Wharfedale Diamond 9's coming apart...?

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Wharfedale Diamond 9's coming apart...?

jeff390

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#95666 10-Jan-2012 11:40

Hey Folks,

I have a Wharfedale Diamond 9 home theatre setup with 9.5 fronts, 9.1 rears, 9CS & SW150. Bought as a package with a Pioneer VSX918. The neoprene seals around the woofer & midrange drivers on both the 9.5's & 1x of the 9.1 are all perishing..! Speakers sound dreadful as the seal rattles against the housing as it moves. Thought I'd blown them. Is this common? How is it remedied? I'm in Nelson in South Island - any recommendations for a repairer/solution to this problem. Just hunted out the receipt & the 3 yr warranty expired 2x months ago! HELP

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#566887 10-Jan-2012 13:08

Return to Retailer and demand replacement under the CGA.
They should last many years.

Jaxson

8043 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#566896 10-Jan-2012 13:24

B1GGLZ: Return to Retailer and demand replacement under the CGA.
They should last many years.

+1

The 3 year warranty doesn't mean it's all over.

jeff390

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#567192 11-Jan-2012 08:10

Thanks, but surely they will say "sorry, waranty has expired, tough luck"...
Won't they?
Made more complicated by the fact that they are no longer here in Nelson - bought from Bond & Bond who have since shut up shop.
Has anybody else heard of this happening?

Cheers
Jeff.

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#567195 11-Jan-2012 08:12

Bond & Bond and Noel Leeming are the same company...
Time to head in there with your speakers and have a chat.

jeff390

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#567215 11-Jan-2012 09:00

Thanks Folks, will give it a try.

Anybody else heard of this happening?

Cheers

geekiegeek

2513 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#567246 11-Jan-2012 09:56

My 9.5s are 4 years+ and are in perfect condition. I have owned other Wharfedales over the years and never seen a failure.

Have they been wet or anything like that?

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#567257 11-Jan-2012 10:18

If they've been sitting in sunlight, then the rubber could, in theory, perish?
Right?
The other issue could be what they're cleaned with...
Have the grills been on?

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

jeff390

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#567260 11-Jan-2012 10:20

Nope. Absolutely babied.

Only thing I can think of is that most of them don't usually wear their dust covers, but that shouldn't matter should it? Nothing touches the speaker cones under any circumstances.

It is all in the same place on both the 9.5's and 1x of the 9.1's. right where the neoprene edge of the driver meets the housing.

geekiegeek

2513 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#567285 11-Jan-2012 11:19

"most of them don't usually wear their dust covers"

I think thats part of the problem. I've always had mine on so there is no dust or grease from cooking or anything like that on them.

jeff390

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#567289 11-Jan-2012 11:35

Thanks.
Only other thing I can think of is that a receiver, a Pioneer VSX918, developed a fault a few months back. When watching T.V the sound would abruptly stop. There would then be a rumbling build up, then a massive bang through all the speakers. Receiver would then power off. This was repaired under warranty - apparently it was a voltage regulator or something. I wonder now whether that contributed to this problem...?

I didn't notice the vibrating sound or ths split neoprene immediately after the repair, but it could have been there. You only noticed it at first at very high volume. Now it's evident at even moderate levels.

Jaxson

8043 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#567299 11-Jan-2012 12:07

That sounds like an insurance claim perhaps?

bazzer

3438 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#567305 11-Jan-2012 12:19

If the damage to the speakers is as a result of the fault with the receiver (and you can prove it) then that should be covered by CGA surely?

I also don't think the dust covers are mandatory and I certainly wouldn't expect this kind of damage from not having them on.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#567352 11-Jan-2012 13:42

I would say that if you've been running them without the dustcovers on then you most likely have ultraviolet degredation of the neoprene in which case you'd be unable to claim. It doesnt take much ultraviolet to destroy neoprene/rubber type surrounds. I had flexible foam surrounds that disintegrated with no covers in place but after many years.
Jaycar used to sell replacement/repair kits for this problem. Don't know if they still do.
If you try for replacement under CGA then DONT mention lack of dust covers or large booms from the amp.