Chris Rogers Hifi Answers Transmission Line speakers

[Lawrence001]

Has anyone tried a pair of these? I might be getting some on Friday. I imagine they will be close to the Bert Webb designed R50s I had a few years ago.

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[Barry]

Do they use the same drive units? I have heard the Cambridge R50s (a friend of mine has a pair) and they are very good. My only criticism of the R50s was the grille consisting of vertical slats, which creates 'lobes' in the horizontal polar pattern. The Chris Rogers design shouldn't suffer from this.

[Lawrence001]

Do they use the same drive units? I have heard the Cambridge R50s (a friend of mine has a pair) and they are very good. My only criticism of the R50s was the grille consisting of vertical slats, which creates 'lobes' in the horizontal polar pattern. The Chris Rogers design shouldn't suffer from this.Yes I believe it does, although these have the later shape B139; most of the R50s I've seen have the earlier oval version (maybe not the later 50 watts rated version). This also has an enclosed mid range cavity rather than a second line and port.

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[walpurgis]

The later B139 with 'corners' was used on some R50 speakers. I never understood the need for the Coles tweeter, as the T27 has a quoted response up to 30kHz.

[Lawrence001]

The later B139 with 'corners' was used on some R50 speakers. I never understood the need for the Coles tweeter, as the T27 has a quoted response up to 30kHz.I always thought it was due to a slightly ragged response up top with the T27 (that the later ab crossover mod on the Kef 104 sorted for example).

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[Lawrence001]

More info here, maybe more rolled off than ragged.

https://us.kef.com/pub/media/pdf/Model_104aB_A_Story_of_Improvement.pdf


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[Mr. C]

They look like the bastard love child of an MFI regional rep and a kef driver dumpster drive

[Lawrence001]

They look like the bastard love child of an MFI regional rep and a kef driver dumpster driveYep but if they sound anything like my R50s did they will be great!

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[VanDerGraaf]

Just gotten hold of some R50s that need some love and so haven't been played properly yet...how would you describe the sound Lawrence? You've had massive IMFs at some point, is it in that direction?

[Lawrence001]

Just gotten hold of some R50s that need some love and so haven't been played properly yet...how would you describe the sound Lawrence? You've had massive IMFs at some point, is it in that direction?Very clean sounding, they go low but the bass is not overblown in any way. My mate said they sounded like PA speakers. They did remind me of being at a gig at times, but in a good way. The IMFs had more bass. I got the impression that the R50 design was about totally nullifying the back wave of the bass driver whereas the IMFs were more about getting some low frequencies out of the ports and extending the LF range.

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[Lawrence001]

I should add that I'm totally happy with my TDL Studio 2s, the opportunity to try these just came up and being a bit of a TL fanboy I couldn't say no [emoji38] I don't think I'll be allowed to keep them for long so watch this space if you fancy a pair of big well made vintage TLs.

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[Lawrence001]

Here they are I have to say they're very well made and in beautiful condition. They also look very nice in white, if they were wood they would look much more ponderous (they are very big!). They were made by the same guy who made the tonearm in another thread of mine, he was very skilled I have to say.

Sadly I don't think I have any room for them in the long term...
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[Lawrence001]

I think I'll paint the baffles a matt black if I keep them a while, what sort of paint is best I wonder?

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[Barry]

Do you intend dispensing with the grills? Do they sound better without the grills?

Anyway if you do want to paint the front baffle, since it look to be made of chipboard/MDF, I would have thought any matt black paint would do. Make sure you avoid spraying the drive units and the acoustic filling showing at the transmission line port. IMO they will still look awful without the grills, but if that is what you want to do then so be it.

[VanDerGraaf]

Very clean sounding, they go low but the bass is not overblown in any way. My mate said they sounded like PA speakers. They did remind me of being at a gig at times, but in a good way. The IMFs had more bass. I got the impression that the R50 design was about totally nullifying the back wave of the bass driver whereas the IMFs were more about getting some low frequencies out of the ports and extending the LF range.

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I think this chimes with what I had read somewhere before- the TLS80 being somehow a bit hyped in the low bass, and the R50 being somewhat more neutral in that range.

[Lawrence001]

Do you intend dispensing with the grills? Do they sound better without the grills?

Anyway if you do want to paint the front baffle, since it look to be made of chipboard/MDF, I would have thought any matt black paint would do. Make sure you avoid spraying the drive units and the acoustic filling showing at the transmission line port. IMO they will still look awful without the grills, but if that is what you want to do then so be it.No I would keep the grilles on, I just thought the stain had faded on the fronts. I might try a black oak wood stain as per the original article. This is if I keep them of course, it might be out of my hands [emoji38]

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[Allan D]

Hi Lawrence

How are you finding the Chris Rogers Hifi Answers Transmission Line speakers, do you still have them ?, I built a pair in the mid 80s and have cried since the day I let them go, I must have spent the best part of 6 months just getting the stuffing sorted, even when played low the Bass still moved your sternum, Iv had R50's since and they were nothing like.

