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Electo Voice EV-4

dnpainting

dnpainting

Super Member
I am going to be going to look at some EV-4's, but I don't know anything about them. Are they decent speakers? I found specs for the EV-4A but I don't know if there is much difference between the two. Anybody have any thoughts on these.

Thank you.

I am waiting for the call back to get more info on them from the seller as the seller has listed them with 3 other pairs of speakers as take them all for $$$.
 
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They are very different; the unsuffixed EV Fours have horn midranges; all drivers in the EV 4A are cones. What follows is all opinion (in case that is not obvious).

Here's a pretty pair of EV-4As:
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?p=2244845

The EV Four is a perfectly meh speaker. They look nice, though!
The earlier "Compact Low Resonance" EV family (the Leyton, Esquire, Regal, and the other one whose name escapes me!) used better drivers and were, to my ears and tastes, quite nice.

EDIT: ahh, the "Royal" :-)

EV3-waysystems1961.jpg
 
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I've got a semi functioning pair: both tweeters work, 1 horn mid is missing altogether, and 1 woofer works. The woofers are 12", they look like beasts. Let me know if you need parts, I think I'm going to populate mine with PE replacement parts.
 
Thank you mhardy for the information. I guess I will have to see what they are asking for them to see if even worth the 20 in gas to go look at and here. The only EV's I've ever heard were a pair of La Scala's at my friends house when I was a kid, not that I am comparing the two, just, from what I remeber, the La Scala's were nice. I think if the price is right, I will pick them up for a friend in AZ that bought some carpeted speakers (POS) that I posted a thread about, that are a complete disaster.

Thanks again

EDIT* thank you FoolForARadio for the offer, I will let you know what is up after I look at them.
 
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mhardy6647 said:
They are very different; the unsuffixed EV Fours have horn midranges; all drivers in the EV 4A are cones. What follows is all opinion (in case that is not obvious).

Here's a pretty pair of EV-4As:
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?p=2244845

The EV Four is a perfectly meh speaker. They look nice, though!
The earlier "Compact Low Resonance" EV family (the Leyton, Esquire, Regal, and the other one whose name escapes me!) used better drivers and were, to my ears and tastes, quite nice.

EDIT: ahh, the "Royal" :-)

EV3-waysystems1961.jpg
Click to expand...

Sorry to hijack this a bit. But I think you just finally helped me identify my unknown EVs.
 
Well, I just got off the phone with the person selling these and she states they are in mint condition, she sent them out to have them tested and has the test sheets with them, the front grilles have never been removed and she will remove the back to show the original drivers. Asking 1 Franklin for them, but nogotiable. Any more inputs on these. Thanks
 
barredowl said:
La Scalas are Klipsch, but might have EV tweeter horns.
Click to expand...

My mistake, I knew that too. He had so many different speakers but I do believe they were the EV horns though. He also had a pair of Patricians 800 in his garage with that 30" woofer. Those were sweet.
 
One Franklin is on the very high end for these. I own a pair and use them everyday for low level listening and like them very much. Never have recapped them as I'm sure it would help. The bass seems a little wooley at higher volumes but then again , stock caps. Check the BAY for completed listings for prices.
 
DaWoofer said:
One Franklin is on the very high end for these. I own a pair and use them everyday for low level listening and like them very much. Never have recapped them as I'm sure it would help. The bass seems a little wooley at higher volumes but then again , stock caps. Check the BAY for completed listings for prices.
Click to expand...

Capacitors would have no effect on the woofer.
 
Hey Mark; remember when we couldn't send that pair of EV 4's on their way for a Hamilton?
I mean everyone turned up their nose at those fine old vintage speakers.
I think they went away for a little bit over a Lincoln didn't they?
 
It may be that the combination of tube pre (modded AES AE-3) and SS power (Bedini 150 mkII) works especially well with them, but I find the sound of my recapped EV-4s to be among the best of the vintage, acoustic suspension speakers I've heard.

Not as lush in the mids as my recapped AR-2axs, but faster, more detailed highs and deeper, tighter bass.

Made a mockery of the Definitive BP-10s, Klipsch Fortes and Wharfdale W60s that passed (briefly) through my living room.

I wouldn't hesitate for a second to buy a pair in mint condition for $100.

I'd love to hear the Royal 400s that mhardy referenced.
 
Maybe I should power mine with something different as synergy does make a world of difference. They do go lower than about any speaker that I've ever heard in that size cabinet. I've kept them now for about 7 years and let many others go so they must be doing something right. I've been through about 20 pairs, at least. EV has always seemed to do something right. I don't think I've heard a pair that I didn't like.
Quattrofish- Did you tell a big difference after the recap?
 
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These speakers have an amazing ability to deliver a low-end range and definition that belie their modest size, while sounding very light on their feet. They are by no means the equal of, or even play in the same league with, many low watt/highly efficiency systems. My living situation, however, does not permit huge boxes so I must compromise.

I have owned a half-dozen different makes/models/vintages of speaker, and auditioned many more with my system/environment. The EV-4 provides the best balance between size and sound I have yet found. This includes the much-loved vintage AR 3a, Large Advents, KLHs, Wharfdales, Klipsch, and countless modern makes/models. YMMV.

As for the impact of recapping: night and day. What was a disappointing puddle of ill-defined mud snapped into sharp focus and kept getting better with time. The soundstage is good, not great, but good given my near-field listening position. I'm sure it would improve with greater distance.

These are my first EVs, and I understand the drivers in the 4 are not their best. As happy as I am with what I have, I hope to someday have the space for bigger boxes, and the cash for low-watt/high efficiency goodness. After experiencing a friend's 5-watt/Altec setup, I am spoiled and must have something similar.

Cheers.
 
I own a set of ev 4's and they are nice in that the bass is punchy due to the cabinet and there is plenty of bass, my bookshelf Klipsch have gone unused since I got the ev4's.good balance of sound.some jerk keeps going on about not paying more than $20 for a set,obviously ignorant of the quality of these.definitely in league and better than most $500 range speakers no need to recap ,swap drivers etc..awesome as they are even with 80-100 watt receivers, if you have never heard a set of ev4's, you owe it to yourself to hear them
 
IMO, the weakness in the EV Four is the tweeter, a 4" or 5" cone. The SP12 woofer is very good, digging low and punchy, the mid horn is cheezy looking and has a tiny magnet, but it sounds quite nice. Cabinets are built like Mack trucks and look nice when in good shape. All that said, I parted them out because I believe the parts are better than the sum of them, and they fell out of my rotation of a lot of fine KLHs and ARs. They DID need caps when I got them.
 
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I simply love my EV Fours. They sit next to a pair of AR2axs. Both sets have been recapped. For my music taste and listening volume, I prefer the EVs. Should I ever stumble across another pair, I would not hesitate to scoop them up.
 
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