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Nice wood! But anyone know them?

Shackman55

Shackman55

Super Member
Got this on the cheap, not that I need any more speakers especially non descript ones like this. But the wood was sooooo nice. It is real wood veneer, they don't seem that old so it struck me as odd, and after looking at them at home, I see they are a Audio Technica product. Not sure why but it just didn't seem to fit. Interesting back panel with two controls. Wondering if anyone knows anything about them. I am guessing they have something to do with a surround system but they do stand on their own. I searched high and low and found nothing on them.
I hooked them up to my Marantz 1060 and it barely got them going, so I stepped up to a Denon receiver and got them cranking. Fair bit of bass but other than that I wasn't impressed in the quick listen I gave them. Why would a company put that much into the cabs and leave them flat? They weigh a ton for the size, about the same size as Minimus 77's maybe a hair bigger. Anyway they are going to go in the bedroom for the time being.
 

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Design Acoustics DA-10. They were well built microspeakers that competed with the Minimus 77s, ADS 300s, M&K, etc. back in the day. Driver component is all Peerless, a variant on the KO50WG 5" woofer (looks like its treated with some sort of Plastiflex) and the classic 1" KO10DT dome that was used in hundreds of speakers.

Given the abilities and reps of the drivers, my guess is that a recapping of the crossover would do wonders for these.
 
bakes said:
Design Acoustics DA-10. They were well built microspeakers that competed with the Minimus 77s, ADS 300s, M&K, etc. back in the day. Driver component is all Peerless, a variant on the KO50WG 5" woofer (looks like its treated with some sort of Plastiflex) and the classic 1" KO10DT dome that was used in hundreds of speakers.

Given the abilities and reps of the drivers, my guess is that a recapping of the crossover would do wonders for these.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Those drivers are too-nice and the cabs are too-well-built to be put in a mediocre-sounding speaker. Way-too-much attention paid to not at least sound decent. They look great. Nice, thick solid-rubber surround. No foam. I've always hated the foam ones, even since I was a little kid. Hated the way they looked.
 
My dad's got a set of these, with the passive 12" subwoofer that he bought new some time around 1980. I believe it was the DA-30 as a trio. The front baffle is a solid piece, not a veneer, as far as I can tell. Really great sounding sub/sat system, in my opinion.
 
Wonder if those switches work properly. I remember the design acoustics name vaguely. I don't think I ever heard these or any others from that company tho. But as nice as those look I can't imagine they are 'supposed' to sound flat and crappy.
 
Design Acoustics....

I, for one, am certain that these were intended to be part of one of the earliest sub/sat systems........

DA designed them, and intended them, to be used with a subwoofer...

So, I wouldn't expect to get much bass out of them by themselves.......they really need a subwoof to work properly..........my 2 cents.............willhowl:scratch2:

Oh Yeah.....caps probably need attention.........
 
I bought some 3dacoustics bookshelf's from that period, with the same result.
I found out later they were indeed sats. missing the sub.silly me! They sure did'nt
look like sats. and sounded pretty good alone, but I soon relized ...something
was missing. They were indeed one of the early if not the first sub/sat system.
Real nice wood veneer. 3dacoustics model 3d6.
Thanks
Steve
 
Betcha, they'd sound fabulous with a recap!
Find a decent subwoofer, and you'd have some SERIOUS sound for sure!

Have fun!
Steve
 
Actually have a bit of bass to them as they sit, I haven't really had a chance to put them through the paces yet but likely will thursday. I now have them in the bedroom with my Welton WA615 for TV and Ipod and soon to be determined Tuner (ooooo maybe the Hafler) bedside.
 
Ok a little follow up, I never could find any specs or info on these but after playing with them in a bedroom system, I kinda like them they have a better bass than my Minimus 77's although lacking in the high end, overall a nice warm sound surprisingly so, for a little speaker. I will dive in and check the caps and see about recapping them and see if that fixes the lack of treble. The tweet is there, but just weak sounding, even with the bass turned down, and the room adjust set to all highs. If I get that done, I will refinish the wood. Amazing how deep the veneer goes on these, almost go so far as to say it is the prettiest wood I have ever seen on a speaker. That is what grabbed me first about these.
 
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