(1971)  $225

Not often seen (but instantly recognizable due to their unique front baffle design), this particular pair of Dynaco *Aperiodic A-10 speakers was obtained from the estate of the original owner.  They had been hanging on an office wall for many years but survived quite well and are still in perfect sonic condition.  We sanded and refinished the authentic walnut cabinets but, since the grill frames were missing, we had to build new frames and install new white linen grill cloth.  The wall brackets are included.  All is well and looking good! 

*(NOTE: Aperiodic pertains to, or relating to, vibrations or oscillations with no apparent period.  The front port of the baffles on Dynaco speakers are stuffed with acoustic material to dampen related "boominess" of the bass)

The rubber surrounds last almost forever and the crossovers are working perfectly fine.  Probably the least known Dynaco model, the A-10 was originally built in lesser quantities than their famous brethren, the A25 & A35 that were sold by the hundreds of thousands for many years.  The Dynaco A-10, like all Dynacos, is an aperiodic speaker that's a compact, high performance two-way speaker system.

The original 6.5" extended excursion mid-bass woofers are matched to specially designed 1" soft dome tweeters with dual section high pass filters at 1500Hz in an aperiodic cabinet design which achieves a uniquely non-resonant bass response. 

We wouldn't ever suggest the A-10 are as good as the A-25/A-35 because they are not.  However, in terms of good clean sound without needing a ton of power then the A-10 is a perfect solution.  Besides, when it comes right down to it, they are still a pair of hard-to-find vintage Dynaco speakers offering good sound with an excellent visual delight.

Specs:
2-way / 2-speaker / bass reflex System /
Mid bass: 6.5" cone (rubber surrounds)
Tweeter: 1" dome
Frequency response: 45 Hz to 20 kHz
Max power: 60 watts
Impedance: 8 ohms
Dimensions: 8"W x 15"H x 8"W
Weight: 12 lbs each

About Dynaco...
Founded by David Hafler and Ed Laurent in Philadelphia (1955), Dynaco was an American HiFi audio system manufacturer popular in the 60's and 70's for its wide range of affordable, yet high quality audio components.  Today, Dynaco is best remembered for two of their many products: 

1) Their highly regarded vacuum tube stereo amplifier, the Stereo 70 (ST 70). Introduced in 1959, the ST 70 was available as a kit (Dynakit) intended for assembly by the purchaser or as a complete factory-wired unit.
2) The magnificent and extremely popular Dynaco A-25 loudspeaker system.

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(2017)   display only NFS

This pair of "Mers" is another unique model design from the formidable creativity of Davidson Audio.  By taking the original *BESL kit and a good bit of retooling, Mers was born.

Although this particular pair of speakers has been part of Davidson Audio's personal collection, they are now offered for sale in order to make room for some of his more current projects. 

*NOTE: BESL / Bamberg Audio is owned by renowned speaker designer Phillip Bamberg. 

Back story:
This pair was originally designed and sold as a sealed box, satellite kit (as part of a surround system). Due to the high bass roll off frequency, they were meant to be used with a subwoofer to fill out the bottom end. This was exactly how they were built and used as a secondary listening system in a small room.

Over the years the polyurethane clear coat on the boxes “alligatored” and became very unattractive (that's one of the many reasons I don’t use polyurethane anymore.) So, to that end, I decided to reconfigure the design into a bass reflex system. In other words, make them ported to increase the low frequency response so a subwoofer would no longer be needed. This was finally accomplished by increasing the box size by about 15% and calculating the correct port size. The result was far better than I had expected. The bass response is solid down to 40Hz and very convincing. 

The New Boxes: 
The boxes are constructed for 1" thick MDF except for the front baffle which is made from .75" MDF capped with .25" of figured maple. The maple provides a sharp contrast to the rich dark brown burl walnut on the remaining sides of the boxes. The boxes are lined with foam to help control internal standing waves and resonance. There is a 2" circular port on the back. All this adds up to a very solid and heavy box that quickly catches your eye.

The Tweeter: 
A Seas Excel T25CF-001, 1", soft dome tweeter is used. At the time of release, this tweeter was the best Seas had to offer and was used in many high-end commercial designs. The tweeter has truly stood the test of time as it is still available today. It has a smoothness and detail of sound many tweeters today still can not touch.  NOTE: It also became a quick favorite in the DIY community and was also featured in some of my earlier designs including the Froys and Odins.

The Midwoofer: 
The midwoofer is a Seas CA18RNX/P, 7" unit that features coated paper cone with a phase plug. The driver also has a long throw allowing for 12mm of linear travel and 22mm at the extreme.  This little 7" woofer can really pump out a lot of bass in the right cabinet. 

