('85-'88)  $400 (stands not included)

In very good cosmetic condition, completely original and operating perfectly, this pair of KEF C40 was an iconic British design from the mid 80's.  They are generous in both volume and drive units. 

Bass is plentiful and extended, and the design is balanced to operate clear of room boundaries (on a specific type of stands).Designed as a 2.5 way system, the twin 8" mid-bass drivers (featuring "no maintenance required" polypropylene cones) handle the lowest frequencies.  They augment and extend bass output, substantially improving power handling capacity, and assisting bass damping. 

To handle the high frequencies, the KEF C40 used their excellent T33 tweeters.  These were actually made by the highly respected French speaker company Audax and were designed specifically to KEF's specs.

These were top of the line in the KEF C Series that was built from '85 to '88. KEF described this C40 design as a "2 & 1/2 way" speaker, in which the bottom mounted driver acts as a subwoofer to handle the very lowest frequencies. The versatile C40 can be used either as a compact floor-standing speaker or it can be placed on low stands. It is built to effortlessly handle 100 watts and it has all of the exceptionally accurate, warm and musical reproduction that built KEF's reputation in the '80's.

Here's another excellent description of the C40:
The C40 (a successor to the KEF Carina) added a second B200 unit operating at low frequencies only. These two 3-ohm B200s have a free-air resonance of 40Hz. The two together, connected in series to give 6 ohms and shunted by capacitors of 10μ and 100μF respectively, produce a resonant frequency of 85Hz in this quite large box. KEF have reverted to third order loading here, with a 450μF capacitor in series and this has resulted in a nice clean bass end of apparently limitless power. A low floor-stand is suggested, but operation on the floor itself is not out of the question and was indeed preferred on some program material. The cabinet coloration is now low down and comparatively innocuous; the sibilance is still present but less obvious and, if the loudspeakers are being used on the floor, one is automatically off-axis vertically. Driven by a pair of 100-watt amplifiers, these C40s with their true sensitivity of 91dB at 8 ohms, are capable of very loud sounds indeed and they remain clear and undistorted right to the amplifier limit. This is a level at which I feel inclined to leave the room but, as KEF succinctly put it, "it will be particularly appealing to the cost-conscious rock listener.
The system can go exceedingly loud, can handle plenty of power, and, with a generous bass delivery, is particularly suited to good ol' rock n' roll...the so-called "West Coast' sound.

Basic specs:
Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
Rated maximum power: 100 watts
Frequency response: 68Hz to 20kHz +/-3dB (-6dB at 58Hz)
Sensitivity: 91dB
Maximum output: 111dB peak under typical listening conditions
Weight: 22 lbs each
Dimensions: 25.5"H x 10"D x 9.75"W

About KEF...
It all began in 1961, as it so often does, with one man who was somewhat detail-obsessed. And in the world of hi-fi (or indeed, anything grounded in innovation, technology and perfection), that man, was Raymond Cooke, a former technical director for Wharfedale speakers (England).  In the beginning, their tendency to sell raw drivers to their competitors – rather than keep them for themselves  – solidified them as true leaders in this field.  They went on to produce the K1 Series but with the 1962 introduction of the now world famous B139 bass driver, the Celeste was born. It proved to be a best seller but it wasn’t until the 1970s that their real breakthrough occurred.  After a series of very successful commercial loudspeaker designs, 1975 saw a development which placed KEF on the hifi map. Indefinitely.

Thanks to the first implementation of computers in the design and measurement of their loudspeakers, this lead to the world famous

KRF Reference designs emerging for the first time, from the 101 all the way through to the 105.2. The first of many lines of References, each dominating its market.
Everything about what KEF has produced since day one has screamed of quality, of innovation and of style… three very memorable qualities. And when you have a company history (not to mention product range) as long and as illustrious as KEF’s, there are some seriously impressive things to remember.

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(2024)  $950

In excellent cosmetic condition and operating perfectly, this pre-owned pair of Trois Facon speakers from Davidson Audio is one of their designs from 2024.

Each of the 46 lb enclosures measures 21" tall x 11.25" wide x 16" deep.
When placed on the matching stands, they are 42" tall.  They have a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.   The cabinets have a luxurious dark walnut finish with matching stands.

John Davidson describes the Trois Facon:
"The Trois Facon is my second 3-way design. My last two designs (Bel Suono and Augustus) focused on using top-of-the-line drivers and, as a result, proved to be more costly than expected.  Even though I've never been (and probably will never be) profit motivated when it comes to building speakers, I usually end up with a final price that's related to build costs. 
Having said that, it's probably more than likely a lot of people are not comfortable paying over $2000 for a pair of speakers. So, the focus for the Trois Facon was to build the best speaker I can with moderately priced drivers and, ultimately, reduce the cost. 

The bass driver I selected for the speaker is the Peerless SLS-830667. This driver has been around for many years and has a reputation for value and performance. Also, this woofer is optimized for use in a sealed box, easily reaching the F3 roll off at 45Hz. But in addition to this, sealed woofers have a gentler roll off than ported boxes giving this design usable bass below 40Hz. The Peerless woofer also has a great flat extension up to 1Khz.

The midrange driver is a SB Acoustics 4-inch ceramic cone drive with a beautiful flat response through the midrange frequencies. The driver starts to roll off at about 3 Khz and has no breakup until about 7 Khz, well past the intended crossover point.

The tweeter also comes from SB Acoustics. This 1" ceramic dome tweeter has a ruler flat response from 800Hz to over 30 Khz. The ceramic dome is very stiff pushing any breakup mode well past the audible range. This tweeter is easy to listen for without any fatiguing characteristics.

The cabinet is constructed out of ¾” MDF on all sides except the front baffle. The baffle is constructed from 1” MDF and the cape with ½” piece of solid American walnut. An internal enclosure is also constructed inside the box to isolate the midrange from the woofer. The box is also integrated into the cabinet to provide bracing on the tall side of the cabinet. The sides and top of the cabinets are covered in thick walnut veneer to match the baffle.

I also built a pair of very sturdy, matching walnut speaker stands.  These stands are so strong they easily support the 46 lb. cabinets.
This combination gives this system a sleek and elegant look.

The crossovers are constructed using air core inductors, and polycaps. No electrolytic capacitors are used in the crossovers. I use a combination of 1st order; 2nd order and 3rd order filters to take advantage of the wide power bands and natural roll offs of each of the drivers. This provides a seamless transition between the drivers. The crossovers frequencies are 650Hz and 3Khz. Overall, this is one of the smoothest speaker systems I have ever built and I will miss them. 

The speaker has a sensitivity of about 87dB per 2.83V. The impedance never goes below 6.5 ohms and stays at 8 ohms or more for 90% of its frequency range. It is an easy speaker to drive. It does well with any amp or receiver of about 50 watts. Max power is about 100 watts but as always, any time the speaker starts to sound stressed you need to turn down the volume. I personally was using a 300-watt amp.

About Davidson Audio...
Based in Easley SC, John Davidson has over 25 years experience in custom loudspeaker design and technology.  During the late 60's, at the tender age of 12 and through the teen years, the addiction to HiFi led to a serious study of electronics.  For his senior high school project he built his first amplifier.  Eventually he earned a degree in electronic engineering technologies and began to work in the industrial manufacturing area.  All the while, the HiFi bug continued as a serious hobby.  

In the mid 90s, with the consent and encouragement from wife and family, he decided to build a high quality media room at home. After setting a substantial budget for the intended gear, he discovered, very quickly, just how little the speaker budget had actually brought to the table. This led to researching the REAL cost in manufacturing high quality speakers which, in turn, led him to the surprisingly abundant world of DIY.  From that point on he never purchased a new set of commercially built speakers.

With his substantial and continuing understanding of electronics and the benefits of his other serious hobby, woodworking, he set out to build his own speakers. By intensive reading and studying (along with trial and error), he gained the understanding and formulas of speaker construction.   Over the next 25 years he built many sets of speakers of his own design along with some from other designers he had come to respect.

As he states "my designs typically start by combing through hundreds of data sheets from driver manufactures to find specific drivers that fit the acoustic and electrical characteristics I want.  Using that reference data, I make base calculations on the crossovers.  However, since drivers are a type of motor and dynamic by nature, the static calculations serve only as a starting point. It is impossible to produce a design with just base static calculations that will be pleasing to the ear.  So next comes the most difficult and time consuming aspect of any new design: hours, days, weeks, and even months of listening, testing and tweaking the crossover to produce the desired final product. Once the crossover is worked out the woodworking starts.  Selecting the best materials, I construct the cabinets. I use proven construction techniques and try to add visual interest using contrasting solid woods and veneers.  Internal bracing adds rigidity and lining the enclosures with acoustic foam eliminates standing waves and distortion. In the end, the enclosure must be functional but also pleasing in cosmetic design.  My philosophy towards loudspeaker design begins with the realization that it's an artful process that's based in science and engineering.  The final tuning of the crossover by ear combined with the design and construction of the enclosure is what elevates a loudspeaker into something you never tire of listening to."

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(2022 - present)  $2450

In excellent cosmetic and operating condition, this pair of JBL HDI-3800 speakers were designed and engineered in JBL’s world-famous acoustic engineering facility in Northridge, California.

This model HDI-3800 was the flagship of the JBL HDI Series and, when released in 2022, they had a retail cost of $5000/pair.  They also have some very serious output capability.

