Considering purchase...KEF 104/2, slightly damaged. Need thoughts on inspection.

[Whitey80]

Been looking for a pair of these for a long while, after having heard them in an acquaintances system and then missing a pair on craigslist last year for $500.

A pair popped up this morning on my local Craigslist for $300. The cabinets are damaged due to dog piss. The cabinets are far too complex for me to rebuild completely, but I can veneer and refinish them.

Is it a strong possibility that the liquid has damaged the joint to a degree as to be useless at this point? If so, how could I visually tell on inspection?

Here's a link to the speakers.

Thanks guys.

 

[Pyrrho]

Most likely, the damage is mostly superficial.

What you should look for is swollen wood, soft wood, and for the thing physically coming apart. Check the bottoms in particular, as they could have extra damage if they were on thick wet carpet for an extended period of time. In other words, you are looking for the same things you would look for with water damage.

The more imbedded the urine, the more damage there will be, and the more difficult it will be to repair, as well as the more difficult it will be do get rid of the smell.


Obviously, you would want to inspect the speakers in all the normal ways as well, for "foam rot" (if applicable) and functioning of the speakers themselves.

I would also try to talk them down on the price, though they may be worth the asking price if there are no serious problems and you are willing to deal with refinishing them and taking care of the smell.

 

[its phillip]

I dunno how damaged they got by the urine, but that's got to be the first time I've seen speakers being offloaded due to dog piss!

 

[Warpdrv]

Dude REALLY ??!?!?!!?!?

Thats gross and I wouldn't even consider something like that in my house.

 

[krzywica]

WTF...thats really nasty, and obviously the dog(s) pissed on them on a regular basis when you look at the damage, takes more then just a few drops of pee to saturate wood like that...especially veneered....I wouldn't touch those with a 10ft pole.

 

[Whitey80]

Aww, don't be such babies! If any of you have dogs, I will guaranty something in your house has been pissed on to the point of saturation...you may have just not found it yet! If the wood itself remains sound, the enzymes that cause the smell can be easily abated. Follow that up with a freshly veneered surface and all is well.

These don't come up that often, and are worth the work (to me)

 

[GoFastr]

Go for it! You can get rid of the smell and refinish them to look nice again. Afer all, they are Kef's dammit!

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Dude REALLY ??!?!?!!?!?

Thats gross and I wouldn't even consider something like that in my house.

I agree.

Makes me wonder what else has been done to these speakers!

 

[zieglj01]

Your choice, I know that I would pass - I would open them up and
check them inside and out.

 

[Whitey80]

Thanks for the replies and the, umm....opinions. Thanks to Pyrrho for some good thoughts on the actual question. Zieg, I would more than love to pull the bass drivers to inspect the bottom of the cabinet internally, but, if you're familiar with these, the two 8"s are horizontally mounted facing eachother, mounted to a singular pole running down the center, and are internal to the cabinet, very difficult to disassmble, but a very good idea.

Would be very nice to rescue a pair of what are highly considered to be some truly great speakers. For these to be tossed would be a real shame.
Waiting for seller to return call.

 

[jfulton]

I'd be concerned also about the swelling of the cabinets. Have you since had a chance to look at the condition of the speaker?

 

[jfulton]

I'd also be concerned about the degree of swelling of the cabinet. Have you since had a chance to look at the condition?

 

[Whitey80]

unfortunately for me, someone beat me to it. Back to searching it seems.