What to use as a Center Channel for Allison Ones

July 27, 2005

I'm brand new to the list--just found out about it on the AVS forum speakers list where I asked a similar question to the following.

I've got a pair of original Allison Ones, which are in great condition, that I've used in a 2-channel system for 30 years or so. I'm now going to a 7.1 channel system and am intent on using my Ones as the main front speakers in it. My question is whether anyone else has done this, and if so, what they've used for the center channel to keep the timbre balance. I was going to buy a new Allision Center, but the "reorganization" has made communication with the company impossible for both me and my local dealer, so I'm looking elsewhere.

I'm also interested in anyone's ideas about what characteristics I should look for in a potential center channel to maximize the chance of finding a satisfactory balance.

(I've received much advice to the effect that I shouldn't be on this quest, and I should just get a new matched set of mains and center. I appreciate the advice, of course, but I love the sound of the Ones and will spend a lot of time trying to make this work rather than give up on it.)

Thanks in advance for any help.

dynaco_dan · July 28, 2005

Hi Mike

First off, welcome to this very valuable resource site.

It is wonderfully maintained by Mark.

This site is supported by a number of friendly and knowledgeable people.

As we arrive home from a day of work all tired and broke to our toy room, called, hifi room, you will be receiving tips and advice as they see your topic.

The quest for the Holy Grail is one thing , but, the quest for the hifi buff, now we're talking.

I personally don't own Allisons.

Now that I've told you that, it really doesn't matter what I own, but, I am an addict for several speakers including AR.

Your quest for the elusive 7.1 system will be a little bit of work on your part.

But it will be well worth all of your efforts.

My suggestion, and you will receive other ideas as well, would be to check out eBay for Allison family speakers.

In other words, Allison Ones, and onward down the list of then current models about the age of your Allison Ones.

This would be in keeping with the same or similar voicing sound.

Because I'm not an Allison owner I really can't suggest which models or price to consider.

Just as a sideline note.

1. If you had AR-LST's in front and AR-3a's side and maybe AR-4x's as fillers you would have a family sound at an really affordable price. Also you don't need as much power or money.

2. If you had the AR-LST's and you didn't want to make any compromises at all, you need the money, had the large amps to drive them, and the space to accommodate them, you might have searched for and bought at a healthy price only AR-LST's.

3. Or AR-3a's only added to your AR-LST's. This would be less $ than all AR-LST's but sound wise, we would probably not notice much of a difference.

Each point I'm making is because I don't know the Allison speaker family.

If there was physical changes such as different or modified drivers or crossovers in a model you would want to search for that particular version.

If there wasn't mods during the manufacturing cycle of your Ones then you have an easier time just trying to locate ex. oil walnut or oak enclosures.

Ebay may not have very many original used Allison drivers and buying a system with dead speakers at a good price must be weighed as the less than abundant availablity of used drivers might outweigh a cheap deal.

Room size, I didn't touch as well as how much you should expect to pay for used speakers.

You would be looking for good to fair condition enclosures and flawless sounding drivers.

Un-modified systems might be best and drivers not working might not be the easiest to find used to replace.

There is, I believe, replacement drivers but they may not be Allison OEM drivers. The sound may be quite a bit off original.

Don't spend any money just yet.

Much feedback will follow soon.

Good luck with your choices. Rattle, rattle, rattle

Vern

ps I certainly recommend fusing each speaker system!

>I'm brand new to the list--just found out about it on the AVS

>forum speakers list where I asked a similar question to the

>following.

>

>I've got a pair of original Allison Ones, which are in great

>condition, that I've used in a 2-channel system for 30 years

>or so. I'm now going to a 7.1 channel system and am intent on

>using my Ones as the main front speakers in it. My question

>is whether anyone else has done this, and if so, what they've

>used for the center channel to keep the timbre balance. I was

>going to buy a new Allision Center, but the "reorganization"

>has made communication with the company impossible for both me

>and my local dealer, so I'm looking elsewhere.

>

>I'm also interested in anyone's ideas about what

>characteristics I should look for in a potential center

>channel to maximize the chance of finding a satisfactory

>balance.

>

>(I've received much advice to the effect that I shouldn't be

>on this quest, and I should just get a new matched set of

>mains and center. I appreciate the advice, of course, but I

>love the sound of the Ones and will spend a lot of time trying

>to make this work rather than give up on it.)

>

>Thanks in advance for any help.

>

Dave S. · July 28, 2005

Hi,

I use a NHT Super Center, center channel speaker, between my Allison Ones. It is a very good match. It blends so well that I can't tell it is there. A nice match would be an Allison Four if you could find one. If I could find three Allison Fours cheap enough I would run two as surrounds and one as the center channel.

July 29, 2005

Dave,

Many thanks for the information. NHT doesn't seem to sell the Super Centers any more--instead they have SC-1s and Sc-2s in the Super Audio line. Do you have any idea whether these are in any way comparable to the Super Center? The price is certainly most reasonable!

