FS: Edgarhorn Stephens Trusonic! HO LEE FUK! Must see.

No idea how much the guy wants for this. But I will say that THIS IS TRULY SPECIAL. I might even pick it up myself. Make an offer - a reasonable fair offer.

Bruce Edgar is still around, but his health is not good. For those who do not know, he is considered one of the mighty ones when it comes to horns and HE stuff.

This is definitely a HO LEE FUK speaker when matched with a SET amp. Act quickly before I change my mind and buy it for myself. This is the kind of gear that I want to stay within the SuperBAF family. Stuff like this will NEVER be made again.



Edgarhorn Back-Loaded Horn Stephens Trusonic 80fr full range speaker system.

“Designed and built by Dr. Bruce Edgar, this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire a unique reference-quality high-efficiency system. This was one of the reference systems I used to develop the Pangea and Clarus audio cables. The main drivers are the highly regarded Stephens Trusonic 80fr eight inch drivers, and these are run full range with no crossovers in the signal path. Since these have a glorious midrange, but do not have particularly extended high frequency response, they are augmented by Fostex FT96H horn tweeters. These are run with a high-pass filter only, so again, they are not in the signal path with the Stephens Trusonic drivers. Also included in the system is a Bruce Edgar built subwoofer with a 12” Image Dynamics driver. This is powered by a plate amp sourced from Hsu Research, and put into a custom wood box by Dr. Edgar to match the speakers. It’s run with low-pass only, so again, it’s not in the signal path with the main drivers. Overall, this is a stunning full range system, that can be run with very low power amplifiers. I have been using a single-ended 2A3 amp, and this is more than sufficient to drive these to fairly loud listening levels. It’s highly unlikely that anything like this will ever come on the market again, since Dr. Edgar is retired, and these were built specifically for me.”

Background:

Stephens Trusonic 80fr

These Full-Range drivers are well known to audiophiles who are captivated by the sound of high efficiency speakers and single-ended triode amplifiers. They are super sensitive and sound every bit as good, and in fact top Altec 755's in lower bass and also go higher in the frequency. In the midrange, the Stephens Trusonic 80fr's are simply amazing. They are stunningly realistic, particularly with low watt tube amps (SETs even better).

This amazing 8" speaker has a huge 2" voice coil, (most 8" drivers use 1") with edge wound ribbon. The unusually low free air resonance of 50 Hz is accomplished by the use of a large voice coil, the controlled compliance of free cone suspension and the large diameter of the spider. One piece Alnico magnetic return path for 10,500 gauss flux density. Power; 25W program (50W peak) Response 40-15,000 Hz. Impedence 16Ohms. Alnico V magnet structure; 4.25 lbs!! Spring loaded pressure type terminals. Diameter 8-5/16", depth 4". Sensitivity; 96dB 1W/1M.

The Stephens Tru-sonic Manufacturing Company was established as early as 1938 by Robert Lee Stephens.

Robert Lee Stephens was a loudspeaker pioneer, and one of the important people in the development of early theatre sound systems. He worked as a draftsman at MGM Studios in the 1930s, and was a participant in their groundbreaking Shearer Horn Two Way Loudspeaker project along with Jim Lansing, John Hilliard and others. He designed and supervised the construction of the multicellular horns. He may possibly be the father of the tar filled horn. Stephens left MGM in 1938 to found the Stephens Manufacturing Company, located on National Blvd. in Los Angeles until he moved the company to Culver City in 1947. The company was very successful, and grew to a large size by the mid 1950s. Stephens became ill and died of bone cancer in 1957. The company continued on for at least another decade, owned variously by Bert Berlant, The builders of the Standel amplifiers, and finally the Utah speaker company.

Fostex FT96H Horn Super Tweeter

The Fostex FT96H is an horn super tweeter with a frequency response that extends to 33 kHz. The FT96H super tweeter has a very high sensitivity, rated at 100dB / 1W / 1m. The nominal impedance of the horn tweeter is 8 ohms and the FT96H horn tweeter is easy to drive even with small amplifiers. This horn super tweeter uses an alnico magnet, 34 grams.

The build quality of the Fostex FT96H horn super tweeter is superb. The horn tweeter is very crisp with a frequency response that extends out well beyond the audible range.

• 8 ohm impedance
• Frequency response 4kHz to 33kHz
• 100dB sensitivity 1w/1m
• Alnico magnet
• Znom 8 ohm
• fs 4000 Hz
• Sensitivity 1W / 1m 100 dB
• Nom. Power 50 W

 

I tried to buy a pair from eBay last year but it was local pickup in redondo Beach and I couldn't make the drive.

Amazing f'ing speaker. Have actually heard a wonderful edgarhorn (slightly different in a hideous black cabinet) years ago and I've been looking for one since then.

I've heard some high end systems from members here but I can say this is probably on another level when paired with something like the studio. Such an incredibly involving midrange in the one I heard. Ridiculous, esp for those of you who find the studio to be a tad too neutral, this would be an amazing speaker pairing.

 

Somebody contacted me on this recently? I don't remember who, but I am picking this up. If you want it, let me know. $2500.