New Apogee Full Ranges

[kwashabc]

I have new Apogee Full Ranges that I used for two months before storing them in a temperature controlled basement for 37 years.

I first heard the Apogees at a meeting of the Westchester Audiophile Society and was very impressed with their sound and design. I subsequently purchased them from Lyric HiFi in New York shortly before relocating from Chappaqua to Atlanta. I am a tube person, but loved the design of the Apogees and was hopeful of finding a reasonable way to drive them with tubes. However I never found the time to set them up so they have languished in my basement since 1986.

I have communicated with most of the authoritative sources regarding the probable status of the low frequency panel damping foam. There are, unsurprisingly, many different opinions about their potential condition, but after extensively researching the issue, I believe that the panels will be fine for many years. Consequently I am including a two year warranty on the panels to the speakers' purchaser.

Anyone that might be interested in acquiring them can find them listed on the typical sites.

 

[72Ghibliss]

Getting the Bass panels re-ribboned will cost $2K for the ribbons plus labor of $5K total $7K if ribbons are no good ie foam oxidation turns foam dampener into dust and buzzing/vibration is caused by this. There is no way that these speakers will not require new ribbons and foam due to the age. It is not a heat related issue. Foam simply oxidizes and the speakers were not stored in an air tight environment so they have now turned to dust. The degradation takes place underneath the wooden clamps that hold the foil ribbon in place so you are unable to visually inspect this.

Are these speakers still available for purchase as I was informed they had been purchased last month ?

 

[kwashabc]

Allen did not consummate the sale, so yes the speakers are still available. As I stated above, I have spoken to most of the Apogee experts re the foam issue and it is my belief that the speakers will be fine which is why I am offering a two year warranty with their sale. The speakers are available for $15,000. If the speaker's low frequency panels fail within the two year period the speaker's purchaser will receive an appropriate rebate.

 

[AudioLibertarian]

Getting the Bass panels re-ribboned will cost $2K for the ribbons plus labor of $5K total $7K if ribbons are no good ie foam oxidation turns foam dampener into dust and buzzing/vibration is caused by this. There is no way that these speakers will not require new ribbons and foam due to the age. It is not a heat related issue. Foam simply oxidizes and the speakers were not stored in an air tight environment so they have now turned to dust. The degradation takes place underneath the wooden clamps that hold the foil ribbon in place so you are unable to visually inspect this.

Are these speakers still available for purchase as I was informed they had been purchased last month ?

Keep in mind that Bill Thalmann has retired and closed his repair shop in Virginia at the end of August or so.

 

[kwashabc]

Bill has passed the torch to Allen Osborne who will be servicing Apogees on the east coast.

 

[AudioLibertarian]

Bill has passed the torch to Allen Osborne who will be servicing Apogees on the east coast.

Awesome!!! Do you know where Allen's repair shop is located? Thanks

 

[kwashabc]

Sorry, I do not.

 

[72Ghibliss]

Alan Osborne may be reached at (423) 370-6112 He is located in Johnson City, TN which is between Knoxville, TN and Greensboro, NC

 

[72Ghibliss]

Keep in mind that Bill Thalmann has retired and closed his repair shop in Virginia at the end of August or so.

I just picked up my beautifully restored Full Ranges from Bill on August 23rd. He closed his shop the following week. I had Bill install Goertz Divinity MI3 cable which I terminated for him to use. The cable is coiled up at the bottom of the speaker which extends 6' to allow connection directly to my Electrocompaniet AW-400 Bass amplifiers.

 

[AudioLibertarian]

I just picked up my beautifully restored Full Ranges from Bill on August 23rd. He closed his shop the following week. I had Bill install Goertz Divinity MI3 which I terminated for him to use. The cable is coiled up at the bottom of the speaker which extends 6' to allow connection directly to my Electrocompaniet AW-400 Bass amplifiers.

When I visited Bill early summer, he was working on these very speakers on his bench....Small world