Howland west audio products tri channel control - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Whaam68 · 20th May 2018, 2:36 pm

Hi
For the princely sum of £1 I picked this up out of curiosity at the DDRC boot today. It seems to be a switching system to try up to 3 pairs of speakers from one amplifier. Bit confused about the “system with control” vs “systems without control”. I haven’t had time to pop the back off...seems nicely made in an early 70s KEF kind of look. Anyone know anything about this item?
Thanks
Mike

Edward Huggins · 20th May 2018, 5:00 pm

I certainly remember Howland West and vaguely remember these. Perhaps it works like a Hafler circuit? I tended to avoid devices like this because of a risk of insertion loss.

Radio Wrangler · 20th May 2018, 6:10 pm

I think system without control routes the amplifier direct to a speaker pair. "With control" routes it via those resistive attenuators on the front panel to allow the loudness of each speaker pair to be set equal* I expect it was used in a hifi shop for comparing speakers in those genteel days before magic wires reared their heads and no-one worried about damping factors.

* or a rather fly salesman can set the pair with the greatest sales commission just a little bit louder than the others!

David

Whaam68 · 20th May 2018, 8:29 pm

Thanks gents....the pots feel like wire wound jobs.....I’ll give it a go when I get the chance as I have two sets of speakers in the same room but on separate amps, might be interesting to mess about with. It’s heavy and feels like a solid bit of kit.
Mike

20th May 2018, 2:36 pm	#1
Whaam68 Hexode Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Luton, Bedfordshire, UK. Posts: 456	Howland west audio products tri channel control Hi For the princely sum of £1 I picked this up out of curiosity at the DDRC boot today. It seems to be a switching system to try up to 3 pairs of speakers from one amplifier. Bit confused about the “system with control” vs “systems without control”. I haven’t had time to pop the back off...seems nicely made in an early 70s KEF kind of look. Anyone know anything about this item? Thanks Mike Attached Thumbnails

20th May 2018, 5:00 pm	#2
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,331	Re: Howland west audio products tri channel control I certainly remember Howland West and vaguely remember these. Perhaps it works like a Hafler circuit? I tended to avoid devices like this because of a risk of insertion loss. __________________ Edward.

20th May 2018, 6:10 pm	#3
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,879	Re: Howland west audio products tri channel control I think system without control routes the amplifier direct to a speaker pair. "With control" routes it via those resistive attenuators on the front panel to allow the loudness of each speaker pair to be set equal* I expect it was used in a hifi shop for comparing speakers in those genteel days before magic wires reared their heads and no-one worried about damping factors. * or a rather fly salesman can set the pair with the greatest sales commission just a little bit louder than the others! David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

20th May 2018, 8:29 pm	#4
Whaam68 Hexode Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Luton, Bedfordshire, UK. Posts: 456	Re: Howland west audio products tri channel control Thanks gents....the pots feel like wire wound jobs.....I’ll give it a go when I get the chance as I have two sets of speakers in the same room but on separate amps, might be interesting to mess about with. It’s heavy and feels like a solid bit of kit. Mike