Speaker value with dented dust caps

[drinke]

Hopefully this is not an inappropriate question for this forum, but I have some paradigm monitor centers v5s I think - a CC290 and a CC390. And I want to sell both (they work fine and were lightly used but am space limited).

Problem is I have two toddlers and they dented the dust caps on both, including the tweeter dome (but not the mids - they are a hard plastic). I've pulled out the main driver caps with a pin - though they still look slightly crinkled - but the tweeter caps are...well, not really fixable.

New I think the 390 was 6-650 and the 290 was 4-450. Given the above - and even though I understand dust caps should not effect sound - does anyone have any pricing advice? Should I pay to get these fixed and then try selling?

All I can say is thankfully they can't open the grills on the studio line I have! I guess that's a lesson for others - if you have young kids the monitors may not be the best as the grills come off pretty easy.

 

[Shock]

Sell your kids, and buy more speakers.

Seriously though, anyone who sees the dented dust caps is going to want a discount on them. It is true that they shouldn't affect their sound, but esthetics matter a good deal as well. After looking around the web a bit, I found some pre-owed CC390's for 425. So I would say with the visible problems, you would be looking at 375-400 for them. Probably closer to 375 than 400.

 

[Rickster71]

You can get replacement dust caps. http://www.speakerworks.com/dust_caps_s/66.htm
Here is one place; a search will show you a few more places.
And another: http://www.studiosoundelectronics.com/speakerkits.htm#dustcap
EDIT: I forgot the tweeters.
I'd beat the kids and replace the tweeters. j/k
Or replace both, kids & tweeters

 

[j_garcia]

If the tweeters are damaged to the point where they can't be pulled out, then it WILL affect the sound. The mids are pretty immune, but the highs are more sensitive as the movements of the driver itself is very small. It may not sound awful, but it won't sound perfect. That being said, I personally would either not buy a speaker with damaged drivers or ask for a pretty big price drop unless I listened to them and they sounded OK, so consider what you would think if you were buying them.

 

[drinke]

The funny thing is I had the centers wrapped with bungee cord. But we moved, so I took the cords off for just a few days. I didn't really notice until we unpacked. %$#*# kids - they are simultaneously a singular source of joy and anger.

The thing with the tweeter is the cap is really hard to get at and its really soft. I can probably use a pin again, but its going to be much more noticeable (upon a close inspection) than on the mains (where I think I did a reasonable job).

SO, here's my approach - give these babies a real critical listening and see how the tweeters perform. If poorly, attempt to fix either on my own or replace. If they sound ok, try to sell with reasonable discount.

I am hoping my target market will be somewhat forgiving.

 

[JerryLove]

I believe the tweeters are domes, not dust-caps. At least on teh Studio and Sig lines, the domes themselves can be replaced.

 

[Serj22]

Take a shop vac, attach it to the center of the speaker, and pop it back out. I was successful with this once. do it too hard and it could tear, got to be quick. Only try it if you don't care. But it seems that you're trying to sell them, so I wouldn't.

 

[j_garcia]

Masking tape. It will pop it back out, but it won't remove creases.

 

[MatthewB.]

I made a suggestion on AVS and they actually tried it (with pics) and it works like a charm.

Take a empty tiolet paper cardboard roll, place against speaker so that it covers the tweeter and place mouth on other end and suck hard. The suction created will pop out the tweeter just like that. I bought some used DefTech speakers that had pushed in tweeters and while (ahem using the tiolet) it occurred to me that this would work perfect. I tried a paper towel roll but the roll was too long to create enough suction, so I treid the tiolet paper roll and it worked just like that. You have to suck hard (I know it sounds pervy) but worked perfect. I was worried that a vacuum tube would create too much suction and damage the tweeter and felt tape would be sticky and not do the job properly. Anyway in this link I am response 11 and on page 2 (post 38) you wil see the play by play pictures of a member who used my idea and it worked out perfect for him.

Link: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1007289&highlight=tiolet+paper+roll

 

[yettitheman]

I used a straw.

 

[drinke]

A STRAW - F^((*ING PERFECT - you guys are awesome!