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Rectilinear III Highboys: any recapping success stories?

savv

savv

Super Member
For the past 3 years, I had a pair of Rectilinear III Highboys in storage at my garage because they were so heavy. Today, I finally found the time and energy to lift them to my 2nd floor listening room. I pair them currently with a Marantz 2230 and the combination is ok but not that great. Will these Highboys benefit from high powered receivers or from a recap?

Your suggestions are appreciated!
 
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I have a pair of these....so I would also like to know. I havent hooked them up in a while - so you just motivated me to do so tonight! I will get back with results and any info from my set....perhaps it will help you?
 
I'm sorry I can't comment on re-capping, but I can tell you that the IIIs (both Hi and Low Boys) are rather power hungry. If you want to hear what they are capable of, 100+ real watts per channel does nicely. If I recall correctly, the IIIs call for a minimum of 20 watts per channel.
All the info on Rectilinear speakers is here (courtesy of member Njord Noatun):
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?p=1551773
Hope this helps. :D
 
Agreed with Joe - 100wpc and above makes a big difference on the Highboys, IMO: Note that there are differences in opinion here - member Snade runs them with something like 30 tube watts, and is very happy. :music:

I run them with 165 wpc, and noticed a huge improvement when I went from 100 wpc, and would recommend you try them with a bigger amp before you do a recap.

I recapped mine but did so first thing after I got them (because the x-over was broken) so I can't give you a before and after comparison.
 
I have powered my highboys with: H/K 330, Carver 1.5t, Nikko Alpha II, Marantz 2370, Yamaha CR 2020, Yamaha CA-600, and Carver MX 130. They sound "veiled" with low wpc amps -- less than 100 wpc. Also helps to get them up off the floor about a foot. Put the watts to 'em. The Carver 1.5t REALLY opened them up -- and I made sure I didn't get stupid with the preamp Vol knob.

Thought the Nikko sounded the best, with a matching Nikko pre. I've posted way, way too many times on AK -- these are off the audio vulture radar, look like kabuki driver arrangement, and the best bargain sonics in vintage speakers.
 
I recapped my IIIs with Dayton caps. Noticed more detail in the mids and highs (less veiled). I would strongly recommend it. I think the total cost for parts from PE was under 30 bucks.

I actually have run my Rec IIIs with my Pilot tube amp (15 watts tube power) and it sounded great. Rectilinear never published the efficiency rating of the III to my knowledge. They may be more efficient than we think with their ported design. For a solid state amp, I would suggest 40 watts minimum.

I recently had an online discussion with a guy that worked for AR back in the 60's. He said their team was upset when one of the major stereo mags gave the Rec III's rave reviews and said it was as good or better than the AR3a. So it was a highly regarded speaker in the late 60's and early 70's.

Cheers, Snade
 
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"So it was a highly regarded speaker in the late 60's and early 70's."

From December 1967 HIFI/Stereo Review, Equipment Test Report, Hirsch-Houck Laboratories

"Our side by side comparison with a full-range electrostatic speaker (Quad), which we consider to be one of the finest reproducers available, proved to our satisfaction that the two could not be told apart, except in low bass, where the Rectilinear III was clearly superior."

"The Rectilinear III can be driven by any amplifier capable of 20 watts output, which includes practically all integrated receivers, yet can handle the output of the largest amplifiers."

"At $279 the Rectilinear III is not inexpensive...Nevertheless, in our opinion, we have never heard better sound reproduction in our home, from any speaker of any size or price."

From Rectilinear Research Corp., Instructions for the use of the Rectilinear III Floor Standing Loudspeaker System (no date, but came with purchase):

Required Amplifier Power
The Rectilinear III is a medium efficiency speaker system requiring substantial amplifier power for a high sound level. It is therefore strongly suggested that an amplifier of at least 20 watts RMS of power per channel be used with the Rectilinear III. The use of 50 to 100 watt RMS amplifiers for large rooms and high sound levels is not unreasonable."

From Rectilinear III Floor Standing technical sheet, 1970, Rectilinear Research

Crossover frequencies: 500 Hz, 3000 Hz, 11,000 Hz
Nominal impedance: 8 ohms
Minimum power requirement: 20 watts rms
Maximum Power Handling capacity: 100 watts rms
Frequency Response: 20 to 18,500 Hz +/- 4 dB
 
savv said:
For the past 3 years, I had a pair of Rectilinear III Highboys in storage at my garage because they were so heavy. Today, I finally found the time and energy to lift them to my 2nd floor listening room. I pair them currently with a Marantz 2230 and the combination is ok but not that great. Will these Highboys benefit from high powered receivers or from a recap?

Your suggestions are appreciated!
Click to expand...
I know this is an old thread, but recapping Rectilinear Highboys makes a big difference. I did a comparison with the uncapped speaker. The lower midrange was fuller and overall the frequency response was smoother. The sound of these 50+ year old speakers is nothing short of spectacular. I haven’t a clue why this odd array of paper tweeters and midrange convey a such a lush, layered soundstage. They remind me of my Dahlquist DQ-10 speakers — except the bottom end of Rectilinears seem to convey more articulate bass.
 
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