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Can someone explain advent bullnose?

Junk Face

Junk Face

Member
Hey I've been lurking a while and am in a position to pick up some advent/1's. One model has the speaker cloth sitting in front of the rest of the cabinet and the other sits in the recess the speakers do so it's flush with the rest of the cabinet. Is this the difference in utility vs bullnose?

I keep hearing the term bullnose when referring to advents.

Could anyone explain what the bullnose vs utility is exactly?

If not for me, for the internet because I can't seem to find a clear explanation anywhere.
 
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Bullnose is used to refer to both Large Advent walnut cabinets. Utility cabinets are vinyl coated and square edges. Both versions of the walnut cabinets have shaped trim on the front edges which people refer to as bullnose, but the trim is different between the Original Large Advents (OLA) and New Large Advents.

These pre-date the Advent/1 which also came in two different styles as you have discovered.

Pictures and lots of info here

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=126376
 
Thanks for the info!

Is there any performance difference at all? One better than the other?

What's the difference between wood veneer and vinyl?

Thanks.
 
IMHO, the biggest difference between the OLA and NLA is cosmetic, although there are minor driver and crossover changes. I've never heard the Advent/1s.
 
The Advent link needs to be corrected, but the Original Large Advent in Walnut is really not referenced as "Bullnose", but more accurately they are the "beveled" Walnut or just Walnut OLA's.

The New Large Advents in walnut are the "Bullnose" models. The name comes from the rounded edge of the trim.

But, as you mention, the sonic differences are minor in my opinion. I own both and they each sound great. I just prefer the bullnose look if I have to choose one over the other.
 
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JunkFace,

I'll just add that I owned a pair of beveled walnut Original Large Advents -- as I recall I paid $123 apiece for two speakers in 1972. I listened to them --and looked at them -- with deep pleasure for over twenty years. Then more recently I rehabbed a much newer pair of bullnoses for my son. For my eye as a visual designer, the Originals in beveled walnut are by far the classiest as pieces of well-crafted *furniture*. If you can find some like that, with wood still in good condition, they may not sound any different from Utility OLAs (or NLAs), but they will be the nicest accent for your room.
 
Pretty much all what are called "Large Advents" from the New Advent on are bullnosed. Only the original Advents are bevel-edged.

The utility models all have square edged fronts.

Doug
 
Hi sorry if this was covered before (I am searching both here and classic speakers)... Has anyone 1) converted an Advent utility to a bullnose or bevel edge using a router, and 2) put on a wood veneer afterward. I have large "new" Advents with vinyl peeling on corners, so I'm thinking of options stripping/filling and doing a re-vinyl job. But also toying with the idea of wood veneer. With question 1) above, I am wondering how the press board would hold up to a router bit.

I guess while I'm at it I really like the metal trim as well wondering if that can be purchased at a crafts store or even Michael's?
 
I have both the NLA and OLA. What I understand these are terms that Advent dident really use. The were just Advents. The newer model with the rounded front has a different tweeter (ferrofluid) which handled power better. Steel woofer baskets, simpler crossover and a slightly different inter volume. I have put veneer on utility Advents, but left the fronts square. I like the NLA the best. Sound is pretty close.
 
I have had OLA, NLA and Advent/1

The OLA and NLA are the same sound for all intents and purposes.

The Advent/1 were a step down in my opinion. Good, but not as good as.

The Smaller Advent are the next best thing to OLA and NLA in that vintage.

If the Advent/1 are the "pretty" ones in good condition and inexpensive, grab them.
 
Forgot about the woofer and tweeter being closer together. These are my bull nose NLA's.
IMG_2910_zpsvjaic8kc.jpg
 
I was disappointed in the replies as my question was only somewhat responded to by one person. And then back to the subject of what is and what isn't a bullnose. I felt hijacked when, alas, I realized it was I who hijacked the thread, well sort of.

Ok, I will help out with the bullnose definition: It's a rounded corner used in woodworking, masonry and ceramic tile. Not an audio specific term per se.
 
I don't know if it has been attempted on the the utility cabs, and by the responses, it is not a popular modification. If you like the look of either model, there are so many out there that you should be able to find some. But if your a woodworker and want to give it a shot, then why not? Many have veneered the utility cabs.
 
The utility cabinets were created to provide a reduced price point from the relatively more expensive and better built cabinets that were vinished in veneer on the sides, top and bottom and at the front edge in matching hardwoods. So, in theory, you could get equivalent sound from a utiity cabinet (albeit with probably more cabinet resonances) to the OLA and NLA's for a much more attractive price because the internals and drivers were the same.
 
OK, let's make the answer to the OP question blatantly clear:

OLA Walnut Cab Beveled

OLA Walnut Cab Beveled

Original Large Advent walnut veneer cabinet top front corner. Shows beveled construction...
NLA Utility Not Bullnose

NLA Utility Not Bullnose

Front top corner of New Large Advent Utility cabinet. This is not a 'bullnose' cabinet.
New Large Advent Bullnose

New Large Advent Bullnose

New large Advents, walnut veneer cabinets, bullnose front.

The NLA walnut cab is the conventional 'bullnose' rounded shape. The OLA walnut cab would technically, I think, be called 'beveled,' but it is sometimes described in vintage circles as 'bullnose.'
 
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