XPL200 Rehab

[Titanium Dome]

By now everyone knows about the XPL200s I got for $360. They had been advertised on craigslist, the Recyclcer, and eBay for months, starting at $1150 and eventually going through two bidless auctions on eBay at $499.

They were a basket case: rotted foam, crushed 095Ti, destroyed grilles, filthy, filthy cabinets, missing pieces, etc.

Over time, I'll try to show the progress as they come back to life. My goal is to have a very nice pair for a total investment of under $600.

So first, out came many of the drivers for testing and repair. The 2214Hs went for a more thorough testing and refoam to Don Ramon's shop.

Here's one of the nearly bare cabinets.

[Titanium Dome]

The cabinet veneer has been through a lot, but as part of my under $600 program, it cannot be replaced, so I'll do what I can for it. It's bone dry and much abused. Here are some representative views.

A top:

[Titanium Dome]

One of the top edges:

[Titanium Dome]

Junk on the side:

[Titanium Dome]

The most exciting part is the bubbling of the veneer. In this bottom-lit shot, the shadows tell the story. This stuff is lifted in many places.

This was almost the deal breaker for me, when I saw these large patches of loose veneer.

[Titanium Dome]

My two favorite tools for this kind of work are an Olfa® knife and some 3M blue painter's tape. Here the first bubble has been prepped for surgery.

[DavidF]

The most exciting part is the bubbling of the veneer. In this bottom-lit shot, the shadows tell the story. This stuff is lifted in many places.

This was almost the deal breaker for me, when I saw these large patches of loose veneer.

How could this happen, I wonder. Were they parked too close to a radiator or some heat source? Anyway, a great job in getting that sorted out.

DavidF