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Vintage Audio (record players, hi-fi etc) Amplifiers, speakers, gramophones and other audio equipment.

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Old 23rd Mar 2017, 9:21 am   #1
Stellar
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Default Connoisseur speakers

Hello
Does anyone know anything about these speakers.
Unfortunately don't have a picture but are about 3' tall ,cylindrical with grey flex material covering and metal grill at top with a red connoisseur badge. Have looked on the net but no info but there is a picture on images if type in Connoisseur Vintage speakers. They look very cool but are they any good.
Cheers
Simon
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Old 23rd Mar 2017, 10:52 am   #2
Edward Huggins
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Default Re: Connoisseur speakers

Yes, I remember these fro about 1958. There is an inverted cone at the top with radiates most of the sound through 360 degrees and the bass is ported through the bottom of the pipe. The (8"?) twin cone speaker fires up into the cone. Quite advanced in their day. Rare and collectable. They sounded good to my ears - but probably do not measure well.
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Old 23rd Mar 2017, 11:35 am   #3
Nickthedentist
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Default Re: Connoisseur speakers

Google image search result: https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.co...8d/540x360.jpg
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Old 23rd Mar 2017, 12:02 pm   #4
Ted Kendall
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Default Re: Connoisseur speakers

Column speakers, by the look of them - this loading was quite popular at one time, and can give good results with a decent drive unit. Wharfedale made a kit to mount their 8 inch unit in a concrete pipe...Sugden didn't make rubbish, so give 'em a go - you might be pleasantly surprised
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Old 23rd Mar 2017, 3:08 pm   #5
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Default Re: Connoisseur speakers

A neighbour had a pair for many years. They worked well for his taste in classical music. Arnold Sugden made them in Brighouse, Yorkshire. Don't use them in a corner, move them out from the wall a bit. Quite rare and well worth preserving. Omnidirectional and can create a very realistic image.

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Old 23rd Mar 2017, 10:52 pm   #6
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Default Re: Connoisseur speakers

Some background information from the Hi Fi Year Book (HFYB) series:

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Name:	HFYB 1961 p.96 AR Sugden Conoisseur.jpg
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ID:	139702

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Name:	HFYB 1962 p.111 AR Sugden Conoisseur.jpg
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ID:	139703Click image for larger version

Name:	HFYB 1962 p.112,113 AR Sugden Conoisseur.jpg
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ID:	139704

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Name:	HFYB 1962 p.262.jpg
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ID:	139705

HFYB 1961 was the first year in which AR Sugden Conoisseur speakers were listed.

HFYB 1962 was the first year in which they were included in the AR Sudgen advertisment.

Cheers,
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Old 24th Mar 2017, 1:17 am   #7
Stellar
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Default Re: Connoisseur speakers

Hi
Thanks for all the replies very much appreciated, it's helped a lot to date them and know what they are, the chap who has them doesn't know much about them but he's asking £400 which seems quite a lot particularly as not heard them, he also has some wharfedale w3 .
All the best
Simon
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Old 24th Mar 2017, 8:16 am   #8
Ted Kendall
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That is a bit step, especially untested - that's electrostatic money...
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Old 24th Mar 2017, 8:26 am   #9
Edward Huggins
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Default Re: Connoisseur speakers

Yes, that price is high and probably reflects their rarity. It's a personal choice of course and I like them, but depending on you musical tastes do note these will have a limited power handling of around 10/12 watts and are better suited to classical, choral music and some types of small group jazz.
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