Opening M-Audio AV42 passive side

[Marsupilami]

Hey folks!

It's not a strictly electrical issue, but I'm guessing there are a lot of people here with quite some speaker experience so I'll try my luck.

I have an M-Audio AV42 powered studio monitor set. The active side is clear but I can't figure out how -if at all possible- to take apart the passive side. The active side has a rear panel that's held in place by screws. If that's out of the way from the inside the screws holding on the front are accessible. However the passive side has no separate back panel, the whole rear of the speaker is one solid piece except for the bass port and the wire terminals.
Has any one of you taken apart M-Audio speakers or something that's alike?



Thanks!

[Audiorepair]

Angle grinder.

[GLouie]

I don't have an answer, but it is curious. Do you have a photo of the active side inside screws of the front panel?

My guess would be that the passive side has the entire front decorative panel glued on after the woofer is installed.

[commongrounder]

Have you checked to see if you can remove the terminal strip and port, then reach inside with a long screwdriver to access the front panel screws? Surely they gave some means to service these?

[Marsupilami]

My guess would be that the passive side has the entire front decorative panel glued on after the woofer is installed.

This is my guess as well unfortunately. It makes sense to make it as cheap as possible and just glue it on. The screws holding the front in the powered side would not be accessible from the back on the passive.
Thanks!

[Marsupilami]

Have you checked to see if you can remove the terminal strip and port, then reach inside with a long screwdriver to access the front panel screws? Surely they gave some means to service these?

Maybe they did not. It's a cheap unit. There isn't an obvious way to remove the port or the terminals and I don't want to force them. I lean towards what GLouie wrote, that the front is glued on.
Thanks!

[GLouie]

My feeling is that serviceability isn't a factor for products at this price point, but I look at it as something that was assembled somehow, and therefore must be able to be disassembled! Maybe with a few scratches.

I could also envision that the speaker was coated or vinyl/plastic wrapped and it covers all of the seams and any fasteners. Maybe no screws on the box as gluing would be faster and cheaper, or perhaps it is an all plastic box, but I would still bet on 2 molded pieces and that the woofer has screws, and they are hidden by the decorative front panel. I'd try looking around the front panel, maybe after some hair dryer work.