How does one "inspect" a speaker like Dahlquist DQ

Tonto Yoder · « **on:** 10 May 2003, 10:39 pm »

A local pawn shop recently got a pair of DQ-10's. I'm not seriously considering buying them, but I got to wondering how a prospective buyer examines such a speaker that has non-removable grills???? The woofer surround would certainly be suspect, wouldn't it and I seem to remember that some owners swapped woofers?????

This particular place doesn't really facilitate auditions--they just hook speakers up to a radio and, if sound comes out, it's considered "working."

Thanks for any thoughts,
Tonto

drphoto · « **Reply #1 on:** 10 May 2003, 11:13 pm »

Wish I had a pawn shop like that here.

I did find a nice Dyna ST-70 years ago in a junkshop in Michigan when I was traveling w/ my band. $35 or something.

I keep hoping I'm going to find a Linn table somewhere.....from someone who thinks its just 'some old record player'!

John Casler · « **Reply #2 on:** 10 May 2003, 11:28 pm »

There are 4 "large" screws on each speaker and the whole grill assembly comes right off the front.

I have re-woofed and re-wired, mirror imaged pair in the Marketplace

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #3 on:** 11 May 2003, 11:08 am »

Quote from: John Casler

There are 4 "large" screws on each speaker and the whole grill assembly comes right off the front.

I have re-woofed and re-wired, mirror imaged pair in the Marketplace

Thanks John,
I thought the grill was a permanent thing. When you say "re-woofed," you mean you re-did the surrounds or replaced the woofer entirely??
Wasn't it popular to switch woofers???

Drphoto,
this pawn shop isn't normally that good a source for high-end gear, but they've been on a good roll lately with B&W 808's, some reasonable M&K satellites and now these Dahlquists. Generally, they lean towards Bose 901's for $600 or so, and they've had a NAD sub/amp for $295 for maybe 4 years.

John Casler · « **Reply #4 on:** 11 May 2003, 03:20 pm »

Quote

Thanks John,
I thought the grill was a permanent thing. When you say "re-woofed," you mean you re-did the surrounds or replaced the woofer entirely??
Wasn't it popular to switch woofers???

I had the surrounds redone. I think some changed woofers, but so did Dahlquist. On the DQ10a they went to a better woofer.

These speakers to this day are still incredible and I listen to them a couple times a month. The won't play extremely loud or low but the presence they have is still hard to duplicate for less than $5000 or so.

Anyone dabbling in "past" audiophile systems must consider this speaker high on the list. They only sold for $800 a pair back in 1974 and are still worth $350-$450 as long as they play, or aren't damaged.