NrT Upgrade instructions with video!

[DPlettner]

Thanks David. I will stop by Home Depot tomorrow and pick up the right screws.

Based on the picture below, I think I can use one of the existing mounting holes, and then create three new holes for the wood screws.

I agree that the build quality is great and the cabinets are very solid.

I have a few other comments for people with first generation cabinets. The batting material is not Dacron as shown in the video. Instead the batting material is fiberglass inserted into a 3-segment black mesh bag. The 3-segments of the bag are glued to the interior of cabinet. It is not too hard to separate the bad from the cabinet, but doing so does release particles of fiberglass through the mesh, so you may want to wear gloves while working with the bag to avoid touching the fiberglass. Also, there will be fiberglass particles in the cabinet interior after removing the bag, so it helps to have a vacuum cleaner with a narrow hose to remove the fiberglass particles.

Finally, the crossover wire terminals are held to the binding posts using nuts, as shown in the videos. However, a very durable glue has been applied to the nuts and binding posts. While disassembling the first speaker, I did manage to remove the nuts and terminals from the binding posts. However, it certainly seems possible that the binding posts could be damaged by the removal process. For the remaining four speakers, I think I will leave the binding posts alone, and splice the new crossover wires to the old crossover wires by soldering the wires together.

If anyone is on the fence about having Ascend do the upgrade or doing it themselves, you may want to remove the woofer and see if you have a first generation cabinet, since the upgrade will be a bit more work and you may want Ascend to do the upgrade.

-Dave

[Mag_Neato]

Interesting. Thanks for the heads up, Dave. Since I most likely have the same cabinets this is invaluable info.

Question for Dave F.: I have some 1" Dacron batting leftover from my Rythmik sub project. Can I cut a piece of that to replace the fiberglass stuff that may be in my speakers? If so, what are the dimensions to make the piece? Thanks!

[curtis]

Question for Dave F.: I have some 1" Dacron batting leftover from my Rythmik sub project. Can I cut a piece of that to replace the fiberglass stuff that may be in my speakers? If so, what are the dimensions to make the piece? Thanks!

Why would you want to do that? The purposes/properties of are different.

[Mag_Neato]

Why would you want to do that? The purposes/properties of are different.

The video for the upgrade shows dacron batting in the later cabinets. Unless something was changed in the tuning/crossover I'd think there would be no difference? If the fiberglass stuff needs to be re-glued to the inside of the cabinet then going with Dacron could eliminate that step.

[DPlettner]

I don't think you need to glue the fiberglass batting back in. It seems to position itself at least as securely as the Dacron in the video without reapplying any glue.

The fit is quite nice, since the three segments of the mesh bag that contain the fiberglass match the dimensions of the back and side walls.

My guess is that the glue is an extra precaution to ensure that nothing moves during shipping, and is really not needed for an "in-home" upgrade.

-Dave

[Mag_Neato]

Ok, thanks!

I should remove a woofer tonight and see if i have the same cabinet, then I can make sure I have the proper screws on hand.

[DPlettner]

Ok, thanks!

I should remove a woofer tonight and see if i have the same cabinet, then I can make sure I have the proper screws on hand.

That's a good plan so that you can do the upgrade when the packages arrive. Hopefully I will be able to perform the upgrade tonight.

-Dave

[davef]

Why would you want to do that? The purposes/properties of are different.

Not really -- when we switched from the fiberglass to the heavy Dacron, I fully tested both and they were indistinguishable from one another when used in the Sierra-1 cabinet.

[Mag_Neato]

Well, I took one of the woofers out when I got home. I see the black-net covered fiberglass. Guess I'll need to pick up some #4 x 1/2" long drywall screws. I have a big bottle of Goo Gone already, so I will try that on the binding post nuts. Just need the kits to show up tomorrow!

P.S. One thing I noticed when I pulled the woofer out: The video of the upgrade shows what looks like the internal brace of the cabinet to be made of bamboo like the cabinet. In my cabinet the brace looks like it's made from particle board. Am I seeing things that are not there in the vid?

[Mag_Neato]

Ok, I went to Home Depot to find some 1/2" long drywall screws. No luck. Shortest is 1". There were some #6, 1/2" and 5/8" Spax construction screws. Would those be ok?