Anyone heard the Westlake horn-loaded studio monitors?

[Rivendell61]

I just stuck this picture of the top-of-the-line-Westlake in the Forte thread ....

It's mammoth, at 975lbs, dual 18" woofers.....but cool walnut, and check out the wood horns.

I'm fairly certain no one has heard them since their little brother sells for the price of a pile of Khorns.

However, Westlake monitors are used in lots of recording studios. And I have always wondered how they sounded as potential horn upgrades....

Has anyone heard any of the standard studio monitor versions?

This is the base model TM-3:

Not unlike Forte at 34-20Hz, and 99dB sensitivity--30"hx 44"w, (they weigh 389lbs).

Any first hand listening experience?

Mark

[NOSValves]

Mark,

pictures are flaky on this new software. You have upload them with the file attachment window at the bottom and have no control or ability to place them in your post just one per post and it's placed at the bottom of your post. Really lame if you ask me.

How you been these day's? Give me a call some time.

Craig

[Rivendell61]

Hey Craig--

Yeah, it's been a while! Good to hear from you.

I can not see what you are talking about re the pics in my post. Looks fine when I view it......

Not sure what's up.

Mark

[Deang]

You can see the pics -- but no one else can!

[Rivendell61]

Hmmm,

Well, I don't know.

But Let's try this....I'll post links:

Here is the big 975lb one with the dual 18"ers:

http://www.westlakeaudio.com/Speakers/Hi_Fi_Series/tower_sm-1.html

And here is the base line studio monitor ref. version with dual 15" woofs and nice wood horn:

http://www.westlakeaudio.com/Speakers/Professional_Series/tm-3.html

Here is another--kinda nice looking one (almost Klipsch like...) better WAF, again dual 15" woofers:

http://www.westlakeaudio.com/Speakers/Hi_Fi_Series/bbsm-15.html

So, if anyone has heard any of the these...esp the studio monitor versions, I'd be interested in opinions.

(And, if anyone can post pics better than I did....please do so.)

Mark

[Number 9]

When I was in a couple of recording studios back in the late '70s, I

heard a few Westake's. Not the particular model you speak of, but ones

with 2 x 15" woofers or a single 15" mated to that large

distinct-looking wooden mid-horn.

These used Altec and JBL drivers primarily. Incredibly powerful. Effortless.

If you go to the Lansing forum, a couple of people there at one time

use them in their home systems. These speakers are huge and extremely

expensive. So not for everyone.

[Marvel]

The larger wood horn is based on the JBL 2397 "Smith" horn. A DSH or

distributed source horn. These have thicker lips. The smaller one is

still a Smith, but doesn't have the vanes in them. The JBLs have a 140

x 60 degree dispersion pattern. I thought one would be great on a

center channel. It corners you might get too much side reflections.

They are reputed to have a very smooth, even sound. I have plans to build some, but as usual have been a little busy.

There was a gentleman who was selling them on eBay, for around $1500 a

pair. Walnut or other nice woods. He said it wasn't enough to do all

the work (he has a real job), so he posted the specs on the Lansing

Heritage site.

Bruce

[Duke Spinner]

as mentioned, depending on when they were made ....

Altec, or JBL drivers ... westlake Horn and crossover

i have used the 2 x 15 model .."Hiddley" i think it was called

they are detailed and revealing as one might expect ..

personally, i would buy a JBL 4435 first

[Number 9]

Also worth adding, these speakers were often designed to be placed in

soffits in control rooms. Don't know if they would sound properly

"balanced" in a home living room. The ones I saw in recording studios

were also tri-amped using either Crown or BGW amps. These rooms were

also designed to sound "right" through acoustical treatments.

If you are familiar with the "JBL" sound, then you get a bit of an idea of what to expect with Westlake.