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Mystery speakers...help!

Just acquired some Atlantic Oracle IVs from another AKer, this is a gorgeous 70s era walnut veneered 57 lb speaker with Peerless [Edit: Correction, Becker] drivers and terrible labels that peel and curl up all by themselves. I actually got two pair of them, and the labels are completely missing on one pair.

Granted they're a lot older than the pair in this thread, so who knows. I too noticed the crossovers and binding posts and thought they looked better than white van, but I'm no white van expert.
 
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I'm no white van expert either, but don't they usually have some sort of branding on them as well? The ones I've seen are either falsely branded as a major name - like Klipsch, or Polk, or more often, as something pseudo-impressive sounding, like "Laser 2000, model X", or something!

It seems you'd have a harder time conning folks without even having a name on them.
 
Maybe a Genesis product from the white van company.

Genesis1.jpg
 
My first thought was PSB, but that's just off the top of my head. But they're clearly well made, and considerable effort went into them.
 
Yeah, those are white van for sure. I heard a white van speaker that didn't sound bad, sounded pretty decent.

What gets me about white van speakers is that someone can post his mtm 6-1/2" two way towers that look decent enough and ask $40 for them and then you get all of these Joe's coming out of the wood work. "Don't buy these, they're pure garbage" "stay away, rip off!" Ummm, they're $40, a 6-1/2" mtm tower for $40. I'd say that's a decent deal for those who would like okay speakers and only has $40. Now if they wanted $240 that's a different tune. They could be thrilled with their purchase as long as someone does come along and mention they bought crap. Not saying it happens here but on CL it just bugs me when people jump all over someone for even posting them. They could be free even, "Those free speakers are worthless, what a rip off artist!"

OP, I'm glad you like them.

Dan
 
saabracer23 said:
Yeah, those are white van for sure. I heard a white van speaker that didn't sound bad, sounded pretty decent.

What gets me about white van speakers is that someone can post his mtm 6-1/2" two way towers that look decent enough and ask $40 for them and then you get all of these Joe's coming out of the wood work. "Don't buy these, they're pure garbage" "stay away, rip off!" Ummm, they're $40, a 6-1/2" mtm tower for $40. I'd say that's a decent deal for those who would like okay speakers and only has $40. Now if they wanted $240 that's a different tune. They could be thrilled with their purchase as long as someone does come along and mention they bought crap. Not saying it happens here but on CL it just bugs me when people jump all over someone for even posting them. They could be free even, "Those free speakers are worthless, what a rip off artist!"

OP, I'm glad you like them.

Dan
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I think the concern with white vans comes from the possibility of them being so badly designed and or built that the impedance drops through the floor and they write off your potentially very expensive amp. In that scenario £40 or even free doesn't seem like such a good deal.

Not saying that's the case with these. They are still to be identified.

They look a bit like Tannoys, the binding posts and crossovers bear a resemblance to my saturns. The fronts are a bit Tannoyish too. That said, if they are dodgy, they will have been built to resemble a popular manufacturer, and it's probably Tannoy's turn. My instinct is that they are not white van. As others have said, the bindings and crossover look too good.
 
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A tip-off on the overall cost is that there are no film caps on the PCB (that I can see). Also the crossover board is phenolic, that is at the low-end of PC board materials. Is there a brand or maker name on any of the electrolytic caps? That might narrow it down a bit. Do pull the drivers as suggested. My gut says Chinese and they came over by the container load. That they sound good is not a surprise as much of the Chinese made audio gear does now. Enjoy them!
 
Everyone keeps asking the OP for more info but I don't think he want's to return because they are white van he bought (embarrassed maybe?). They have been back on the site since this thread was started and they started a business selling vintage gear so I doubt SQ was there concern here.

We should just let this one die as we are just speculating and the OPs lack of presents is kinda telling.
 
soundmotor said:
A tip-off on the overall cost is that there are no film caps on the PCB (that I can see). Also the crossover board is phenolic, that is at the low-end of PC board materials. Is there a brand or maker name on any of the electrolytic caps? That might narrow it down a bit. Do pull the drivers as suggested. My gut says Chinese and they came over by the container load. That they sound good is not a surprise as much of the Chinese made audio gear does now. Enjoy them!
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I had not looked closely at the caps. Although they are not close enough to read, they sure do look like electrolytics with those crimped tops. This I would consider a good piece of evidence of cheap design. Subject to confirmation of course.
 
4-2-7 said:
Everyone keeps asking the OP for more info but I don't think he want's to return because they are white van he bought (embarrassed maybe?). They have been back on the site since this thread was started and they started a business selling vintage gear so I doubt SQ was there concern here.

We should just let this one die as we are just speculating and the OPs lack of presents is kinda telling.
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Hey, who cares? As long as he likes them. They look at least decent and he says they sound good too. I don't think the OP owes us any "presents". ;)
 
albiewan said:
IMG_20160107_115907

IMG_20160107_115907

  • Media owner albiewan
  • Date added
first order crossover
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I could show you 50 "name brand" companies that use crossovers that look just like that. Including Polk, Advent, AR, Jensen, Klipsch and NHT. That does not look like a White Van crossover. Usually White Van speakers don't have a crossover, or if they do it's a resistor in series with one of the drivers, or bricks in the cabinet to make them feel heavy.

The brand that came to mind when I first saw them was Onix, but they are not Onix speakers. I'll keep looking but they look viable to me.
 
baco99 said:
... Usually White Van speakers don't have a crossover, or if they do it's a resistor in series with one of the drivers, or bricks in the cabinet to make them feel heavy.

The brand that came to mind when I first saw them was Onix, but they are not Onix speakers...
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No matter how cheap, a speaker with a tweeter has to have at least one cap. Onix crossovers don't look like that, Onix makes quality stuff.
 
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