Centre speaker - speaker paper disintegrated - replace or new?

daymobrew

I have a 20 year old JBL Center 175 speaker that started rumbling/breaking up a bit recently.

When I removed the mesh cover the paper edge of the main speakers had disintegrated. See photos.

Would it be more economical to replace the two speakers or the whole unit?

lionmqj

If you contact JBL directly, they should tell you if they can send you out some new drivers and the price etc. Then you can decide.

daymobrew

On AVForums someone recommend a reconing kit but I could not find any for a 3.5" speaker.

I did find a cheap rubber surround which I might try: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/192175519542

lionmqj

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121024882#Comment_121024882

Wow, that's a great price and definitely worth trying.

3102derek

I used these before for the same type of repair on a pair of Cerwin Vega AT-15's

Worked perfectly and still working flawlessly over 6 years later.

https://www.simplyspeakers.com/speaker-foam-repair-new-edge-it-kits.html

blackbox

I would describe myself as fairly handy but I have had no success in re-coning speakers. I didn't get the alignment perfect.

If I were you I'd just buy drivers that fit the hole that have the correct impedance and sufficient power rating. Shouldn't be too expensive.