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Cambridge UK MA4 series ll

Unican_Eric

Unican_Eric

Pioneerious Collecticus
I can't seem to find any information on the web for these speakers, My friend has a set and he is thinking of selling them but I dont know what to offer him. Does anybody know anything about these speakers. The only info on them is whats typed on the back.

Monitor Audio LTD
Cambridge UK
MA4 Series ll
 
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Monitor Audio MA4 II

Made in England by Monitor Audio Ltd, very high quality 2 unit reflexed design using KEF B200 SP1039 (same as that in Reference 104/104aB) and Audax HD 100 D 25. As to their value I wouldn't like to say. They must have cost a good bit in their time and have been compared to the likes of the Spendor BC1. It would depend on their condition and how much you like them. Heavy little beasts, aren't they?
 
Hey welcome to AK collector. Its nice to see someone actually know something about these speakers, and yes they are heavy.

I got them for a trade of Sound Dynamics 6S and I find that the highs are almost non existent. I think that they might not be the original tweeter and since there is no pic or information anywhere its hard to tell. I think I am gonna replace it with a Sound Dynamics one and see what happens.
 
Monitor Audio MA4 II

I bought these speakers on eBay recently, mainly for the bass/mid unit. As to whether the tweeters are original or not, I'm not sure as, like yourself, I can't find any detailed info on them. However, mine certainly don't lack anything in the treble area. In fact they are a little too bright for my taste.
The speakers are, at the moment, in a fully dismantled state. Judging by the condition of the screw heads and the tightness of them it would be a fair assumption that they have not been dismantled before and have the original drive units. That, of course, does not necessarily mean that Monitor Audio used the same model of tweeter throughout the production life span.
I understand that the series I used a modified Isophon tweeter with a square frontplate and a yellow dome initially and then later models of the series used a variant of the Audax HD34 family. The tweeters in the series II that I have are, as said, Audax HD 100 D 25 models and are quite distinctive in that the frontplates are not painted, but have a brushed aluminium finish. They are 4 inches in diameter with a 1 inch fabric dome and have no sealing gasket. The terminals on the back are 180 degrees (3 o'clock and 9 o'clock).
The lack of treble you are experiencing could be down to several things. As you suggest, they may not be the original tweeters. Then again they could have burnt out or sustained damage. Or maybe there is a problem with the crossovers. Capacitors can deteriorate over 30 years. Are the crossovers original? I note in the series II that the board is specific to the MA4 unlike the series I which used a common board for the MA4, MA5 and MA7.
If I can find out any more about these speakers I'll let you Know.

Collector
 
Ihave a 1978 HiFi News and Record Review Annual with a group test of speakers including the MA4. The report says it was "marked highly and consistently on all parameters by all but one member of the panel, comments suggesting a slight dimness, a slightly woolly but reasonably extended bass and mild midrange coloration. The overall balance was considered smooth and the speaker was highly praised by several listeners."
This was the model with the modified Isophon tweeter, and they also commented on the sound construction, and the damping and bracing of the enclosure. Incidentally they cost 174 pounds plus VAT at the time.
 
Well I got my daughter a digital camera for Christmas so pics are comming soon.Maybe collector can tell me if they are the right tweeters compaired to the ones that he saw.

Nat were there any pics in that review?
 
Monitor Audio MA4 II

The review that Nat is referring to is, I would think, cosidering the use of the Isophon tweeter, of the original MA4 (series 1). This tweeter is considered by many to be the best that Monitor Audio used. It would seem that the quality of cabinet construction was continued into the series 2. The model that Eric and I have is the MA4 II (series 2) and the cabinets are about the most robust I have ever seen. Constructed from 18mm chipboard with the exception of the front panel which is plywood, 2 sets of bracing struts and a brace from the rear panel to the bass/mid magnet, bituminous damping pads and internal glue blocks make for very solid (and heavy) units.
I bought these for the bass/mid units to replace a damaged one in my KEF 104s, but having seen the quality of the cabinets (which I was going to scrap) I find myself undertaking a new project, but that's another story.
Eric, have you removed the tweeters and looked at the back of them. There would normally be at least a model number. If it starts with "HD" then they are almost certainly Audax units. Audax no longer supply units to the public, but the models used in these older speakers are probably not made any more.
I suppose you might be lucky to pick up a pair of Isophons on eBay, but it is unlikely they would match the crossover.

Collector
 
The review does have a B&W (thats black and white, not Bowers and Wilkens) photo. The tweeter is a light color and the faceplate is black and square. It is aligned at about a thrity degree angle so that it can be mounted right up against the flat portion of the woofer basket. Hope the description helps.
 
Monitor Audio MA4 II

Yes, that's the Isophon tweeter alright. Monitor Audio used this square version in the series 1. The faceplate is black and the dome is yellow after being treated. Before "treatment" the domes were white.

Collector
 
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