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View Full Version : Allison CD 9 speakers for...$6.39!!!


wizargoz
09-13-2008, 02:35 PM
Unbelievable story...hope I don't make it too long!

Hooked up with a former DJ today and bought a Soundcraftsmen RA7502 and Comparator/Equalizer G2241 which he used to use on the road- both in great shape, for $170. I thought it was a good deal- until I hit one of several thrift shops on the way home. There in the Panasonic Thruster, Yorx and Emerson speaker corral was a pair of Allison CD 9 speakers for $34.95. No one even gave them a second look- until I hauled one up front and told the clerk "I'm buying these!"

Grabbed the second one, pulled out my 20% off Goodwill coupon, and a store credit receipt for $21.57 (which I've had for about 2 months now). So- total out of pocket for me: $6.39! :thmbsp:

It appears someone had "pushed in" the mids- but it doesn't affect the sound. I hooked them up- and I was startled: these are the most brutally honest speakers I've ever heard. By which I mean absolutely no colorization at all. I was using ESS and Electrovoice speakers with horns- I like horns!- which sounded better to me. But these produce absolute clarity of sound-
not necessarily a good thing, since they point out any other system defect. My music source is a POS Sony multi CD player- so I need to move these into the master sound room and see how the new Soundcraftsmen amp or the ol' standby Citation Sixteen makes them sound with my Lenco L85 TT...

And these things need power- the Soundcraftsmen A2502 puts out 150 wpc and I'm past 50% power now- something no other speaker has required. So I've got my afternoon laid out- I'm sure I'll find the perfedt combo for these speakers. And even if I don't- for $6.39, it's still a great score! :yes:

Snade
09-13-2008, 03:19 PM
That is incredible. I have the CD 8 and agree the sound is brutally honest. The CD 9 is more rare and to find it a thrift is amazing.

My mids were pushed in and I used the crevice attachment to the vacuum to carefully pull it out. I put my finger over the suction hole to control the spacing between the suction hole and the pushed in gap of the midrange and just guided it in and it popped out after a few tries.

Yes, the Allison drivers and complicated crossover does sound much better with a lot of power. I use a 200 watt per Carver amp for mine. Also, Roy Allison designed his speaker to produce good dispersion in real world speaker placements, so you can just put the speakers back against the wall and they sound great. Other brands of speakers only sound their best if placed out from the wall.

Those are great speakers and sold for about a grand each when new. There is an excellent Allison discussion group on Yahoo that includes former Allison engineers that answer questions.

Enjoy. Snade

StarMover
09-13-2008, 03:35 PM
Contrats! What a find! I once found a pair of CD-10s and yes, they are awesome speakers.

Fast_Eddie
09-13-2008, 03:37 PM
Man, that's a great score! Congrats!

wizargoz
09-13-2008, 04:24 PM
Snade: Right you are- I just pulled them out with my super sucker vac and they're fine now!

But here's a weird thing- noticed some distortion on the right speaker mid. Started to unscrew it when I realized that all the screws were not tight. I'm talking 4-5 turns loose- so I tightened 'em snug on both speakers. Noticeable improvement in the sound- who'd a thunk it?

Maybe that's the best advice for all old speaker acquisitions- check the speaker screws!

Snade
09-13-2008, 04:32 PM
The woofers on the CD series almost always need to be refoamed when you find them at thrifts or garage sales. The surrounds may look ok, but they are probably about 20 years old and the foam starts to get sticky, like the consistency of chewing gum. With new surrounds, these things produce amazing bass.

Just an FYI. Snade

wizargoz
09-13-2008, 04:37 PM
Thanks, Snade. These woofers look and sound OK but I will heed your advice!

wizargoz
09-13-2008, 11:05 PM
My oh my- these things grow on you! Is there such a thing as honest sound?

Fast_Eddie
09-13-2008, 11:29 PM
Snade: Right you are- I just pulled them out with my super sucker vac and they're fine now!

That IS great news!

But here's a weird thing- noticed some distortion on the right speaker mid. Started to unscrew it when I realized that all the screws were not tight. I'm talking 4-5 turns loose- so I tightened 'em snug on both speakers. Noticeable improvement in the sound- who'd a thunk it?

Maybe that's the best advice for all old speaker acquisitions- check the speaker screws!

To be sure- I've run into lose screws several times. Though yours sound like they were very lose. Sometimes just being in a cabinet that vibrates a lot for 20 or 30 years may do that.

Take care,

Ed

SleeperSupra
11-02-2008, 03:49 PM
I have a pair of Allison CD 6 speakers and have to agree that they are very honest in their presentation...