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Lowthers - Please educate a village idiot...

Hello.

Despite me spending way too much time and effort on audio, and having two systems where one would do most normal people, I will, at some point in the future have a third.

My favorite uncle has a Williamson circuit tube amplifier which he built from a kit. He is a Marine who served our country valiantly during the roughest stretches of WWII(Guadalcanal, Solomons, etc.) and is a proud man. This system would become my remembrance of him.

Everyone thinks his stereo is an antiquated piece of junk, but when he saw my eyes and enthusiasm light up when he told me about it, he was just as happy as I was. He found a taker to pass along his treasured amplifier, as he is now to the point where he sees the end of the road in front of him. To have someone view him passing along this piece of him as an heirloom rather than something which should have instead be left at the curb swells his heart with pride and honor.

In order to do him justice, I want to give this amplifier a system which provide it with its proper level of importance. I have been toying with the idea of building a retro style system around this piece, albeit with a CD player.

The idea I have is to pair the amplifier with a pair of Lowther Medallions. The speakers would be done up in black, with maybe a tan grill at the mouth of the horn. A 1950s look to be sure.

The only issue is that I have no experience whatsoever with the Lowthers. And, more specifically, the Medallion.

Would someone please be so kind to educate me as to the Lowthers. I realize they are not for everyone, and I don't even know if they are for me. But, many have told me that if you fancy them, they are just pure magic. Some have even told me that it is the closest speakers to live even after all these years. Also, as I try to live by the mantra about not buying speakers I haven't auditioned(unless a KILLER deal comes along) are there any outlets for me to go give them a listen? I live in the Philadelphia, PA area.

Thank you all for your help,
Joe
trelja
trelja OP
3,223 posts
 
Sean, thanks for your response.

I put my friend in contact with my speaker repair friend. It seems like this will be something he will have done at some point. Short or long term I am not sure. But, the Klipschs are his babys, what he cut his teeth on, and his rite of passage into hifi. The last thing he would ever do is walk away from them. From what I heard, the cost to restore them, cabinets and all, is very reasonable, and is a no brainer.

I've e - mailed Mbhcid and will hopefully get together with him at his convenience. Looking forward to hearing the Lowthers!
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
I will be interested to read of your impressions, Trelja...
slappy
903 posts
 
the hostilities ended 10 years before stereo?

where was i?

ohyeah. my parents had not been concieved yet.

i always was a procrastinator. :)
distortion
571 posts
 
Trelja, keep us posted on your project. As I indicated earlier I love your idea for this system.

I have been checking this thread daily to watch its progress.
trelja OP
3,223 posts
 
Distortion, thank you. I will certainly keep everyone in the loop.

As an update, Mbhcid(Mike) and I have been in contact, and I will be taking him up on his gracious offer some weekend in September, once we work out the details. I gather he owns the upper end Beauhorns, and that should be a real treat for me. I have heard they are about as good as a Lowther gets. While the Beauhorns are out of my budget, if I am indeed a "Lowther", I believe I will build a pair of Medallion II kits.
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