B&W DM70's - top end lacking

I suspect that the energiser units needs some caps replacing.

dylanthecat:
After speaking to One Thing Audio, they suggested that it is normally the diodes in the energiser units that go.
They will, of course, do this work for you if you need.
The capacitors are NOT electrolytic in the DM70’s, so they are usually OK and One Thing said that the resistors are normally OK.
Apparently the diodes available at the time were not of a high enough rating, so tend to fail over time.

The bass drivers have green felt DIY surrounds that are not helping

It seems that the brother of the person who did mine had been active with your bass units!
I managed to get hold of a pair of 13 inch Leak Sandwich bass units in 8 ohm versions (most are 15 ohm).
These seem a good match in the DM70 cabinets, but will require four new mounting holes.
Wembley Speakers tell me that they should be able to redo my surrounds on my original speakers.
If you have the Continentals where the bass units have the curved front this may be your only option. (Some Continentals have a curved adaptor plate for the bass unit)

I currently have them hooked up to a pair of Williamson KT88 mono blocks. They are rated at 20wpc. I have been using these on my Maggies and Apogees to good affect. Do I need more power? I have a pair of NAD 214 that are 500+ when bridged.

Regarding power, that I think is personal.
I have an Art Audio Quintet which when in triode mode only gives me 15 watts, but seem to control the bass units well. Of course I can not get thrash volumes, but it still seems to go to realistic volumes with classical and most progressive.
When I tried my 70 watt Unico mosfet amp, I found that it offered very little extra headroom and no better bass damping, so I have stuck with my Art Audio.

Thank you ISCM,
I have the adapter plate with the EMI bass driver. I have ordered a pair of foams from the Netherlands that were the closest match I could find. Hopefully they will arrive today. Fingers crossed there.
I do have a pair of the Richard Allen high end audio bass drivers that I could try as a back-up.
I have two very good local chaps with huge B&W experience to look at the electronics. They will both have first hand experience here.
I need a new grill to the rear of one panel. Any suggestions for a source will be welcomed.
I brought these as spares not working only to find they just needed a few minor tweaks. I paid very little for them so are very happy with the purchase to date. Best regards, Martin

Hi Martin

I have the adapter plate with the EMI bass driver. I have ordered a pair of foams from the Netherlands that were the closest match I could find.

I do hope that the foams are the correct size, as most are for 12 inch and not 13 inch speakers.
The foams for 12 inch speakers were used for mine and caused problems.
When I get the chance I will get the correct surrounds fitted to my original bass units.

This is a repeat of the link from ct0517
http://bwgroupsupport.com/manuals/bw-service#ID_DMSeries
You should see that the energiser boxes contain the Energisers for the HT, the High Frequency Crossover and the associated transformer.
The Low Frequency part of the crossover is separated on the bottom of the cabinet.

I did wonder if it would be worthwhile making the speakers bi-wireable, as it would be quite easy to do.

Ian

I need a new grill to the rear of one panel. Any suggestions for a source will be welcomed.

One Thing should be able to help or advise here.
Mine are made of a slotted plastic.

Just to make it clear, I am not pushing One Thing, but I know of no one else in the UK with DM70 expertise.
There is a chap in Germany, but he is expensive.

I did see the speaker surrounds being offered as a kit for £35,
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/B-W-DM-70-hochwertiges-Lautsprecher-Sicken-Set-speaker-foam-surround-315/183148017101?hash=item2aa478f5cd:g:3xEAAOSwlStauOhM 

but in my case I think I need a specialist, as one of my original bass units makes a pinging sound and needs a total strip down.
Hears hoping Wembley Speakers can do this.