Remoding Speakers Has An Effect On Resale Value


Hello everyone,

I just came across an interesting discovery concerning my relatively recent purchace of a pair
of Gemme audio Tanto V2's.Approximately two or three weeks ago,I had invited my best friend who happens to be an audiophile like me,for a sitdown to listen to my newly aquired purchace.

His first remark was when I had put on a cd of Hadouk Trio(that has more bass than one could ask for),
led him to believe that there was some boominess occuring within the room.Escpecially at higher listening levels.We both agreed that I would need to do some further room treatment to reduce or even elimeinate this problem.The Tanto V,2s have a tuning ring that could be added or removed to adjust the bass output according to your needs and specification.This did help somewhat,but I seemed to be going back and forth,all depending on the type of music I was playing,and at what level.After this was discovered,I purchaced a pair of 24" by 48" by 4" bass traps that I had placed right behind where the firing ports are situated.Its seemed to help to some degree.But after some further critical listening,and sampling cds that had exaggerated bass.It came to my attention that the Gemmes were not quite holding it down(the bass part) as they were acclaimed to be able to.Furthermore,it also became apparent to me that the high frequencies started to grate on me,also at higher listening levels.

So I decided to call Solen Audio for where most of the inner parts came from anyways.The tech said bring in both speakers,and we will test them.On the phone he admitted that there is a probability that there is some high frequencies getting tied up in ther midbass driver due to the lack of no crossover whatsoever!

One hour later I was at Solen audio in the back of their store,with both speaker being put on graphs and some kind of mike to detect certain problems.The result was that the midbass drive(Silverflute)
was the culprit.And I was asked to put my ear close to one of the speakers.I heard this sort sound like glass was being broken.One of the techs said "that my friend is absolute distortion you are hearing",
and probably why you were hearing this form of resonance in you own room.

The whole team could not believe that Gemme audio would have used such a cheap midbass driver in an $8000.00 enclosure.Granted,the vifa tweeter were not expensive either in comparison.But the main guy overseeing this said "they use them in $30,000.00 Sonus Fabar's" so we will keep them,in relation to a possibilty of even changing them for a pair of Morel tweeter that went for $350.00 a pair.
They decided to put in a pair of $350.00 USD midbass Satori drivers that should correct this problem
As for the highs being detected in the midbass was on point,and having to build a two way outboard crossover should solve this issue too.

Has any body out encountered this form of "cutting corners" where your speakers cabinet is of exceptional quality inside and out.Yet some the other moving parts were to be desired.

Lastly,do you think this could effect my resale value somewhere down the line if I would wish to sell them one day?
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Showing 2 responses by raymonda

Brf....stated my thoughts. Just reverse mod it for resale.

I mod just about every item I have for sonic improvements, to include amps, sources and speakers. What I want from a component is more important than what the next person may want. I would never listen to a component that I wasn't happy with or didn't feel that I could improve on.

And, when it has come time to sell the item I have always received more or, at least, the same price an non-modded unit would go for.

There are many reasonably priced electronics that benefit from mods.....from vintage tube amps through speakers. Most people I know would rather pay for a great sounding modded unit than a bad sounding stock unit.

So, IMO....go for it. Why limit your enjoyment. It sounds like you enjoy music at concert volume levels and, as you described, this piece, stock, does not perform and introduces distortions, that you have become sensitive to. Once you notice the distortion it will always bother you.

If you really don't want to mod them, for fear of your "investment" then sell them and buy something that meets your sonic needs.
They are a different speaker.....but, hey, enjoy them....they are yours and they satisfy you.