VinylChef Posted September 13, 2020 Share Posted September 13, 2020 I bought a pair of floor-standing speakers from a gentleman in Sydney a month ago. I was intrigued by their mystery (the owner thought they may have been built in Newcastle, Australia), size (H 120cm, W 48cm, D 50cm), shape (trapezoidal), cabinetry (excellent) and novelty factor (high), so I snapped them up. Since then I've had to locate them at my parents' house because I simply don't have the room (!) so I've not spent much time listening to them. They are unbranded and have no other distinguishing features. I tried to remove the drivers by removing the socket head cap screws and prying them out but they didn't budge, and I was scared to damage the beautiful woodwork. I shone my torch in the rear bass port and could see the back of the 10" woofer but there were no recognisable markings (see photo). The feet are actually lathed wooden pucks and are not fixed to the cabinets. The woofers are 10" and 5" and are made of a kind of fabric impregnated with paint or resin. (Apologies for the flash in the photo of the 5" woofer - the photo makes it look like the dust cap is turned in, but it is the same shape construction as the 10") The tweeter cap looks like a smooth metallic dome. Can anyone tell me where they may have been built and/or by whom? I'd really like to learn more about them! Thanks, David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Peter the Greek Posted September 13, 2020 Share Posted September 13, 2020 @Aslan are these one of yours? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pwstereo Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 That SR110/4 marking on the rubber surround corresponds to a Vifa driver surround. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheekyboy Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 (edited) 2 hours ago, Peter the Greek said: @Aslan are these one of yours? I was thinking the same thing actually..............they may be something Andrew built early doors. Cheers, Keith Edited September 14, 2020 by cheekyboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinylChef Posted September 14, 2020 Author Share Posted September 14, 2020 1 hour ago, pwstereo said: That SR110/4 marking on the rubber surround corresponds to a Vifa driver surround. Hi Peter, I hadn't noticed those serial numbers on the surrounds until I posted the photos! Yes, I see the surrounds are designed to support Vifa drivers. I also found an image of a D25AG3506 Vifa tweeter, which looks like the one in the speakers. David 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinylChef Posted September 14, 2020 Author Share Posted September 14, 2020 And maybe this 10" woofer... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pwstereo Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 I think there have been a few kits over the years using Vifa drivers, perhaps these were built from a kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sub Sonic Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 Note Perfect might be another possibility. I believe they have stopped trading now. http://noteperfect.com.au/index.php/design-philosophy/ SS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grumpy Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 7 hours ago, Peter the Greek said: @Aslan are these one of yours? That was my first thought too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinylChef Posted September 14, 2020 Author Share Posted September 14, 2020 6 hours ago, Sub Sonic said: Note Perfect might be another possibility. I believe they have stopped trading now. http://noteperfect.com.au/index.php/design-philosophy/ SS Hi Sub Sonic, Thanks for the tip. I looked at their website and there are definitely some similarities between the shape of mine and theirs. But they seem to use a powered sub in all their designs. So I don't think it is them. Cheers for helping out. David 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinylChef Posted September 15, 2020 Author Share Posted September 15, 2020 Can I ask, who is Aslan? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luc Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 31 minutes ago, VinylChef said: Can I ask, who is Aslan? He's one of the original members here and was a speaker builder par excellence and made cables as well but it's a tough gig and eventually he sold up and moved to Tassie where he's very happy from all reports. @Aslan 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheekyboy Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 (edited) 41 minutes ago, VinylChef said: Can I ask, who is Aslan? Aslan is what, not who. Aslan Acoustics was a loudspeaker manufacturer in the west of Sydney that ceased business back around 2011 or 2012. The man behind the business was Andrew (can’t recall his surname, was it Ward.........Gary? @Grumpy) and he was a big contributor to these forums back in the day. He made a very good loudspeaker and the last I heard he was living and working down in Tasmania. Cheers, Keith Edited September 15, 2020 by cheekyboy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyr Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 On 14/09/2020 at 3:31 PM, Sub Sonic said: Note Perfect might be another possibility. I believe they have stopped trading now. http://noteperfect.com.au/index.php/design-philosophy/ SS But the OP said the spkrs were 'unbranded'. Mike Kontor certainly branded his NotePerfect spkrs. 1 hour ago, VinylChef said: Can I ask, who is Aslan? Not who - what! (Sorry, Keith. ) Aslan is the name of the lion in the Narnia books. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scuzzii Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 26 minutes ago, cheekyboy said: Aslan is what, not who. Aslan Acoustics was a loudspeaker manufacturer in the west of Sydney that ceased business back around 2011 or 2012. The man behind the business was Andrew (can’t recall his surname, was it Ward.........Gary? @Grumpy) and he was a big contributor to these forums back in the day. He made a very good loudspeaker and the last I heard he was living and working down in Tasmania. Cheers, Keith yep - Andrew Ward 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheekyboy Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 7 minutes ago, andyr said: Not who - what! (Sorry, Keith. ) Got me stuffed, mate.................isn't that exactly what I said?? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyr Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 4 minutes ago, cheekyboy said: Got me stuffed, mate.................isn't that exactly what I said?? Indeed it is, Keith - I was merely suggesting that that was where Andrew got his company name from. Andy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muon* Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 5 minutes ago, andyr said: Indeed it is, Keith - I was merely suggesting that that was where Andrew got his company name from. Andy Or was the Lion named after the speaker 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinylChef Posted September 16, 2020 Author Share Posted September 16, 2020 (edited) 16 hours ago, scuzzii said: yep - Andrew Ward The only thing remaining that doesn't seem to make sense is that the 'feet' under the speakers are simple lathed wood pucks that are floating, not attached. In this state I don't feel it is a finished, commercially saleable product. If it is indeed an Aslan product, perhaps it is an early prototype. The other thing is that in all the photos I can find of Aslan speakers, they use more than three drivers and most have ribbon tweeters, in both respects unlike mine. Does anyone have an email address for Andrew? I certainly don't want to hound him, but if they are from him, then I'd love to ask him about them... David Edited September 16, 2020 by VinylChef Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheekyboy Posted September 16, 2020 Share Posted September 16, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, VinylChef said: The only thing remaining that doesn't seem to make sense is that the 'feet' under the speakers are simple lathed wood pucks that are floating, not attached. In this state I don't feel it is a finished, commercially saleable product. If it is indeed an Aslan product, perhaps it is an early prototype. The other thing is that in all the photos I can find of Aslan speakers, they use more than three drivers and most have ribbon tweeters, in both respects unlike mine. Does anyone have an email address for Andrew? I certainly don't want to hound him, but if they are from him, then I'd love to ask him about them... David Hello David, Andrew @Aslan is still a member here, so you could try and send him a PM. For me, it was the shape of the speakers that reminded me of some of Andrew's builds, but that shape it is not exactly unique. Andrew had a fair range of loudspeakers and certainly produced three ways similar to what you have there. Cheers, Keith Edited September 16, 2020 by cheekyboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cloth Ears Posted September 16, 2020 Share Posted September 16, 2020 Did you have a rear photo? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aslan Posted September 16, 2020 Share Posted September 16, 2020 G'day, I have been hunted down via Messenger and woken from my hermit like slumber on the far west coast of Tassie. Not mine I'm afraid although I can see why some would think they may be with the cabinet shape. More than likely a home made jobbie using an off the shelf Vifa driver kit which was widely available back in the day. Cheers, Andrew 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grumpy Posted September 16, 2020 Share Posted September 16, 2020 2 minutes ago, Aslan said: G'day, I have been hunted down via Messenger and woken from my hermit like slumber on the far west coast of Tassie. Not mine I'm afraid although I can see why some would think they may be with the cabinet shape. More than likely a home made jobbie using an off the shelf Vifa driver kit which was widely available back in the day. Cheers, Andrew G'day old freind, Double post to make up for lost time hey? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aslan Posted September 16, 2020 Share Posted September 16, 2020 3 minutes ago, Grumpy said: G'day old freind, Double post to make up for lost time hey? More than likely crap internet where I live beyond Mordor 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinylChef Posted September 16, 2020 Author Share Posted September 16, 2020 8 minutes ago, Aslan said: G'day, I have been hunted down via Messenger and woken from my hermit like slumber on the far west coast of Tassie. Not mine I'm afraid although I can see why some would think they may be with the cabinet shape. More than likely a home made jobbie using an off the shelf Vifa driver kit which was widely available back in the day. Cheers, Andrew Hi Andrew, Thanks for emerging from your slumber to clarify this matter. I hope you don't mind! At least through this odd process of investigation I've learnt more about specialist Australian loudspeaker manufacturers. My only regret is finding out that you no longer do it. But it sounds like you've found a special part of the world to hibernate, so good on you! Kind regards, David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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