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Is this an original ESS Transtatic I crossover?

SanMarantz

SanMarantz

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Hello all, Just purchased a pair of ESS Transtatic I's. They are the most amazing speakers I've ever heard. Someone replaced the original tweeters with some Peerless tweeters. It looks like they kept the Kef racetrack woofers and mid-ranges. There is no wall cord and some of the ones I have seen online don't have the same crossover. Let me know if you know if this is original or help me ID the one that's in there. I removed the board and it black on the back side. The only initials are HMR.
 

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First, welcome to AK. ESS has published schematics of their crossovers on their website, esslabsusa. You may find them there. There is someone selling a pair on ebay now that claims they are original and in working condition. He has posted detailed pics, so you might be able to see what your speakers are supposed to look like if original. Sounds like someone took out the original electrostatic panels and converted this to dynamic tweeters. Maybe cut off the wall cord? It won't be needed anymore if the electrostatic tweeters are no longer there.
 
Thanks JC. The wall cord is missing. That gave it away, but these sound soooooo good. I have to find out what this combination is. I will pull it out to get some better pics of it. Thinking of offering some kind of "prize" for whoever helps me figure it out.
 
Here’s a picture of an original crossover from the ESS Transtatics 1. The size of the board is 5.5 x 15 inches in case you want to compare.

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The electrostatic tweeters were used in other speakers, but are fairly rare birds. My guess is the previous owner had some failed tweeters and decided to modify. If they sound great, I’m not sure I’d go down the original route. Your lucky they still have the KEF B110 mids.
Yeah, I’d say keep and enjoy.
There’s a pair on eBay now, check out the pictures there.

A prize you say?
How about composing a nice drawing of your crossover so others can use it if their tweeters have failed:beerchug:
 
Thanks Mark, Definitely doesn’t look like that. I wouldn’t think they could be used in an 8 ohm convert. Still lookin’ at them with my Big ear and searching the web for any crossover that looks like it. Leaning towards it could be a Madisound? type replacement? They have sopped up everything I’ve been able to throw at them with a biscuit. Looking for a bigger amp now. There’s a Pioneer 1050 I have an eye on. I am currently running them with a SX-838 and it can only do so much.
 
The stock Transtatic was (at times) a spectacular speaker, but with a variety of problems, not least of which was longevity of the (RTR?) electrostatic panels which, on mine, had corrosion between the bronze terminal bolts and washers and the conductive coating on the membrane. ESLs, even small ones, and even with several angled in different directions, are pretty beamy so you had to sit in the right place for optimum sound. Less signifcantly, the tape used to secure the panels didn't last forever either. And by now, the power supply for the ESLs might need work.
So you may have lucked out, in a way, by getting a homebrew version of the Transdynamic, which ESS made later. You like the way they sound, and clearly someone knowledgeable put a lot of work into them.
They do like power, so your 838 may not be enough for you, but I would suggest you consider separates rather than a 1050. Not because amps and preamps are necessarily better sounding or more powerful, but because the big Pioneers have a lot of cachet, and you could be paying a lot more for a 1050 than for equal or better separates. But you may just love the Pioneer thing, in which case, such considerations may not matter much.
 
Nat said:
The stock Transtatic was (at times) a spectacular speaker, but with a variety of problems, not least of which was longevity of the (RTR?) electrostatic panels which, on mine, had corrosion between the bronze terminal bolts and washers and the conductive coating on the membrane. ESLs, even small ones, and even with several angled in different directions, are pretty beamy so you had to sit in the right place for optimum sound. Less signifcantly, the tape used to secure the panels didn't last forever either. And by now, the power supply for the ESLs might need work.
So you may have lucked out, in a way, by getting a homebrew version of the Transdynamic, which ESS made later. You like the way they sound, and clearly someone knowledgeable put a lot of work into them.
They do like power, so your 838 may not be enough for you, but I would suggest you consider separates rather than a 1050. Not because amps and preamps are necessarily better sounding or more powerful, but because the big Pioneers have a lot of cachet, and you could be paying a lot more for a 1050 than for equal or better separates. But you may just love the Pioneer thing, in which case, such considerations may not matter much.
Click to expand...
 
It seems to me that there are a lot of good amps and preamps for sale for not a lot of money. The most desirable top of the line stuff can be very expensive, but there are good quality powerful (100 watts and up) power amps and sophisticated preamps offered in Barter Town here and elsewhere that can be picked up for anywhere upwards of three hundred bucks or so for both. You can spend more, obviously, and it might make sense to do so for some pieces of equipment, but you wouldn't have to to be fully satisfied. I don't follow the Pioneer market, but it seems to me that one of the big Pioneer recievers would likely be considerably more.
Tuners, at least non prestige ones, are a dime a dozen. You can't give perfectly competent basic ones away.
There is a wide variety of choice. The standard Japanese companies made good products - it seems to me that Yamaha seems to be a favorite, but don't overlook less well known ones like Nikko and Mitsubishi. And Denon seems to still be making well regarded separates. Dynaco, Hafler, B&K are relatively easy to find American brands and good value, but there are many others. I'd be a bit cautious about Phase Linear, SAEs and Ampzillas, especially if they aren't in perfect working order since I have the impression they are harder to work on, but that is based on scant knowledge (the Dynaco power amps might be in the same cautious category). Obviously if you can find Macs , Krells,or Luxmans, or powerful tube amps cheap, they would probably delight you - my experience with running the Transtatics with a modified Dyna Stereo 70 was fine, but I don't listen at high volumes and I had a similar feeling to yours, that more could be had with a different amp.
 
If this is still a topic of interest, I own 2 pair of Transtatic 1s. They both have some issues. They may have changed the crossover design, but they were not around that long. They dropped the KEF drivers and started the Heil thing. I saw them about 1971 in L.A. Anyway, I got a pair of replacement crossovers on eBay years ago, and several RTR tweeters, all untested, some claimed to be NOS. I can post a picture of the crossovers, if it is still of interest. I have several B139 and B110 drivers, and a British replacement for the B110, claimed to be better.
 
DavidKane said:
If this is still a topic of interest, I own 2 pair of Transtatic 1s. They both have some issues. They may have changed the crossover design, but they were not around that long. They dropped the KEF drivers and started the Heil thing. I saw them about 1971 in L.A. Anyway, I got a pair of replacement crossovers on eBay years ago, and several RTR tweeters, all untested, some claimed to be NOS. I can post a picture of the crossovers, if it is still of interest. I have several B139 and B110 drivers, and a British replacement for the B110, claimed to be better.
Click to expand...
I would love some pics please. Still interested. Got a pair of KEF Reference 3’s and managed to jump on a pair of Bowers & Wilkins 801 S1 Series 1. I have the ESS Transtatic’s for my garage speakers but will be bringing them back inside due to their rarity. Been super lucky so score a bunch of great top of the line speakers to say the least.
 
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