronze
Posted June 6, 2007 at 08:34 GMT
#1803499

Could be I'm going blind or something, but has anyone mentioned where the replacement rubber surrounds are available from?  (RL140 woofer foam surrounds in tatters). I'd quite like to try it myself, being a practical sort of bloke. 

Thanks in advance

Fran

F(
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franE (archived)
Bronze
Posted June 6, 2007 at 09:31 GMT
#1803500

okay okay. Just read Dillen's reply in another thread regarding tolerances in RL140's. I think I'll send them in for professional repair (Recone Lab), unless there are other thoughts on this.

Fran

BE
Offline
Beowulf
BronzeFounder
Posted June 6, 2007 at 16:17 GMT
#1803501

Hi Fran

Just had my surrounds on the four mid bass drivers in my RL140's done at Recone Labs,  speak to Mark Noble, who is both helpful and informative. I am also upgrading the capacitors on the crossovers.

Does anybody have experience of recovering the speakers to ensure the cloth reveals the Bang & Olufsen logo which is in relief on the Redlines?

 

 

Kind regards

 

Dave 

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