Acoustat-X

brad225

brad225

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Wesley Chapel, FL
I found a dusty but beautiful condition pair of Acoustat-X speakers with MK-121-2a interfaces.

They were too good to not purchase. My intention is to resell them for a small profit so my wife won’t beat me again.

I just couldn’t leave them there knowing in 10 minutes they were going to a warehouse and then be put on an online auction.

Any idea what the value of them might be. They sounded amazing.
 
Do you have pictures? The Acoustat X was only sold with the Servo-Charge amps, so either the transformers were "retro-fitted" or they are actually Monitor 3's.
 
I think they are X's. I hoped they had the tube amps but no luck. I don't remember what amp they were running. They were nothing fancy though.
If they aren't X's please let me know.
 

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looking online all I could find for Monitor 4's was a much taller speaker. I would agree as there are 4 panels that make up the speaker. I will keep looking.

Thanks, Brad
 
From 1977 through 1995 I owned several versions of Acoustats, first the X, then the Monitor 4 and finally the 2+2, although always with the S-C amps, which went through several modifications by Ray Esposito (working for Acoustat). However, I think the later Spectra models, with the dual band transformer, were the best.
 
So, are these the X model as opposed to the Monitor 4 you mentioned, Rob or anyone?

I purchased a pair of Model 3's when I lived in Maine in the early 80's. That was the first time I heard a dipole panel and was hooked.
 
brad225 said:
So, are these the X model as opposed to the Monitor 4 you mentioned, Rob or anyone?

I purchased a pair of Model 3's when I lived in Maine in the early 80's. That was the first time I heard a dipole panel and was hooked.
Click to expand...

What part of Maine did you live in?
 
First Peaks Island off Portland for 4 years, Then 22 miles inland to Hollis Center for 2 years then to in town Portland for 6 years. Donna and I got tired of winter and moved to Florida in 1985.
 
brad225 said:
First Peaks Island off Portland for 4 years, Then 22 miles inland to Hollis Center for 2 years then to in town Portland for 6 years. Donna and I got tired of winter and moved to Florida in 1985.
Click to expand...

My wife and I lived in Maine from 1978-1990. We lived in the North Berwick area. We couldn't wait to leave Maine. The winters are brutal and the short summer has the worst mosquitoes I've ever experienced and the black flys are a bitch too.
 
brad225 said:
So, are these the X model as opposed to the Monitor 4 you mentioned, Rob or anyone?

I purchased a pair of Model 3's when I lived in Maine in the early 80's. That was the first time I heard a dipole panel and was hooked.
Click to expand...

I'm fairly sure those are the second iteration of the Monitor 4; IIRC the first version still used the S-C amps.
 
I think these are the next version up from the X. The tube SC amps had a few issues so they moved away from those and on to the interfaces, this could be the start of the Monitor Series. But that back tray looks like it may have held the tube SC amp at some stage. And it's interesting the interface on the speaker is upside down.
Hmmm...
 
They are only upside down as that was how my nephew placed it when we unloaded them on a cart at my shop. They are not connected at this time.

Where can I find a wiring diagram as the interface -panel connection was really crappy wire with wire nuts and bad solder on one wire.
Thanks Brad
 
mep said:
My wife and I lived in Maine from 1978-1990. We lived in the North Berwick area. We couldn't wait to leave Maine. The winters are brutal and the short summer has the worst mosquitoes I've ever experienced and the black flys are a bitch too.
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more about short summer. Maine is an amazingly beautiful coastline to travel though.
 
audionutnz said:
I think these are the next version up from the X. The tube SC amps had a few issues so they moved away from those and on to the interfaces, this could be the start of the Monitor Series. But that back tray looks like it may have held the tube SC amp at some stage. And it's interesting the interface on the speaker is upside down.
Hmmm...
Click to expand...

I'm not sure why this poster is speculating from random recollections. There are many images and other discussions of the Monitor 4 on-line, and it is clear that this is what you have. The Model 4 was similar, but used the S-C amps and did not have the pedestal base. The Model 3 and Model 4 were the last models with the S-C amps (the Acoustat X was their immediate predecessor), and were superseded by the Monitor 3 and Monitor 4 respectively, both using the MkI transformer interface and with the pedestal bases.
 
These I believe are Monitor 4’s. Superb speakers back in the day. They are virtually “bulletproof”....ie: can play extremely loud without break up, or arching...Very liquid, smooth sound, with a touch of a “plastic” sound coloration, which actually gives off a pleasing, somewhat “forgiving” quality to poorly recorded music.
The X you referred to had direct coupled tube amps and used a three panel configuration, as I recall.
 
audionutz, Roy Esposito from Acoustat Service confirmed your determination that they are in fact a pair of The Monitors and were the next version after the X model and before the 3 and 4. Doesn't get me any closer to knowing why they worked properly when I purchased them but didn't when I set them up in my shop.

I am now trying to find the schematic for the MK121-2A interface. Hopefully someone has one and can send me a copy.
 
Well a bit of good news, for me any way. I pulled the Aragon 2204 out of our HT setup and used the pre-out of the 48 year old Marantz 2245 receiver I tried yesterday and I was able to play some, somewhat fuzzy FM music and the speakers seem fine. The problem is the Marantz is just to old to drive them alone.
The Marantz won't allow a laptop signal playing music from Qobuz through its topology. Fuzzy FM music isn't the best demo for anything as you can imagine.

So, now I either need a better FM antenna, which I have tried a few times here in the outskirts of Wesley Chapel with no luck, or find a basic preamp that I can connect a laptop or CD player to.

Now I shamelessly ask. Does anyone have a left behind in storage basic preamp I could rent cheaply for a couple weeks that would pass a signal through to my amp?

Saving these Accoustat speakers is still worth trying to find a home for them, even though my my wife is shaking her head and laughing at me for creating another project I don't need added to my list.
If someone has a basic pre they would rent cheaply for a couple of weeks I would greatly appreciate it. You can reach me here or at [email protected]

Thanks Brad
 
brad225 said:
audionutz, Roy Esposito from Acoustat Service confirmed your determination that they are in fact a pair of The Monitors and were the next version after the X model and before the 3 and 4. Doesn't get me any closer to knowing why they worked properly when I purchased them but didn't when I set them up in my shop.

I am now trying to find the schematic for the MK121-2A interface. Hopefully someone has one and can send me a copy.
Click to expand...


Ha. It's nice to be right once in a while :-) I don't know if you know but the speakers need at least a week to charge up after been dumped off power and then some more for better results. It will sound off if you just plug them in and try to play them in a short time frame, also they won't have much volume. Yes they do need a good amp to drive them, most receivers won't cut it. Your old Aragon will be a good start. Let the speakers charge 24/7, don't unplug them. All ways on.
Sorry I don't have a schematic for the interface. You could try these guys.. diyaudio com/community/threads/acoustat-answer-man-is-here.183168 they helped me when I need info, as well as good old Roy.
This site here won't let me give you a full link as I don't have enough posts but I'm sure you can add whats needed to make it work.
 
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