Page 1 of 14 123456 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 132

Thread: Sierra-2 Upgrade instructions with video!

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Tustin, CA USA
    Posts
    69

    Smile Sierra-2 Upgrade instructions with video!

    Sierra-2 Upgrade Instructions

    Recommended Tools:

    Phillips head screwdriver
    1/2" Hex Nut Driver (1/2” socket)
    Nail or small, thin-shaft screwdriver
    Stubby handled Phillips head screwdriver (short handle)

    Included Parts:

    Sierra-2 Ribbon Tweeter, Tweeter Gasket and Tweeter Spacer
    Sierra-2 Woofer and Gasket
    Sierra-2 Crossover


    1 Remove the Tweeter Video Link

    a) Gently lay the speaker back so the front of the speaker is facing upward.
    b) Using the Phillips head screwdriver, carefully remove the (4) screws from around the perimeter of the tweeter and set them aside.
    c) Lean the speaker forward and carefully remove the tweeter and gasket from the cabinet.
    d) Gently remove each female wire connector from the tweeter’s male terminals. You will need to gently wiggle the connector to remove it from the terminal. Do not apply too much force or you will risk damaging the tweeter and/or the connector itself.

    2 Remove the Woofer Video Link

    a) Using the Phillips head screwdriver, carefully remove the (4) screws from around the perimeter of the woofer and set them aside.
    b) Lean the speaker forward and carefully remove the woofer from the cabinet.
    c) Gently remove each female connector from the woofer’s male terminals. You will need to gently wiggle the connector to remove it from the terminal. Do not apply too much force or you will risk damaging the woofer and/or the connector itself.

    3 Remove damping material and disconnect the crossover lead wires Video Link

    a) Reach inside the cabinet, fold the white Dacron batting material in half and then pull it from the cabinet.
    b) Using the 1/2" Hex nut driver, carefully remove the securing nut from each of the two binding posts on the inside of the cabinet and set these aside.
    c) Using your fingers, remove the lock washer that is underneath the nut you just removed and set these aside. The crossover lead wires should now be free.
    d) Remove the red and black crossover lead wires from the binding post terminals.

    4 Remove the old crossover Video Link

    a) Examine the crossover board which is secured on the bottom of the speaker cabinet. Locate the (4) securing screws at each corner of the crossover board.
    b) Using the stubby handled Phillips head screwdriver, carefully remove each of the (4) screws and set these aside. Please be careful to avoid damaging any of the crossover components.
    c) After all (4) screws have been removed, remove the crossover from the speaker cabinet.

    5 Install crossover screws Video Link

    Using the same screws that you removed from the Sierra-1 crossover, insert these into the (4) screw holes in the Sierra-2 crossover.

    6 Install Sierra-2 crossover into speaker cabinet Video Link

    a) Look inside the speaker cabinet and find the (4) screw hole inserts on the bottom baffle.
    b) Place the Sierra-2 crossover inside the cabinet such that each mounting screw is lined up with each corresponding screw insert. Align the crossover such that the two crossover lead wires are in the back of the cabinet and the woofer and tweeter wires are towards the front of the cabinet.
    c) Using the stubby handled Phillips head screwdriver, gently tighten down each mounting screw, making sure that each screw is tightening down in the screw insert. The crossover board must not bend so take your time.

    7 Attach crossover lead wires to binding posts Video Link

    a) Place the crossover lead wires back onto the binding post terminals. Please make sure to keep red to red and black to black.
    b) Install the lock washers that were removed in step 3, part c.
    c) Install the nuts that were removed in step 3, part c.
    d) On the back of the cabinet, locate the binding posts. Unscrew the plastic knob on both the positive and negative terminals.
    e) Insert your nail or thin-shaft screwdriver into the hole in the red positive brass terminal and grasp it there for counterforce while you perform the next step.
    f) Using the 1/2” Hex nut driver, tighten down from within the cabinet the securing nut of the red positive terminal. This should be tightened so that the binding posts on the back of the speaker are secure and will not twist or turn, and so that the nail or screwdriver lever remains as close to vertical as possible. Video Link
    g) Repeat steps e) & f) for the black negative terminal of the binding post.
    h) Inspect the holes in the brass terminals of the binding posts to ensure they are vertical. Once satisfied, rescrew the plastic covers of the binding posts.

    8 Reinstall the damping material Video Link

    a) Grab the woofer and tweeter crossover wires and position them so that they hang outside the speaker cabinet.
    b) Fold the damping material in half and place it back into the cabinet.
    c) Unfold the damping material such that it now covers the internal walls of the cabinet.

