Dahlquist DQM-9s ... A Hidden Jewel

[robobxman]

My latest additions - Dahlquist DQM-9s, with original stands and boxes and paperwork. There's very little about these on the web, but I can tell you they sound amazing even with partially rotted/missing surrounds. They image like no tomorrow; bass is full and punchy; but the strength is their mids and highs. Here are some photos. I will also be scanning the owners manual and a review that appeared in 1981 in Stereo Review. Of course, I'll be replacing those surrounds and showing that progress too ... and THEN I can put these through their paces. More to come ...

 

[JoeESP9]

Dahlquist speakers in general are very good. I have heard most of them including the 9's you have. Personally I would take them over any HPM's and most JBL's. If you are still enthusiastic about them after a re-foam ( I think you will be) try and audition some DQ-10's.

That pair looks nice.

 

[JohnVF]

If you repair those surrounds their strenghts might be more than their mids and highs Aren't they a sealed acoustic suspension design? Nice looking speakers. The last pair I saw had a few blown drivers and I thought about picking them up anyway, as Regnar (they bought Dahlquist, or something along those lines) probably sells replacements. These are very similar to Magnat speakers (possibly the "M" in DQM?).

 

[Arkay]

Early Dahlquists are all nice, IMO! :yes: Interesting that these have flat box-width baffles, instead of those 1/8th-wavelength open baffles most of the low-digit/early Dahlquists had. Congratulations on getting one of the rarer models, and thanks for sharing the news and pics! :thmbsp:

 

[nclh77]

They were Magnat speakers. All the drivers are manufactured in Germany, not sure about the box, but I don't doubt they are totally Magnat. Does it say where it was manufactured? My last pair of Dahlquists were manufactured in Canada.

Very well regarded speaker.

 

[kbott]

call it deja vu but I think we had this conversation when you were originally looking for speakers to go on those shelves good snag :thmbsp:

 

[kbott]

If you repair those surrounds their strenghts might be more than their mids and highs Aren't they a sealed acoustic suspension design? Nice looking speakers. The last pair I saw had a few blown drivers and I thought about picking them up anyway, as Regnar (they bought Dahlquist, or something along those lines) probably sells replacements. These are very similar to Magnat speakers (possibly the "M" in DQM?).

actually they're a ported design with the ports on the rear

 

[robobxman]

call it deja vu but I think we had this conversation when you were originally looking for speakers to go on those shelves good snag :thmbsp:

Good memory. DQM-9s were recommended. When they came up locally, I jumped .. these will be staying on the stands though.

 

[Sir.Byrd]

You gotta refoam those for them to sound right.

 

[robobxman]

Owner's Manual

This is the owner's manual except the first page or so - which is just marketing mumbo jumbo.

 

[robobxman]

Instruction Manual

I smiled at the section about speaker cables ...

 

[robobxman]

Stands Instructions

I know this isn't especially interesting, but for posterity's sake ...

 

[robobxman]

Review in Stereo Review

As this was Dahlquist marketing material, they only provided one page, double-sided, with the first and last page of the review. If anyone has the August 1981 Stereo Review w/ the full review, please send it along or post it here. Also, as Arkay noticed, the speaker in the review has the bevelled side boards whereas mine are flush.

 

[Susurus]

Very cool finding the lit on these, I'd never seen it before. Never seen original boxes either!

Yes the double-walled cabs and all were Magnat. I know because I had a set of 6PII's.

Personally I would take them over any HPM's and most JBL's.

I would, and I did. 3 sets of HPM-100's are history...but I can't seem to let the 1500's go. Those clear stacked saucer-supertweeters under glass make it over my weirdness seeking threshold. :

If you are still enthusiastic about them after a re-foam ( I think you will be) try and audition some DQ-10's.

10's are more fussy re placement, upstream, room treatment, more in need of recapping and a sub or two. (However, lots of time and effort can make them amazing...doubt if 5% of owners have heard them near their potential.) DQ-9's don't sound like 10's. 100Hz peak in acoustic suspension models isn't pronounced.

OTOH it's hard to make 9's sound bad! Long as you don't shut the twin back ports flat against the wall or reverse polarity when you reconnect the woofers...

The review there was with the Nextel dark finish like my 9c. Over time that surface gets sticky and scuffs really show. Your veneered set will measure a bit differently.

 

[saltwater]

I have been waiting for a pair to come up locally.... would really like to have a pair. nice find.

 

[Susurus]

I like these ST-9 stands a lot. One AK'er borrowed one of my sets and cloned them!

The screws in mine all needed tightening.

Hey that brochure shows a lexan display model!

Since there's a rear port nearer the bottom, I was going to experiment adding a clear lexan back plate on back of the stand. This might attenuate the back/front wave rushing around underneath without affecting the sleek monotriangle pedestal look. But it won't hide wires... neither would a clear display model...

 

[robobxman]

You gotta refoam those for them to sound right.

Just ordered surrounds from the simply speakers ebay store.

 

[jhoyt]

Great find on those DQM-9's. I found a pair myself recently, $50 at a local shop. Mine are the Nextel model, and let me tell ya, that stuff is nasty. But let me tell you something else, these are some of the nicest sounding speakers I've ever heard--simply wonderful. So, if you put "ugly" and "good sound" on a scale, I've got the world's best combination of "ugly" and "good sound"! My plan, though, is to strip off the Nextel crapola, and veneer the boxes.

I got totally lucky, someone has already professionally redone the surrounds on my drivers. So, they are perfect!

 

[orionkc]

There is a possibility that the M was for Carl Marchisotto who also designed the M-905, M-907 and the M-909 for Dahlquist.

 

[orionkc]

There is a possibility that the M was for Carl Marchisotto who also designed the M-905, M-907 and the M-909 for Dahlquist.

My M-909's