Pro-Linear Stage 300X

[Van_Isle]

I just acquired these when my inlaws downsized their house. Purchased in 1975, mated to a Sansui AU-7700 with a TU-7700, Akai R2R, Akai cassette and Dual turntable. My father-in-law turfed the turntable and cassette a while ago and wants to keep the R2R, but I have the Sansui gear, as I have posted elsewhere.

I guess I have a bit-o-refoaming to do.

The speakers were made in Vancouver, BC. Teak veneer. 300W power handling. 2x12-inch + 2x5-inch + 2x3-inch. 30-inch T x 18inch W x 13-inch D.

Pro-Linear is still in business. http://www.pro-linear.com/ I have contacted them but they don't have any further info on these. Can anyone fill in some details?

The Pro-Linear fellow did say "If you like the cabinet you would be better off to buy all new drivers and crossovers for them. Speaker technology has come a long way since the 70's and a cheap driver by todays standards will outperform the drivers in the stage series speakers" .... hmmm.

My 17-year old son says he wants them in his bedroom. I have a Yamaha CR-820 and if I can get the tuner portion working that might be a good match (at least the physical proportions of the Yamaha would match these suckers!).

 

[barredowl]

That's an awfully broad statement to say that all drivers have improved since the 70s, I would put old JBL, Altec, AR, or Advent woofers and mids against just about anything outside of very esoteric modern drivers. Tweeters have improved however...

 

[Balifly]

You can order some parts here.http://www.mainelectronics.com/surround.htm

 

[Van_Isle]

You can order some parts here.http://www.mainelectronics.com/surround.htm

Thanks, yes I have bought from them before.

 

[Nat]

That logo looks very much like that of Rogers Sound Labs. Any connection? Anyone know?
As to getting them going -- that configuration doesn't seem all that promising to me. Multiple tweeters and mids can lead to interference and comb filtering and not great imaging. So unless you are going to change the configuration to single tweeter and maybe single mid, I think the best bet might be simply to refoam the woofers. The mids look ok. Depending on how the piezo tweeters were implemented, you might want to look at going with dynamic tweeters, but done right, piezos can sound good, so listen first.

 

[mkhmkh]

I would agree with the fella from Pro-linear. I have a set of Pro-Linear Stage 100X that needed foam and ended up having one bad woofer. Ended up replacing the drivers with ones from Parts Express because I really like the cabinets and I like to experiment. Used a Goldwood woofer, Pioneer mid and a Dayton silk dome tweeter. I like the sound of the new drivers better,

 

[Van_Isle]

Thanks for your suggestions, but if all the drivers work my intentions are to revive these and perhaps save a bit of Canadian "West Coast" audio history.

.... I didn't think that the statement "cheap driver" really was well thought out by the fellow from Pro-Linear ... that would indicate that a pair of white van tweeters would perform better ... not that I am willing to make a purchase for comparison, mind you.

The cabinets for these will need some work as well. The speakers were incorporated into a teak shelving unit, so there are some wear marks, uneven sun fading, chipped edge or 2 and (uggh!) a screw hole or 2 to contend with .... but for a 35 year old pair of speakers, they are pretty good.

Now if my son shows a bit more interest in vinyl, I know where I can pick up a Pro-Linear turntable as well.