Mystery speakers, help identify

[Broken.Ears]

Mystery speakers -- Now With Pics!!!

First, sorry for no pics. I am still holding out against getting an electronic leash (aka cell-phone) so I don't have any way of snapping pics while out. Didn't pick these up without getting some feedback first (last thing I need is more speakers).

Okay, so I was out at a few thrift stores today and found a pair of unique speakers. They measure approximately 10W x 10H x 8D inches. Particle board encloser with a real wood veneer. The covers are a thick woven cloth. Pulling the covers off reveals an approx. 5 inch woofer and 3 inch tweeter, both round (not oblong). Both the woofer and tweeter and a cone-on-cone type of of arrangement like you might see in an older 6x9 car speaker (picture attached as example). Both drivers are foam/rubber free and appear to attach directly to the frame. The tweeter basket is square, but the hole for it is round and was sealed with plumbers putty. They had a decent heft for their size. There is a little 1/2 inch square badge at the bottom right of each speaker the reads "Acoustic Suspension" around some kind of logo. Guessing late 60s to mid 70s. As with any quality speakers it has an RCA connection in the back.:yes:

Any ideas?

 

[sealy]

Could be Ampex. I had a pair 30 years ago in small cabinets. Sounded pretty good.

 

[Broken.Ears]

Like any good junkie I dutifully heed my desire. Today I found myself back at the thrift store jonesin' for those oddball mystery speakers. A quick scare (they were under a table) and a little haggling ($8.00 out the door) and I was in possession of... well, something.

So here's some pics. Let me know if you have any ideas as to what they are or might be.

 

[Broken.Ears]

Is there any way to change the thread title? I want to add "Now With Pics" to title and have it show up in the main forum page.

 

[M Jarve]

My guess would be Sylvania. They made some really good speakers, and were usually sold with a complete semi-console system.

 

[Zilch]

Double-whizzers.

Candidates for Indignification, perhaps.... :yes:

http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=160535

 

[stickman]

For $ 8 it looks like you got about what you paid for. Those cheap paper cone drivers with whizzer cones were common in low priced speakers made back in the late 60's and 70's and tend to be really peaky. The cabinets look ok though and if you loaded some decent drivers into them with a proper cross-over they would look pretty cool. Its time to start looking at the Parts Express website if you take the project route.......

 

[Divotdog]

I just picked up the same pair less than a week ago, for a whopping buck a piece at a yard sale! I'm with M Jarve I assume they came with a console, I have not hooked them up yet to see how they sound (mostly due to the RCA type plug) but they were nice and heavy and in great shape.

 

[Broken.Ears]

I just picked up the same pair less than a week ago, for a whopping buck a piece at a yard sale! I'm with M Jarve I assume they came with a console, I have not hooked them up yet to see how they sound (mostly due to the RCA type plug) but they were nice and heavy and in great shape.

Good to know there's a brotherhood out there supporting (or at least mildly interested in) these speakers. I'll see if I can rig something up to audition them. Maybe tomorrow.

 

[Broken.Ears]

Double-whizzers.

Candidates for Indignification, perhaps.... :yes:

Double-whizzers was a new one on me, but I'm now more educated after looking it up. Thanks!

Yes, if these don't sound good in their original home, I just might blaspheme them.

 

[Divotdog]

Good to know there's a brotherhood out there supporting (or at least mildly interested in) these speakers. I'll see if I can rig something up to audition them. Maybe tomorrow.

I would be interested in your thoughts after you hear them, I have picked up a couple of sets of full range speakers with whizzers, and I have yet to hook any of them up and hear how they sound (no time in the summer!).

 

[Sir.Byrd]

They are Morse speakers.
Says so on the tin.

I have one with the same driver (but there is dirt in the VC so it sounds like poop)

 

[Broken.Ears]

I would be interested in your thoughts after you hear them, I have picked up a couple of sets of full range speakers with whizzers, and I have yet to hook any of them up and hear how they sound (no time in the summer!).

Shuffled through the garage a bit and found a cord with bare wire on one end and an 1/8 inch plug on the other. An RCA adapter completed the package. So now it's time to audition them -- or at least one at a time.

Huh. Not so bad. Not so great, but not so bad. Certainly designed to ignore the reproduction of anything resembling bass. But strong and clear mids. Decentish highs. Kinda smooth. Snare drums are a little muddy. Vocals are very clear. It's a bit late here, so I can't really turn it up or play something more uptempo, but so far I'm nicely surprised for having an expectation level of zero.

