chartwell pm400

[geoff]

Hi, looking for info about the fore mentioned speakers, seen some for sale, not sure how much they're worth, any ideas?

[DSJR]

As I recall, they need to be well off the floor as they could sound a bit woofy as I distantly remember, although I may be thinking of the PM450 which was horrible sat on the floor. Best known from this era is the PM310, the precurder of the Rogers LS7, which was directly descended from it :)

P.S. The first 'Choice speaker review book liked the PM400's, the main 'issue' being with the isophon tweeter, which was one of a then very small choice in such things..

[Mothman]

Forum member system7 has a pair, may be worth dropping him a PM :)

[system7]

I USED to have a pair! I used them for a high quality disco in the seventies. :)

http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/7163/chartwellpm400.jpg

Very smooth speakers with a complex crossover driving Dalesford bextrene or polypropylene plastic drive units with a mylar tweeter. Not as good as 15" Tannoys in that application, but they gave me a good time, even if I preferred speakers like Gale 401 and Wharfedale E 70. 3 way speakers always sound good, it's just they work better than two ways. You can examine distortion from a midrange free of large bass excursion and understand why

I wouldn't get too sentimental about them. the 12" bass tends to sag and rub voice coil. If I wanted a good three way these days, I'd go for Troels design here: http://www.troelsgravesen.dk/3WClassic.htm

[walpurgis]

Yes, I had a pair many years ago. Nice speakers and highly regarded at the time. An alternative to the Mordaunt Short Signifier and Spendor S100 I suppose. If I recall, mine had different tweeters.