It's the reference system at the "Revue du Son" magazine in Paris. And I helped built it - about 20 years ago. The system is owned by Mr. Jean Hiraga. I have never heard any other speaker of any size, shape, technology or vintage that sounds more like real live music than these.
Photo
courtesy of www. melaudia.net
Back in about '87 I rebuilt these boxes for as a trade for borrowing them for awhile. I used them as a sort of "Audiophile P.A system." for jazz and other stuff. They were certainly most the amazing PA I ever heard, but a bit large and very heavy to carry around!
I always called them "Jean
Hiraga's A7s, but they aren't Altec A7s, at all.
On top is an Altec 1505 15 cell horn. This magnificent horn is driven by a big,
1950's vintage Westrex compression driver. (The British version of the Altec
288 - AFAIK.) The 15" woofer is now a Westrex basket with EV cone. When
I ran them I think it was Altec 515s in the box. Tweeter is JBL2404. All passive
crossover designed by Jean Hiraga.
The bass cabinet was a stock A5 in not very thick plywood. Under Mr Hiraga's guidance I recovered all the walls with Nantex plywood - the hardest, densest damn wood I've ever seen! Almost impossible to cut, drill, sand. Internal bracing was added from the same Nantex and the back of the bass horn flare was covered with tar. 100% wool felt for damping. Vent was reduced in size. Alas, Nantex is no more, but some of the bamboo plywood I've used is almost as dense. Not quite as hard, tho.
Why do I love them so much? Because they sound so "real." They have no box sound at all, and with tons of dynamics. Imaging is superb - mind blowing. Amazing really, what is on even the most humble CD. These speakers put it right out there for you.
I've heard a few systems (sometimes the same day) with more micro detail, more highs, more lows - even a bigger image than these. But nothing sounds more true to life. It's really like the musicians are right there, and there, and over there. Not "almost", not "close your eyes and imagine" - they are right there. You can point to them. And they simply sound real.
Like other really good horn systems, these speakers vanish. Even walking up to one of the big 15 cell horns while it's playing - it does not seem that the sound is coming from the speaker. An eerie feeling, to be sure. It's hard to understand quite how that works.
These speakers also show any change in the signal path. Amps, CD player, preamp, turntable, etc. But they always sounded great, not matter what amp I drove them with.
If I had mine own (large) dedicated listening room, this is what I would have. No doubt about it. 20 years later they are still going strong. Makes me happy.
Jean Hiraga has a new company
and new speakers that he assures me are even better than the big rig seen above.
I haven't heard them yet, but sure hope to soon!
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