Alon/Nola sound

A friend owns the Viper Reference three's , I no I'll take some flack for saying so , but I was not impressed , at least not for the price . They did have the feeling of freedom , but the overall coherence and balance was not what I expected for $15,000.

Tmsorosk, you won't get any flack from me. While I have been hooked on the Alon/Nola sound ever since I auditioned the original I's and II's back in the early 90's, I realize their cost to performance ratio is nowhere near what it used to be. And While I would not spend the money for them new, they are extremely hard to beat for performance on the used market.

For example, a pair of used references for about $6K will knock the socks off anything close to it in price, new or used. Another example, I bought my Viper IIa's for $1,200 off the 'gon a year ago, and if there is something out there for $1,200 that can top them, I haven't heard them.

At any rate, I'm still looking for help with getting into this cabinet. Any thoughts out there, please let me know. Thanks.

According to the DVM, the midrange driver is fine. So, now that means going inside the speaker. Any ideas anyone?

One issue all Nola Viper series owners need to be aware of and that is that the Positive and Negative terminal tabs on the midrange drivers need to be adjusted so as not to come in contact with the cabinet. The midrange opening on the baffle is VERY tight around the back of the driver and the terminal tabs could come in contact with the inside of the midrange baffle opening.

This has a very adverse effect on the midrange if contact is being made as the cabinet vibrations are modulating the midrange driver terminals which results in a somewhat forward/hazy/hard midrange presentation and diminished musicality.

A quick and easy fix is one can take a small flat blade screwdriver and gently pry the terminal tabs up and away from the baffle opening or one can remove the drivers from the baffle and carefully bend the terminals with a pair of small flat tipped pliers. Only a small adjustment is necessary.

I have had this issue three times on my Viper 1X's with the first being the stock Ceramic midrange drivers, the 2nd when I swapped to the 2nd generation AlNiCo midrange drivers and again recently when I upgraded to the new rev lll AlNiCo midrange drivers. The driver tabs already come bent to a ~90 degree angle but additional adjustments have been necessary.

I urge all Viper series owners to inspect and adjust the midrange driver terminal tabs on their speakers as the results are NOT subtle, it's easy and it's free!

Cheers