VITAVOX==CORNER HORN SPEAKERS== CN191! == S2 & K15/40!
LEGENDARY SPEAKERS! =====RARE OPPORTUNITY!====JBL ALTEC
| Start Price |
USD 8,999.99 |
| Current Price |
USD 8,999.99 |
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| Buy It Now Price |
USD 10,999.99 |
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| Start Time |
Wednesday, November 12, 2008 |
| End Time |
Saturday, November 22, 2008 |
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BID W/ CONFIDENCE!==GREAT TUBES & FAST SHIP! |
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See more about 'VITAVOX==CORNER HORN SPEAKERS== CN191! == S2 & K15/40!'
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Description
== IMPORTANT SHIPPING NOTICE == Shipping is NOT .01 as listed!ALL SHIPPING COSTS are the buyer's responsibility. I couldn't figure out a way to just list these as "freight" on the eBay system. You will need to send a freight service to come pick these up. (95062 Santa Cruz, CA) I will be happy to work with whatever company you choose. EACH SPEAKER weighs 100kg (220 pounds) BEFORE PACKING They are the same basic size as Klipschorns, (but they are EXTREMELY WELL BUILT and weigh almost 30% MORE!!) But you still may be able to get more information or even good ideas on shipping at the Klipsch website here. Model CN-191"CORNER HORN"SPEAKER SYSTEM! Your are bidding on one of the rarest pairs of venerated British speakers. The Vitavox CN191. Legendary in Hi-EndAudio Circles! It is (essentially) an improved Klipschorn using two of the best drivers ever made. The S2 Compression driver (similar to the JBL 375) and the K15/40 "Low Resonance" Bass driver which I understand is similar to the JBL 150-4C used in the Hartsfield (and Paragon?) and some of the earliest Ampex / JBL Theater sound systems. These speakers were the largest audio purchase I have ever made and I have been ecstatic owning them. However moving to a smaller place and a $5000 rise in tuition!!! next semester mean that I will have no place to put them (and no money to pay my tuition in the spring!) The buyer of these amazing speakers will be incredibly happy.They are capable of the most amazing and dynamic reproduction of live music that I have EVER heard. Here are some quotes I found online dating back a few years. They pretty much say it all! In Reply to: Klipschhorn vs other horn speakers posted by Jaco Pastorius on December 08, 2001 at 14:26:54: I have a pair of Vitavox Kornerhorns. Vitavox liscenced the Khorn enclosure from Paul Klipsch in the late 40's and used their own drivers (S-2 & 15K40), and crossover. They are far superior in every aspect to the original Klipsch components. Believe it or not they are actually more efficient than the Klipsch. I have a friend that owns Khorns which I have listened to extensively plus I personally owned La Scallas. They have a marvelous full dynamic lush sound that I have yet to hear bettered by any other horn driver combination. The Vitavox units are extremely rare and are starting to command big bucks overseas. ============================================== In Reply to: "magical" speakers...nominations? posted by Bold Eagle on April 09, 2003 at 09:40:05: By far the finest sounding or most "magical" speaker I have ever heard is the Vitavox system 191. This is a huge horn enclosure utilizing the finest midrange driver ever produced. The venerable Vitavox S-2. The bass cabinet was a Klipsch Khorn licenced by Vitavox from Paul Klipsch. It used a 15" woofer (Vitavox 15k40)and had even higher spl rating than the original Khorn. They play waaaaaaaay loud with less than 5 watts and have the most uncanny ability to delineate subtle musical nuances from the quietest passages to the most complex large orchestral pieces. I unfortunately had to part with mine ( due to circumstances) and now strangely enough am listening to the Dahlquist DQ-10's (Sequerra pyramid tweeters, Hartley 24" woofer)that started this thread. The DQ's have an uncanny ability to throw a huge soundstage with excellent separtation but can not in any way compare to the Vita's dynamics (really nothing can).There is no other speaker that can do so many things so well as the Vitavox (I have owned many including JBL Paragon, Tannoy Silvers, Quad ESL's, Lowthers, Etc. Etc. Etc...)and there just isn't anything quite so magical. Sorry Lowther guys but no matter what the enclosure, they are mere toys compared to the Vitavox. There is no way on earth that a Lowther can recreate huge complex orchestral pieces like the Vitavox can. Impossible to move the kind of air to truly convey the weight of something like Dream of the Witches Sabbath with a 6" driver. It just doesn't happen. Well for what it's worth there's my 2 cents (more like a quarter lol) on