Aztec speaker, not Altec?

[Nat]

Not to be snotty, and I apologize beforehand for being an old fogey, but anyway: It's a lot easier to read things written in English, rather than in Twitter. Personal taste is a very important part of assessing loudspeakers and just saying if you've heard them, you'd like them isn't really helpful. Why do you like them? What sort of music do you listen to? What sort of system do you use?
There are a lot of speakers out there, and many different responses to them, but certain things seem to matter more than others -- what do these speakers do that you think is good?

 

[fly135]

Another revival... I had a pair of Aztec's that I bought from my roommate in 1976. They were huge pieces of furniture with two horns and a 12" woofer. I sold them in the 80's. I thought that they were a knockoff of Altec, trying to fool people with the name. Had no idea that they were a serious maker of speakers. Back then a quality cabinet with real wood wasn't as impressive as it is now in our current throwaway world.

But I always enjoyed how they sounded and got rid of them because of family and my single days of cranking the tunes were gone. I miss the nostalgia of them now, but have other stuff that sounds better. I decided to search and see if I could find and pic of them but not quite recognizing anything. Guess I need to go threw my old photos in hope I have a glimpse in a pic. If I do I'll post it.

 

[Mystery]

Even though it's old thread, wanted to include my post.
Just picked up a pair of Aztec duLANE speakers made by 'Precision Marketing and Dev. Corp. Denver, CO' in a yard sale. The cabinets look like real wood and thought to give a try but it sounds recessed/veiled.
High and mids are all suppressed and bass is so weird.
I pulled one side of the grill and saw two 8" drivers but didn't see any tweeter.
May be that's the issue.
I'll tear it open and see what's going on.
Looking at the speaker build, I thought they would have at least average sound.
Anyone has experience with this brand/model?
TIA

 

[VinylRevival]

Aztec Sound, Denver CO

Stole this from Vintage Asylum. Just last night I was trying to find some info on this speaker manufacturer. Maybe the seller's units have the modified lansing drivers?

Anyway, interesting speaker! Here's the blurbage:
Posted by JRL on October 30, 2001 at 14:12:47
In Reply to: Aztec Gaughin III loudspeakers? posted by myoung on October 22, 2001 at 18:51:02:


As fate would have it, I have a bit of information on Aztec sound. In late 1968 two other guys and I (in our early to mid 20's) started a speaker company in Washington, DC: Loudspeaker Design Corporation. The speakers were a variety of horn-loaded systems named the "Ezekiel"
series after the designer, Harry Ezekiel Harris. By 1969 we were in search of expanded production facilities, and came upon Aztec Sound, located about 15 minutes South and West of downtown Denver. The owner was Jerry Nichols, and the product line consisted of conventional cone speakers in enclosures ranging from small bookshelf to huge floor models. All were named after famous artists. The cabinet work was quite nice, the company had a very well developed production line, a full time in-house designer, and the speakers sounded...well, o.k... decent relative to commercial standards at that time. Later that year Loudspeaker Design, along with our friend Kan Kanzler of Atlantis Sound, did a stock trade and acquired a sustantial percentage of Aztec Sound. Part of the deal included a provision that we would redesign and improve the Aztec products using cone drivers, but would not use any horn drivers or any of our proprietary horn designs. Our speakers used horn midrange and tweeters, and front/back loaded cone drivers as woofers. The Aztec products from late 1969 reflected the Harry Harris design improvements. In late 1970 I left to pursue my real passion, Ferrari automobiles. The relationship between Loudspeaker Design and Aztec soon ended, Harry Harris developed a new range of limited production boutique speakers that did not use horns, and it appears that Aztec "borrowed" some of our secrets and began to use horns in their systems. The horns were manufactured by Herald, located, I think, in Gray's Lake, WI. If you remove one, look at the back of the driver and see if it has a foam cap. The midrange and tweeter horns were very inexpensive, but sounded quite nice. We originally started off modifying the very expensive Altecs and the famous JBL375s. Oddly enough, the Herald horns sounded more musical, and compared to the cost of the 375's were almost free. I still have 2 pairs of Ezekiels using these horns that I've been using to play rock & roll at mind-mumbing levels for over 30 years without problems. I suspect your Aztecs use the same horns. They'll probably sound their very best with low powered tube equiptment, but will also sound quite nice with a NAD 1020 or older Kenwood receiver if you're on a budget. Whenever I hear the song "American Woman" played on a classic rock station, I fondly recall that song blasting from a pair of big Aztecs at our apartment in Denver in 1969. Good luck with your speakers, you'll probably enjoy them, and the price was certainly right!