The Crossovers: 
The crossovers (as described) were designed by Phillip Bamberg of
BESL. Both the tweeter and the midwoofer use 3rd order filters. All the inductors are air core and are large gauge. All caps are polypropylene caps. No electrolytic caps are used. 

About Davidson Audio...
Based in Easley SC, John Davidson has over 25 years experience in custom loudspeaker design and technology.  During the late 60's, at the tender age of 12 and through the teen years, the addiction to HiFi led to a serious study of electronics.  For his senior high school project he built his first amplifier.  Eventually he earned a degree in electronic engineering technologies and began to work in the industrial manufacturing area.  All the while, the HiFi bug continued as a serious hobby.  Today, his designs can be seen and heard exclusively at Cherry Vintage Audio in Greenville, SC

In the mid 90s, with the consent and encouragement from wife and family, he decided to build a high quality media room at home. After setting a substantial budget for the intended gear, he discovered, very quickly, just how little the speaker budget had actually brought to the table. This led to researching the REAL cost in manufacturing high quality speakers which, in turn, led him to the surprisingly abundant world of DIY.  From that point on he never purchased a new set of commercially built speakers.

With his substantial and continuing understanding of electronics and the benefits of his other serious hobby, woodworking, he set out to build his own speakers. By intensive reading and studying (along with trial and error), he gained the understanding and formulas of speaker construction.   Over the next 25 years he built many sets of speakers of his own design along with some from other designers he had come to respect.

As he states "my designs typically start by combing through hundreds of data sheets from driver manufactures to find specific drivers that fit the acoustic and electrical characteristics I want.  Using that reference data, I make base calculations on the crossovers.  However, since drivers are a type of motor and dynamic by nature, the static calculations serve only as a starting point. It is impossible to produce a design with just base static calculations that will be pleasing to the ear.  So next comes the most difficult and time consuming aspect of any new design: hours, days, weeks, and even months of listening, testing and tweaking the crossover to produce the desired final product. Once the crossover is worked out the woodworking starts.  Selecting the best materials, I construct the cabinets. I use proven construction techniques and try to add visual interest using contrasting solid woods and veneers.  Internal bracing adds rigidity and lining the enclosures with acoustic foam eliminates standing waves and distortion. In the end, the enclosure must be functional but also pleasing in cosmetic design. 

My philosophy towards loudspeaker design begins with the realization that it's an artful process that's based in science and engineering.  The final tuning of the crossover by ear combined with the design and construction of the enclosure is what elevates a loudspeaker into something you never tire of listening to."

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(Denmark '18-'22)  $450 (includes original box and manuals)

In essentially new condition, this pair of Danish-built Dali Spektor 2 comes with the original box, documentation and packing materials.  When first released in 2018 the retail price was $750/pair.

The larger inner volume of the Spektor 2 delivers the room-filling bass performance of a floorstander in a compact speaker form. They also perform great in any part of a surround sound setup.  They might be a compact speaker but the larger inner volume than its smaller sibling, the Spektor 1, delivers an extra level of bass performance.

The Model 2 is ideal for mounting on a shelf, wall or stand and combines well with any compact Hi-Fi music system. It also functions as a surround speaker in a home cinema setup for added movie-watching immersion. Like all DALI loudspeakers, the Spektor 2 has been designed in accordance with Dali's fundamental acoustic and electro-acoustic principles, and a strong belief that clarity and an authentic, honest sound reproduction will get you even closer to a live music experience.

Wood fiber cones
The low-loss drivers combine low-mass paper cones with wood fiber for an uneven surface that eliminates resonance and reveals every detail.

Amp friendly
The amplifier-friendly design makes it a perfect fit for almost any stereo amplifier or surround receiver in its price category.

Soft dome tweeter
The ultra lightweight, weaved fabric dome tweeter offers best-in-class resolution with extended frequency response, wide dispersion and low colouration.

Low Signal Loss
The proprietary DALI drivers eliminate the need for crossover frequency correction for close-to-zero signal loss.

About Dali...from their website
https://www.dali-speakers.com/en-us/about-dali/dali-history/

DALI, Danish Audiophile Loudspeaker Industries, was created in 1983 to meet the demands of Scandinavia's leading audio retail chain's customers, who were asking for loudspeakers that existing brands couldn't offer. DALI loudspeakers would offer outstanding performance and natural sound at competitive prices. Inspired by a firm belief that we could create a unique sonic identity that focused on musical realism and sound integrity, we set out to redefine the reproduction of sound.
With four decades of experience and a range of acclaimed products known around the world, we can proudly say our commitment to authentic sound has advanced the state of the art and inspires music and cinema lovers alike. 

