• Please note that Audiokarma will be offline briefly for updates early on Monday morning, September 28th.

Fried A 3 - The Fried Subwoofer

C

coop402

Member
As with the Wharfedales I just posted about, I picked these up in Dallas.
They just need refoaming. I am also going to go through the crossover if necessary and refinish them.
Sadly, I am unfamilier with the Fried A 3. This mode is marked as a signature series on the back. It also came with an unpowered subwoofer called "The Fried Subwoofer". Looks like a 12" driver and is in perfect shape.
I am embarrased to say I have never heard of this company, but the build
quality looked really good and the cabinets are top notch.

Does anyone have any listening time invested into these?
As far as technical information, I would be glad to hear anything about
this model and the subwoofer.

Thanks! :banana:
 
Register to hide this ad
Thanks, I will do some research.
Do you think the subwoofer was meant to go with these?
Or was it an add on that could be purchased for other Fried models?
 
Most IMF speakers required no subs, believe me! Fried also had his own line of speakers, which are excellent. Probably the sub was meant to go with some of his speakers, but could also have been marketed as a stand-alone product.
 
coop402 said:
..............Do you think the subwoofer was meant to go with these?
Or was it an add on that could be purchased for other Fried models?
Click to expand...

The subwoofer was intended mainly for use with smaller speakers, particularly the Fried Beta, a 6.5" two-way that was made at around the same time as the A-3.
 
coop402 said:
................. Sadly, I am unfamilier with the Fried A 3. This mode is marked as a signature series on the back. It also came with an unpowered subwoofer called "The Fried Subwoofer". Looks like a 12" driver and is in perfect shape.
I am embarrased to say I have never heard of this company, but the build
quality looked really good and the cabinets are top notch.

Does anyone have any listening time invested into these?
As far as technical information, I would be glad to hear anything about
this model and the subwoofer.

Thanks! :banana:
Click to expand...

Well you've now seen a few posts about Irving M Fried.

He was getting up in years when he made the A-3. I think they're from the early 1980's.

Unless I'm mis-informed, he made his IMF-brand speakers in England, and then moved to the US - somewhere near Philly - and came out with a new line, the Frieds.

Some of them were behemoths; your A-3's were the biggest of the 'bookshelf' range. I think the series started with the 8" 2-way model Q. It was later updated to Q-2 and then Q-3. The A-3's were a larger version of the Q-3. They appeared to use the same drivers.

Fried was a proponent of what he called 'all-series' crossovers. If you follow through with your plans to re-cap them, you'll be an authority.

By the way I think he referred to the slot at the bottom of the baffle as a 'line tunnel'. I've always assumed they were similar in concept to the Dynaco 'aperiodic' cabinets.
 
Wow, that woofer replacement deal is really great.
I think that speaks volumes about the company.
If I read that right you can get 2 replacement woofer for 90 bucks with
rubber surrounds that were designed for an enhancement to the original a-3.
Very cool.

Thanks for that!
 
You read that right! I called them once to check on it. The ordering process is unique. No online, no phone orders, no credit cards...just mail a check with your info... very 1960's!
 
I have a pair of Beta satellites that the company replaced the woofers for free...just paid one way shipping. They said mine were guinea pigs for the new service. They sound amazing! Have two of "The Fried Subwoofer" powered with a Onkyo preamp and huge EV2600 power amp. Subs can do it all...pure thunder
 
I got my sub right after getting my LS3/5a speakers back in the early/mid 80's.

Yours will work with anything.

.
 
Here are some blurry pics for those unfamiliar with Fried "budget" model cabinets...fully functional but not pretty. Only one sub in pics...other is behind too much stuff sorry...going to hook it all back up...that huge power amp gives the subs the needed headroom. 20180207_092834.jpg 20180207_091738.jpg 20180207_091957.jpg 20180207_092014.jpg 20180207_091839.jpg 20180207_091918.jpg 20180207_093023.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom