Different strokes for different folks. But the 604's definately ain't kabuki.
Here is Don's description of Kabuki
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Kabuki Speaker = Japanese made speakers from the 60's through the 70's that had a minimum 15" woofer, a minimum 4-way cross-over, at least 6 individual drivers, in a box that is less than 3 cu ft or weighs less than 50lb's.
For those wondering about the origin of the term, it had to do with the limited bandwidth and tinny sound that chracterized the first versions of these speakers. As a friend said "You can play Led Zepplin though them and it comes out sounding like Kabuki music".
In a WAY, the Altec 604 most certainly is Kabuki.
They stuck the horn in the center of it's 15" driver to save space.
They didn't have a cabinet for the 604, so they had to stick it somewhere.
By attaching a horn to the woofer, they sold more total parts.
The Japanese were at a big shipping disadvantage, and imposed small compromised cabinets on themselves.
And, as Don pointed out, ALL Japanese speakers are not Kabuki.
Actually, some AMERICAN designs can almost be considered Kabuki.
Older VMPS had drivers everywhere, as did Fultons.
I once owned Fulton Premiere's.
The JBL L 65 Jubal was borderline Kabuki, and so are the JBL L 7's I OWN, LOL
For crying out loud, they stuck a side firing woofer in them crossed way up at 180 HZ.
They can make Neil Diamond sound like Barry White.
To quote Don again
""For those wondering about the origin of the term, it had to do with the limited bandwidth and tinny sound that chracterized the first versions of these speakers"
Since Don is the Lansing Heritage Web Master, let's talk about tinny sound ?
The JBL crinkled Titanium Tweeter is a tinny sounding tweeter.
It is a flawed design.
It inhabits zillions of older JBL's.
JBL made a big boo boo with it.
In an attempt to make the tweeter more ridgid by crinkling the Titanium, they made it worse.
My point is that "tinny sound" in NOT the exclusive province of Japanese speakers.
As Don pointed out, there are good Japanese designs, and bad ones too.
Not ALL JBL and Altec are automatically good, just because they are American.
Come to think of it, some Bozaks were Kabuki, and what about the Rectilinears and Micro Acoustics ?
AR LST was Kabuki :yes:
Design Acoustics D 9 was Kabuki, Bose 901 is Kabuki, Shahanian Obelisk is Kabuki.
JBL L 65 Jubal is borderline Kabuki, and tinny, it's glass top is great if you spill the Saki, or to eat rice on.
I can show you some JBL pro stuff that is total Kabuki, drivers everywhere, to save space.
Yep, JBL pro stuff with 18 inch woofers in SMALL cabinets, sometimes even two of em stuffed in there!
Hey, come to THINK of it, some OLD men down here in Florida had some OLD Altec's that were Kabuki as all get out too.
They were Kabuki Style "low boy" long cabinets with a pair of some kind of Altec contraptions in them.
I listened briefly to them, no low bass, tinny highs, limited bandwidth.
A FAR cry from the VOTT's I used to own, or my Grandpa's Hartsfields.
Hey, I got a idea Don and Celt
Why not make a Kabuki Speaker thread, and POST examples, both American and Japanese, of any speaker we suspect MIGHT be Kabuki ?
Hey, even the ADS 810 MIGHT be Kabuki ?
It has drivers stuffed into it everywhere, and horizontally arrayed too :nono:
How about a "Kabuki Witch Hunt " :thmbsp:
Kabuki, yes or no ?
http://www.acoustichorn.com/images/old_stuff.jpg
http://www.audioheritage.org/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=18&ppuser=50