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Any Large Acoustic Suspension Speakers Being Made?

I auditioned some Dunlavy SC-IVAs in the 90s. The sound was unlike anything I've heard before or since.

Was more like a video projector creating living sonic-images in the room.

The Dunlavys are a sealed box system. The front of the speaker is heavily felt damped (mids & tweets).

I'm also wondering about anything unusual about its crossover. I have to find out why these sounded so good!

The system: Audio Research VT-120 amp, ARC LS-2 pre, Theta DAC (pre-pro?), CEC Disk spinner, and Dunlavy wire. The room was about 25 * 25 with curtains on a glass wall and LPs on the rear wall. Power conditioning is unknown.

So I'm thinking it's either the acoustic suspension or a special crossover that made the difference.

Does anyone make large sealed box speakers anymore? 

128x128dweller
dweller's avatar
dweller OP
2,152 posts
 
rcprince: If you read the Stereophile review of the SC-IVA, you’ll notice the fanatical attention to detail Mr. Dunlavy used in building his speakers. How about a frequency response of +/- 1.5%? He would hand-trim every crossover to match its companion driver. Mr. Dunlavy said this speaker could pass a square wave better than most tube amplifiers! I would love to hear these speakers driven by BEL 1001 Mk V amps (also built with fanatical precision). Try to find a maker that would go to these extremes today!
souljasmooth
81 posts
 
PBN Montana KAS-2, WAS-2, and Master Reference.  Similar to the Dunlavy speakers, but look better, built better, use better parts and drivers, and IMHO sound much better.  All this comes at a cost.
sps55
12 posts
 
I also agree that the PBN Montana speaker is similar to the Dunlavy but a good bit better. I have owned the Dunlavy V so am very familiar with their sound. Have owned the PBN Montana EPS 2, and currently using the WAS 2. If you liked what you heard from the Dunlavy's you will LOVE what the Montana's do.
dweller's avatar
dweller OP
2,152 posts
 
Must investigate!
audioconnection
1,015 posts
 
(((I also agree that the PBN Montana speaker is similar to the Dunlavy)))
 How can you say this?
 All they have in common is both are a large box design.
 one has 6 DB per octave the other steep order
 
 (( Mr. Dunlavy said this speaker could pass a square wave better than most tube amplifiers!))  If square wave or timing is important
 You would need to check out a 6 DB phase and time correct design
 or ask the question is your speaker out of time?
  Best JohnnyR
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