If it ain't broke...just tweak it

[prerich]

I was just thinking about something odd today, there are a few historic speaker makers that have basically kept their launch speaker lines basically intact. They may have launched newer lines, or introduced a premire line, but they kept the originals around or updated them in someway, but you still know where they came from - here are the makers tha I've seen do this:

Definitive Technology - BP series - The winner of the Bipole War (Mirage being the vanquished foe - but they were great speakers too).

Wilson Audio - almost every speaker is a newer incarnation of their older ones

Klipsch - Heritage series 60 years old and still kicking'

Magnepan - always planar, always sweet

Martin Logan - ESL ... Excellent Sound Longevity

Ess Audio - The Heil tweeter patent expires and everyone jumps on board

B&W - 800 series ...nuff said

Do you guys know of any other speaker makers that have kept their original design concepts for a very long time and people still buy them? Goes to show ... They must have did something right the first time out !!!!

Let's chime in people!

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by prerich

I was just thinking about something odd today, there are a few historic speaker makers that have basically kept their launch speaker lines basically intact. They may have launched newer lines, or introduced a premire line, but they kept the originals around or updated them in someway, but you still know where they came from - here are the makers tha I've seen do this:

Definitive Technology - BP series - The winner of the Bipole War (Mirage being the vanquished foe - but they were great speakers too).

Wilson Audio - almost every speaker is a newer incarnation of their older ones

Klipsch - Heritage series 60 years old and still kicking'

Magnepan - always planar, always sweet

Martin Logan - ESL ... Excellent Sound Longevity

Ess Audio - The Heil tweeter patent expires and everyone jumps on board

B&W - 800 series ...nuff said

Do you guys know of any other speaker makers that have kept their original design concepts for a very long time and people still buy them? Goes to show ... They must have did something right the first time out !!!!

Let's chime in people!

Totem Model One, the name speaks for itself, need I say more. Now the Signature and also made an aniversary edition of The One. 25 years and still going.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

Totem Model One, the name speaks for itself, need I say more. Now the Signature and also made an aniversary edition of The One. 25 years and still going.

Hear,hear! And the Totem Mani as well!!!!

[DangeRuss]

Well there's ......

Vandersteen's

Ohm (walsh drivers)

and (don't kill me for this), Those 901's by a company who'll remain nameless

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by DangeRuss

Well there's ......

Vandersteen's

Ohm (walsh drivers)

and (don't kill me for this), Those 901's by a company who'll remain nameless

Screaming "Voldemort" within the walls of Hogwarts would be far less effective in provoking a reaction than even mentioning THAT company (whether by name or implied status) in these treads.

To further iterate... yes, the 901 series has basically stayed the same in design all of these years. It still lacks a signifigant production of the full audio frequency while wowing people solely through marketing hype and price tags. It's much in the same vein as the Porsche franchise. Big name and big price made with cheap parts that only perform modestly compared to less expensive products manufactured with far superior parts in the same category.

In summary...... we are in agreement that Bose has maintained the same BASIC design all of these years.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by DangeRuss

Well there's ......

Vandersteen's

Ohm (walsh drivers)

and (don't kill me for this), Those 901's by a company who'll remain nameless

No Russ, you re right. I had Vandy and the Bose 901 on my original list but left it at work - I figured some one would get it good job!!!!!

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

Screaming "Voldemort" within the walls of Hogwarts would be far less effective in provoking a reaction than even mentioning THAT company (whether by name or implied status) in these treads.

To further iterate... yes, the 901 series has basically stayed the same in design all of these years. It still lacks a signifigant production of the full audio frequency while wowing people solely through marketing hype and price tags. It's much in the same vein as the Porsche franchise. Big name and big price made with cheap parts that only perform modestly compared to less expensive products manufactured with far superior parts in the same category.

In summary...... we are in agreement that Bose has maintained the same BASIC design all of these years.

The 901 doesn't measure well - true - however, knowing Bose, if it wasn't successful, they would have changed the design altogether. They can produce a "stereo everywhere" effect, and they are in a different vein than the AM series. That's the one speaker that the still have in production - so they did something that the customer likes....just like the rest of the speakers in this list - hey the Klipsch heritage series don't measure well either - but the proof is in the pudding

[callas01]

Originally Posted by prerich

The 901 doesn't measure well - true - however, knowing Bose, if it wasn't successful, they would have changed the design altogether. They can produce a "stereo everywhere" effect, and they are in a different vein than the AM series. That's the one speaker that the still have in production - so they did something that the customer likes....just like the rest of the speakers in this list - hey the Klipsch heritage series don't measure well either - but the proof is in the pudding

Dynaudios Contour line has been around for a long time, its gone thru a lot of revisions. plus all their speakers except the new DM and Excite lines have the 3" aluminum voice coil, the DM/Excites still have aluminum VC's, but they are 1.6" vc's so they are easier to drive. All their speakers still use their soft dome tweeters they have long been known for and have never switched to new "exotic" metals, plus they still use the same MSP material for the mid-woofers.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by callas01

Dynaudios Contour line has been around for a long time, its gone thru a lot of revisions. plus all their speakers except the new DM and Excite lines have the 3" aluminum voice coil, the DM/Excites still have aluminum VC's, but they are 1.6" vc's so they are easier to drive. All their speakers still use their soft dome tweeters they have long been known for and have never switched to new "exotic" metals, plus they still use the same MSP material for the mid-woofers.

Count'em in - they are still using the esotar tweeter in their high end models as well. Basiclly the same speakers in the contour with some minor revisions. They count!