Today, DALI offers an exciting range of products to suit every taste, from the SPEKTOR series to the high-end EPICON speakers, and DALI EQUI, our range of wireless active speakers and sound hubs. With more than one million satisfied DALI owners in more than 70 countries, we bring music and film to life at home, giving DALI owners a more honest, nuanced, and richly detailed listening experience.Every DALI product is the culmination of decades of experience in loudspeaker design. Featuring technologies like our patented Soft Magnetic Composite (SMC) driver magnet system, wood fibre cone material, and signature hybrid tweeter module, DALI speakers let you experience your favourite music exactly as the artist intended it. But DALI speakers are about more than just innovative technology. They're about a level of detail, style, and finish that can only be achieved by combining the best of industrial design, Danish manufacturing, and individual craftsmanship.

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(England, '99-'02)   $300

In excellent cosmetic condition and fully operational this pair of Monitor Audio Bronze 2 have dark walnut textured veneer cabinets.

Each of the enclosures feature a single 6.5" high pressure poly bass/mid driver and a single 1" C-CAM (Ceramic-Coated Aluminum Magnesium) tweeter.

The mid-bass driver is made of metal matrix polymer, a material that provides the qualities required of all driver cones (great stiffness and low mass) while being compatible with Monitor’s high-pressure injection-molding process.

The bass is tuned using a front-venting port; a second-generation version of Monitor Audio’s HiVe (high-velocity) design, the same used in their Gold range.  It uses unique"rifling grooves" to speed the airflow within the port tube, and is designed for more bass power and enhanced transient response.

Specs:
2-way bass-reflex
Frequency response: 42 - 22000 Hz
Nominal impedance: 6 Ohm
Amp power: 15 - 100 watts
Sensitivity: 90 dB
Dimensions: 13.8"H x 7.25"W x 9.8"D
Weight: 12 lbs each

About Monitor Audio...
Monitor Audio was founded by Mo Iqbal in Teversham, near Cambridge, England, in 1972.  Back in 2022 it marked the brand’s 50th year.  Mr Iqbal is no longer with Monitor—he sold the company to a group of audiophiles in 1997. That group grew the hi-fi loudspeaker company into the global powerhouse brand it is today, which has branched out into the home-theater and custom-install markets as well.

By all accounts, Monitor Audio is a success—and one with a lengthy history, at that. The Monitor Audio headquarters is located in Rayleigh, Essex and the company has continued to expand. 

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(2010)  $400

In perfect condition, this pair of Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 is completely functional.  The gracefully curved blackwood cabinets are bi-wirable with gold-plated banana jacks and jumpers.  In a radical design idea, there are twin bass ports on the rear of each enclosure.

In 2011, Stereophile did a deep dive into the Diamond 10.1 model so we decided to just repeat the most important parts of their review rather than attempt to plagiarize their words:
"Normally, you'd expect cosmetic compromises in a bookshelf speaker costing only $350/pair. Not with the Diamond 10.1—its curved cabinet is made from laminations of MDF that are bonded using an adhesive that's cured (ie, hardened) using radio-frequency energy. Wharfedale also claims that the 10.1 is constructed with fairly elaborate bracing, to increase its rigidity and thus reduce resonances; a front baffle of composite material, finished in piano black, further controls resonances. The looks of this sexy little beast suggest a price much higher than $350/pair...
...both of the Diamond 9.1's drivers have been replaced for the Diamond 10.1. The new mid/woofer has a 4.9" cone of woven Kevlar, a nylon-filled homopolymer chassis with an oversized flange, and, in the cone surround, diamond-pattern ribs intended to smooth the acoustic rolloff. The 1" soft-dome tweeter has a metal phase corrector and is claimed to offer smooth, clear reproduction of the high frequencies. The two reflex ports on the 10.1's rear panel (in the 9.1, they were on the front) are intended to reduce the effects of distortion. Electrical connection is via two offset pairs of terminals to allow bi-wiring and easy cable dressing...
...Wharfedale USA's Walter Schofield told me that one of the keys to the 10.1's design is the company's vertically integrated manufacturing facility [in China]. Middle vendors are eliminated—each component of the speaker is made from raw materials in-house. The intended result is a cohesive, organic sound quality and performance, and an appearance well above the speaker's price point. The Diamond 10.1 is the first Wharfedale speaker to be voiced by European speaker designer and one-time reviewer Peter Comeau...
...Wharfedale has a winner in the Diamond 10.1. In today's market of stiff competition among affordable loudspeakers, the 10.1 presents extraordinary value for money, with many strengths that suggest a considerably higher price, and no meaningful weaknesses. And while it's been many years since I heard the Diamond 9.1, my memory and review comments indicate that the Diamond 10.1 is a considerable improvement."