Mike

>Hi,

>I use a NHT Super Center, center channel speaker, between my

>Allison Ones. It is a very good match. It blends so well that

>I can't tell it is there. A nice match would be an Allison

>Four if you could find one. If I could find three Allison

>Fours cheap enough I would run two as surrounds and one as the

>center channel.

>

July 29, 2005

Vern,

Many thanks for the good food for thought. I probably should read a lot of the posts in this group. I've got a pair of wonderful old AR 4xs in the store room as well, which I fully intend to use again someday. In "my day" EVERYBODY in my dorm wanted ARs!

Cheers,

Mike

dynaco_dan · July 29, 2005

Hi again Mike

The reason I gave so much rattle, rattle is because if you wanted a match for your older speakers the Original drivers (OEM) are no longer made and haven't for years.

The new ones, if any are available at this time, may sound different as there has been many changes in the industry over the years and sometimes only the brand name is the same.

I know I've read somewhere on this website comments about when there was a takeover or merger or resurrection that the owners were unable to obtain original materials or equipment and so I recommended eBay as one possible used source for older speakers.

Yard sales, swap meets, second hand stores, classified ads, estate sales, etc are other resources.

Even to find a match for your AR-4x's would require a little work on your part, but these are also available in quantities and often just the drivers are more readily available on eBay.

Much more readily available than your Allison drivers by far.

Good luck again with your quest, Mike.

Vern

ps The NHT Super Zeros are at times available on eBay.

I also have a pair of these and there are especially surprising clarity considering their small size.

They do lack the bass though. Good down to about 100hz.

Look up Stereophile's site, for I believe, its archived speaker reviews and they still have the review on the Super Zeroes, with and without the subwoofer, for all to read as well as some other speakers, etc.

There is a USA version and a Chinese version. A close look at the rear panel will show which is the country of manufacture.

Which one is better?

I would prefer the USA version, which I believe would be the earliest ones, but I can't say for sure that the only difference is just the countries.

They may or may not have the same sound.

In otherwards the drivers may have been made in China since new.

Rattle, rattle, rattle.

You have a great evening, Mike.

Vern

>Vern,

>

>Many thanks for the good food for thought. I probably should

>read a lot of the posts in this group. I've got a pair of

>wonderful old AR 4xs in the store room as well, which I fully

>intend to use again someday. In "my day" EVERYBODY in my dorm

>wanted ARs!

>

>Cheers,

>Mike

Dave S. · July 30, 2005

Hi Mike,

I don't know if the new series are similar to the older ones. Maybe you can find a dealer with a return policy that will allow you to try the new series. Good luck.

mluong303 · August 22, 2005

¡°The NHT Super Zeros¡ There is a USA version and a Chinese version. A close look at the rear panel will show which is the country of manufacture.¡±

Is there actual physical difference or just Made in the USA or Made in China labels difference?

Minh Luong

dynaco_dan · August 22, 2005

Hi there Minh

>Is there actual physical difference or just Made in the USA or

>Made in China labels difference?

Sorry, I don't have that factual information.

My comment was because I believe the earliest product was manufactured solely in the USA and later went to off shore production.

The cabinet, crossover and drivers may have been imported from day one as separate parts and assembled in the USA.

Perhaps Ken Kantor or someone else may wish to add some insight to this question, if this is not a conflict of interest or breaking a confidentiality agreement.

Several decades ago I was told that Winchester rifles were manufactured in the USA and shipped to Canada.

The Winchester warehouse here in Canada had a metal lathe inside and somehow that allowed them to say their products were made in Canada.

This allowed for a more favourable duty rate.

Rumours aren't only in hifi.

EPI 100 speakers were selling for less here in Vancouver than in the country of origin, the USA.

I have seen on ebay the two different labels.

>¡°The NHT Super Zeros¡ There is a USA version and a Chinese

>version. A close look at the rear panel will show which is the

>country of manufacture.¡±

>

>Minh Luong

>

mluong303 · August 23, 2005

Hi, Vern

All I know is in the beginning NHT drivers were made in Japan by Tonegen same as late ¡¯80 and early ¡®90 AR drivers. Then switch all orders to Taiwanese made which really degrade the quality a great deal. The majority of NHT drivers and crossovers were made in Taiwan and assembled in the US. I have not seen anything made in China during the time Ken was still leading the Company¡ I wouldn¡¯t surprise the flashy new NHT speakers now a day are made completely from China since Cost is definitely cheaper compare to Taiwan and US. With tight Quality Control, Made in China HiFi gears definitely look and feel solid.

I admire Ken¡¯s earlier NHT speakers a lot due to their unique cabinet designed, accurate music reproduction and pin point imaging¡

Minh Luong

October 19, 2005