[prerich]

Can you see the death of a company (especially a speaker company) when they abandon what got them there in the first place? There are many speakers that have abandoned their real signature stuff - what made people identify with them. I won't mention those (someone may get offended). But if you are known for something and its good....stick with it. Bob Carver is bringing out a new version of the Silver Seven Amp as we speak!!!

[DangeRuss]

Originally Posted by prerich

No Russ, you re right. I had Vandy and the Bose 901 on my original list but left it at work - I figured some one would get it good job!!!!!

And look....... You didn't even have to take any grief for mentioning them .

But honestly, when they were released they were considered very good speakers by the standards of the day. I remember the first time hearing them in 1975 and was truly blown away No they weren't Dahlquist's DQ 10's or Ohm F's but they had their place amongst the more exotic speakers of the day

[prerich]

Originally Posted by DangeRuss

And look....... You didn't even have to take any grief for mentioning them .

But honestly, when they were released they were considered very good speakers by the standards of the day. I remember the first time hearing them in 1975 and was truly blown away No they weren't Dahlquist's DQ 10's or Ohm F's but they had their place amongst the more exotic speakers of the day

Yes they did - I've even owned a pair! I will still say that the Bose 301 was one of the best speakers Bose made. they should have keep it more like the previous series. When set up right, it threw a huge sound field!

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by prerich

Yes they did - I've even owned a pair! I will still say that the Bose 301 was one of the best speakers Bose made. they should have keep it more like the previous series. When set up right, it threw a huge sound field!

Right on. I actually thought that was their jewel in the crown of that series, although admittedly I rocked out with the 901's on many an occasion at my buddy's "Pad".

On the question of "Can you see the death of a company when they abandon what got them there in the first place". I have to say no, but I am worried.

I'm hoping and praying that Totem doesn't stop production of the Arro, Sttaf, Hawk, Forest and Wind for the new Element Line that incorporates their new Torrent driver.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Johnny Vinyl

Right on. I actually thought that was their jewel in the crown of that series, although admittedly I rocked out with the 901's on many an occasion at my buddy's "Pad".

On the question of "Can you see the death of a company when they abandon what got them there in the first place". I have to say no, but I am worried.

I'm hoping and praying that Totem doesn't stop production of the Arro, Sttaf, Hawk, Forest and Wind for the new Element Line that incorporates their new Torrent driver.

Totem should know better - those are the speakers that brought them!

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by prerich

Totem should know better - those are the speakers that brought them!

Vince is no fool, so I'm not overly worried, but the thought did cross my mind.

[DerrellB]

I would like to know what was the demise of Boston Acoustics. I remember as a kid, my uncle spent some nice coin on a pair of bookies and a sub from a high end dealer. I also remember him buying SDA polks from a high end dealer. Both are now mass market speaker makers, though polk has kept a somewhat higher end speaker like the LSI and The new LSIM's. Boston has totally disappeared. What gives?

[prerich]

Originally Posted by DerrellB

I would like to know what was the demise of Boston Acoustics. I remember as a kid, my uncle spent some nice coin on a pair of bookies and a sub from a high end dealer. I also remember him buying SDA polks from a high end dealer. Both are now mass market speaker makers, though polk has kept a somewhat higher end speaker like the LSI and The new LSIM's. Boston has totally disappeared. What gives?

Boston is still out there making some good stuff but lost its identity with the demise of the VR series (they have incorporated the tech of the now dead Snell acoustics).

[Johnny Vinyl]

I had a pair of B.I.C. Venturi Formula Four speakers for a few years. They were front-ported at the bottom (about 2 " high and across the entire width of the enclosure). They also required 2 fuses, which would blow more than one would want, so I made sure my local RatShack had a regular supply.

Anyway, I got tired of having to change out the fuses and walked into a shop one afternoon...walked out with a pair of Klipsch Heresy Signature Edition II's (the ones with the slanted bottom stand) in a beautiful black finish. I don't think I've ever been as attached to a speaker as I was them. It really hurt when I had to sell them.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Johnny Vinyl

I had a pair of B.I.C. Venturi Formula Four speakers for a few years. They were front-ported at the bottom (about 2 " high and across the entire width of the enclosure). They also required 2 fuses, which would blow more than one would want, so I made sure my local RatShack had a regular supply.

Anyway, I got tired of having to change out the fuses and walked into a shop one afternoon...walked out with a pair of Klipsch Heresy Signature Edition II's (the ones with the slanted bottom stand) in a beautiful black finish. I don't think I've ever been as attached to a speaker as I was them. It really hurt when I had to sell them.

I have the slant risers also. I removed after I added the custom grills (did the same thing the risers do - time align the drivers). I've very satisfied with my Heresy speakers - The only thing I would upgrade to now would be the Legacy Whisper ($22k). I will however upgrade my Heresy crossovers - the new Cornscala-Wall by ALK is nice - and its always good to have some type of spare when you have vintage speakers

[DangeRuss]

Originally Posted by Johnny Vinyl

I had a pair of B.I.C. Venturi Formula Four speakers for a few years. They were front-ported at the bottom (about 2 " high and across the entire width of the enclosure). They also required 2 fuses, which would blow more than one would want, so I made sure my local RatShack had a regular supply.

Anyway, I got tired of having to change out the fuses and walked into a shop one afternoon...walked out with a pair of Klipsch Heresy Signature Edition II's (the ones with the slanted bottom stand) in a beautiful black finish. I don't think I've ever been as attached to a speaker as I was them. It really hurt when I had to sell them.

I remember those formula fours well ............ I really lusted after those and the Ohm model C2's but they were priced just out of my reach at the time. And I was fascinated by the Altec Lansing model 14's

So I had bought a pair of Ultra linears (can't remember the model)