So Nice Sonabs

[Kegger]

Ah I SEE, sounds like a wise move indeed! I'm taking up my whole basement, stacked
to the ceiling with path's to move around, not to mention the units all over the house
in other places! So I hear yu and wish I had better restraint!

You gunna make it to Akfest? I may bring the HPM's.

 

[Charivari]

I remember back when you posted pictures of it in the 'list your speakers' thread. I believe I equated it to a dream I had about the ultimate vintage audio find. I wish I had restraint in the first place so I wouldn't have so much stuff around here, though at least I no longer have little trails through my bedroom. It's getting better, slowly.

No AK Fest for me, I'd have to fly to make it and, well, the money for a plane ticket can buy a lot of music.

- JP

 

[SixCats!]

Hi all,

Regarding the SONABS...when I lived in Studio City (Universal City) California back in the late 70's, there was a Home business Audio dealer that had the SONABS which were placed in the corners of his demo/Living room. I was only about 25 years old at the time but...I had (for years) been listening to a HUGH range of speakers from every HIGH END dealer in the greater Los Angeles area (and beyond). I must say...I recall that the SONABS speakers REALLY impressed me with the quality of their sound! I admit only to a very brief listening of the SONABS...nevertheless...their sound left BOOK MARKED (for lack of a better term) a STRONG POSTIVE impression in my Brain! Other speakers of the day to also make a STRONG impression on me were (mostly) from MAGNEPAN and KEF.

Regards,
SixCats!

 

[Brian]

These are worth getting but need careful placement to avoid loss of instrument placement. The Sonab stuff was very good though some a bit weak on the construction. These speakers were a little too off the wall (in terms of looks)for most buyers but when they were on in the soundroom when someone walked in, it was an easy sell since the first impression was the sound and not the looks. I had a set setup for best performance in a soundroom and out of the 90 pair stacked against the wall arrangments. They were close to the budget of high-end impression with the right electronics.

 

[Pearson]

Anyone ever hear of the Sonab OA114s? Odd looking suckers, but the quality of the veneer makes me think these may be something special.

The speakers on the picture are in fact Sonab OA-116 speakers. They were very good for their time, and still hold up more than well. If they are not restored, the foam edges generally will have to be replaced.

 

[john_w]

Speaking of Infinite and odd driver arrangements...

I recall some great sounding small Infinite towers from the mid-to-late seventies that had both side and rear firing drivers, as well as a top-mounted Walsh Tweeter. The 70s were indeed the erra of freaky driver placement!

I can see how those Sonabs would be extremely sensitive to placement!

 

[john_w]

Well...I thought Infinitys were mentioned in this thread. I must have gotten cross-threaded. (No wonder people say I have a screw loose!)

- jw

 

[mhardy6647]

Stig!

Late to the party, but finally found a scan of (the late) Stig Carlsson, the designer of them there Sonabs. This is from a Sonab full line brochure I picked up in Balto. ca. 1977... if anyone's interested, I can scan stuff from it.

 

[mhardy6647]

Stig Redux!

Just stumbled across this Swedish site while looking for info on the Peerless cone tweeters. Not sure if y'all who are Carlsson fans would know of it, so I figured I'd post the link:
http://www.geocities.com/frleand/ClassicAudio/Pages/SherwoodS7700and8000.html

 

[Classicjunkie]

Sonab OA116 - just bought a pair

These are worth getting but need careful placement to avoid loss of instrument placement. The Sonab stuff was very good though some a bit weak on the construction. These speakers were a little too off the wall (in terms of looks)for most buyers but when they were on in the soundroom when someone walked in, it was an easy sell since the first impression was the sound and not the looks. I had a set setup for best performance in a soundroom and out of the 90 pair stacked against the wall arrangments. They were close to the budget of high-end impression with the right electronics.

Just bought a pair of Sonab OA116 on e-bay and can't wait to get them. I already have a set of OA14, a slightly smaller version of the same design and am amazed by them. They are definately worth the effort, and easy to set up properly.
(see the website for more info http://www.carlssonplanet.com )

 

[Frank Valdor]

Sonab Carlsson OA

They are actually in business, although Stig Carlsson passed away, and still produces some of his later date OAs. I've never heard a pair of the new ones, but get good reviews in magz etc. This site, CarlssonPlanet which some of you have linked to, is THE resource page. Restauration tips, mods, etc. As to the 70's stuff, the OA-2212 is the best. The OA-116 is the more home-oriented version, i think, which still is really good.

/Fredrik

 

[soundmotor]

Anyone ever hear of the Sonab OA114s? Odd looking suckers, but the quality of the veneer makes me think these may be something special.

I am a sucker for cool 70's speaker designs.

Charivari, those dodecahedron DA's are crazy.



I'm a fan!

 

[pbda]

As I recall Sonab sold a funky looking turntable in the mid-seventies as well.

 

[mhardy6647]

The aforementioned "funky looking turntable", sir...

 

[pbda]

Fantastic! I haven't laid eyes on one of those since the mid seventies. Looks a bit like an AR XA on steroids.

 

[2DualsNotEnough]

Hey,Charivari,Ive always been curious-When you play Dungeons and Dragons,what kind of numbers do you get when you toss the D.A.'s?
Jimmy

 

[Charivari]

Hey,Charivari,Ive always been curious-When you play Dungeons and Dragons,what kind of numbers do you get when you toss the D.A.'s?
Jimmy

Snake eyes, of course.

-JP

 

[tubino]

I just hooked up my old pair of Sonab OA14's. First time I hooked them up to a McIntosh 225 -- and I'm impressed! In the right room, these are really more FUN than I remembered! If I had to squeeze into a small room and wanted something to push against the wall, I'd really consider these! Imaging isn't precise, but it's better than I would have predicted. I got these out with the purpose of listing them on ebay or otherwise selling them, but I had second thoughts...

 

[the-real-mandak]

pbda: I got a Sonab 85S TT about 2 month ago, it need a little restoration but not much. As far as I know the Sonab TT's are made by Yamaha, it also look a lot like the early Yamaha’s. I also have a Yamaha YP-70 (1970), the Sonab looks just out of the nose of it. I belive the Sonab 85S is from about 1974

Sorry for talking TT's in the speaker forun.

 

[Brian]

The Sonab speakers can't be pushed or they will self destruct. Sonab had at best a reputation as not the line to sell to college students and frat houses. Placement if the speakers are very critical b/c of the tweeter arrays but when set up correctly they do things that other companies can only dream of in terms of instrument placement and soundstage.

The tt was their own product and not a relabeled Yammie. Their electronics with their speakers were a no nonsense version of the B&O concept except they were really good sounding and not designed with the empahsis on looks rather than sound. Not knocking B&O but, it was and is a company that just does not deliver the sound in comparision to the price points.