the most magical speaker. Re: "magical" speakers...nominations? - merrylander 07:26:59 04/11/03 (0) In Reply to: Re: "magical" speakers...nominations? posted by Thermionic on April 10, 2003 at 12:57:40: Oh Lord Yes! I heard that Vitavox monster more years back than I care to remember and salivated. If I was to run across a pair today I think I would add a three car garage to the house and turn the two car one into a music room. Re: "magical" speakers...nominations? - Byzen 22:15:44 04/10/03 (0) In Reply to: Re: "magical" speakers...nominations? posted by Thermionic on April 10, 2003 at 12:57:40: I too love the VitaVox sound and listened to the #191 Corner Horns while living in Japan for many years on SET amps - marvelous!! I have been looking here in the U.S. over the past many years (20 yrs.) and must say that they are as rare as hen's teeth. And when you do see them on eBay, the prices are astronomical - even more expensive then when I was living in Japan. They are great speakers though! Regards, Byzen ================================================I found most of this information at: http://www.audioasylum.com/ This is unquestionably one of the best sources of vintage audio information out there. A well travelled group with tons of knowledge. You should check it out if you have not done so! As for the speakers, their experiences pretty much sum up my own. They are one of the most amazing audio products that I have ever owned. But I have to pay my tuition so I am selling off some of my prized posessions and will make do with a lower end system until I can finish school. GRAB THESE WHILE YOU CAN!As you can see from some of the quotes. Others have been looking for 20 YEARS or more to find a pair!! They are incredibly efficient. The basic K-horn design is rated at 105db and two of the posters above claim that the Vitavox drivers are even MORE efficient!You better have some VERY high quality components upstream of these, because you are going to hear EVERYTHING!!A mesmerizing audio experience!! During the time I was able to get these set up the best, the sounstage was as wide as any speaker that I have ever heard.They were in a fairly large room and the soundstage at times seemed to ECLIPSE the ROOM! The Vitavox are VERY forgiving with a LARGE sweetspot. The Vitavox CN191 has been used as demonstration speakers at audio shows by companies like LAMM Electronicsfor their $25k ML2 Single Ended Triode ampifiers. They don't do something like this for a stunt,they do it because it is the best possible way to showcase their amazing sound!! Here is a quote from someone visiting the LAMM ELECTRONICS room at High End 2005 and heard these horns!"Lamm room with some corner horns. I have auditioned the Lamm gear in a controlled environment with another pair of mono blocks from Japanese company using a 211 tube (name escapes me right now). And the Lamm gear is the type of gear that may drive someone to say ‘you only live once in life’. Now this was my first time hearing a corner horn speaker (Vitavox), but given the size of that room, if I had a ballroom of that size, those would be the speakers. Once again, I heard that Lamm balance along with the natural energy it could present in a recording. We just sat there for a few songs, let our ears re-familiarize with what sounds as close to live music as we have heard." (my added emphasis) You can see some information on the CN191 configuration HERE The speakers that I am selling are the EARLIEST and most sought after driver configuration with theS2 Compression DriversCN232 CrossoversK15/40 Bass drivers A single pair of the K15/40 drivers sold recently on eBay for almost $2800 for the pair! (I guess that's more or less in line with the best drivers from JBL and Altec etc.) The S2 compression drivers are typically in the $1100-1500 range (each) so a CONSECUTIVELY numbered pair would certainly be in the high ranges or even higher! (I have never seen a matched pair sold!) This CN191 speaker was made with about 7 different EXTERNAL appearances, but all the CN191 systems have the same INTERNAL components. The next generation did NOT have the S2 driver OR the K15/40. BOTH of these drivers have survived the "time test" and are still hunted the world over, whereas the later generations, while still "good" are not NEARLY as desirable. There is a CN191 speaker that has a really cool external appearance (same drivers as these) but you would probably have to pay close to $20k or even MORE if you could find a pair of those in great condition.And you would get IDENTICAL SOUND to these!! This particular pair was originally sold by "The Radio People Ltd." in Hong Kong, probably in the late 1940's or early 50's.This shop was a well known importer for Quad