Rare and Seldom Seen Speakers

SmitterDave

Audio Preservation through Restoration.
I would like to start a thread for seldom seen, odd and rare speakers. I have owned some throughout my years in the audio hobby. I would like to start with my Dennesen 180 electrostatic's. The tweeters were engineered with Arthur JansZen and Frank Dennesen for the Electrostatic ERC 139 Speaker. Frank Dennesen ended up using this tweeter for many years afterwards in his designs. The 180's use an 8" alnico woofer that has been doped and used some reticulated foam as an early phase plug seen on woofers today.

I hope others with rare odd speakers to join in.
 
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As most people who went to the winter Frankenfest know, i recently acquired a pair of Acoustech X speakers. Also a Janszen design. Some pics of the fest are here, and you will see a couple pics of my speakers. They are 6' tall and about 2.5' wide. You will also see a pair of B & W speakers that belong to another member.
I love the Acoustech, even though mine need a bit more work. They have built in amps as the base. If you search the speaker section, you can see another thread with more photo's of mine.
They are keeper for sure.:thmbsp:
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=428382&page=2
 
I am using a pair of Clearfield Continentals designed by Albert Von Schwiekert and made under the Counterpoint name back in the 90s.

If you google Images of that model, you may only find pics of mine and 1 or 2 other pairs.
 
My sequerra metronome pyramid speakers and 2w subwoofers. they look bad currently but i am working on putting on new grill cloth, and removing excessive rope calk that the p.o. had on them. They still sound excellent as is though.

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I have always wanted to get a set of Sequerra ribbons. I have a set of Apogee Calipers which are killer but have heard great things about the Sequerra line.
 
Very interesting Dave. The Buckyball tweeter array. Do us a favour, is there any way to determine the angle those tweeters fire at relative to the baffle?
 
I have always wanted to get a set of Sequerra ribbons. I have a set of Apogee Calipers which are killer but have heard great things about the Sequerra line.

I Really wish i had the pair of ribbons that went on top of each one of my speakers. Someday when i can get a set cheap enough.
 
Cool Looking Speakers, guys. I have a few rare and seldom seen speakers laying around :D
Marantz Model 600-Mirrored, and unusual grill cloth that mimicks the walnut veneer. One of the last Designs by Engineer Edmond May in 1980 just before his unexpected death.
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Kenwood Model Sevens. Rare 130 lb. giants hand crafted and built by Japanese techs with pride of workmanship. Nothing in these speakers was outsourced. All made in house by Kenwood. Built from 1975-1977 with MSRP of $2,600 to $3,000.
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I was given a pair of Fairfax bookshelf speakers by a friend, and I know very little about them. Apparently they were made in Newark, NJ, and I enjoy the sound in my bedroom system. Anybody heard of these, or better yet, have any info?
 
Very nice speakers, BT!

This a JBL speaker I would love to have (S2600). I have not seen a pair as of yet, but hopefully one day a pair will be in my possession.

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Rome
 
I sold these about 8 months ago. Probably the oddest I've had.

Bertagni Electroacoustic Systems (BES) SM250's

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i also have an old set of janszen 1-30 electrostates,use them on top of my ar9s to enhance the top end,another hard to find are the FRIED model r's enjoyed daily.most of my other speakers are somewhat more common but vintage and collectable,ar3a,ar2ax.electrovoice interface b,imf als40's,web's,and a couple sets of 70's speakerlabs.my rarest by far would be my Braun L-1000 studio monitors,bet no one else has a set of those!!
 
my Braun L-1000 studio monitors,bet no one else has a set of those!!

I see you are relatively new to AK, you would be surprised just what people
have in there possession. Are your Fried a newer find?
 
yes the frieds i aquired not too long ago,but ive had Imf als 40's for yrs so i know the transmission line speakers well
 
Lessons Learned:

It's really nice to have really 'rare' speakers but...

Parts are impossible to find and componets can't be repaired.

Moral of the story: once something is broken...they are closet speakers. Parked in the closet awaiting parts.

But rare speakers are fun...while they work.
 
.my rarest by far would be my Braun L-1000 studio monitors,bet no one else has a set of those!!

I was thinking the same way about my Braun L800 studio monitors but hey, who knows? There is likely a mountain of them in Europe...we just rarely get to see a pair in North America.

J.R.
 
I just started a thred on a vintage pair of Empire 2000 Cavaliers...I think they are pretty uncommon and have quite a unique look to them. Here's a shot...more on the dedicated thread.

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Scott
 
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