Ever wonder why....

**Nipper** · February 15th, 2011, 04:00 PM

I think its safe to say the Japanese have built some very nice amplifiers over the years. Maybe some of the best.

One would think they would have built some decent speakers but I have never heard any speakers from them that were great. Its no secret they love Altecs. They were notorious for copying our designs in the 60's. I have to wonder why they never copied any of our speakers.....

No one had a room big enough for 2 Valencias?

**joyspring** · February 15th, 2011, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by Nipper

One would think they would have built some decent speakers but I have never heard any speakers from them that were great.

Technical Audio Devices - Pioneer (TAD)? Fostex?

TAD in particular is noted for its high performance/low distortion and perhaps more importantly for its extremely high level of quality control which results in the best driver-to-driver consistency I've measured for pro components. Somewhat important for critical monitoring and TAD is apparently the standard for custom control room monitors and has been for over twenty years.

To be fair however, its price point is higher than JBL or Altec.

**gvasale** · February 15th, 2011, 07:02 PM

fwiw, I picked up a set of Onkyo 25s way back when. Selling stereos for an occupation in Boston then. They have similarities to some other stuff we recognize, like a front vented woofer like Altec, and a padded midrange ( material between the cone and the wire screen to protect/retain)like AR, and a rubber surround which hasen't rotted yet in almost 40 years. They are heavy, too, betting at over 50# and rock solid. Never saw much of anything about them on the web.

**David Yost** · February 15th, 2011, 07:13 PM

I don't know about the small room/big speaker thing, though...

**David Yost** · February 15th, 2011, 07:16 PM

And another who overcomes space limitations...

**Old Guy** · February 15th, 2011, 08:31 PM

Originally Posted by Nipper

I
One would think they would have built some decent speakers but I have never heard any speakers from them that were great.

The aforementioned Tad..

Never heard of Goto?

Goto unit shop Audio laboratory Tanaka

Yamaha licensed a lot of Altec technology. But not a lot made it here.

**Cal Weldon** · February 15th, 2011, 08:54 PM

Doesn't the Yamaha NS-1000 qualify?

Yamaha NS-1000 Loudspeaker | Stereophile.com

**gvasale** · February 16th, 2011, 12:37 AM

Just for sh!tz&giggles, and being on dialup really stinks out loud for research, I went through a dozen ot so web pages and what to you think I find? Some ebay dealer in Canada has some Onkyo advertisements from 1973 and there are pictures of what looks like 511/811 horns! I can't believe I don't remember. I'll have to dig through some old stereo magazines when I have nothing else to do.

**voice of the theater** · February 16th, 2011, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by gvasale

Just for sh!tz&giggles, and being on dialup really stinks out loud for research, I went through a dozen ot so web pages and what to you think I find? Some ebay dealer in Canada has some Onkyo advertisements from 1973 and there are pictures of what looks like 511/811 horns! I can't believe I don't remember. I'll have to dig through some old stereo magazines when I have nothing else to do.

Are you talking about these Onkyo speakers from 1972? They do look like mini Altec sectoral horns.(click on image to enlarge)

u 8000

ONKYO U-8000

**gvasale** · February 16th, 2011, 09:51 AM

VOTT: Didn't see that photo, just the horn from the side, but that has to be it, in an enclosure of course. Wonder what I haven't seen from Onkyo's product line in years past.