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We very carefully unpacked the replacement drive-unit (seen here) and connected it to the tapered tube transmission line. Without damaging the new dome. Yikes!
In the kitchen, we sat down and took a couple of deep breaths before moving on to the next few steps of the process, which I imagined would be infinitely more dangerous. We set down the damaged drive-unit (seen here) and got to work on its replacement.
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The Vivid G1Giya, designed by Laurence Dickie, incorporates the “tapered tube loading” concept originally developed for the B&W Nautilus. Inside the tapered transmission line are several strands of damping fiber.
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The Vivid G1Giya’s midrange drive-unit is connected to a tapered tube transmission line, which runs the depth of the speaker and attaches at the speaker’s rear via a long hex screw.
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Upon opening the package, which had been shipped from South Africa, we found that one of the two replacement drive-units had been severely damaged. Crikey!
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The replacement midrange drive-units for the Vivid G1Giyas arrived in this well-packed and clearly labeled box.
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Near the end of Wes’ auditioning, the domes of both upper-midrange units were inexplicably damaged.
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Every job requires a specific tool and replacing the Vivid G1Giya’s midrange unit would take a 6mm hex key, which we didn’t have. On our way to Wes’ place, therefore, John Atkinson and I made a quick stop at the local hardware store and purchased a hex key set. Then, we were ready to get to work.
We’re currently working on our July 2010 issue, which will include Wes Phillips’ review of the Vivid Audio G1Giya loudspeaker ($65,000/pair). Near the end of Wes’ auditioning, the domes of both upper-midrange units were inexplicably damaged. As you can see from the picture, it appears the domes were poked by some sort of dull object. Wes didn’t do it; Wes’ wife didn’t do it. We’ll never know how the damage occurred. What we do know is that the aluminum-dome midrange unit is incredibly delicate and has a strong magnetic pull.
The damage occurred after John Atkinson had…
Exactly six months after we’d seen them perform in Puerto Rico, at that strange island bar, Bamboo Beach (see “Records to Die For,” February 2010, pages 71-72), the Vivian Girls performed on Saturday night, this time so much closer to home, at Maxwell’s in Hoboken. I bought tickets for the whole crew—Rizzo, Fritzy, Papi Chulo, Fuzzy, and Tigga—so that, together again for the first time since that memorable trip, we could relive the magic. We ate well, drank too much, laughed, danced, and sang along as the Vivian Girls burned through their energetic set.