    9 Install the new tweeter Video Link

    IT IS IMPERATIVE TO LEAVE THE PAPER GUARD IN PLACE OVER THE RIBBON DURING THE ENTIRE INSTALLATION PROCESS!!!

    a) Grab the red and black crossover wires and insert them through the opening in the shelf brace and then out through the tweeter opening.
    b) Gently push the plastic lead covers down the length of the wire exposing the female terminals.
    c) Place the tweeter gasket into the tweeter cutout and position it such that all (4) screw holes are aligned.
    d) Place the tweeter spacer over the tweeter gasket.
    e) As you hold the tweeter with the male terminals facing you and oriented to the bottom of the assembly, you will observe two of the larger male terminals on the tweeter -- you must use the one on the right (This is demonstrated in the video).
    f) Using the red and black crossover wires, gently push the female terminals back onto the corresponding male terminals on the new tweeter.
    Note: it may be helpful to place a daub of solder on each connection. You may also gently crimp the terminals with pliers. Regardless, you must ensure that the connection is solid before closing up the speaker.
    g) Slide the plastic lead covers back over the female terminals.
    h) Place the new tweeter back into the speaker cabinet.

    10 Install the new woofer Video Link

    a) Grab the brown and black crossover wires and pull them outside the speaker cabinet through the woofer opening.
    b) Gently push the plastic lead covers down the length of the wire exposing the female terminals.
    c) Place the included gasket in the cutout with the holes in the gasket aligned with the screw holes.
    d) Using the brown and black wires, gently push the female terminals back onto the corresponding male terminals on the woofer. Note: it may be helpful to place a daub of solder on each connection. 0You may also gently crimp the terminals with pliers. Regardless, you must ensure that the connection is solid before closing up the speaker.
    e) Slide the plastic lead covers back over the female terminals.
    f) Place the woofer into the speaker cabinet ensuring the screw holes are aligned.

    11 Insert the woofer and tweeter securing screws Video Link

    a) Using your hands, manipulate the positioning of the woofer and tweeter such that the screw holes in each component align with the screw holes in the loudspeaker cabinet.
    b) Insert the (4) woofer mounting screws and (4) tweeter mounting screws. Note, these use the same screws. Hand tighten each screw.

    12 Tighten all screws Video Link

    a) Using a Phillips head screwdriver, securely tighten down all (8) screws. Do not over tighten!
    b) It is now time to remove the paper guard from the ribbon tweeter.

    IT IS IMPERATIVE TO GENTLY AND SLOWLY SLIDE THE PAPER GUARD IN THE DIRECTION OF THE ARROW, NOT PULL IT OFF!!!

    Failure to follow this instruction can damage the extremely sensitive and thin ribbon.

    Congratulations, you are finished!
    Last edited by jamesg; 12-16-2013 at 04:25 PM.
    Good Sound to You!

    James Greenberg
    www.ascendacoustics.com

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Space Coast, FL
    Posts
    578

    Default Re: Sierra-2 Upgrade instructions with video!

    Outstanding!! Thank you James & Joe! You guys rock!

    I will watch all of these later tonight when I have more time.
    -Jacob

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Posts
    21

    Default Re: Sierra-2 Upgrade instructions with video!

    Quote Originally Posted by jamesg View Post
    Sierra-2 Upgrade Instructions

    ....

    12 Tighten all screws Video Link

    a) Using a Phillips head screwdriver, securely tighten down all (8) screws. Do not over tighten!
    b) It is now time to remove the paper guard from the ribbon tweeter.

    IT IS IMPERATIVE TO GENTLY AND SLOWLY SLIDE THE PAPER GUARD IN THE DIRECTION OF THE ARROW, NOT PULL IT OFF!!!

    Failure to follow this instruction can damage the extremely sensitive and thin ribbon.

    Congratulations, you are finished!
    What should be a torque to tighten all 8 screws?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Tustin, CA USA
    Posts
    69

    Default Re: Sierra-2 Upgrade instructions with video!

    Quote Originally Posted by rkoaudio View Post
    What should be a torque to tighten all 8 screws?
    Hi rkoaudio, since there is no universal standard for power drill torque, I can't give you an exact setting. It simply depends on the drill. The amount of torque you should use should be sufficient to completely tighten the screws without allowing the screw to spin in the pilot hole. I suggest you start off with minimum torque and then gradually increase the torque until the screw is almost entirely flush, then finish tightening by hand only, no power.
    Good Sound to You!

