As many are already aware, the JVC PC-55 is an incredible sounding box. BUT, it has always been hurt when it came to sheer punch. Well, opportunity knocked, and I let it in! The right speaker developed a nasty pop and had apparently decided to go to the great cone in the sky so I was in a bit of a pickle. But wait...what did I have laying around in my parts pile but a set of Sony bookshelf speakers! And oh my! They fit perfectly! Wait...they're 6 ohms too! But will the JVC tweeters match...don't need 'em! The Sonys work too! Well, well...now for photos of the speaker replacements!

Original on the left, replacements on the right.










PC-55 with changed cones.


PC-55 with original cones.


This thing rocks now. I found the bass it needed. No RX-C100 bass, but a lot more than what it had!

Video! (About what you could expect...)
JVC PC-55 Playin Cameo - Candy
Whaddaya Think?

Did you check out the video? The speakers (woofs) are pure polypropylene. No paper here! It is just as clear as it ever was with way more punch. And the original speakers were 35w max. The replacements...I'll let you guys guess!

The song says it all "it's like candy"!

Cool video box sounds real good!!

nice , oldskool --

and i know that sony is never the revered brand on s2g ---
except that old Ramon stuck some 10" sonys in both of our jvc 550s monos--
and they sound twice as good as the original OEM jobs

yes great 10in sony speakers did the trick cloth surrounds 20watts but the cool part is it was a simular color of the box so it looks factory speakers magnet are not that big was about the size of original speakers so it fitted at home......

That's awesome oldskool.
Hmmm I wonder if my 550 needs a make over.

RBJ and Ramon, What 10" Sony's did you use in the 550's?

well the speakers i found on the bay where from a bookshelf system i do not remember the model the guy said,they were basicly the correct size they have a light greenish look i know its 20 watts max so the amp running these speakers could not have been high powered, the guy told me he had these refoamed a long time ago but with cloth surround but never put them back in he upgraded with different speakers and put those away they look brand new i wish i knew the model num..

Sweet!

What a great modification!!!

Always nice to have extras laying around! I should learn a lesson here, all my extras end up on ebay! Then I usually have to buy something I sold a year ago!

Nice job! I would hold onto the original speakers though... it would help resale if you at least had the originals available.

Nice video!

BTW Is that really where you want the EQ settings to be? Doesn't seem optimal to me....

quote:

Originally posted by 71spud:
Nice job! I would hold onto the original speakers though...

BTW Is that really where you want the EQ settings to be? Doesn't seem optimal to me....

I am holding onto the originals but one is bad anyway so I'd need another. Not sure if I'd really hurt the resale though as speakers are a wear and tear part as much as the cassette or anything else mechanical. I'd be worse off trying to sell it with a malfunction. I think when you put in speakers that don't match the look,impendance, or sensitivity is when you get in trouble.

Regarding the EQ settings it really depends on the music or quality of the recording. I didn't think about where they were when I recorded the video. I just left it set as it was at the moment.

pldskool69; How did u openned up the speaker cabinets, I tryed, But didn't proceeded, B/c I didn't wanted to damage the speaker cabinets.

quote:

Originally posted by L LOPEZ:
pldskool69; How did u openned up the speaker cabinets, I tryed, But didn't proceeded, B/c I didn't wanted to damage the speaker cabinets.

There are two screws at the bottom. Take these out then flip up the face from the bottom. That's it!

Fantastic, Thanks oldskool69, Greatly appreciate it, I been dying to change these woofers, They sound, Not enough for the power this baby has, I will change those speakers with a pair of Sharp speakers from a Steero system, These are 6 ohms, So it should work. Thanks again oldskool69

Glad it worked out! Post some pics of the speaer like I did so we can see it in progress.

Still working on it, As soon as I'm through, I'll take pics of the boombox with the original JVC speakers, And with the Sharp speakers. I'm also planning of doing the same with the Panasonic RX C-100, A red little Sharp, And The Berecha boombox.

I hope the pic comes out, But here it is with better sound, And with amazing bass, Those speakers, And tweeters are Panasonic with 6 ohms at 50 watts, The PC-550 drive the speakers with no hesitation, And plenty of power, And I can feel the air being push out of the vents. I thank u oldskool69 for helping me out.

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2d9sheh&s=3

Here is another pic.

Ah, Here it is:

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2d190tz&s=3

Man it looks so much meaner with the black on black. No problemon the tip. Anytime. BTW there is an option to set the size of the pic to 680 X 420 (or something like that) when you upload to make the pictures fit better when you post. I wnted to post it hee fo you but it's too large maybe I can get it later.

I'm kind of curious how many models may have used these speakers. I just picked up a PC-W300 at the local thrift store and the speakers look and sound very similar to the PC-550. They even say High Ceramic on the speaker boxes just like the PC-550. Does anybody know the various models that use this driver?

oldskool69, L Lopez
Do you have a model # for the Sony/Panasonic speakers you used in your PC-55 mod? Either part # of the woofer/tweeter or model # of the whole speaker would work. I have some nice 5.25 black poly-props I tried in my 550 but the spider is too big to fit without cutting the lower rim of the wood out. And they're 8 ohm (though that probably wouldn't matter) But they would look awesome in the black 550!

Those are some dope modifications, fellas!

quote:

Originally posted by Stuball:
oldskool69, L Lopez
Do you have a model # for the Sony/Panasonic speakers you used in your PC-55 mod?

Here is the back of the Sony with the part number stamped on it.


DO NOT cut out the cabinets. You will lose structural rigidity needed even for the originals. Plus you dont want to change the dynamics of the way the cone sits. If you've taken the front cover off you'll notice that a ring is built in. This rests on the frame of the speaker and is shaped to be the exact size to fit around the foam surround creating a seal of sorts. See below with new speaker, old one fit the same. I also got lucky as the impendance was a perfect match as well as sensitivity so I would not lose volume and force the amp to work harder.

I read 1-825-517-11 for the woofer. I located it online but the price says $98.90! And it DOES indicate 12cm speaker only! The tweet I cannot make out. Did these come from a CMTHP7 Bookshelf stereo? If you have the model # of the speakers it would help a search. I have realised, now, that the PC-55 speakers are 4.75", not 5.25" like I thought. Maybe I can find a different match now.

I have an extra set of tweets. Once I get home I'll get the numbers for you. I work out of town so it will be Friday before I can look.

I think you are right about the bookshelf stereo. When I got the speakers they were at a thrifty with no system. I saw another pair a few weeks ago but I don't know if they are still there.

I love that speaker replacement job. Did you spray the dustcaps of the Sony replacements silver?

I agree, the resale value won't suffer much if it's a dead ringer for the original & it sounds better.
This is possibly the best speaker changeout I've seen.

I actually used a paint pen. Spraying these is just too difficult. I've done it before but since the dustcaps weren't smooth I could use the pen and not worry about streaking.

excellent job...