Allan

[Lawrence001]

Hi Lawrence

How are you finding the Chris Rogers Hifi Answers Transmission Line speakers, do you still have them ?, I built a pair in the mid 80s and have cried since the day I let them go, I must have spent the best part of 6 months just getting the stuffing sorted, even when played low the Bass still moved your sternum, Iv had R50's since and they were nothing like.

AllanHi Allan I decided that they needed to have the crossovers refreshed to sound right and I didn't have the time as I've got to much on with work and kids.

Fortunately they went to a good home - a gent going through a divorce whose wife was taking her late father's old pair of the same speakers with her.

I'm now listening to a nice pair of Amphion speakers with 12" woofers in sealed boxes [emoji2]
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[Made in 1968]

Cambridge Audio 'R50' were one of my very early speaker purchases, sounded great. Had 'R40' aswell.

[Allan D]

Blimey Lawrence, going of the price of them buggers they should sound just a tad bit better :eek:

[Lawrence001]

Blimey Lawrence, going of the price of them buggers they should sound just a tad bit better :eek:Ah but I got them at a very good price. I couldn't afford the going rate for them.

[MisterKevster]

I've a couple of JLH 80W Monoblocs (and Exposure VI/VII).
Would the amps be happy to drive an R50 type cab???

......And....typically...what would the going rate be...'ball-park' if you like...for these cabinets?
What can I expect to pay please?:)

[Lawrence001]

Transmission lines don't generally take a lot of power to play loud. However I believe (and some disagree from what I read) that you need a good few watts to grip the bass. 80wpc should be fine though.

Price depends very much on condition. A lot of these DIY cabs have suffered abuse over the years and you often find the mids or tweeters blown or replaced with incorrect substitutes. In good nick like these were you should be looking at £200-300. In bad nick anything from £50-200 depending on quite how bad they are. A pair of working B139s in a cab should put a floor of £50 on them.

These sold a while ago btw.

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[MisterKevster]

Thanks for that!
I had spotted that they were sold.
Was that a white painted finish btw...
or a 'formica' type covering?

[Lawrence001]

Formica, it was very smart looking actually, would have passed for a professional build.

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[Lawrence001]

If you're after them I could try and contact the buyer for you.

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[MisterKevster]

If you're after them I could try and contact the buyer for you.

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Thanks Lawrence....didn't have that particular set in mind TBH.
Fascinating to hear some of this type tho'...

[Lawrence001]

If you want my honest opinion..

I'd get a pair of the later Cambridge R50s (with higher power handling, 50w IIRC) and recap them.

Or a pair of IMF TLS80s.

Both sound stunning.

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[MisterKevster]

If you want my honest opinion..

I'd get a pair of the later Cambridge R50s (with higher power handling, 50w IIRC) and recap them.

Or a pair of IMF TLS80s.

Both sound stunning.

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Appreciate your opinion....thanks!!
Currently considering a home-made R50...a la BJ Webb plan.
Looks nicely made....but better pics will help.
Not really familiar with the TLS80....are there many around??

[MisterKevster]

If you want my honest opinion..

I'd get a pair of the later Cambridge R50s (with higher power handling, 50w IIRC) and recap them.

Or a pair of IMF TLS80s.

Both sound stunning.

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When you say "late" R50's.....are you talking a particular year...?
On reflection....might be interesting to see/hear the white ones...depends where they are I suppose!
I'm in Leeds FWIW!!!

[Lawrence001]

Appreciate your opinion....thanks!!
Currently considering a home-made R50...a la BJ Webb plan.
Looks nicely made....but better pics will help.
Not really familiar with the TLS80....are there many around??
When you say "late" R50's.....are you talking a particular year...?
On reflection....might be interesting to see/hear the white ones...depends where they are I suppose!
I'm in Leeds FWIW!!!The white ones ended up in Devon.

By late versions I mean the ones with the higher power handling, it says on the sticker on the back. I think they all had the later B139 racetrack woofer with the corners. If it's kit I think Falcon sold an equivalent upgraded crossover set.

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[rossm]

Interesting, my partner - also in Devon - has a pair of the HFA TL monitors but finished in black formica. She and her then partner built themselves a pair each back around 1980 and she has loved hers ever since.

Reason for posting - if anyone is interested - is that we just fitted some new Falcon crossovers and replaced the cap in the bass section with a polyprop type while we were doing it. They used to sound good, now they sound great to the level where she is no longer jealous of her brother's big ATCs. She is driving them with an MF P370 so a real vintage system with a superb sound. Bass goes deep and plays tunes while the vocals are in the room with you.

Problem is I now want some to replace my aktiv Ninkas!