
( Brand: Mw Audio ), ( Manufacturer Part Number: 5346 ), ( Compatible Brand: For Altec ), ( Type: Repair Kit ), ( Manufacturer Warranty: No )
The **MW Audio 5346 Altec Lansing Santana 12" Woofer Refoam Kit** is a meticulously engineered upgrade solution designed to revitalize the performance and longevity of your Altec Lansing Santana 12-inch woofer system, ensuring it delivers crisp, powerful, and accurate audio with minimal fatigue. This premium refoam kit is crafted to address the wear and tear that naturally occurs over time in the woofer s suspension components, particularly the spider and surround, which are critical to maintaining optimal excursion, damping, and overall tonal balance. The kit includes high-quality **shims** precision-cut, durable materials that allow for fine-tuned adjustments to the woofer s alignment, ensuring proper voice coil centering and reducing distortion caused by misalignment or wear. These shims are essential for restoring the woofer s original mechanical integrity, preventing premature failure, and enhancing efficiency in both low-end response and midrange clarity.
At the heart of this refoam kit are **high-performance foam surrounds and spiders**, engineered to match or exceed the original specifications of the Altec Lansing Santana woofer. The foam is formulated with advanced materials that offer superior elasticity, durability, and resistance to heat and degradation, ensuring consistent performance even under demanding conditions. This refoam solution reduces the risk of suspension failure, which can lead to catastrophic damage to the woofer s voice coil or cone, while also improving the driver s ability to handle deep bass and high-excursion movements without losing accuracy. The kit s design prioritizes compatibility, ensuring a seamless fit with the Santana s existing mounting hardware and magnet structure, allowing for a straightforward installation process that minimizes downtime.
For audiophiles and professionals who demand the highest standards of sound quality and system reliability, the **caps** included in this kit provide an additional layer of protection and precision. These high-grade, molded components are designed to secure the woofer s voice coil and spider assembly, preventing misalignment and ensuring that the driver operates within its optimal parameters. Together, the shims, refoam surrounds, spiders, and caps work synergistically to restore the woofer s original performance characteristics, extending its lifespan and preserving the integrity of your audio system. Whether you re maintaining a high-end car audio setup, a professional sound reinforcement system, or a dedicated home theater installation, this refoam kit is an indispensable tool for achieving peak performance and maintaining the pristine sound quality that the Altec Lansing Santana is renowned for. With its attention to detail and commitment to quality, this kit is the ideal choice for those who refuse to compromise on audio excellence.
**Pros and Cons of buying a MW Audio 5346 Altec Lansing Santana 12" Woofer Refoam Kit (Shims, Caps)**
### **Pros:**1. **Compatibility with Altec Lansing Santana Series** This kit is specifically designed for the Altec Lansing Santana 12" woofer, ensuring a proper fit and optimal performance when refoaming. Using the correct materials reduces the risk of damage or poor sound quality.
2. **Improved Sound Quality** Over time, foam surrounds in speakers degrade, leading to reduced bass response and potential distortion. Refoaming the woofer with fresh materials can restore its original performance, providing clearer, deeper bass and better overall audio fidelity.
3. **Cost-Effective Upgrade** Refoaming is significantly cheaper than replacing an entire woofer, especially if the cone and spider are still in good condition. This makes it a practical solution for extending the lifespan of a speaker system without a full replacement.
4. **Easy Installation** The kit includes shims and caps, which help with proper alignment and sealing of the new foam. Many users find the process straightforward, especially if they have basic DIY experience. MW Audio typically provides clear instructions to guide the user.
5. **Preservation of Speaker Longevity** By replacing worn-out foam, you prevent dust and debris from entering the speaker s internal components, which can cause long-term damage. This helps maintain the overall health of the woofer.
6. **Customization Options** Depending on the specific kit, you may have the option to choose foam density or thickness, allowing you to tailor the refoam to your listening preferences or the speaker s original specifications.
7. **Brand Reliability** MW Audio is a well-known brand in the audio industry, particularly for speaker repair and upgrade kits. Their products are generally trusted for quality and durability, reducing the risk of purchasing low-quality or incompatible materials.
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### **Cons:**1. **Limited to Altec Lansing Santana Series** This kit is **not universal** and will not work with other speaker models, even if they use a 12" woofer. Attempting to use it on an incompatible speaker could lead to poor results or damage.
2. **DIY Skill Required** While the process is often straightforward, it still requires some technical know-how. Mismanagement during installation such as improper foam cutting, incorrect shim placement, or forcing the cap could result in a poorly sealed speaker, leading to air leaks and degraded performance.
3. **Time-Consuming** Refoaming a speaker takes time, especially if you re doing it for the first time. You ll need to carefully remove the old foam, clean the components, and ensure the new foam is properly seated. This may not be ideal for those seeking a quick fix.
4. **Potential for Mistakes** Even with instructions, errors such as using the wrong foam density, improperly sealing the surround, or misaligning the cap can negatively impact sound quality. If done incorrectly, the speaker may not perform as expected, or the new foam may degrade prematurely.
5. **No Warranty on Speaker Itself** The kit covers the materials, but if the original woofer has underlying issues (e.g., a damaged cone or spider), refoaming won t fix those. You may still need to replace the entire woofer later if structural problems arise.
6. **Foam Durability Varies** High-quality foam extends the lifespan of the refoam, but even premium materials will degrade over time. The longevity depends on usage, environment (e.g., humidity, temperature), and how well the foam was installed.
7. **Cost of Additional Tools** While the kit includes essentials like shims and caps, you may need to invest in additional tools (e.g., a sharp knife, tweezers, cleaning supplies) if you don t already have them, adding to the overall expense.
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### **Conclusion:**The **MW Audio 5346 Altec Lansing Santana 12" Woofer Refoam Kit** is a **highly targeted and cost-effective solution** for restoring the performance of an Altec Lansing Santana speaker. It offers significant benefits in terms of improved sound quality, longevity, and compatibility, making it a worthwhile investment for enthusiasts who want to maintain or upgrade their existing system without a full replacement.
However, it is **not a universal fix** and requires careful installation. If you lack confidence in DIY repairs, you may want to consult a professional. Additionally, if the original woofer has severe wear beyond the foam, refoaming alone won t suffice.
For those who are comfortable with basic speaker maintenance and have an Altec Lansing Santana series speaker, this kit is **highly recommended** as a practical and effective upgrade. If you re unsure about compatibility or installation, verify the exact model of your speaker before purchasing.
**Final Recommendation:** **Buy the kit if:**- You own an Altec Lansing Santana series speaker with a 12" woofer.
- You re willing to invest time in proper installation.
- You want to improve bass response and extend the life of your speaker.
**Avoid the kit if:**- Your speaker is not an Altec Lansing Santana model.
- You lack confidence in DIY speaker repairs.
- The woofer has significant structural damage beyond the foam.
Item MPN: 5346. Item Brand: MW Audio. Each Refoam Kit includes all the materials needed to repair two 2 woofers:Reforming Instructions2 Foam Surrounds F12-8 Shims For Centering The 2 Voice Coils Kit Comes With Two 3.75 Felt Dust Caps. 1 Bottle of Specially Formulated Foam Surround Adhesive, Please refer to photo for more details as they are the best part.