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This is the second part of the Bang & Olufsen Beolab Penta restoration. For the first part, see:
Vintage Bang & Olufsen Penta Restoration “Project Twins” – Part 1
For the first big task, I stared by removing all the dry-rotted foam from the midrange speaker drivers. This is a tedious process since the speaker cones are paper and can’t be damaged during the removal and cleaning process.
Quick picture of the wiring so I remember how to hook everything up:
The sad condition of the original foam:
Initial foam removal:
Showing the residue that needs cleaning:
Very clean drivers:
Another picture of the clean drivers ready for new foam:
Gluing the foam to the speaker cones:
Jig to apply light pressure for glue to dry properly onto the paper cones:
This was a lot of work since a pair of Pentas have 8 midrange drivers, but things are starting to progress.
Next: Vintage Bang & Olufsen Penta Restoration “Project Twins” – Part 3
Bonjour Jean-Michel,
Je les ai achetés dans un magasin aux Pays-Bas:
https://www.speakerrepairshop.nl/index.php?item=a-set-foam-rings-for-bang-_amp_-olufsen-beolab-penta-mid—9-pcs&action=article&group_id=10000013&aid=2475&lang=en#.W3qmOJ-nEs8
Bonne chance!
Eric
Bonjours d’Espagne. (valencia ) Mais suis suisse romand… Voila je dispose d’une paire de haut-Parleurs identique. Je suis bricoleur, et je cherche a changer comme vous les mousse cuite ! Ma question et la suivante.. Pourriez vous me transmettre quelque endroits ou je pourrais acheter ces mousse neuve.. Comme vous l’avez fait.. Merci beaucoup de Sagunto Valenciano.. Origine Suisse.. Avec mes sincères remerciements. Jean-Michel Brunner.
I used a ton of cotton swabs that had a very small amount of isopropyl alcohol on them. It’s not difficult, but extremely time consuming and tedious. Good luck!
What did you use to clean the old rotted foam off the edges of the cones and the baskets. I just started preparing mine for new surrounds and I’m having a hard time getting them as clean as I would like them to be.
Bonjour Eric,
La restauration de mes Penta III est terminée. J’ai changé tous les condensateurs (ampli et filtre) des enceintes par des condensateurs de qualité sauf les 2 de 10.000µF des amplis que j’ai conservé. Un peu déçu par les nouvelles suspensions en mousse qui n’ont pas les mêmes dimensions que celles d’origines. En effet, le diamètre extérieur est plus petit de deux millimètres ainsi que le diamètre intérieur. La lèvre intérieure est trop large et recouvre trop largement la membrane papier du haut parleur. Le soufflet est aussi trop large et on voit par l’arrière que le bord de la membrane papier arrive dans le pli en mousse. On perd 30% de la surface qui dissipe le son.
J’ai aussi remis des tissus neufs. Je ne sais pas comment faire pour vous envoyer des photos sur le site.
Cordialement,
Olivier
On doit utiliser les mêmes matériaux pour les véritables caractéristiques acoustiques Bang & Olufsen. Je voudrais utiliser caoutchouc seulement pour la commodité. C’est un peu plus facile. Avec cela dit, j’ai utilisé la “foam”. Pardonnez mon, parce que mon français est très mauvais. Bonne chance et e-mail des photos des haut-parleurs.
OK, thanks.
I ask this question because I am not sure that the sound will be the same with the edge foam and the edge rubber.Compliance and absortion is not the same.The sound of a médium is not a piston as a boomer.The power in less and the middle frequency can be stoped by the rubber.I am not sure, it’s an expérience and it’s also a question.When you go to the hight frequency (tweteer) you dont find rubber on the speaker.I think I prefer the foam to have the original sound and perhaps the new foam stay for more ten years. So, it will be a pleasure to change it again in ten years fot ten years again. The badest in this story is that I will be ten years hold in more! Sincerly, Olivier
I purchased replacement foam from http://www.goodhifi.com in the Netherlands. While the original speakers utilized foam, if I do another restoration, I think I’m going to use rubber. I really don’t like the idea of having to re-foam every 10 years or so.
Hi from France, I have the sama Penta 6631 and the same problem with the foam.I look on the web some seller who sold “foam” and others sold “rubber”. Origin is foam; could you please send me the link where you bought your foam? Thanks for your help, Olivier
Rico,
If you’re referring to the crossover, it’s accessed from the bottom of the speaker. If you’re asking about the specific circuit on the crossover, first let me know what version Penta you have. That info should be on the bottom of the speaker.
Cheers,
Eric
Hi,
Very good work !
I have the same speaker. I like this speaker b&o, event if that’s not the best hifi sound…
Thank’s for the tutorial because that helped me to make speaker medium…
But can you tell me where is the filter for the high speaker ? Because i’ve not sound into this speaker…
Thank’s a lot for your answer,
Rico
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