I just picked up a pair of Monet's today. Bought them blind with out knowing anything about this brand, But I've come to find out WHO DOES? I just want to know any specifics about these Monet's. They sound and look great! Big speakers with big sound run off a Marantz 2270, a beast in its own right. Can you tell me ANYTHING about this design, good or bad? Year made? What was used inside? Anything would be great. I only paid $100.00 for them. Which just the rarity alone made them worth it to me. Thanks for anything you can tell me. That is if you're even on this board anymore. Since your post was years ago.

 

[hhawkfilm]

Another revival. A pair for sale in Iowa.
https://desmoines.craigslist.org/ele/6092414540.html

 

[Rick Vanderp]

Hello VinylRevival. Did you find any information about the Aztec Monet speakers? I picked up a pair last night but they have the different fabric on covers. These are monsters! Almost the size of my old Bozak Symphony B-4000 speakers.

 

[ZebraBlvd]

I really liked the Aztec's I had (Cezanne and Gaugin III's). What type of info you looking for Rick? Never had a chance to listen to the Monet's, or the Seurat's. or the Rembrandt's. I companioned the Aztec's with my Cornwall's for certain LP's I thought that the Aztec's could help with in the sound stage area.

 

[Cumminscider]

I have a pair of Seurat's. I think they have great sound....and that bass! Going to be upgrading the speakers soon should sound amazing when done.

 

[gdmoore28]

I have a pair of Seurat's. I think they have great sound....and that bass! Going to be upgrading the speakers soon should sound amazing when done.

Now that's something different. Those Seurats look massive. What size are the individual drivers in those boxes? Difficult to do, but can you give us some kind of impression of the way they sound.

"Upgrading?" What do you intend to do to them?

GeeDeeEmm

 

[Cumminscider]

6.5 mids and 10" subs. Was thinking of just putting in updated x-overs maybe some JBL Mids and highs. May just leave them alone as i am now finding they are pretty dang rare. They sound great, very efficient as I run them with Marantz 250 with ease. Very warm inviting sound, with 4ft tall cabs they can really project into the room...front row concert. Still waiting for anyone to give me more info on them, they have a serial number would love to know how may were actually produced.

 

[gdmoore28]

Keep them like they are. If they are sounding right, just leave them alone.

By the way, welcome to AK, and those large drivers are called "woofers," not "subwoofers."

GeeDeeEmm

 

[painttoad]

Is there a glitch somewhere or is this really a revival of a almost 4 year old thread for the purpose of??????

i guess he wanted to share his story. my story is that i'm doing research.

 

[Wolverine]

i guess he wanted to share his story. my story is that i'm doing research.

Well in keeping with the spirit/direction of this thread I have set a reminder on my phone for July 2024 to check in and see how your research is coming along.

 

[bubhardy]

Well, keeping this thread going, to add my memories.
My dad bought 2 pair of Aztec speakers back around 1971, to use with his Sansui Eight. One pair of the Gauguin IIIs for the living room, and a smaller pair. Can’t recall which model the smaller ones were, but he hung them from the eaves of our house, to listen outside on the patio.
The Gauguin IIIs sounded great. I used to play records on his stereo when he was at work, and played them a bit loud, at times.
The same dealer in Oakland, Ca., that recommended the Sansui Eight advised him to buy the Aztecs. I have the Eight to this day, as well as his Tandberg 6000X. But I don’t know what became of the Aztec Speakers.