Anyone know of "The DFS Loudspeaker"?

WilsonCreek

WilsonCreek

Active Member
I came across a pair of these speakers at the thrift yesterday and wondered if anyone had ever heard of them or knows anything about the company. The instructions on the back identify them as The DFS Loudspeaker, though I suspect dfs made several models. A web search didn't turn up much, except a few hits on what might have been similar speakers, though none seemed quite the same model as this. Unfortunately the warranty cards have been removed, and there might have been more information on them.

They are pretty hefty and probably overbuilt: 12.5" deep, 13.5" wide, 32" tall, and weigh 64 pounds of mostly particle board each, though with nice real veneer that looks like walnut. As far as I can surmise there is a single cone tweeter, about 2" in diameter, and maybe a 10" woofer in each. But I'm not sure, as I haven't figured out how to open them up unless I pull off the grills, which are attached to the cabinets on the front and continuous onto the top. The grill fabric is a black weave, kind of reminds me of Klipsch Heresys, and from what I can see through it, it seems like the woofer cone might be shiny, or metallic. They are open on the back, and there is an internal baffle like a transmission line, which runs internally from the top to about 2 inches from the bottom, dividing the column crossways into two halves. I tried to show it on the fourth picture, but I don't think it quite captured it...hopefully my explanation is clear enough, but if it isn't I can draw a picture.

They work but I haven't turned them up too high until I know the condition of the surrounds. Anyone ever see these or have any ideas on opening them up?

Thanks,
Chris
 

Attachments

  • dfs1.jpg
    dfs1.jpg
    71.2 KB · Views: 433
  • dfs2.jpg
    dfs2.jpg
    31.6 KB · Views: 197
  • dfs3.jpg
    dfs3.jpg
    70 KB · Views: 292
  • dfs4.jpg
    dfs4.jpg
    37.3 KB · Views: 276
Last edited:
Register to hide this ad
I think they are horn-loaded. Transmission lines are usually damped and the opening is a bit large for a TL. The power rating seems to indicate relatively high efficiency, which would again argue against a TL. They appear to be very interesting speakers. I suspect there is more than meets the eye. I would attempt to pry the front part of the grilles off and have a peek, but that's just me.
 
sealy said:
I think they are horn-loaded. Transmission lines are usually damped and the opening is a bit large for a TL. The power rating seems to indicate relatively high efficiency, which would again argue against a TL. They appear to be very interesting speakers. I suspect there is more than meets the eye. I would attempt to pry the front part of the grilles off and have a peek, but that's just me.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the comments. The photo makes it look like it's horn-loaded, but it's deceiving. I'd draw a picture but tomorrow I think I'll take one of them apart and post an accurate diagram.

I tried them today/tonight and they seem to play fine. The treble is a touch less defined than I'm used to, but not bad. On further examination I think the 10" woofer might only be an 8" one, in which case the bass response is impressive. I A/Bed them briefly with the Genesis and they were a touch louder...maybe 89-90 db? and with a deeper but boomier bass.

If there is nothing in them but a cone tweeter and 8" woofer, they are the most overbuilt 8" two-way speakers I have seen. The main cabinet is 3/4" particle board on all sides, plus the internal baffle, with the veneered side panels glued on and 3/8" particle board "grills" on the front and top. They are a bear to move around.

I started to pry the base of one grill off, and found that the fabric is stapled to the front and top pieces, which are apparently then nailed with finishing nails to the cabinet through the fabric. The nails all pulled through the particle board as I tried to remove it, so no easy peeks.

I'll probably pull the cover completely tomorrow and satisfy my curiosity, but I fear it'll be a destructive process.
 
Last edited:
Are there any numbers at all that might look like a model number?In my Orion Blue Book,they list 6 different models,all made from 78-83.
J-1 $230/pair
J-2A $274/PR
J-3 $400/PR
T-4 $450/PR
T-5 $624/PR
T-6 $1050/PR

I wonder if the T stands for Transmission Line?
Very interesting speakers you have there.
Jimmy
 
Opened, partly

2DualsNotEnough said:
Are there any numbers at all that might look like a model number?In my Orion Blue Book, they list 6 different models, all made from 78-83.
J-1 $230/pair
J-2A $274/PR
J-3 $400/PR
T-4 $450/PR
T-5 $624/PR
T-6 $1050/PR

I wonder if the T stands for Transmission Line?
Very interesting speakers you have there.
Jimmy
Click to expand...

Thank you for that. There is no information on which model it might be, but given that it's a two-way (below) I'm guessing either the J-1 or T-4. The little info I found on the web on DFS suggested others had speakers with more than two drivers (active or passive). My guess is the T-4, partly for the possible Transmission Line thing and also since they are so heavy (128 pounds for the pair) I would think they needed to cost enough to cover the shipping costs. Or maybe gas was cheap then.

I pried off the grills and verified an 8" two-way. The woofer isn't metallic--it's coated and I was seeing the reflection of the flashlight through the fabric. The drivers are held in place with glue or silicon or something rather than screws. The woofer looks like a Philips to me, the tweeter I don't know. I'll work at getting them out of the cabinets.

The rubber surround on the woofer is cracked all along the bottom. I'll have to open the other and check it as well. I haven't dealt with damaged rubber surrounds before, and any advice or link to a post that covers them would be welcome.

Chris
 

Attachments

  • dfs5.jpg
    dfs5.jpg
    55.3 KB · Views: 305
  • dfstweeter.jpg
    dfstweeter.jpg
    41 KB · Views: 211
  • dfswoofer.jpg
    dfswoofer.jpg
    54.8 KB · Views: 223
The tweeter looks sort of like the old Peerless cone, which was a very nice tweeter with somewhat limited dispersion. But the Peerlesses usually had the impedance stamped on the front of the cone.
Interesting find there.
 
Old thread

Dug up this old thread because I just saw a set of speakers at the GW that had glued on grills and the badge only said "Evolution". Really nice walnut cabs but too much price for unknowns. Then I picked up a different set at a yard sale. Same deal, glued on grills and "Evolution" badges. BUT, one had a DFS louspeaker paperwork on the back. Grabbed them cheap and figured the cabs are worth it. Really nice cabs.

Got them home and popped the grills. Not much. 2 ways with 8 inch woofers. Rotten surrounds. Tested them gently and they work. I refoamed the woofers and they are really not much. Glued in drivers like Speakerlab but didn't look like much there either. Small magnets, flimsy paper cone, simple cap x-over. I only did it because I had the foams and time. The cabs are solid. 3/4 particle board, nice walnut, small foot to raise them up, screw terminals, one piece of damping inside. Just nothing to get excited about.

Screwed the drivers back in to try them and check my refoam and I am surprised. They sound a lot better than expected. clear crisp highs and nice bass with good thump.

Just wanted to log the info in case you find some. They are not much for parts. Great cabs though. Quite easy to refoam but you have to be gentle with the cone and the VC seems pretty tight so make sure you center them well.

I need to get some foam to seal the drivers. I didn't want to re-glue them in and will have to rig something to hold the grills. Probably velcro.
 
Just picked up a pair of DFS T-6's. Very heavy (80 lbs. each) Picked them up from the guy who owned the lumber yard here in the Pacific NW where they procured the veneer for the cabinets. Seems that the company was under funded and the speakers were expensive (T-6's were $1050 a pair in 78 to 83) witch contributed to their demise. He ended up with a pair in the last days of their existence. Cabs are still beautiful with 12" woofer, 4" mid, and 2 different tweets, with adjusting pots for mids & highs. The woofers need new surrounds (hopefully can find the right size) but they have no manufacture name, but seem well built with heavy magnets. Anyone have any info on these?
 
Funny - I just found a pair of DFS speakers at the local GW. Seem to be a 8" 3 way with a 10" passive radiator. About 35" high and 14" wide and 12"deep. No porting, no adjusting controls. Heavy as heck. Sound OK - way better than the $16 I paid for them.
 
When I bought my genesis 210's, the seller had a pair of DFS speakers like the ones shown. He was very attached to them and loved how they sound conected to a Marantz 2270. He mentioned that they were a Portland Oregon company and the name stood for "Dead Flat Sound" or something close to that. He seemed to think the magic is in the crossover, so it would be interesting to see the insides of one of these.
 
Very familiar with DFS speakers

I think they will never die. I was general manager of the old Oregon Hi Fi in downtown Portland in 1976-77. We had two other stores, one in Lloyd Center and one in Salem. The owner was business partners with the owner of DFS and most of their production was "loaded" into our inventories without me ever writing purchase orders. We were pretty much the bulk of their distribution. Tons of profit margin built into the prices. Most of the sales people felt that DFS stood for Dumb F-----g Speaker. The cabinets were amazing in their construction, weight, and in the case of the "T" series the complexity as well. Their finish and weight were really strong selling features. The down side was that they usually had very cheap drivers and very minimal crossovers. (a couple of caps and maybe a single coil in the higher priced models. Each month the drivers changed as they were able to source units with lower and lower cost. Bottom line is that if you find a pair in nice shape they are really great cabinets to build a new speaker system into. No doubt the boxes had to represent 90% of the production cost of the speakers. In 1977 Stereo Super Stores opened in Portland and drove Oregon Hi-Fi out of the low end of the business. Chelsea Audio also opened and took the high end of the market. Oregon Hi-Fi went down, taking DFS with them.
 
DFS T-6 speakers

Has been eighteen mos. since inquiring about these speakers. Measured the woofers and replaced the surrounds with rubber ones. I have bought and sold many vintage speakers in the last 15 years, usually pre 1975. Always searching for the holy grail in sound. I know it goes against the grain, even mine, but these sound better than anything I've listened to so far. I've have Klipsch Heresys, JBL 100s, Bose 901s and HH Scott Pro 100s setting in the garage that I'm hesitant to sell because all are supposed to far superior, but they are not. Using a Sansui 1000A tube receiver. Thought it might be just me but many other listeners have the same conclusion. Go figure !!
 
I loved my DFS speakers. Right after I graduated from high school in 1979, I bought myself a gift: Audio equipment. I went to a small shop on Ward Avenue in Honolulu and bought one of their package setups: JVC JR-S61W receiver, JVC L-A11 turntable, and DFS speakers. I didn't have a car at the time, so my dear Uncle Jon helped with pickup and installation. Although it was modest in cost, that JVC / DFS combination was great! Also, the wood veneer on the DFS cabinet was beautiful! But the humid Hawaiian air proved to be a detriment on the woofer surrounds. My next set of speakers were ADS L300C speakers. I love the ADS, but I miss DFS.
 
Anyone still following this thread? Purchased a pair of DFS-STL2 speakers from StereoTronics in Beaverton. Infromation I got was DFS were the intials of the person who designed the speakers. Model was STL stood for "Short Trasmission Line and 2 was where it stood in the series line, the 2 had a bigger brother and a smaller brother. I paired it with a Kenwood V8050 Receiver and found the quality more than acceptable. Without tearing my speakers apart the information above is correct. Not long ago I spoke with a sales rep who worked with stores that carried the line. He spoke very favorably of the speakers, price quality and sound. Still has several models of various DFS speakers.
 
Taking a SWAG, I'm thinking "DFS" may be the initials for Dale Satterberg of Satterberg Speakers in Portland, OR.

He made woofer boxes to pair up w/ Rogers LS3/5A in the 70's.

The cabinets shown in above photos are almost identical to the MW-2 woofers, so it's possible he expanded into full-range speakers, using the same cabinet design, under a new brand name.

I had a pair of MW-1s, shown in this link (see the similarity?):

http://www.nullTime.com/DIYAudio/MW-1/index.html

The MW-1 has a slightly sloping front panel (top less deep than bottom), the MW-2 looked the same w/out sloping front. Boxes were built like brick-outhouses, very heavy.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom