Fisher speakers: were there any high end models?
- Thread starter MagneMan
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Some of the big early Fishers had good reputations. But after Avery Fisher sold the company, they did produce an awful lot of commodity loudspeakers that were simply made to sell at a cheap price. Generally speaking, it seems to me that its not too difficult to identify the better ones -- the difference in weight and construction quality is fairly apparent. This is not to say that the lower end ones don't include some unsung gems -- its surprising how good some old speakers can sound when hooked up to better amps than they tended to be used with back in the 60s or whenever.
zenith2134
Lunatic Member
Ok, I've been confused about this for a while now. I know the much later ST- series speakers (fisher/sanyo) were crap, but were the XP-series good ones? I ask because My Xp-9's came with a brochure and it has a copyright of 1971...so wouldn't that be post-Avery Fisher?
shocley
Well-Known Member
Reviews are pretty mixed even for the single digit XP series. Apparently, Avery Fisher had some idiosyncratic ideas on what a speaker should sound like, and he had to approve of the voicing of Fisher speakers.
My own experience is with the XP-7; it's by far the classiest mediocre speaker I have. But I've seen a lot of praise given to the largest and most expensive XP series speakers (XP-10 or 12(?)).
My own experience is with the XP-7; it's by far the classiest mediocre speaker I have. But I've seen a lot of praise given to the largest and most expensive XP series speakers (XP-10 or 12(?)).
Saint Johnny
Bon Ton Roule
I loved my pair of XP-7S since I first got them in 1975/76. I used them up until the foams gave out in the mid 1990's. (I still have them, and I'd still be using them, I just can't find my original woofers, since I've moved.)
From what I've been able to find out, the 7S was a fairly rare model. There isn't too much on the internet about it. I thought it was a great underrated speaker.
AS design, 3 way with a cone tweet, unlike the regular XP7. It didn't go very low or very high. But to me the mids were about as perfect as I've yet heard from any speaker ever. Though the Bozak 302A's are close. We'll see if that all changes when I get my Altecs up and running!
Johnlw7
Active Member
I have a a pair of The Fisher XP-18'S bought for $50.They are a five way design with massive 18 woofers that used alnico magnets.Beautiful Dark Walnut vennered cabs.It took a couple of days to get used to them.The bass is incredible with very low distortion.The mid's are great with classical and jazz music,which I think MR.Fisher designed them for.the gentleman I bought them from paid over$800 for the pair in 1968.
zenith2134
Lunatic Member
Forgot to mention the letter attached to the digit. Mine are xp-9C, so maybe they were slightly better (or worse?)
There have actually been quite a few threads on these. I really ought to put a little overview together so I can just cut and paste!
Basically, all the ST and STV are, ahem, not collectible. Need something for the garage, fine.
The XP series has some gems and some ordinary models.
The double-digit models from 10-18 were the TOTL. I have some XP-12's and they're awesome. A bit rolled off in the highs, but the tweeters from that period don't usually survive, and these have replacements. I'm going to swap them out for some silk domes and do a recap, someday. For the time being, I just listen to them.
Double digit models that don't start with a "1" are (usually) later junk. 60's are good.
The single digit XP's are somewhat dependent on the era and the model. 4's, 6's, 7's, and 9's are all worth a listen.
The usual tests apply...light weight and vinyl, bad. Heavy and real veneer, good.
Avery Fisher had a reputation for personally checking on the voicing of his speakers. Legend has it that he favored the "rolled-off highs", and drove his engineers nuts.
A good friend of mine is 65, still spins vinyl, and frequently comes over to my place to listen. I keep him supplied with turntables and receivers! We did a little comparison...Klipsch KG-4's, JBL-L100's, B&W 330 DMi's, and the Fisher XP-12's. As I mentioned above, definitely a bit rolled-off in the upper frequencies.
After listening to everything, my friend gave the Fishers a double thumbs-up. He much preferred them over the others.
Maybe Avery was on to something after all!
Basically, all the ST and STV are, ahem, not collectible. Need something for the garage, fine.
The XP series has some gems and some ordinary models.
The double-digit models from 10-18 were the TOTL. I have some XP-12's and they're awesome. A bit rolled off in the highs, but the tweeters from that period don't usually survive, and these have replacements. I'm going to swap them out for some silk domes and do a recap, someday. For the time being, I just listen to them.
