Ortofon 445

[RocknRollBen]

Ortofon 445 SPEAKERS

Just got a pair of Ortofon 445 speakers. Anybody out there know anything about these like value, pecking order, etc...

 

[hifi_nut]

Never heard of them.

Would love to see some pics, though.

Jorge

 

[ARRAY]

.....................

 

[RocknRollBen]

For right now I am not really trying to sell them, I just was wondering what they might be worth.
I hooked them up to find out the tweeters were blown and I had a couple of spare Avids that I installed in them. They sound good but I have only tested them through a crappy little Hitachi receiver. I plan to hook them up to something a little more substantial and see what happens. I actually didn't even know that Ortofon even made speakers until I got these. The cabs are solid wood and then the fronts are particle covered by wood grain shelf paper.

 

[Rolf Zetterberg]

In 1974 Ortofon made at least three models,the 225,335 and 445.All having the very fine Scan-Speak drivers.

 

[Dan ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ]

The "shelf paper" looks like a modification. I see they have Avid tweeters too. The plot thickens. :scratch2:

 

[RocknRollBen]

This is the only picture I could find on the web off the loud and proud website in
Sweden.

 

[MKReid]

I have the 335s and the pic above of the 445s looks like all original drivers (i.e. the same drivers as my 335s). Haven't been able to find any info myself. Decent sounding and all scanspeak drivers. Hoping to build DIY cabs one day.

 

['88Jetta16v]

The "shelf paper" looks like a modification. I see they have Avid tweeters too. The plot thickens. :scratch2:

I have a single Ortofon 335 that I picked up for $15 in a thrift shop many years ago, unfortunately, its partner was missing.

It seems to be in good, original condition. And the contact paper on the front is original. Strange because the rest of the cabinet is so nice.

It is a good sounding speaker, no doubt. I just wish I had another.

 

[frperdurabo]

Are those aperiodic-type vents on the upper left?

 

['88Jetta16v]

Yes, they are aperiodic vents.

 

[quadrasounde]

I had a pair of 445's bought new back in the 70's. Have only 1 left. (don't ask) They sounded great. Very natural mid, upper mid and high end. They were available in both rosewood and walnut cabinets as I recall. Been looking to find another 445 to match my remaining all original survivor. Think I have the owners manual, if I find it I will post a picture (when I figure out how to do that). Those tweeters did blow out. When I called them back in the day the tech I spoke with said the manufacturing plant had a fire and nothing remained. He sent me the what he said were the last couple of twwters. Sure wish I had the other cabinet, but don't. Still looking for one. Thanks, I just found and joined this site.
Ed

 

[sealy]

Very interesting speakers. The mids are cone/dome hybrids, much better than a standard cone mid. I gather each woofer is vented into its own sub-enclosure?

 

[ARRAY]

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[hostricity]

My Orotofon 445's

I have 4 Ortofon 445's which I bought new in 1978 with a Yamaha CR2040 Receiver, Rega Planar glass-platter turntable, SUMO II Moving Coil Cartridge, and moving coil Pre-Amp. (The Yahama has a moving coil preamp built-in, but the dealer convinced me to put out the coin for a separate MC pre-amp).

All are in excellent working order and the speakers are still top-performers. When I bought the system, I bought a Yamaha Surround sound DSP a Yamaha 4 channel amp and satellite speakers to complete the surround sound system, which I no longer have.

I've looked at the photos of 445's that are floating around, and I will tell you that mine still look like new. The one's in the photos all look like they've had difficult lives.

These speakers have two 8" inch woofers for better definition in the bass. At the time they came along, the fad was gigantic woofers that were incredibly muddy. The Altec-Lansings for example.

The 445 seemed to be the best thing around short of going to electrostatic panels, which were much more expensive.

 

[frperdurabo]

Anyone want to post photos of the crossover? The aperiodic loading and driver load are surely interesting....

 

[Dummydoctor]

My Orotofon 445's

I have 4 Ortofon 445's which I bought new in 1978 with a Yamaha CR2040 Receiver, Rega Planar glass-platter turntable, SUMO II Moving Coil Cartridge, and moving coil Pre-Amp. (The Yahama has a moving coil preamp built-in, but the dealer convinced me to put out the coin for a separate MC pre-amp).

All are in excellent working order and the speakers are still top-performers. When I bought the system, I bought a Yamaha Surround sound DSP a Yamaha 4 channel amp and satellite speakers to complete the surround sound system, which I no longer have.

I've looked at the photos of 445's that are floating around, and I will tell you that mine still look like new. The one's in the photos all look like they've had difficult lives.

These speakers have two 8" inch woofers for better definition in the bass. At the time they came along, the fad was gigantic woofers that were incredibly muddy. The Altec-Lansings for example.

The 445 seemed to be the best thing around short of going to electrostatic panels, which were much more expensive.[/QUOTE

hostricity, do you still have the 445's...They were my first hifi speakers and I would like to revisit them again!!..

 

[Old Moke]

Amazing, In Florida visiting relatives and saw these nice looking cabinets in the workshop. ZEROED IN IN THE REALISTIC OP 1's and then I removed the grille on the other pair and, voila ORTOFON, made in Denmark..
YEE HAW !
Pics and more info. to come.

 

[bolero]

Amazing, In Florida visiting relatives and saw these nice looking cabinets in the workshop. ZEROED IN IN THE REALISTIC OP 1's and then I removed the grille on the other pair and, voila ORTOFON, made in Denmark..
YEE HAW !
Pics and more info. to come.

zombie thread, but I am looking for a crossover schematic for these, if anyone has one

 

[bolero]

FYI Scan Speak still make replacement tweeters that will fit in these, something like this:

https://www.scan-speak.dk/?s=d2008&post_type=product

I don't believe the original tweeters had any ferro fluid in them. But I may be wrong. I asked Scan Speak and they said the model was so old, they had no record

posting this for posterity, in case anyone else can use the info