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Thread: Recommendation for Vintage 3 Way Speaker??

  1. #1
    Join Date: Aug 2008

    Location: Suffolk, UK

    Posts: 1,473
    I'm Paul.

    Default Recommendation for Vintage 3 Way Speaker??

    I am toying with the idea of getting hold of an older model 3 way speakers with some nice 8” or 10” bass units and putting in some active crossovers and amps in order to make them a set of active monitors.

    I see quite a few old 80s 3 ways that would fit the bill but I don’t know they are particularly any good. Anything anyone can suggest I have a look at?
    ~Paul~

  2. #2
    Join Date: Apr 2012

    Location: N E Kent

    Posts: 51,624
    I'm Geoff.

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    The only vintage three way speakers with ten inch drivers that spring to mind are the B&O 5702. Or with eight inch units, the Wharfedale Triton.

    I personally can't see a real reason for a using an eight inch bass driver in a three way design.

    If you looked at speakers with 12" units you'd have more success. Anything from the Wharfedale Dovedale III and Celestion Ditton 44, to the Celestion Ditton 66 or Yamaha NS-1000, etc.

    Any particular reason you want to do this? It's very tricky to get active speakers right and the hardware would possibly cost you more than the speakers are worth. And, I can't think of any real benefit in the end result
    It is impossible for anything digital to sound analogue, because it isn't analogue!

  3. #3
    Join Date: Feb 2008

    Location: Sunny (occasionally) Devon

    Posts: 1,713
    I'm Shane.

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    Heybrook HB3? 10” bass in a big IB cabinet. Later ones had the crossover mounted on a removable panel designed to be replaced with active electronics.
    Time flies like an arrow.
    Fruit flies like a banana.

  4. #4
    Join Date: Aug 2009

    Location: Staffordshire, England

    Posts: 37,779
    I'm Martin.

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    There was one in the C series range from KEF I think, the early Eighties C series. Maybe not vintage enough though.

    Lots of potential benefits from going active of you use a digital crossover. Like getting phase integration bob on. No nasty inductors and so on. I've got some IMF TLS 50 and I'm toying with the idea. 4 drivers per side though so 8 channels of amplification required. Some say active speakers are less fussy about the amplifier used, though. And he amp must have an easier time of it, with only one driver per side.

    I'd avoid the Celestion 44 though. Has pretty low power handling abilities, one of the things that bothers me about doing it with the IMFs too.
    Current Lash Up:

    TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.

  5. #5
    Join Date: Aug 2008

    Location: Suffolk, UK

    Posts: 1,473
    I'm Paul.

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    Thanks for the ideas. I just believe that you cant beat a nice big bass driver that moves plenty of air. It doesn’t need to go loud, just shift air. I don’t know if anyone remembers my DIY 3 way active speakers. These were awesome and my only gripe with them was was that the polyprop mid range cones gave vocals a slight nasally character. The 3 way active XO took a bit of work but really the biggest issue was lowering the noise floor on the HP sections, there was quite a pronounced hiss to start with. I powered them with 3 small Chinese Yarland EL84 amps that cost around £150 each at the time. Anyway I had to store these in the garage for a while and despite my best efforts in wrapping them up dampness got in and ruined them My idea is to make some active XO and amp modules that can be attached to the back of a speaker cabinet and to try out a few 3 way speakers as and when I can pick them up cheap.
    ~Paul~

  6. #6
    Join Date: Apr 2011

    Location: South Yorkshire

    Posts: 29
    I'm Dave.

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    I picked up a pair of Revox Plenum B mkII speakers a while ago. The bass drivers have been replaced with non-Revox ones, but I'm very happy with the sound of them.

  7. #7
    Join Date: Mar 2015

    Location: Bristol

    Posts: 371
    I'm Sean.

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    I have a pair of MB Quart 390's which I like - again from 80's so maybe not old enough and maybe not that common. They only cost me £30-£40 on Gumtree.

    http://www.hifi-classic.net/review/m...t-390-422.html

  8. #8
    Join Date: Sep 2013

    Location: North Island New Zealand

    Posts: 1,757
    I'm Chris.

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    Some 3 way classic vintage speakers are the Gale GS401a, http://0339436.netsolhost.com/WordPress/gs401-speaker/
    arguably one of the best looking and sounding speakers of this era, its midrange quality only surpassed by the Quad ESL57

    ,or the AR3a http://www.classicspeakerpages.net/l...3a_full_pd.pdf

    Each will likely need restoration. Hope this helps

  9. #9
    Join Date: Feb 2008

    Location: Sunny (occasionally) Devon

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    I'm Shane.

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    Time flies like an arrow.
    Fruit flies like a banana.

  10. #10
    Join Date: Nov 2016

    Location: South Northampton-shire. UK

    Posts: 22
    I'm Steve.

    Default Hypex Fusion modules for active speakers

    Hi

    Might be worth waiting to see what the Dutch firm Hypex launch in spring next year. The new active speaker modules are called 'Fusion'.

    I would also highly recommend reading through the articles on the Troels Gravesen website about vintage speakers.

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