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Ever Seen This Phase Linear Speaker?

dc270

dc270

Now Off the Reservation
I stumbled across this speaker system on that well known auction site and was really fasinated by it. I never knew PL ever produced such a system- probably was pretty advanced for it day. Looks like they would sound pretty good. Lots of pics too!

Phase Linear Andromeda III Speakers,
Item number: 150219517161

Just wanted to offer some vintage speaker history some of us might have missed like me.
DC
 
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Very very cool............... thanks for posting!

They'd be a nice addition to a collection. Impressive array of drivers, but the fact that they came with their own EQ suggests that their performance stops well short of going over the top....................... IMHO.

And what's with those four "pseudo walsh" arrangement tweeters?
 
I wanted to get every ones impression- lloks like a lot of R&D might have gone into them. Wonder if David Carver had a hand in that as well?
DC
 
I'd like to hear them...................... in my environment. I'd imagine they have the potential to image very well.

It'd be interesting to see some honest specs and read the design theory and goals.
 
They were probably trying for the 15 hz sub set! The driver array on the baffles kinda remind me of old Rectilinear III's-maybe they tore a page out their book for spacial gating?

I would love to hear these- looks like a lot of potential is there for great sound.
DC
 
I remember those things. The reflectors on the tweeters are interesting, Carver was trying to get a planar type of image but with better dynamics and frequency range. Never heard them though.
 
I have a pair of these. I like them ALOT. They sound fantastic, concert realism and they like lots of juice. I'm using a pair of Carver cube amps, one to drive the sub and one to drive the panels. I've played with the EQ unit but prefer without any tone control it in my living room. There are a few threads here on AK discussing these speakers. I think that 88Gibson picked up a pair a couple of months ago through an Ebay auction.

Somebody here needs to get these speakers!

Here's the thread I started when I found my pair locally last year: http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=116621

They are interesting design. Here's a picture of one of the panels with the back grill cover removed, more pics on the other thread...

IMAGE_00448.jpg
 
I think I heard a pair of those back in the "day". I remember drooling. :drool:
Not sure how well they imaged with all those drivers?
 
dc270 said:
I wanted to get every ones impression- lloks like a lot of R&D might have gone into them. Wonder if David Carver had a hand in that as well?
DC
Click to expand...

I've read that Bob Carver designed these - here's some text from a previous auction (sorry for the all caps):

PHASE LINEAR HISTORY WITH THE SUCCESS OF PHASE LINEAR'S AMPLIFIERS AND PRE-AMPLIFIERS AND AFTER THE MOVE TO THE COMPANY'S NEW BUILDING IN LYNNWOOD WASHINGTON IN 1974 BOB CARVER WANTED TO DESIGN A STEREO SPEAKER SYSTEM THAT,AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE,REPRODUCED THE ACTUAL LISTENING EXPERIENCE OF LISTENING TO LIVE MUSIC.CARVER HAD DEVOTED A GREAT DEAL OF THOUGHT AS TO WHY LIVE MUSIC SOUNDED THE WAY IT DID,AND HOW REPRODUCED MUSIC FAILED HAD DUPLICATE THE LIVE LISTENING ENVIRONMENT. LIVE MUSIC PLAYED IN A CONCERT HALL WAS THE AMBIANCE CARVER WANTED TO ACHIEVE. AFTER MOUNTHS OF ENGINEERING AND PROTOTYPES'CARVER FELT HE HAD REACHED HIS GOAL
Click to expand...

Here's the thread from last month discussing these speakers: http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?p=1598199#post1598199
 
I have to drive right past that shop tomorrow on the way to get a haircut.

I might stop and take a look at them. My first thought was "Wow, American Kabuki."

But Carver made some nice stuff, and I am sure Bob Carver didn't use lots of drivers just for razzle dazzle.
 
jackgiff said:
I have to drive right past that shop tomorrow on the way to get a haircut.

I might stop and take a look at them. My first thought was "Wow, American Kabuki."

But Carver made some nice stuff, and I am sure Bob Carver didn't use lots of drivers just for razzle dazzle.
Click to expand...

Probably too much to ask to let you audition them but if so, post your impressions.

My first thought was "Wow, American Kabuki."
Click to expand...

:lmao:
 
SpeakerLabFan said:
Probably too much to ask to let you audition them but if so, post your impressions.



:lmao:
Click to expand...

I will be glad to post my impressions, if indeed I can hear them. The only other electronics he has listed are a couple tape decks and a turntable. These probably came from the same source as the speakers. His shop is only a block or so from the local Salvation Army, for what that is worth.

Some E-Bay resale shops are just not set up to demo anything. Keep your fingers crossed.
 
Well, I saw them.

They are packed into the storeroom along with lots of other "stuff". No room to move them enough to even take the grilles off. I asked the man if the grilles came off easily, and he said "How would I know?" When I mentioned he obviously had them off for the E-Bay pix, he said it was his assistant that did that.

He did assure me "They are some of the finest built in the world."

So there you go.
 
To bad you could not get an audition, sounded like the man there didn't much care either. Odd he knew they were the finest built in the world but could not get the grills off....thanks for making the effort!
DC
 
Thanks for the report, and too bad you couldn't give them a listen.

Yeah the grilles do come off (front and rear covers), but they are VERY big and heavy grille covers, and alot of their weight is supported by dowels across the top - you need some room for leverage or an additional helper to lift them off without bumping the cover into the panel and the drivers.
 
Wish me luck, I'm going for these...:D

From what I have read these look like they might unseat the Vandersteens in my office setup pretty easily.
 
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