Specs: 
Two-way, magnetically shielded, reflex-loaded
Drive-units: 1" soft-dome tweeter, 4.9" Kevlar-cone woofer.
Crossover frequency: 1.8kHz.
Nominal frequency range: 48–24kHz.
HF limit: 44kHz, –10dB.
Nominal impedance: 6 ohms.
Sensitivity: 86dB/W/m.
Recommended power: 20–100W.
Dimensions: 11.5"H x 7.6"W x 10.8" D
Weight: 11.4 lbs each


Diamond Series back story...
Wharfedale started making loudspeakers in 1932, which makes it the second-oldest still-surviving speaker manufacturer in the world (Tannoy is the oldest). Although the "entry-level" Diamond Series speakers debuted some 49 years later the arrival of the Diamond 10.1 showed just how far speaker technology in the design of the Diamond lineup had advanced.  Wharfedale not only designs and builds all of its own woofers and tweeters in-house, it also designs and manufactures nearly every part of its speakers, including the crossover networks' resistors and capacitors. Even the bolts that attach the drivers to the cabinets are made by Wharfedale. Its 1.5 million square foot factory is in Shenzhen, China, but design and engineering come from the U.K., where there is a 50-person research and development team.

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(2015)  $950 (mint, includes factory upgrades)

In absolutely mint cosmetic condition, this pair of Tekton Lore Reference speakers are fully operational and come with factory supplied upgrades.  

The upgrades include solid billet copper Cardas inputs, mil-spec internal wiring, Mundorf caps within the tweeter section and oversized Erse Sledgehammer inductors within the woofer section.

Besides the stunning "Clemson Orange" finish, the other upgrades include the custom factory built grills with badges and chrome feet.

The Lore Reference is the medium-sized version of their popular Lore model, with a similar dynamic, punchy sound. Perfect for tube and analog lovers, it has high resolution and brings out the subtle details and nuances in audio.  It should be duly noted that the Lore Reference has won "Product of the Year" not once, but twice. It’s that good.  

During its concept design stage, the Lore Reference goal was neutrality...not hyped sound.  These are a 96dB-efficient floorstanding system that is perfect for many smaller to moderate sized rooms.  Basically, any quality amp will power up the Tekton Lore Reference speakers
NOTE: Tekton offers many gorgeous and often vivid stock colors, but will allow you to go full car paint with a pretty low-cost upgrade.)

Each "Clemson Orange" enclosure has an 8" driver at the top with a single tweeter below and then, not one, but two front-facing ports. Sold new, this pair is competitively priced at $880.  When you add the included upgrades, that comes to about $1250.  The towers measure 36" tall, 10.5" wide, and about 12" deep. They weigh a very manageable 44 lbs each.

Tekton speakers are handmade in Utah, though, and that counts for something no matter what side of the aisle you come from. Real workers using CNC machines, paint booths, and doing hand assembly. There’s a sense of hand craftsmanship here.

Specs:
Perfect impulse time-alignment
8″ transducer (woofer)
Hybrid HF transducer96dB 1W@1m
8 Ohm impedance
37Hz-40kHz frequency response
400 watts power handling
Manufactured in the USA


About Tekton...
Eric Alexander started Tekton Design in Orem, Utah in 2006. Alexander has a storied background, having designed over sixty different loudspeakers and crossovers in a 30 year career. Perhaps his most revolutionary design (U.S. Patent 9247339, 2016) inspired Alexander to make an audacious-sounding claim: the speaker’s ability to “…align the moving mass of speaker cones to the harmonic spectra of the musical instrument being played.” This, in addition to his simple but sophisticated crossovers is, in essence, the impetus behind the Tekton brand.

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$50/pair (empty, no drivers included)

This is a beautiful pair of empty Knight Model 3009 solid-walnut speaker cabinets, 20"H x 12"W x 8"D with real cane grills,very good condition and internal bass ports.  Speaker connections and wiring included,  Great for a project.

Original holes were designed for 8" co/axial driver and 1" tweeter

Back panels and interiors are lined with acoustic baffling.

More info here:
https://www.audioasylum.com/cgi/t.mpl?f=vintage&m=60005

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