Help identifying old speakers

[themollusk]

Hi guys, picked up these old speakers the other day and am wondering if anyone has come across anything similar or has any clue what they might be. They sound really great+, but have no markings on them.

They're quite heavy and are pretty massive 24"Height x 17"Width x 15 3/4" Deep. The drivers are recessed about halfway - 1/3 deep into the box and there is dampening material behind the woofers. I haven't come across this type of tweeter before, but apparently it's a Philips AD 0160/T8.

Anyways, just curious if anyone has any idea what these behemoths might be. I'm extremely happy with these, just haven't seen anything like them before.

Thanks

 

[Ohighway]

 

[dan-c]

Some Bag End derivative?

 

[swechsler]

Very strange design, never seen anything like it. The only thing I can tell you is that I'm pretty sure you're right about the tweeters. Are you planning on pulling the woofers? Getting pics of the magnets, the crossover or the connection plate might give us some more info.

 

[themollusk]

Very strange design, never seen anything like it. The only thing I can tell you is that I'm pretty sure you're right about the tweeters. Are you planning on pulling the woofers? Getting pics of the magnets, the crossover or the connection plate might give us some more info.

After opening, I can confirm that the tweeter is the Philips model mentioned above. The 8" woofer doesn't appear to be anything too special, not a huge magnet (which is surprising, given the full sound.) The sticker on the woofer is Olson 11 S P597. I'm not sure if they are the original woofers that came with this as someone had the great idea to further secure/cement them in place with glue. I was thinking of throwing in an extra pair of Epi100V woofers that I have laying around just for kicks, but I'm happy with them as is.

There's not much in terms of a crossover, only a 4uf Electrolytic Cap on the tweeter.

Anyways, yeah, unique design, but it does make for a very nice sound. Thanks for all the responses.

 

[Rockon1]

Interesting design. Kind of like a full range horn. Bob

 

[showett]

Definitely not a Bag End. I have seen these or something similar discussed here before but can't recall what the name was.

 

[petehall347]

looks like they go sideways on top of bigger bass cabs

 

[themollusk]

looks like they go sideways on top of bigger bass cabs

Haha, yeah, they do look like a stack, but they definitely have a tapered bottom/stand portion.

The more I listen to these, the more I'm absolutely blown away by them. The large cabinets really make for some impressively deep bass and the sound is truly all encompassing. Sounds cliche, but it really feels like the instruments/musicians are playing right in front of you(especially the drums.) It's hard to describe, but it's almost the same total body feeling that I get when listening to my Magnepan MGII's. Highs blend in nicely as well with nothing too overpowering, bright or harsh. These definitely do not sound like a typical horn/loudspeaker. Love these old mysterious beasts.

 

[adpopulum]

tis a strange orientation of the tweet tho!

 

[hnash53]

Interesting design. Kind of like a full range horn. Bob

That was my first impression,... like a horn on steroids.

 

[westend]

Yup, the OP is getting the benefits of a waveguide/horn presentation. It does push the sound away from the enclosure. I'm guessing here but I'd ID them as something built in the 70's. I worked at a sound retailer back then and there all diferent kinds of speaker desgns in the shop.

 

[Katalyst]

Is the back removable?

 

[themollusk]

At first glance it looks like a clever DIY conversion of a more traditional factory speaker.

I can pretty much assure you that the veneer and cabinet finish didn't happen at the same address as the black spray paint.

I'd like to see the back of the cabinet.

I'm sure you're right. I have attached a picture of the back.

Is the back removable?

No, the back is not removable.

Thanks again for all the replies guys, some interesting ideas indeed.

 

[Rockon1]

Makes me wonder what a coaxial driver would sound like in an enclosure like that? Bob

 

[swechsler]

Seeing the back makes me think it's a DIY project.

 

[Ohighway]

Makes me wonder what a coaxial driver would sound like in an enclosure like that? Bob

+1

 

[SiliconTi]

Gah! I know I have seen this design before, but can not remember where.