ESS AMT 1C

[Nick Danger]

I get a text this morning from Boatdrinks77 saying that a pair of ESS AMT 1C speakers were headed my way. Needless to say, I am stoked to finally have a pair of these to audition at my home:



Of course, the passive radiators are shot and had been replaced with what feels like drum skins- not gonna cut it. New radiators have been ordered and should be here by the end of next week:



After I pulled the "passives", I came across this on the backsides:



It appears that somebody's homework ended up pulling second duty as audio gear- how cool it that! Looking forward to matching these with Phyllis and seeing how ESS speakers like WOPL'ed power.

 

[Fishoz]

Doug - please review when you get em working.

 

[Nick Danger]

Doug - please review when you get em working.

Will do. X- overs and drivers seem to work well, so hopefully once they are repaired I will be able to give them a proper workout.

 

[orange]

I had to just stand there and watch a pair of Tempest Classics pass me by at a local auction house about three years ago...it was sad.

 

[Nick Danger]

Two Differnt Crossovers

Looks like they were beginning to phase out the 1C version and I have a 1D crossover in the "newer" speaker. Serial #4000ish versus the #2400ish of the "older" one. Both speakers are labeled as 1C.

What I believe to be the correct 1C crossover:


What I believe to be a 1D crossover:


Woofer were also mounted differently between the pair- one with driver input terminals up, which seems better in this model to me, and one with terminals down. With the terminals up, wiring can be bundled closer to the crossover making for a neater cabinet.

 

[Boatdrinks]

Ok dude, I talked to the ESS expert over over on AK..... here is his reply to what is going on with the crossovers.....

"A few variants existed in the D crossover build ~ but ESS had such poor quality control it wouldn't surprise me if a D was installed in a C box. Worse things have happened in their production during those years. The C xover is superior in every way. I happen to have a C loner unit in a wired-up setting and although the input leads were snipped short it would make a good candidate."

 

[Nick Danger]

Ok dude, I talked to the ESS expert over over on AK..... here is his reply to what is going on with the crossovers.....

"A few variants existed in the D crossover build ~ but ESS had such poor quality control it wouldn't surprise me if a D was installed in a C box. Worse things have happened in their production during those years. The C xover is superior in every way. I happen to have a C loner unit in a wired-up setting and although the input leads were snipped short it would make a good candidate."

Should I be hunting for a C version or is your homie at AK willing to part with his? Short input leads? Does he mean speaker input leads on the crossover?

 

[Jimmy]

Doug, I await your impressions. I think you will love them.

 

[Nick Danger]

Hey Jimmy, I look forward to hearing them myself. I ordered the passive radiator kit and am hoping it is here later in the week. Sounds like Boatdrinks77 may have tracked down a model- correct crosssover for a fair price but not sure how long it will be before I can get that one in hand and installed.

With that being said, I did hooked them up to my Yammie RX V995 and even without the radiators installed(12" open holes at this point), I feel these are going to be a lot closer to the sound that I am looking for in my speakers. Played mostly Holiday music at polite levels, but did squeeze a little of Prince's Purple Rain into the equation. The AMT's deliver a sound unlike any other drivers that I have heard and it suits me and my system well.

Woofers are starting to show their age and thankfully new, updated drivers are available at a fair price. Gonna play the originals until they give up which only seems right.

 

[laatsch55]

Doug, get thoe updated drivers in your possession, like most everything else that you love, man...they'll be obsoleted before ya know it!!!!

 

[Nick Danger]

Doug, get thoe updated drivers in your possession, like most everything else that you love, man...they'll be obsoleted before ya know it!!!!

Need to get cracking on that sooner than later, Lee. I have found a few sources for the woofer drivers, diaphrams for the AMT's, and a couple types of passive radiators. Be nice to have a stash of everything and my OCD may compell me to go nuts with these beauties. Boatdrinks77 is gonna have a hard time dragging these out of the Dungeon when that sad day comes.

 

[laatsch55]

Are they loaners??????????????????????????????????????

 

[Nick Danger]

Are they loaners??????????????????????????????????????

At this time, yes. Gonna get 'em working 100% and figure out how much crying, begging and pleading will be required to have these as my own. At the very least, I am sure they will be here for several months. More than enough time to get my DIY speaker system up and running.

 

[laatsch55]

We can make him forget all about em.....I know some folks.....so does Nando....

 

[mudshark]

I have a pair of EV-12s sittin on the shelf ... ???

 

[Nick Danger]

We can make him forget all about em.....I know some folks.....so does Nando....

A little arm- twisting, eh Lee. I think he is glad to have them out of the way right now as he reorganizes and works on his mountain of gear. Once his two pairs of suuu weet vintage Advents are up and singing, he might be a bit more open to the suggestion. Not too many speakers on my wishlist, but these are at the top.

 

[laatsch55]

Lookin forward to hearing them this spring...

 

[Nick Danger]

Lookin forward to hearing them this spring...

..with the WOPL if all goes well.

 

[Elite-ist]

I don't know anyone owning a pair of those ESS speakers. They look impressive. It seems you are going to adopt them, after all, Douglas.

Nando.

 

[laatsch55]

..with the WOPL if all goes well.

How's the WOPL troubleshooting going??