    James Greenberg
    www.ascendacoustics.com

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    SouthWest of Cleveland
    Posts
    1,924

    Default Re: Sierra-2 Upgrade instructions with video!

    Thanks for the video tutorials, James & Joe!

    I was wondering if the upgrade kits included new gaskets. That answers that.

    Are the kits shipping out this week? Can't wait to hear the reports of their performance compared to the Standard & NrT Sierra's!
    Ed

    * Sierra-2EX's W/V2 crossover upgrade
    * (2) Rythmik F12's
    * Parasound Halo P6
    * Audio by Van Alstine DVA-M225 Monoblock Amps
    * MiniDSP 2x4HD For Sub calibration
    *World's Best Cables Canare 4S11 speaker cables

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Posts
    39

    Default Re: Sierra-2 Upgrade instructions with video!

    If the ribbon is that fragile, is it recommended to keep the speaker grilles on? I'm not talking about careless finger pokes, but if I walk by and my shirt grazes the thing, could it get damaged?

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Tustin, CA USA
    Posts
    69

    Default Re: Sierra-2 Upgrade instructions with video!

    Quote Originally Posted by Mag_Neato View Post
    Thanks for the video tutorials, James & Joe!

    Are the kits shipping out this week? Can't wait to hear the reports of their performance compared to the Standard & NrT Sierra's!
    Hi Ed, the fully-assembled Sierra-2s are shipping starting tomorrow December 17th! The Sierra-2 upgrade kits will begin shipping on Wednesday December 18th.
    Good Sound to You!

    James Greenberg
    www.ascendacoustics.com

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Tustin, CA USA
    Posts
    69

    Default Re: Sierra-2 Upgrade instructions with video!

    Quote Originally Posted by pj- View Post
    If the ribbon is that fragile, is it recommended to keep the speaker grilles on? I'm not talking about careless finger pokes, but if I walk by and my shirt grazes the thing, could it get damaged?
    Hi pj, while the ribbon itself is delicate, it is protected behind a metal mesh screen and cannot be directly contacted. The danger to the ribbon is in being affected by a vacuum as the protective paper cover is removed. If the paper cover is simply pulled off, the force of the vacuum has been shown to potentially damage the ribbon. If one is careful to slide the paper cover off, then there is no risk to the ribbon. Once the cover is slid off the tweeter, you can choose to keep the grilles on or off.
    Good Sound to You!

    James Greenberg
    www.ascendacoustics.com

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    SouthWest of Cleveland
    Posts
    1,924

    Default Re: Sierra-2 Upgrade instructions with video!

    Quote Originally Posted by jamesg View Post
    Hi pj, while the ribbon itself is delicate, it is protected behind a metal mesh screen and cannot be directly contacted. The danger to the ribbon is in being affected by a vacuum as the protective paper cover is removed. If the paper cover is simply pulled off, the force of the vacuum has been shown to potentially damage the ribbon. If one is careful to slide the paper cover off, then there is no risk to the ribbon. Once the cover is slid off the tweeter, you can choose to keep the grilles on or off.
    Good to know, James. Maybe an extra video showing the paper cover being correctly removed would be a good idea?
    Ed

    * Sierra-2EX's W/V2 crossover upgrade
    * (2) Rythmik F12's
    * Parasound Halo P6
    * Audio by Van Alstine DVA-M225 Monoblock Amps
    * MiniDSP 2x4HD For Sub calibration
    *World's Best Cables Canare 4S11 speaker cables

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Space Coast, FL
    Posts
    578

    Default Re: Sierra-2 Upgrade instructions with video!

    Quote Originally Posted by jamesg View Post
    Hi Ed, the fully-assembled Sierra-2s are shipping starting tomorrow December 17th! The Sierra-2 upgrade kits will begin shipping on Wednesday December 18th.
    Woohoo! I can't wait.

    Quote Originally Posted by Mag_Neato View Post
    Good to know, James. Maybe an extra video showing the paper cover being correctly removed would be a good idea?
    My Sierra Horizon had this same paper cover over the RAAL 70-20XR when I received it back in April 2012. I just pulled off the paper cover slowly in the direction of the arrow.

    The idea is to avoid lifting it straight up in a way that could create a vacuum. So for example, if the loudspeaker is laying on its back and the tweeter is facing straight up, you wouldn't want to lift it straight upwards (12 o'clock), but rather you'd slide it off at a 90 degree angle (9 o'clock or 3 o'clock).

    In other words, slide it off in the direction of the arrow.
    -Jacob

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •