AZTEC Guaguin III Speakers
- Thread starter PAZ Alive
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They were a company from, I think, Colorado. I had a pair of Aztec Dulanes. They were decent but nothing special...but yours look much more interesting. Mine weren't horn loaded or ported, so obviously any comments on mine probably have little to do with yours. They were solidly built, I do remember that.
SoCal Sam
Lunatic Member
I have a pair of Aztec Gaugin III's, also a thrift score. Mine have different grills but are otherwise the same. To my ears, they are somewhat uncivilized with bright, almost piercing high and murky lows. (This is with SS, I have yet to try tubes.) IMO, the horns and HUGE port are the culprits. I tried stuffing the port and using the low control but I could never get rid of ear fatigue. I think the horns need some sort of baffle like the JBL L-300.
SoCal Sam
Lunatic Member
After about 30 minutes, I have to switch mine off. I think they are sensitive to amp choice. When these came out, ss amps were still relatively slow and warm.
I have that issue and need to scan in the review.
I have a pair of these myself and use them pretty much as my daily driver.
They are amp specific as was mentioned. Mine don't seem to sound as good
with amps greater than 100 WPC, higher wattage amps do tend to make the
horns sound pretty over powering.
60-75 watts seem to be about right for these speakers.
I run a Kenwood Model 500 with mine (100 WPC), Kenwood amps are a little
more warmer sounding to my ears than say Pioneer or Marantz.
The Model 500 makes them sound pretty good to my ears.
Try them out and see what you think, in the end, you're the one they have to
impress! :yes:
Scott
ZebraBlvd
Lunatic Member
To say that they are finicky speakers is an understatement. Everywhere from separation, toe-in/toe-out, distance from wall. etc,etc. I have had mine hooked up to tubes and SS equipment. I personally like them with my Sui gear. The Gauguin's really calmed down when I paired them up with a set of Cezanne's. Plus, one set or the other is always engaged when the Cornwall's are on. The match is just a sound that is very pleasing and non-fatiguing to me.
My Gauguin III's do have a different grill than yours. Probably what SoCal was referring to in his post.
My Gauguin III's do have a different grill than yours. Probably what SoCal was referring to in his post.
Okay ZebraBlvd... you're starting to scare me (even more than usual :tongue:
) as I have a pair of the Cezannes as well! 
Scott
SoCal Sam
Lunatic Member
I'll have to try my Gaugin III's with something different. Maybe my Kenwood 650 will do the trick.
SoCal Sam
Lunatic Member
To say that they are finicky speakers is an understatement. Everywhere from separation, toe-in/toe-out, distance from wall. etc,etc. I have had mine hooked up to tubes and SS equipment. I personally like them with my Sui gear. The Gauguin's really calmed down when I paired them up with a set of Cezanne's. Plus, one set or the other is always engaged when the Cornwall's are on. The match is just a sound that is very pleasing and non-fatiguing to me.
My Gauguin III's do have a different grill than yours. Probably what SoCal was referring to in his post.
My grills are the same shape are yours but they are dark brown instread of twine. The twine fabric gives them a lighter look, which I would prefer.
I got mine off of "that auction site" and when I won the auction, I got an email from the person
I was competing against.
All he said in the email was that I should change the caps.
That's pretty much a given (which I haven't done yet).
I know Parky 50 has a pair and he changed out the woofers, only one of the original woofers was
working when he got the speakers, so he didn't really get to have a before and after comparison.
There seems to be some different variations of these speakers. Bowtie427SS had a pair that didn't
have any real crossover, just caps on the horns. I believe that he didn't really prefer the sound of
his so he sold them and moved on.
Later models have a true crossover network, but they are glued in and hard to get out to change
the caps. They're also pretty tough to get changed out in the speaker, but it can be done.
Mine have the crossover network in them plus I bought a pair of back up networks as well.
There was one member that had change the caps out on his, but I don't remember who it was.
Scott
I was competing against.
All he said in the email was that I should change the caps.
That's pretty much a given (which I haven't done yet).
I know Parky 50 has a pair and he changed out the woofers, only one of the original woofers was
working when he got the speakers, so he didn't really get to have a before and after comparison.
There seems to be some different variations of these speakers. Bowtie427SS had a pair that didn't
have any real crossover, just caps on the horns. I believe that he didn't really prefer the sound of
his so he sold them and moved on.
Later models have a true crossover network, but they are glued in and hard to get out to change
the caps. They're also pretty tough to get changed out in the speaker, but it can be done.
Mine have the crossover network in them plus I bought a pair of back up networks as well.
There was one member that had change the caps out on his, but I don't remember who it was.
Scott
