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Speakers that sound like Dynaco A25's

J

jamiecantar

Well-Known Member
I recently discovered original Dynaco A25's match perfectly with my McIntosh MA 5100 pre/amplifier. The sonics are just outstanding. I have never taken these apart, but I read somewhere that they have no complicated crossover just a capacitors?

I heard some speakers like BOSE 901's and Magnapans have no crossover, is this true?

Are there other speakers that have the same sound as Dynaco A25's?
 
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I've never heard a pair of Dynaco A25s' and it sure seem me to be one of the cornerstones for a sound type that people use to say "My speaks sound a little better I think?" or "My speaks sound almost as good I think?".

Regardless....when a speaker has a fit like that in audio,life is good if you have 'em in a system somewhere. Good is good and the only speaks I have that seem to get the comparison is KLH Model Fives'? (Thrift store find,knew nothing about the sound except that people mentioned them a lot, and as soon as I had them hooked up my eyes went wide.)
There's just something about a quality bookshelf that stretches into special, even when comparing to "better", because the they fit well in a lot of places. (It is a big deal for most all of us in having some pair like those Dynacos......somewhere.)
 
the original large ADvents sound similar,try stacking two pairs,good bang for the buck that's for sure!
 
Although I would not say that they sound exactly the same, the EPI 100's were also a very highly regarded speaker from the same era as the Dynaco A25's. They were both considered very accurate speakers, although their deviation from the theoretical perfectly flat response curve was in different areas.

With regards to the crossover, it is very simple. There is only one cap, and it is fairly easy to get to once you remove the woofer. I have recapped both of my pairs of A25's. It could hardly be simpler.
 
The A25 has a healthy degree of that EL84 kind of sound. Early, ported Wharfedales would be the closest I can think of. Fisher and Bozak as well from that era. University is another to consider. And the older KLH's too. The Dynaco people MUST have had a few of these brands in mind when they designed the A25.

The earliest W60 model is not far off from the A25 sound. The early Wharfies, like the Dynacos, are ported/vented, so they have a similar-sounding leading edge. There was also an early, ported W40 from that same era. The original W2 is another that's like a W60 but a little smaller. The early Wharfedale W** models have a Vox-like sound (Think Beatles guitar amps). And like Dynaco, there were alnico-loaded ones and then ceramic ones that came later during the industry-wide mass exodus to the ceramic magnet. More than drivers, the big difference between the alnico and ceramic Wharfedale models is the cabinet design. They began moving away from ported designs in the mid '60's, plus they switched from cone-tweeters to fried-egg-style domes. I personally prefer the Super 3 and Super 5 cone-tweeters, but not everybody's the same (The Super 3, alnico OR ceramic, is a seriously-good-sounding tweeter, period... Definitely one of the best cone-tweets of all time... There are high-end JBL fans here at AK that were amazed when they heard the Super 3 in tandem in the supremely-large-sized W90, so don't let the cone-driver thing deter you).


The AR2ax was available at the same time as the A25. Not an identical sound, but the AR2ax sat alongside the A25 in the pro review standings and they were constantly compared to one another. Both were considered at the time to be the top two most-accurate-sounding speakers in their class.
 
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I have 2 pairs of a25s. Brilliant speakers indeed and one of my favs. Stack them with some HPM-100s and its heaven on earth!
 
moebuster said:
for 1500.00 + would assembled be too much to ask?:scratch2:
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That's only the 1/2 of it. That doesn't even include the cabinets. If the cabinets are included, it's over $1100 each!

2 grand can buy some very nice speakers or a pair of 25's with upgraded tweeters and other mods for less than 1/2 that price.
 
jamiecantar said:
I recently discovered original Dynaco A25's match perfectly with my McIntosh MA 5100 pre/amplifier. The sonics are just outstanding. I have never taken these apart, but I read somewhere that they have no complicated crossover just a capacitors?

I heard some speakers like BOSE 901's and Magnapans have no crossover, is this true?

Are there other speakers that have the same sound as Dynaco A25's?
Click to expand...

I was reading up the other day on the A 25 and its aperiodic vent on an older thread. My takeaway was that the A-25 is not a true ported speaker and has much the same sound signature of most of the Acoustic suspension speakers of the day. What I couldn't find out is if the aperiodic vent design is strictly a Dynaco thing or if there are some other speakers out there that use the same design. Maybe others can chime in.

I have read that the A-25's and KLH 6's are similar in sound signature with the bass of the 6's being slightly better and the 25's having a slightly better mid range. Stacked together, whoa nellie! :D
 
gbroot said:
I was reading up the other day on the A 25 and its aperiodic vent on an older thread. My takeaway was that the A-25 is not a true ported speaker and has much the same sound signature of most of the Acoustic suspension speakers of the day. What I couldn't find out is if the aperiodic vent design is strictly a Dynaco thing or if there are some other speakers out there that use the same design. Maybe others can chime in.

I have read that the A-25's and KLH 6's are similar in sound signature with the bass of the 6's being slightly better and the 25's having a slightly better mid range. Stacked together, whoa nellie! :D
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I have both 6's and A-25's. I wouldn't say the LF response of the 6's is any better than the 25's. I can say I prefer the dome tweeter in the 25 to the cone in the 23's and think it makes for a better overall design when comparing the two. I also have KLH 23's and find their LF reproduction just a bit more robust than the 6's and similar to the A-25's.

The aperiodic vent isn't exclusive to Dynaco. Dynaudio used it as well.
 
moebuster said:
for 1500.00 + would assembled be too much to ask?:scratch2:
Click to expand...

Turn key....$2500

http://annandaleacoustics.com//index.html

You can get all the drivers to build a pair for under $800 and get thrifty with the remaining components to come in at a more reasonable sum. I'd like to see it in a bigger cabinet so it mimics the aesthetic of the Devore Orangutans but not sure what effect the larger cabinet volume would have on how that 10" Seas performs.
 
Hunt some, I found a pair 3 months ago of Dynaco A 25 speakers in nice condition for $12. I use them on my living room system. Realistically, a nice pair of Dynaco A 25 speakers should be easily found for under $130.
 
KentTeffeteller said:
Hunt some, I found a pair 3 months ago of Dynaco A 25 speakers in nice condition for $12. I use them on my living room system. Realistically, a nice pair of Dynaco A 25 speakers should be easily found for under $130.
Click to expand...

I'd love to find a pair at that price, even the $130. As far as Ebay goes they run from $200 to $300 plus shipping using the sales data, more than they cost new not inflation adjusted.:scratch2: That's still cheaper than buying the kits, assembled or not. Upgrading the tweeter and possibly adding bracing to the enclosure and you're still under $500.
 
Odd that, I looked at my local Craigslist and A25's run from $110 -$150 for VG condition, one owner examples. Hardly rare OR pricey.
That said; that there are also brush painted ones in there too :-)
 
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