27 inch wideband driver

Hi Rajiv,

Just had another ear-opening experience with a loudspeaker of 1950's vintage. This was a single 12" driver put out by Bell and Howell, to be used with a small valve amp reading the optical output from a film projector. I suspect the magnet was Alnico since it had a bell cap on it.

Of course, I coupled it to one of my amps, the 1.5 watt EL84 SET. Voice reproduction was amazing from this old speaker. Just goes to show that the old guys knew what they were doing. All we get nowadays with space-age materials is a lot of noise!

Viren

Viren

Space age materials of today do have ther advantages but if a 1950's speaker does better than modern stuff in any department then I guess it time press the pause button, go back to the basics, see what you're doing wrong in the name of progress and cleanup. If it means adopting older technology and adapting it to the new world, so bet it.

But unfortunately speakers dont sell unless they have berrylium, kevlar, gold, titanium, magnesium, etc to offer.

Now who would pay big bucks for a lowly paper cone with foam surrounds ?

What people don't understand is that the newer stuff is not necessarily better stuff always but who is to argue with them ? Its like beating your head against a brick wall.

This dilution of quality is not just in audio but all around us.

You are right,those guys knew what they were doing. They always did cause they were the pioneers and they were strong with their basics. Many of the trendseting stuff of today is just mere imitations or improvisions at best. Very little path breaking stuff around.

This again is only my humble opinion and no offence meant to anyone.

Manek

me..I am all for the new stuff :).the improvement in suspension and isolation, power, materials in cdplayers, cables and amplifiers are pretty amazing.if we look at it some of the pathbreaking stuff these days is the Chip amps, the HDD based audio etc..

but i guess tthe point is that we have these great tools but may not be using them well enough so so a checkpoint to the past may not be a bad idea.

But the point of working around limitations to create products in audio which used to happen so well in the past does strike a chord !i guess when it comes to speakers it is still an art as there are 100s of compromises to be made and artfully worked around. that is something we can still improve on...today it is all about giving the market what it wants rather than creating a product out of what it should be and expect the market to come after it.

Hi,

Space age materials of today do have ther advantages but if a 1950's speaker does better than modern stuff in any department then I guess it time press the pause button, go back to the basics, see what you're doing wrong in the name of progress and cleanup. If it means adopting older technology and adapting it to the new world, so bet it.

This is exactly what Shindo does.

http://audioheritage...hlight=shindo+latour

The $40,000 Latour is nothing but an updated Lansing Iconic the design of which dates back to 1937.

The Latour is a copy/adaptation (in a beautiful cabinet) of the 1950's Westrex 2080 loudspeaker

http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=16188

http://audioheritage.csdco.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=5244

My main speakers at present are an Alnico version of the Latour(Altec 515B woofers and Altec 288G HF drivers). I use a round 650Hz Tactrix horn insted of the Westrex 2080 horn Shindo uses.

Regards
Rajiv

Different things stimulate different folks...

I have heard a good horn loaded speaker, driven by flea power Valve amplification, and the sound was lovely and satisfying.... but then I also throughly enjoy the sound of a modern day stereo system, with its slam and extended frequency extremes.

I guess for the music that I listen to ( primarily Rock & Pop ) I prefer today's systems to those that take on the approach of yester years.... its a personal choice & I respect everyone else's choice.... ( even though I would not take home some systems like the Conrad Johnson of 20 years ago... Free ! )


Even the concept of beauty has changed over the years. From Buxom beauties, 'we' now seek slim.

The B&W movie stars of yesteryears conveyed an understated sense of beauty while today's ooze sensuality.. Which is better ?

Different Strokes For Different Folks !

Viva La Difference !

P.S: I think Modern systems are doing a Great job, keep it up guys.