robin1553552682 Posted April 5, 2005 Posted April 5, 2005 Does anyone know what Audax speakers (NZ) were produced and from when. Also, when did production stop. Also, were they all considered to be great quality. :rolleyes:
Michael Jones Posted April 5, 2005 Posted April 5, 2005 Audax speakers were produced in New Zealand by Chris Ball, who now produces loudspeakers under the Image brand. My understanding is that Chris stopped using the Audax name when he began using the Image Loudspeakers name, which would have been some six or so years ago. From memory, at least some of the Audax range were very good in their day.
robin1553552682 Posted April 5, 2005 Author Posted April 5, 2005 THanks Michael I have the possibility of buying some 2 way speakers in Kauri. with a large driver and tweeter in ported cabinet. They dont have a label on them so we dont know what model they are. Would anyone know what these are from the description and whether these might have used Morel drivers? Cheers Robin PS this is a really great forum! Hard to find knowledgeable people in this day and age.
Michael Jones Posted April 5, 2005 Posted April 5, 2005 Originally posted by robin I have the possibility of buying some 2 way speakers in Kauri. with a large driver and tweeter in ported cabinet. They dont have a label on them so we dont know what model they are. Would anyone know what these are from the description and whether these might have used Morel drivers? That description could match many of the Audax range. As the name suggests, the Audax range of speakers used Audax drivers.
Logan Posted April 5, 2005 Posted April 5, 2005 Why not e-mail Chris Ball and enquire - address on the Image website. I have found him to be helpful and informative.
robin1553552682 Posted April 6, 2005 Author Posted April 6, 2005 Further to the great suggestion I contact Chris Ball, here are some words from the horse's mouth and our exchange: ----- Original Message --- From: Robin Janson > To: info@imageloudspeakers.com > Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 1:17 PM > Subject: Audax Speakers > Chris Ball > Image Loudspeakers > Dear Chris, > > Someone on the Audioenz forum suggested I contact you regarding the speakers you produced. They are Audax T200s and I cannot get any info or specs about them. Any chance you may have some. These are 2 way, with a Kauri veneer. I would like to know their power rating, drivers. etc. > > Much appreciated. > cheers - Image enthusiast > > Robin Janson Chris Ball.Image Loudspeakers Ltd wrote: Hi Robin. > The Audax T200 speakers began production around 26 years ago from memory and continued until the Audax A200 took over using a different bass/mid driver. > In theory they shouldn't still be going. Most speakers of that vintage have long gone but its testimony to the build quality of the drivers we sourced, even then. > > The bass/mid driver was an Audax 8" bextrene cone and the tweeter was an Audax 34mm fabric soft dome. Audax is French and was then a family company. The remaining brother at that time who ran everything knew every component required to make every driver. There were around 500 different drivers! It was all in his head which made it difficult to plan parts requirements after he died. > The company was sold and taken over by Harman (U.S.A.) and has totally changed unfortunately. Gone was the personality and making friends in business like I enjoyed then. Business became a numbers and profit game, alot like most speaker companies now. Making good speakers is now more by accident than intent. > > Anyway back to the T200's > > Power rating of the bass/mid driver was 60watts I think and the system power rating was rated at that, though they could always take more than that if a good amp was used. The tweeter was exceptional in its day being much larger than most domes at 25mm. It was used extensively by Spendor and Meridian and because it had a very low natural resonance, it could be partnered with 8" drivers easily. > > We used the Audax name for many years while establishing speaker models in NZ under the manufacturing umbrella of our old company name of Monitor Acoustics Ltd. > Audax was only used for models that exclusively used Audax drivers from France. > > They proved to be a very popular speaker for us and its great to see so many are still working well. Not good for repeat business I guess, but its good for the history of Image. > > Hope this helps you. > > All the best, > > > Chris Ball > ------------------ Hi Chris, Thanks so much for this lengthy and in depth answer. May I post your response on the audionz forum - as I am sure others will be keen to read it. Good going with Image. I used to live nearby the Morel factory in Ness Ziona Israel - interesting to see where their drivers land up! Cheers Robin Chris Ball.Image Loudspeakers Ltd wrote: Yep thats fine Robin. Did you ever get a chance to go to the factory? My wife and I have been invited to go by the MD of Morel (he has been here in NZ twice) but I value my life too much to chance a visit at this time. Morel drivers are beautifully made and with personal passion. I just hope that long-term such quality is not lost to cheap Chinese manufacturing where every cent saved seems paramount and sound quality comes second. Cheers Chris ----------------------
Michael Jones Posted April 6, 2005 Posted April 6, 2005 Interesting to read about the T200 model. I reviewed its successor, the Audax A200, back in August 1987. This was a big (650mm high) "bookshelf" model designed to be placed on 250mm high stands - it's hard to find speakers like this anymore, as everyone seems to want narrow floorstanders. I really enjoyed the performance of the A200. So much so that I purchased the review pair used them as my main speakers for around three years. Their price in 1987 was a mere $1199, which seems quite a bargain.
mondie Posted April 6, 2005 Posted April 6, 2005 Thanks for posting that info, very interesting. My speakers are made by Equinox Audio who upto late last year used exclusivley Audax drivers. Unfortunatley Audax have now discontinued their premium driver lines and switched to making car audio speakers where there is obviously a bigger $$ to be had. l was recently speaking to the owner of Equinox and he was commenting on the many 100's of hours he has spent trying replacement drivers upto 3x the Audax cost with not much joy. They are/were excellent cones.
RdM again Posted May 23, 2006 Posted May 23, 2006 Originally posted by AudioEnz I reviewed its successor, the Audax A200, back in August 1987. This was a big (650mm high) "bookshelf" model designed to be placed on 250mm high stands - it's hard to find speakers like this anymore, as everyone seems to want narrow floorstanders. I really enjoyed the performance of the A200. So much so that I purchased the review pair used them as my main speakers for around three years. Their price in 1987 was a mere $1199, which seems quite a bargain. Michael, do you happen to remember anything about the Audax A240 - presumably a successor? I've followed the hint above and emailed Chris Ball similiarly, but it would be nice to of hear anybody elses memories while I wait for a reply! In fact searching for the Audax name in NZ almost only got hits from the AudioEnz site and forums! Thanks; Ross
Michael Jones Posted May 23, 2006 Posted May 23, 2006 Originally posted by RdM Michael, do you happen to remember anything about the Audax A240 - presumably a successor? Chris Ball had a number of models available under the Audax name. I think that the 240 was just one of the many models, and not a sucessor to the A200.
RdM again Posted May 25, 2006 Posted May 25, 2006 Originally posted by AudioEnz Chris Ball had a number of models available under the Audax name. I think that the 240 was just one of the many models, and not a sucessor to the A200. Indeed you would appear to be right. Chris kindly informs me that the A240 used an Audax 10" paper cone driver with a foam surround, a 4.5" Audax paper cone midrange also with a foam surround and (from memory) a Audax 19mm tweeter, and that the foam surrounds might be rather aged by now. Also that in his opinion "They were an OK model in their day but never rose to the musical heights of the Audax T200 or A200, both of which stand the test of time, even today."
Steve1231553552700 Posted September 16, 2006 Posted September 16, 2006 Hi Ive got a pair of Audax A400. Does anyone have any info on them? They need some work, new surounds etc. worth fixing?
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