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Anyone heard of them? Sony APM-11W

Shrugg

Shrugg

Active Member
Just came across these speakers listed for sale near me, and found that there is absolutely no information on them on the internet, which seems rather surprising. Seller claims that they are equivalent to the Sony APM-22ES speakers, but I am not so sure. Has anyone heard of this model before?

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They sure look like 22ES, in drivers and cabinets at least. Hard to tell the scale, but they seem smaller. And no ES designation makes ya wonder...
 
Some quick googling turned up some interesting information on APM stuff:

1) not unlike other brands, Sony shipped models with different designs to different countries during the same production runs. Read this short write up from The Vintage Knob for one example:

http://www.thevintageknob.org/sony-APM-66ESG.html

2) Sony made an APM 33W. It was produced in 1982, two years before the 22ES. Sony also made a 55W (3 ways speaker, presumably at the same time as the 33W), a 66ES and later a 44ESG and 66ESG (depending on what country you were in).

Also, I had a pair of Kenwood LS-1000. Nice speakers produced by Trio/Kenwood in the early 80’s. The pair I had was a two way version sold on US Military bases ($800/pr) which was different from a three way version sold in Japan with the same model number. The three way version also came badged as Trio or Kenwood. As far as I could find, the model I owned was only sold on military bases. Based on this information and my (albeit limited) experience with early 80’s Japanese speakers, I am guessing the 11W is one of the following:

1) A speaker that sat below the 33W in the product line and was either not sold in the States (so given the English writing, possibly Canada or England originally) or sold so few that they are basically forgotten

2) A model that was sold on US Military bases and as such had a different model number but was essentially either a 33W or 22ES.

From looking at other pictures, the tweeter looks right and the pictures you posted indicate good build quality. I suspect they are legit and sound decent (I don’t know anything about the sound of APM gear), assuming no bad caps etc. I would value them somewhat less than the 22ES because there is no real record of them. If you check them out and they are legitimate APM speakers, they should be weighty speakers. Here are dimensions on the 33W for comparison:


Dimensions (W x H x D): 315 x 540 x 320 mm (12-1/2" x 21-1/4" x 12-5/8")

Weight: 14,4 kg (31 lb, 10 oz)


Edit: if you are just looking for info on the speakers (quality, sound, etc.) posting in the Speakers forum may get more response.
 
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Thanks for the info @Natertots . Seems strange that Sony would sell another version of the APM-22ES stateside, as I've seen the 22ES for sale around my location once or twice. Then again, Sony was never great with consistent model numbering, and often used different model numbers for different markets for their various hifi products.

P.S. Coincidentally, I also happen to own a pair of Kenwood LS-1000 speakers, and am still a big fan of their sound quality. I guess I am a big fan of obscure Japanese speakers.
 
I liked them but I finally passed them on because they fell out of the rotation and deserved to be enjoyed.

I believe the two way LS-1000 would have been available on bases outside the US, not stateside. Several original owners stated in thread that they got them while serving in SE Aisia. Also, I think the two way version may have also been available in Japan, but not sure on that one.

One thing that is not clear in your pictures is wether or not the 11W’s are ported. If they are not ported, that could be the difference between the 11 and the 22, which would explain the different model number (see the Vintage Knob link for precedence of Sony making this kind of change).
 
Sony speakers have multiple model numbers for the same speakers in a few cases. Not sure about the apm line specifically, but the ss line is a straight shitshow...

I've heard a couple pairs of the apm powered 2 ways, and there's no way I'd pass a set up if the price was good.
 
loudnoises said:
Sony speakers have multiple model numbers for the same speakers in a few cases. Not sure about the apm line specifically, but the ss line is a straight shitshow...

I've heard a couple pairs of the apm powered 2 ways, and there's no way I'd pass a set up if the price was good.
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Agreed. Sony APM are under rated. I have a set of APM 20ES - essentially the same except different tweeter. I have had these since new from the 80's - bought these as a teen. still sound amazing today and many friends into their audiophile systems remark on their clarity and sound.
 

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twocoaster said:
They sure look like 22ES, in drivers and cabinets at least. Hard to tell the scale, but they seem smaller. And no ES designation makes ya wonder...
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Agree, They do look like 22ES. There was also another model the 20ES and had different tweeter but still front ported like the 22ES. Can't tell from the pic if there is the front port on these APM
 
The 4 dimples on the cone usually mean the 4 VC driver which is good. Additionally these look to have the real AMP square tweeter. Those two things make me think these are the good stuff not the "looks like the good stuff"
 
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