Double digit models that don't start with a "1" are (usually) later junk. 60's are good.
The single digit XP's are somewhat dependent on the era and the model. 4's, 6's, 7's, and 9's are all worth a listen.
The usual tests apply...light weight and vinyl, bad. Heavy and real veneer, good.
Avery Fisher had a reputation for personally checking on the voicing of his speakers. Legend has it that he favored the "rolled-off highs", and drove his engineers nuts.
A good friend of mine is 65, still spins vinyl, and frequently comes over to my place to listen. I keep him supplied with turntables and receivers! We did a little comparison...Klipsch KG-4's, JBL-L100's, B&W 330 DMi's, and the Fisher XP-12's. As I mentioned above, definitely a bit rolled-off in the upper frequencies.
After listening to everything, my friend gave the Fishers a double thumbs-up. He much preferred them over the others.
Maybe Avery was on to something after all!
shocley
Well-Known Member
I loved my pair of XP-7S since I first got them in 1975/76. I used them up until the foams gave out in the mid 1990's. (I still have them, and I'd still be using them, I just can't find my original woofers, since I've moved.)
From what I've been able to find out, the 7S was a fairly rare model. There isn't too much on the internet about it. I thought it was a great underrated speaker.
AS design, 3 way with a cone tweet, unlike the regular XP7. It didn't go very low or very high. But to me the mids were about as perfect as I've yet heard from any speaker ever. Though the Bozak 302A's are close. We'll see if that all changes when I get my Altecs up and running!
Yeah, I forgot to mention the not-insubstantial mods that Fisher made on the XP-7's. And there are people who love them. I think there's also an XP-7B, which has a couple fans on AK. And one person tried putting Advent tweeters in his XP-7's and loves them. I've just tried that, and IMO it's still no more than a passable speaker. Part of my problem with XP-7's is that I really tried to love them, recapping the crossovers, etc. Unrequited love, I guess.
But there's the most basic factor of all - peoples' taste in speakers. Is there any speaker that hasn't been accused of rolled off highs, harsh highs, nasal sound, unconvincing sound, wooden sound, boxy sound, or just plain bleech? Probably, but you can count the number on one hand.
Correct. Some of the "letter-suffix" model changes were significant, in some cases enough that the later models were really completely different speakers.
Geez.. what did I do to make you want to call me names?
I have the ST 550s and they are excellent speakers. There are actually three models with the "ST" prefix that are worth having. ST 450, 500, 550. They all use United Speakers and Peerless drivers (same ones that McIntosh used at the time), very solid cabinetry and sophisticated crossovers.
I just got my parts in the other day for a re-cap and new terminals, I'll post the results.
Hey, Kelly, give me a call next time you'll be in the area, I'll have them hooked up.
Saint Johnny
Bon Ton Roule
Oh I forgot to add. My XP7S's have vinyl veneer, but they are have heavy as hell. When I had them opened, years ago, to replace the woofers with rat shacks, (yes, I know?). I found internal bracing and a wooden box for mid isolation, and a high quality x-over. So, even though, outwardly the vinyl veneer seems off-putting. They are genuinely well made internally!
Tarior, do you know approximately when those three models were being sold? I have very little reference materials from Fisher's later years, and I'm trying to pin those down.
I had those model #'s wrong. They were ST 500, 530, 550.
That was the "Controlled Dispersion" line, the introductory brochure I have is dated 1972. The reciept I have for my 550s is dated early '75.
My scanner is having a software glitch right now, I have a gob of early '70s Fisher literature that I wouldn't mind sharing with the forum.
That was the "Controlled Dispersion" line, the introductory brochure I have is dated 1972. The reciept I have for my 550s is dated early '75.
My scanner is having a software glitch right now, I have a gob of early '70s Fisher literature that I wouldn't mind sharing with the forum.
I loved my pair of XP-7S since I first got them in 1975/76. I used them up until the foams gave out in the mid 1990's. (I still have them, and I'd still be using them, I just can't find my original woofers, since I've moved.)
From what I've been able to find out, the 7S was a fairly rare model. There isn't too much on the internet about it. I thought it was a great underrated speaker.
AS design, 3 way with a cone tweet, unlike the regular XP7. It didn't go very low or very high. But to me the mids were about as perfect as I've yet heard from any speaker ever. Though the Bozak 302A's are close. We'll see if that all changes when I get my Altecs up and running!
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