ESL's, Rogers (LS3/5A) Goodmans, Harbeth, Spendor and Wharfdale speakers back in the day.Basically all of the classic, expensive and well regarded British high fidelity marques.A google search will bring up more info on "The Radio People" for those who like exploring the history of "high end" audio around the world.The serial number of the two speakers are 1727 and 2366.BUT...the S2 compression drivers haveCONSECUTIVE SERIAL NUMBERS of 2331 and 2332!! The cabinets are essentially the same, with one minor difference where the connecting wire exits the wood. One of them exits through a hole in the small triangle and hangs down in back and the other hangs down the left side where the "door" to the K15/40 is attached. You can see where the two wires exit in the photo below. On the right speaker it is hanging down like a tail and on the left speaker you can see where I wrapped it up to keep it from dangling.In either case, you don't see the speaker wires as they are in the corners, so the wires are just tucked behind them.I assume that any purchaser will attach professional, high quality binding posts to these. BTW....The unofficial Vitavox site is HERE: http://website.lineone.net/~empson/ and has some more good information on these speakers. Each speaker is missing the gold grill from the RIGHT side. I'm guessing this is from the original set-up, but don't really know.) Since you have the correct units on the left side, so you can easily recreate it if desired. (It doesn't make much difference because they are in the corners so you don't really see it. I had always thought to replace the metal grills with fabric like the modern K-Horns, especially because the metal doesn't serve any functional purpose like protecting a driver. It's just decorative.) You can see the metal on the left sides is still attached on both speakers. There is some minor bending, but it is basically in very nice condition as you'll see in other photos. SOLID, SOLID, SOLID construction!Special LOW RESONANCE drivers!TALK ABOUT A BEEFY SPEAKER!!Look at the metal on that driver!!There is a spot of damage on the back part of this top unit where the two angles join together. However, the wood is sound. (meaning there is no rattling etc. It is structurally sound)The basic Klipschorn design has truly stood the test of time. It is the LONGEST CONTINUOSLY BUILT SPEAKER for sale. You can have the basic K-Horns today and they will "only" cost you $8000 or you can have the 60th anniversary pair for "only" $12,000, and neither of them will produce the sound from these vintage drivers. (not to mention that they will only DROP in value from the time you buy them, whereas, if you keep these in good condition, they will almost certainly RISE IN PRICE!!!In the meantime, you can enjoy one of the best speakers EVER MADE and MAKE MONEY DOING IT!!!YEESH...I wish I could say that about the rest of my equipment!!READY TO MAKEINCREDIBLE MUSIC FOR YOU!! These are true pieces of audio historyand in remarkable condition for their age!!!These speakers are EXCEEDINGLY rare. The only evidence I have seen for pairs that went on sale was quite old and they went for 6500 and 8500 British Pounds ($9997 to $13074 at todays' exchange rates) and I think they would have been much more at the exchange rate at the time.) Both of those pairs sold FAST! Both of those pairs were also in very good condition so I think that I have priced these competetively. They are worth every penny! When you consider how outrageously overpriced many of today's full range speakers are, that makes these even MORE of a bargain! These speakers are lifetime keepers. As you saw in some of the quotes above, some people have looked for as long as 20 years and still haven't found a pair and others talked about building an extra room onto their house in order to do them justice. If extraordinary expenses (TUITION.... ARGGH!) didn't force the sale, no-one would EVER get their hands on these. Grab'em before I change my mind!!You will be grateful for MANY YEARS to COME!! Payment: DUE WITHIN 48 hours of auctions end. I will NOT wait for payment.Do not ask.Ppeople play too many games with these high dollar items. If you are looking at this, then you KNOW how rare they are and you know whether you can or can NOT afford them.PLEASE don't waste my time or yours. Payment by WIRE TRANSFER or direct pick-up with CASH or CASHIERS CHECK drawn on WELLS FARGO or BANK of AMERICA where I can verify funds locally. Powered by eBay Turbo Lister The free listing tool. List your items fast and easy and manage your active items. On Nov-11-08 at 19:38:31 PST, seller added the following information: Sellers: Delight buyers. Get your own map of past buyers.
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