Suggestions for co-axial driver?

[mhardy6647]

I am pro-vividness

I'll also mention that the Altec (604 family) Duplexes are still my reference point for piano reproduction that actually sounds like a real piano. Not realistic (a fairly low bar), but real. On my more glib days, I like to say that the Duplex was/is the best midrange driver ever

The Quad ESL-57 does a nice job with piano, too (FWIW).

EDIT: Oh, there was a funky little 6.5 inch, Asian-made "coax" (in the crudest possible sense of the word, like the aforementioned Altec 409) of otherwise unknown provenance sold for many years by Lafayette. Very low end and inexpensive (then and even still now) but very pleasant to listen to. Dunno about vivid, though I also doubt one would easily find them outside of the US (unless they were also sold under other brand names ex-US in the same time period).


https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Catalogs/Lafayette-Catalogs/Lafayette-1971.pdf

I've collected two pairs of these over the years

 

[CalyptorH]

Wow, the Altec 604s command good money, as in up to $13,000 for a pair, though there's a staggering number for sale at lower prices. Out of interest, with drivers that can be 80 years old, is restoration an issue?

Flippo, I had a look at the Tang Band c-axial 6.5" but it gets very mixed reviews so that's probably out.

I've had some feedback from Blueran UK on a crossover for the B&C co-ax which could do the job though I want to get a second opinion before trying it out. For not entirely logical reasons the idea of a horn tweeter appeals to me.

 

[mhardy6647]

$13k a pair would have to be perfect "Hollywood" original 20 ohm drivers, I would think -- I cannot even imagine a pair of 604Bs pullin' that kind of money.
Restoration should still be straightforward for all but the oldest morphs -- thanks to Great Plains Audio.

A pair of 604C, 604E (or even newer variants) or 605A will do you fine at much, much less than 13 kilobucks

604Etest2 (2) by Mark Hardy, on Flickr
DSC_8271 (2) by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

 

[CalyptorH]

The Altecs are of course, a long way from my original thoughts of a compact KEF co-axial but the classical quality is very appealing.

How do the new Great Plains Audio versions compare with the originals?

Buying a vintage set looks much like the quest for vintage tubes ... watch and wait.

Jules