Celestion Ditton 44

[DSJR]

Wot yer got to move on then?

[Macca]

Wot yer got to move on then?

Nothing I particularly need to shift cause I can't be bothered with the agrro plus I never know when I may need it again. Which is why it is all still piled about in the lounge! The pile in the photo comprises:

Behringer A500 (waiting to be a sub-woofer amp, I've got another somewhere)
Sony CDP 761E - laser knackered I think
Another Sony CDP - fine draw won't open on its own
Samsung Blu-ray player
Linn LK1 Preamp

[spendorman]

The Counties weren't bad, but the HF1300 was almosr dominated by the larger bass-mid. Today, the sense of timing and bass extension would win through I think.

Don't understand, Counties have an 8" paper cone bass unit and HF1300. The 1300 was often used with 8" bass units.

The Ditton 10 used an approx. 5" unit (same as the Ditton 44 mid) and HF1300.

Both County and 10 are not too bad a speaker. The Ditton 10 has remarkable bass for the size. Treble, up to the limit of the 1300 (not that high) is pretty good.

The early Ditton 10's were 15 Ohm, were marked Studio Series, had heavy bitumen panels damping the inside of the cabinet and I reckon that they were possibly an inspiration for the LS3/5a

The limited (but good) treble of the 10's might make them good rear channel speakers for the Ditton 44.

[Rare Bird]

I think these may be late ones (can't remember if the rebates around the grille frames were changed later on, but they didn't always have black cloth grilles).

Already told him they are early Venered baffle board version that still carries the old plastic terminal pod (Post 24) The later one's didnt have a plastic pod.

But your right the '33's are great, still my Fav out of all of them.

However they are in nice condition Martin, you just need some low open frame stands now..Don't you just love the wide x shallow depth cabinets, i have stacks more playability with my speakers being not deep at all..

[Jac Hawk]

Hello everyone my names Andre and I'm a 70's oholic

sorry mate, couldn't resist

[Rare Bird]

There's no cure

[Macca]

Already told him they are early Venered baffle version that still carries the old plastic terminal pod (Post 24) The later one's didnt have a plastic pod.

But your right the '33's are great, still my Fav out of all of them.

However they are in nice condition Martin, you just need some low open frame stands now..Don't you just love the wide x shallow depth cabinets, i have stacks more playability with my speakers being not deep at all..

Hi Andre

Got some stands coming but they area low pillar, could not find any open frames to suit despite extensive trawling. Shouldn't matter as I will be using them in free space anyway due to room constraints. Sounded very good indeed earlier on just plonked on the floor with a lash up system so I have high hopes.

[Macca]

Well it has been a lot of work but it has been worth it. Here is a piccie of the Celestions now sat upon their new stands, secured with lashings of our old friend Blu-Tak and wired up with Belkin cable and gold plated screw on Belkin spade connectors (thanks to Chris 'Wazoo').

Do they look Kick Ass or what?



My Williams power is out on loan so the system is as per my sig but with a Linn LK100 on power amp duties. As mentioned before I am interested in the comparison between these Celestions - the second in the 1970s flagship Ditton range behind the '66, and my A2s which were second in the 1990s 'A' series range.

As you can see in the photo the 44 is a true 3 way sealed box whereas the A2 (which are hiding behind) is a two and a half way with the one 8'' for mid/bass and another for low bass only, laid out in a D'Appolito or MTM arrangement and with a bass port on the back the size of the Mersey Tunnel

Having designed and had built some speakers in the dim and distant past my preference is for large sealed cabs with drivers dedicated to each section of the frequency range hence my interest in trying out the 44s.

Listening kicked off with some recently cleaned vinyl:

The Blues Brothers - original soundtrack
Pat Travers - Makin' Magic
BB King - The Best Of

By the time I got to the BB King it is fair to say I was stunned. One of the first things that became apparant is that there is a noticable 'family' sound between the 44 and the A2. Let me put it this way, if, in 1996 after 20 years you decided to replace your old 44s with the latest equivelent Celestion you would not have to suffer too much of a culture shock - big expansive, warm and sweet describes both loudspeakers, in fact the Ditton is actually sweeter and maybe more open in the top.

The Ditton also has the edge on instrumental seperation and vocals, preumably because of the dedicted midrange driver; but the real star of the show here is the bass from those 12 inch paper cones. Clean, deep-ish (deep enough anyway) and with an almost intangible but nevertheless addictive rich, sumptuous tone to it. I have read that the same cones are prized for guitar cabs due to their particular sonic signature. No wonder!

I am actually starting to think that these speakers have had very little use from new, I mean under 100 hours as they have effectively been in storage for 20 odd years. There is no question that the sound opened out and bass and mid became faster and sweeter the longer I played. I may actually be still breaking the drivers in!

Spinning records for several hours (actually from 6pm to 1030pm without a break!) I had no desire to swap back to the A2. I had gone through a number of rock albums which all hit the spot nicely. So then I decided to try some more demanding material in the form of the live Pat Metheney record 'The Road to You' which is a stunning production and very dynamic and wideband.

It was the best I have ever heard it reproduced.

Are these keepers? Well I am going to have to think long and hard about it. Certainly, with the listening so far, I think I prefer them to the A2, although there is not a gulf between them, it is not 'night and day' With volume up you can maybe hear the box a little on the 44 whereas you can't on the A2.
Then there is the beautiful cabs of the 44 - the veneer is perfect and it is a pleasure just to sit and look at them even when they are not doing anything!

I may try the A2 on the stands as they will fit on them with a little coaxing and a lot of Blu-Tak - we shall see. Anyway, enough of my yakking, that's it for now, I am off to listen to my new toys again!

Regards To All

[keiths]

Great write up Martin. Sounds like you got a real bargain there

[Reid Malenfant]

Great write up Martin. Sounds like you got a real bargain there

He did, just the tweeters go for more on fleabay than he payed for the pair of speakers

Nice one Martin, enjoy chap! They sure do look good, superb condition