GoodSoundClub - Romy the Cat's Audio Site

In the Forum: Horn-Loaded Speakers
In the Thread: "O Vitavox, Vitavox! Wherefore art thou Vitavox?"

Post Subject: "O Vitavox, Vitavox! Wherefore art thou Vitavox?"Posted by oxric on: 6/27/2011

At some point last year, after I had been offered an opportunity to buy some Vitavox S2 drivers from someone in Paris, and some S3s from Germany, I decided to approach Mike Harvey of Octave Audio, AKA Vitavox Hifi, to get some information about how I could have my drivers tested, cleaned and remagnetised if necessary. I also wanted to buy some new diaphragms as two of my drivers had that part missing and in fact one unit I had picked up later in fact had a speaker terminal and another part missing.

Mike duly explained to me that he would not vouch for the work of anyone not qualified and experienced with Vitavox drivers, given both the complexity of the work and the number of parts that go into making these drivers. I assured him that I would be more than happy with him doing this work for a fee. We had a chat about the possible costs of parts and labour (to be confirmed). The figures he mentioned were very reasonable and all in all, it seemed the only sensible thing to do was let Mike undertake the work, as Romy had also recommended him in the Vitavox S2 survival thread. Mike assured me that www.vitavoxhifi.com would be imminently going online, the necessary move to bigger premises having caused some delay, and only at this point he would be able to take in my drivers.

And then started a very long wait. In the past year, I have spoken with Mike on several occasions and received repeated assurances that it was going to be very soon! I must say that Mike was always very courteous on the numerous occasions when we talked, although he was very busy with the launch of the Living Voice Vox Olympian speakers.

I waited for weeks, then months... Around February of this year, we had another long chat where he assured me that I should be expecting an announcement in no longer than a month's time. After that, many months went by and I dared not pester him again. But I dared eventually and talked to him two months ago when I got pretty much the same assurances as previously.

I do not wish to pass judgement on a company when I do not know the precise reasons for the delay but if it was my company, a few heads would have rolled!

I have more or less decided to do what I can myself, with the assistance of the Vitavox S2 survival guide Romy has posted on this site, and maybe with the help of others (if you are an expert in Vitavox S2 drivers give me a shout), but would have preferred not to have wasted so much time waiting and then for absolutely nothing to materialise. It would be great if someone who is in the field, who felt confident with Vitavox S2s, would offer his professional and punctilious services testing, servicing, aligning and remagnetising these very vintage drivers. I am aware that we will have to wait for Mike to set up shop when it comes to sourcing diaphragms and other parts, but in the meantime an independent service point for these drivers would certainly be a huge help. I am realistic enough to know there is very little chance of this idea coming to anything but after a year of interminable waiting, even this faint sliver of hope is better than nothing.

Best regards
Rakesh

P.S. By the way, Romy, should you be wondering, I will not be setting up shop servicing a limited run of Vitavox drivers.

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