AVID 230 Speakers. Avid was one of the "New England Sound" acoustic suspension maufacturers of the 70's and 80's. Their speakers were regularly at the top of Consumer Union's speaker tests, which were primarily based on linearity of response between 100 Hz - 14kHz. Avid 230's were manufactured from 1978-83, and represent a later take on the AR-2AX, the 10" 3-way acoustic suspension speaker. The grills are cut to meet the driver faceplates exactly, as you can see in one of the pictures, and this represents an early attempt at reducing adjacent driver diffraction and cancellation, a technique used by later manufacturers like Thiel. www.Classicspeakerpages.net has an Avid discussion forum, and you can find the brochure for the Avid speaker line which includes the 230 there.
Specifications:
Drivers 10" acoustic suspension woofer, 4.5" cone midrange, 1" fabric dome tweeter
Crossover points 475 Hz, 4 kHz
Impedance 8 ohms
Frequency response 42 Hz - 20 kHz, +- 3 dB
Efficiency 88 dB
Minimum Recommended Power 15 W
Power Handling Capacity 150 W
Level Controls Separate 3-position mid and tweeter switches
Finish Walnut vinyl
Grille color Dark Brown
Grille Solid front acoustically integrated minimum diffraction assembly
Dimensions 25" H x 15" W x 10" D
Weight 43 lbs.
Overload Protection Fuse
Condition: Vinyl is excellent with only some very small nicks. Grille fabric is also excellent. The woofers were refoamed recently, and should not require refoaming for another 15-20 years.
Listening: Bass response is impressive, and the -3 dB point must be lower than the specified 42 Hz. Speakers are very detailed and accurate. The tweeter isn't as "sweet sounding" as an Ar-2ax's, but mid and high frequency response are much flatter. An excellent speaker capable of very high volume levels. The mid and treble controls actually work, unlike AR's, and it is nice to have the speakers fuse-protected.
The speakers will be shipped in two 52 pound boxes by UPS ground. Buyers should double the price shown in the shipping calculator to arrive at the total shipping price. They will be very carefully packed--read my feedback on shipping speakers-- to protect against damage. Local pickup around Ithaca, NY or Philadelphia, PA can be arranged. The shipping calculator includes UPS insurance, pickup and confirmation fees and the cost of packing materials. For foreign buyers, shipment is by United States Postal Service Express or Priority Mail. Express is slightly more expensive, slightly faster, and offers better tracking. Foreign buyers may be required to pay by cashier's check or money order. If payment is made by check or money order, item will be shipped after payment clears.
Buyers should be aware that they are purchasing a piece of vintage audio equipment. I try the best I can to accurately describe the item and its current operating condition, but I make no warrantee of any sort, and the item is sold "AS IS," "NO RETURNS." Any obvious physical damage caused in shipping will be covered by insurance, and it is up to the buyer to file a claim for this. It is always possible for items to sustain shocks that alter their working condition but result in no obvious physical damage or for a part to fail simply due to age, and I disclaim responsibility for this. These caveats aside, in my own experience, vintage audio equipment that has been working for 20-50 years is quite robust, and likely to arrive in the same condition as it was in when shipped.