This floorstanding system features a 2 ½-way design with patented High-Definition Imaging waveguide technology.
Each 45" tall enclosure features a single 1" (patented) 2410H-2 compression driver and triple 8" Advanced Aluminum Matrix cone woofers for powerful dynamics and incredibly accurate sound reproduction. 

The HDI-3800 enclosure is heavily braced to provide a solid acoustic foundation, and incorporates a bass reflex design with dual rear-firing, computer-optimized flared ports. The sophisticated curved cabinet features a modern design finished in a Gray Oak wood veneer. Our low price reflects the lack of grills available with this pair of speakers.

SPECS:
Enclosure Type: Bass-reflex design with rear-firing port
High Frequency: 1" Teonex compression driver
Low / Mid Frequency: Three 8" black Advanced Aluminum Matrix cone, cast frame woofers
Crossover Frequency: 800Hz, 1800Hz
Sensitivity: (2.83V @ 1M)92dB
Nominal Impedance: 4 Ohm
Recommended Amplifier Power: 25W – 300W
Frequency Response: 37Hz – 30kHz (-6dB)
Dimensions: 44"H x 12"W x 17"D”
Weight: 84 lbs each

near-field studio monitors ('87-'03)   $650

In very good cosmetic condition, this pair of JBL 4408 studio monitors are a high quality 2-way system.  They feature beautiful real timber (walnut) veneer enclosures and classic acoustically transparent speaker grills.  These are 100% original.

The woofers have been refoamed and the tweeters' damping foam has been replaced. Each of the enclosures have unobtrusive corner solid brass protectors.  The original grills are also in great shape and have the original JBL badges. Speaker stands shown in any of the photos are not included.

With a continuous production run of 16 years, the 4408 (and 4408A) were some of the longest continuously produced models in JBL history.  The 4408 vs 4408A: the original 4408 featured a genuine walnut enclosure, 8" felted cone woofer (116H2)  & titanium tweeter (035Ti), oval shaped bass port and front L-pad.  The 4408A used a vinyl laminate coating, same woofer, slightly different HF driver (052Ti), round bass port and did not have an L-pad.
NOTE: titanium dome tweeters are a technology pioneered by JBL

The 4408 is described as "near field monitors" for a reason; Technically speaking, the 4408 was primarily intended for direct-field monitoring in close-in broadcast applications, where the close driver spacing creates a
coherent sound source.

However, for the rest of us, when the 4408 is in a "typical" listening room other than a HiFi recording engineer's studio, one would assume an approximate 10' x 10' (or slightly larger) critical listening area.  In this environment, the 4408 are in their glory.  Assuming the speakers are off the floor, (either hanging in brackets or sitting on some type of isolators) all it takes is a few tweaks on the L-pad and the listener can "tune" the soundstage to within their own particular hearing-comfort zone. 

Even though they are rated at an "easy-to-drive" 8 ohms and 89dB sensitivity, the 4408 (in our humble opinion) will really come alive when driven by high quality amplifier power.  Generally speaking, because the loudness of a speaker does not always equate to sonic perfection, the pure build quality of the amp allows the speaker to also perform better at lower volumes.The 4408 is right up there with the best of the 80's & 90's JBL monitor designs.  Of course the limitations of a 2-way speaker design vs 3-way leaves room for a lot of chatter about what's best for each listener's needs or budget. 

The bottom line? 
Let YOUR ears decide; that's all that matters...

SPECS: 
Frequency Response: 50Hz to 20kHz /
Power: 100 watts /
Crossover: 2500Hz /
Impedance: 8 ohms /
Sensitivity: 89dB /
Bass: 8" felted cone 
Tweeter: 0.25" pure titanium dome /
Finish: real walnut /
Dimensions: 17.2"H x 12"D x 11.5"W /
Weight: 26 lbs each

About JBL...
In 1927, one of the original pro-audio companies, Western Electric, pioneered cinema sound with 'The Jazz Singer'. In the Wall Street crash of 1929, Western Electric was split up. From the ashes, came Westrex (who are today still involved in the movie/video side of the business) and Altec, short for 'All technicians', because the new company's bosses and founders were the technical people from Western Electric. Most notable of these was James Buoloh Lansing, and when he became president, Altec took on his surname, thus Altec-Lansing. Like Western Electric, Altec-Lansing's main business was in cinema sound, but along with RCA, this is where high-power, large-scale sound reinforcement was pioneered, horn speakers being their forte.

In 1940, Lansing sold his shares and later set up his own, competing company, with an emphasis on speakers. Lansing was subsequently killed in a plane crash in the late 40s, but the company he founded - James B. Lansing Inc. - or 'JBL' as it's better known, has gone from strength to strength.

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