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Tannoy Little Red Monitor

Hi, recently picked up a pair of the Little Red Monitors, been working fine until today when I started messing about with the front dials for Treble Roll Off and Treble Energy on one of the speaker, somehow, the sound goes quiet and barely audible and when I touch the dial without making any adjustment, the sound comes back on and then go quiet again, as though the dial switch is acting like a loose connection? No experience with these speakers, but I removed the 12" Driver and had a peek inside, fairly hard to see the connecions of the dials at the front, may be I need to take off the front plate once I can find the right size allen key, perhaps then I can see what's going on behind those dials. In the meantime, can anyone here advice what might the problem is and any comments and help much apprecited. Cherers, John

Some pics:

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The switch contacts can deteriorate over the years, so you likely just have a poor and intermittent contact.
Get in there with some spray contact cleaner (keep it well away from the driver!) and flick the switch left to right plenty of times after spraying.

if that doesn't work you'll need a new switch unless the originals can be fixed. Someone here will know.
 
Thanks Robert. Yes once I get the right size allen key to remove the front panel, then should have access behind the front dials/switches! Don't think by poking my head thru the driver hole can get access to the ends of the switches LOL!
 
I managed to open the cabinet by taking out the 12" driver and had a poke inside, not much I can do there, anyway, the front plate where the switches are I managed to take off and undone 4 screws that are holding the crossover unit inside the cabinet. Undone the wires and took out the unit. It had electrical tape wrapped all around it and looked like a 'bomb' ready to go off haha. I can see the dial switches attached to white plastic rods at one end and the other ends as you said round metal unit that are soldered to the PCB. Iuncrewed the 4 screws that are holding the PCB panel but somehow cannt seems to open the unit since the dials are attached to the white plastic rods that are attached to the PCB panel? If I pull the switches, will they come off or are they physically attached to the white platic rod? I hope I have explained correctly what I have done so far. It's getting dark, so I will take some pics tomorrow and perhaps that will show clearly what I am on about....Will also buy
some switch contact cleaner too. Are the ones that come in a spray can ok for the job? While I am at it, might as well geta can of compressed air to blast away the dirt and dust too, is that recommended? Cheers, John
 
Had a closer look this morning and took some pics too. The switch/dial for the Treble Roll Off which is I think the most problematic ie when I turn it from right to left etc, makes the intermitten sound, so when I checked closely whilst turning it, I noticed the rubber cromit that at the top of switch behind the plastic front panel did not move as freely as the other switch, the white plastic rod (shaft) moves but the switch seems to having some 'play' in it's movement? The other one looked fine. Anyway, will pop into Maplin later to get the switch/contact cleaner. Here some pics showing the crossover unit and the Pots. I am no expert as I said, the unit looks ok to me, but may be to experienced eyes, there is a problem?

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Let us know how you get on with the switch cleaner.
Ensure that whichever can you buy has the little plastic tube so that you can direct the liquid.

One observation - that crossover has been rebuilt and isn't standard Tannoy.
 
Well looks like the switch cleaner did the trick and for now anyway, cured my problem!
As regard to the crossover, when I took it out I suspected that it was not the original because it was wrapped in electrical tape all around the unit and also the bottom foam lining was lifted up to accomondate the unit in order to fit the front panel! Whether it has been rebuilt or upgraded before my ownership I don't know, it is over 30 years old lol! Hmm I should open up the other speaker and have a look and see if that one the same or original Tannoy!

'Little' sure they are not nor are they floorstanders, so I am looking to get some custom stands made from wood to raise them to about 12" above the floor, no idea how yet. But in the meantime, they are sharing duties with my ProAC Tablettes Ref 8 Signature which IMO amazing little speakers!
 
Hi John,

When I had the LGM, which is virtually the same thing and of the same proportions, I ended up with some home built stands combining Target uprights with a Mana sound base :)
Looked ok and worked.

I'd say get them a bit higher than 12" - probably 18-20 is about right.
Heybrook HBS1 stands are ok and you find them often for little money.

Here are the Target/Mana hybrids:

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Hi John,

When I had the LGM, which is virtually the same thing and of the same proportions, I ended up with some home built stands combining Target uprights with a Mana sound base :)
Looked ok and worked.

I'd say get them a bit higher than 12" - probably 18-20 is about right.
Heybrook HBS1 stands are ok and you find them often for little money.

Here are the Target/Mana hybrids:

P7310925.jpg

Hi Robert, those look very nice indeed. What speakers are those? Unfortunatley, in my case, the stands/speakers need to be baby & toddler friendly! They will need to be raised slightly above floor and the base of the stand must be alot larger than the base of the speakers to form a rigid sort of structure, kinda like a rectangular plant pot holder? So the speakers sit/slot into the top base of the stand and stable enough to withstand being knocked over!! To be honest, no idea how to make them or if any experience woodworker will know what I am talking about lol.... I am always on the look out for ideas, so see what happens.
 


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