einr wrote:I fondly remember this model of generic speakers, they came with different logos on them, shipped with loads of multimedia 486 and Pentium systems in the mid nineties. A perfect fit for this system 😎
I'm not sure which ones those are the equivalent to, but mine said EP-80, and were 80W P.M.P.O. 🙄
Let me tell you, though that they can have great sound. If you're willing to do a little D.I.Y. they will sound worlds better than they do, now.
What I did to mine to make them sound worlds better:
Replace the wires running from the internal PCB to the speakers with something like 16-18 gauge copper. Mine had something along the lines of 22-24 gauge nickel.
Also, note how the speakers are wired! If I recall, correctly the manufacturer had run the +wire from the PCB to the +tab on the woofer, and ran the -tab from the woofer into the +tab of the tweeter, then the -tab of the tweeter back to the PCB.
Re-wire it so that the +wire runs to the +tab's of both the woofer and tweeter, and the -wire to both the woofer and tweeter. HUGE difference! Obviously, on the other speaker you just rewire it to the jack as it has no internal PCB.
There should be an electrolytic capacitor tied to the tweeter, and it might not be labeled as far as voltage and value. I never got around to doing this to mine, but replacing it with a 1.0uF (pretty common size, here) FILM capacitor (polypropylene, polystyrene, mylar, etc.) will improve the highs.
I ended up rewiring the input-jack, on the side that has the internal amplifier with the same wire as I used at the speakers, and then made my own RCA cable to run between the two speakers again, with the same wire.
Lastly, I cut the plastic piece away from in front of the tweeter. I don't remember what you call these, and I have heard people say you should not remove them, but it's always from people who have never done it. On my speakers, I cut the plastic piece away, and the highs were improved. In addition, I removed the metal grilles from in front of the woofers. This is tricky as you have to stick something in the holes of the grill and either pry against the speaker (which can mark up the plastic) or you have to pull soley on the grille, which is glued in.