Would probably make a good quiet / background listening speaker. Good for an office or bedroom. I suspect that when I turn this up a bit more they will meet there limit. But for relaxing late at night they seem to work pretty good so far.

BLUUUUURRRRGGHHH!!! Taking the cover off the other speaker reveals a ripped tweater cone. Why? It's actually playing well despite it, but for how long...?

 

[kfa888]

Double-whizzers.

A condition I have after to many beers.

 

[Broken.Ears]

More extended listening reveals that the tweeters are really what you'd expect them to be -- not very impressive. Fortunately, it was one of the tweeters that was ripped and not the other driver. I really do think that has the potential for something. I see the beginnings of a good Frankenspeaker in the making.

The bass isn't horrible on these, but certainly not impressive. I really like the cabinets and could see them cleaning up nice with some light sanding, oil, new covers and better trim pieces. I don't know if there is anything that could be done with the cabinets as far as porting, but I would be open to suggestions.

Also, an inexpensive tweeter recommendation would be welcome. I don't like shouty and harsh and I seem to be very sensitive to the high-end, so maybe something more mellow.

 

[Dan ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ]

Morse/Electrophonic. Knew it as soon as I saw the round "air suspension" badge. A local furniture store sold TONS of their compact systems in the 70's.

 

[wineslob]

Go to PE and check out their decent and cheap dome tweeters and 6" woofers. You might come up with a really decent mini-monitor.

 

[Divotdog]

More extended listening reveals that the tweeters are really what you'd expect them to be -- not very impressive. Fortunately, it was one of the tweeters that was ripped and not the other driver. I really do think that has the potential for something. I see the beginnings of a good Frankenspeaker in the making.

The bass isn't horrible on these, but certainly not impressive. I really like the cabinets and could see them cleaning up nice with some light sanding, oil, new covers and better trim pieces. I don't know if there is anything that could be done with the cabinets as far as porting, but I would be open to suggestions.

Also, an inexpensive tweeter recommendation would be welcome. I don't like shouty and harsh and I seem to be very sensitive to the high-end, so maybe something more mellow.

I will try to make some time to hook mine up to a couple of different receivers this weekend and see how they sound as my tweeters are in good shape, if they are as rough sounding as yours perhaps we can do some measuring and get with some of the DIY gurus such as Zilch or GordonW, and figure out what to slide into these bad boys, I'm with you on the cabs, they are well built and nice looking.:thmbsp:

 

[Broken.Ears]

I know I wasn't too clear, but I think the woofers actually sound really good. I was going to try and work with those and some new tweeters. I'll check PE for some dome tweeters as suggested.

The cabinets are really well constructed. I think most of the heft from these speakers comes from the cabinet. Very solid.

I know porting isn't something you just tack on (or into in this case) a cabinet, so I don't think it would work out with these, especially considering their size. They measure 11.25w x 13.25h x 6.5d inches.

Maybe a standalone sub. Maybe a passive one! That would be fun. Actually, I think that would be perfect for the small room I have to listen in. I'm kinda excited about these now.

 

[Broken.Ears]

I will try to make some time to hook mine up to a couple of different receivers this weekend and see how they sound as my tweeters are in good shape, if they are as rough sounding as yours perhaps we can do some measuring and get with some of the DIY gurus such as Zilch or GordonW, and figure out what to slide into these bad boys, I'm with you on the cabs, they are well built and nice looking.:thmbsp:

Do try and see what you think about the tweeters. When anything hits into the high territory, it really shows. It almost distorts (and I'm not running it very loud). Mid range in my opinion is very nice and smooth, lots of clarity. But if things like cymbals or snares (especially in jazz) or guitar feedback or violins hit hit the tweeters... bleh!

I think we cross posted a bit, but yes the cabinets are constructed very well. Whoever was in charge of mounting the components (especially the tweeters) could have used some quality control lessons from the guy who built the cabinets.

I think you and I might be on the same page. Saw a post where you picked up some Radio Shack Nova 15's. It was all I could do to resist picking up the exact same model earlier this week. Only wanted $7 and the foam was in excellent shape. Hope you follow this thread, with some help (a lot) I might end up with some nice speakers.