Wood Veneer - Cosmetic Issue?

Is there any way to tell if the hairline cracks go deeper than just the finish/veneer, into the plywood substrate? I would've thought if so, then the cracks would be more apparently deep. Would gently tapping on the cabinet reveal anything? They look like they're just in the finish/veneer, but I got it into my head last night that they could be in the substrate. Although I've read that plywood is fairly robust.

Now I'm sort of just deep-diving into cabinet construction generally:

I read that Harbeth uses 12mm plywood substrate with Beech battening, and they veneer both the inside and outside of the cabinet walls to help stabilize the panels (though only the outside is finished). I think they use some sort of birch plywood, but I can't remember where I found that tidbit.

They shipped in the original manufacturer's boxes/packaging with corner reinforcements and molded foam inserts for top and bottom to suspend them in the box, with a double-box over top of the original box, so I can't imagine that any rough handling could've been the cause. I'm still leaning towards humidity and temperature shift. Hell, the hairline cracks might've been there the entire time the previous owner had them and he didn't notice them. I never asked if his room was sunny; might've been UV light too.

I've gone over the front and back panels like a maniac and there's zero hairlines on those panels. It's just the sides and tops...
 
VSAT88 said:
Imagine how I felt when I pulled these basically brand new 1968 or so. Vintage KLH-5's out of the box trying to open them up and dropped one and did this damage to them...
Click to expand...
Did you buy those new in '68 or did you get them later but they were maintained well? I really like the design of the front edges. What would are those?
 
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ThomOfYorke said:
Is there any way to tell if the hairline cracks go deeper than just the finish/veneer, into the plywood substrate? I would've thought if so, then the cracks would be more apparently deep. Would gently tapping on the cabinet reveal anything? They look like they're just in the finish/veneer, but I got it into my head last night that they could be in the substrate. Although I've read that plywood is fairly robust.

Now I'm sort of just deep-diving into cabinet construction generally... I've gone over the front and back panels like a maniac and there's zero hairlines on those panels. It's just the sides and tops...
Click to expand...

Step away from the micrometer... :D
 
I got the Harbeth stands that they only distribute in Japan for some reason, model HSS-5, made specifically for the SHL5+XD. The guy I got the speakers from gifted them to me.

1766701659982.png

Also got a used pair of used Resonant Woods Linear II stands for my C7'ES3-XD's.

1766701881593.png

Like these but shorter (I think this photo is of the 30's).

My 30.2XD's and P3ESR-XD's are on Pangea DS400 stands with IsoPucks between the speakers and stands, primarily to protect the finish. But I'll probably get some open-bottomed wood stands for them eventually.
 
ThomOfYorke said:
I got the Harbeth stands that they only distribute in Japan for some reason, model HSS-5, made specifically for the SHL5+XD. The guy I got the speakers from gifted them to me.

View attachment 88934

Also got a used pair of used Resonant Woods Linear II stands for my C7'ES3-XD's.

View attachment 88936

Like these but shorter (I think this photo is of the 30's).

My 30.2XD's and P3ESR-XD's are on Pangea DS400 stands with IsoPucks between the speakers and stands, primarily to protect the finish. But I'll probably get some open-bottomed wood stands for them eventually.
Click to expand...
Woooo FANCY! I like em! Time to throw away my concrete blocks.. :sad10:
 
I have been too. I still am. Whenever it comes to audio gear I just can't help myself it seems. I have never had any top of the line tube gear. I have some I am proud to have and some that I have thought a lot of. CJ, Jolida, Fisher, Dynaco, hell I can't remember what all or all the name brands. The tube amplifiers were never any really high end of terribly expensive ones. I have tried all kinds of tubes too over the years. OEM to modern reproduction. I have had a few systems that had quite the nice sound using them however as far as speakers go nothing incredibly high end but some very nice ones. Dalquest, Klipsch, Polk Audio, Snell but as of now nothing I ever put together has that sound. ....That... is the sound I have been looking for all these years. Swapping out stereo. Can't say how much. 40 years of trying this with that, those cables ( within reason) with that. Over and over. Finally...
WOPL, nice preamp and a set of any of my good speakers and I am a happy camper. I have tube and other such gear for sale now.
 
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