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Vintage Audio (record players, hi-fi etc) Amplifiers, speakers, gramophones and other audio equipment. |
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14th Jul 2019, 7:28 pm | #1 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Bristol, UK.
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Mystery labyrinth(?) loudspeakers
Curious angled design, large rear port. I have a hazy recollection of a design like this in a hi-fi journal in the 60s. I think they are home made (by a very talented woodworker) and they sound very nice. Any info would be very welcome.
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14th Jul 2019, 8:34 pm | #2 |
Dekatron
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Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK.
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Re: Mystery labyrinth(?) loudspeakers
I think this comes from the days when a lot of ingenious people built experimental homebrew speakers. More the pity that people do not do this today, a time where instant gratification rules!
Labyrinth Enclosures and Concrete Pipe Omni-Directional speakers were typical projects with much added value support from driver manfacturers such as Celestion and Elac. That's the Elac from Tottenham, not Germany! I think this design will be one of them and unique.
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Edward. |
14th Jul 2019, 11:34 pm | #3 |
Nonode
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Re: Mystery labyrinth(?) loudspeakers
At least the tweeters are by Elac, Edward - one was damaged and I replaced it. I haven't checked the mid/woofers yet.
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15th Jul 2019, 9:01 am | #4 |
Dekatron
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Re: Mystery labyrinth(?) loudspeakers
Ah, that will be the 4" Elac tweeter then. Quite "large" for a Tweeter, they were very popular, quite low-priced and used in many designs. All they needed was a 2uf (today 2.2uf) filter cap and you were off!
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Edward. |
15th Jul 2019, 10:36 am | #5 | |
Dekatron
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Re: Mystery labyrinth(?) loudspeakers
Quote:
If you check Troels Gravesen's pages here http://www.troelsgravesen.dk/Diy_Lou...r_Projects.htm for example, there is clearly a lot going on. I'm about to start building a pair of Dennis Murphy's CAOW1s http://murphyblaster.com/content.php?f=CAOW1.html. I've heard a couple of other pairs and for smallish standmounts they sound very impressive indeed ! Instead of using plywood for the cabinets, however, I'm going to follow a friend's example and make them from Corian. So there is still experimentation out there. Cheers, GJ
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15th Jul 2019, 1:43 pm | #6 |
Hexode
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Location: Luton, Bedfordshire, UK.
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Re: Mystery labyrinth(?) loudspeakers
The cabs look to have originally been Rex Baldock's Paralines from the 50's or 60's DIY plans? I recall there is a post on here somewhere about that cabinet.
https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...light=Paraline Supposedly very good sounding with an original elec full range driver. Mike |
15th Jul 2019, 3:36 pm | #7 |
Dekatron
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Re: Mystery labyrinth(?) loudspeakers
I believe there was also a version of the Paraline that used an Elac 59RM (9" x 5") single, high flux, full range speaker.
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Edward. |
15th Jul 2019, 4:59 pm | #8 |
Dekatron
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Re: Mystery labyrinth(?) loudspeakers
https://www.falconacoustics.co.uk/
Make finished loudspeakers (LS3/5A) and parts kits too. Astonishingly they have developed and relaunched the KEF B139, B110 and T27 KEF drivers. I bought the SEAS drivers for Linkwitz LX521 open baffle speakers from them. Craig |
15th Jul 2019, 7:44 pm | #9 | |
Octode
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Southport, Merseyside, UK.
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Re: Mystery labyrinth(?) loudspeakers
Quote:
John |
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15th Jul 2019, 7:50 pm | #10 | |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Bognor Regis, West Sussex, UK.
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Re: Mystery labyrinth(?) loudspeakers
Quote:
I have a pair of B139s and matching passive drivers, must dig them out. Peter |
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15th Jul 2019, 11:39 pm | #11 | |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Bristol, UK.
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Re: Mystery labyrinth(?) loudspeakers
Quote:
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16th Jul 2019, 12:42 pm | #12 |
Hexode
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Re: Mystery labyrinth(?) loudspeakers
I think they were a semi- transmission line design....yours look like they've been up ended & what would have been the position of the full range driver is now on the bottom?....not sure if practical but I'd be tempted to try & put these back the way they were designed. Supposed to be very sensitive and good for valves. Somewhere I have a booklet with a number of 60's DIY designs including this one. I've seen a couple of unmolested sets come & go on ebay over the years. Unlike a lot of speakers of this vintage they don't look like they take up too much room!
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16th Jul 2019, 3:07 pm | #13 | ||
Dekatron
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Re: Mystery labyrinth(?) loudspeakers
Quote:
Looking up the price of the B139 in May 1972, it was £12.50 - so £163 in today's money. So the current price of £190 is 17% more expensive in real terms as compared with 1972. So actually it is no more (or not much more) expensive than it was back in the day. Craig |
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17th Jul 2019, 8:23 pm | #14 | |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Bristol, UK.
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Re: Mystery labyrinth(?) loudspeakers
Quote:
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17th Jul 2019, 10:06 pm | #15 |
Hexode
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Re: Mystery labyrinth(?) loudspeakers
I’ve temporarily misplaced the diy booklet but I recall in the original article there are diagrams for several placement options including several for stereo. I’ll see if I can dig it out. I share your pain re too many speakers!
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17th Jul 2019, 10:31 pm | #16 |
Hexode
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Luton, Bedfordshire, UK.
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Re: Mystery labyrinth(?) loudspeakers
Here you go!
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17th Jul 2019, 11:27 pm | #17 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Bristol, UK.
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Re: Mystery labyrinth(?) loudspeakers
Great! Thanks, I shall have a proper look tomorrow. I note the Decca corner horns also - a friend gave up on making a pair back in the 60s and gave the cabs to me - I turned them upside down and inserted a sort of amateur transmission line with Wharfedale 12", 8" and Kef T27s. They were great! (neighbours weren't so complimentary).
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'....don't go mistaking Paradise for that home across the road!' (Bob Dylan) |