Q: A friend recently gave me a pair of ADS CN-6 bookshelf speakers, both of which have been damaged by rats. One tweeter makes a bird-tweet sound on high notes, and one woofer has rat nibbles on the cone. I am using them with a Denon AVR-1200 receiver, and they still perform to a level I consider almost acceptable. But is it worth it to repair them?
A: I love vintage ADS (Analog and Digital Systems, also called a/d/s) speakers, especially the L series from the 1980s. What you need to consider before repairing them is if the replacement drivers are original, and what it would cost to get them operating perfectly again.
If you are not using the original ADS woofers and tweeters, all you have is ADS cabinets. I could not find the CN-6 speakers within the historical ADS lineup, and even if I could, I imagine original replacement parts for your speakers are hard to come by.
Unless you have a sentimental attachment to the speakers or really like the style, you also must consider the cost of new speakers that will have a warranty and better performance. I would wager that the $249 Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ or $315 Q Acoustics 3020i both would sound better, even if your vintage speakers were in optimal working condition. See them at emotiva.com and qacoustics.com.
I think repairing the chewed cone and correcting the tweeter defect is your best option. It would not cost as much as replacement drivers, and it would preserve the original sound of your speakers. The Speaker Exchange at reconingspeakers.com is an excellent resource for repair parts and advice.
The woofer should be relatively easy, and they might be able to tell you what is causing your tweeter to make the bird-tweet noise and help you repair it. I would put a cap of $125 on the project because you have no guarantee of the repair attempt being successful.
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