info sought on these old Celef speakers...

[pete the bus]

Hi.
I've trawled the web, i've even contacted Celef(Proac), but I cant find any info on these amazing old speakers. All Celef could tell me was the manufacturers of the individual units. Anybody know a good site where I might find some info? A review from an old hi-fi magazine would be good too.
The label on the back says : Celef Studio Professional.
Serial no.s 009 and 010. Amp rating 20-100 Watts. Impedance 8 Ohms - 6 Ohms minimum. Mode: Stand Mounting.
The dims are: H:30". W:14". D:15"
They came from a 2nd hand shop about 5-6 yrs ago, I got them fairly cheaply (£75), because the shop couldnt find any info either and didnt know how to price them. They are working except for one of the Audax tweeters, and sound wonderful, as you'd expect from Celef...
Many thanks for any info
Peter

[karkus30]

Originally Posted by pete the bus

Hi.
I've trawled the web, i've even contacted Celef(Proac), but I cant find any info on these amazing old speakers. All Celef could tell me was the manufacturers of the individual units. Anybody know a good site where I might find some info? A review from an old hi-fi magazine would be good too.
The label on the back says : Celef Studio Professional.
Serial no.s 009 and 010. Amp rating 20-100 Watts. Impedance 8 Ohms - 6 Ohms minimum. Mode: Stand Mounting.
The dims are: H:30". W:14". D:15"
They came from a 2nd hand shop about 5-6 yrs ago, I got them fairly cheaply (£75), because the shop couldnt find any info either and didnt know how to price them. They are working except for one of the Audax tweeters, and sound wonderful, as you'd expect from Celef...
Many thanks for any info
Peter

What have you got there ? I doubt you are going to find much as the upmarket Celef speakers were sold in very few numbers. The only person that would truly know would be Stuart Tyler of Proac.

[pete the bus]

Thanks for that, Karkus30. I have contacted Celef/Proac by telephone, but I presume it wouldn't have been Stuart Tyler himself who I was talking to. Any idea if he likes to take time out to chat about his old models?
It would be nice to think I have "upmarket" ones, as you put it. When I get the chance I shall do a comparison with my Kef Reference 104/2's...Need to source a pair of Audax tweeters (HD12 9D25) to fully test the Celefs tho...
Peter

[karkus30]

Originally Posted by pete the bus

Thanks for that, Karkus30. I have contacted Celef/Proac by telephone, but I presume it wouldn't have been Stuart Tyler himself who I was talking to. Any idea if he likes to take time out to chat about his old models?
It would be nice to think I have "upmarket" ones, as you put it. When I get the chance I shall do a comparison with my Kef Reference 104/2's...Need to source a pair of Audax tweeters (HD12 9D25) to fully test the Celefs tho...
Peter

I read once that Stuart actually rang a customer up who was selling a pair of his Celefs to ask him why ???

He was personally involved in the design and implementation of all those early designs.........one, even had his initials. I also did a search which came to nothing, I think you have something pretty rare, but its hard to tell, because with older speakers, if they didnt get a aura of classicness around them they tend to disappear from history. Same with drive units......KEF B139s etc are well known, while others have completely vanished without trace.

I would see if you could speak to Stuart...........if not, why not send him an old fashioned letter, they are so rare these days that receiving something hand written is a massive novelty and he is bound to reply.

[David]

I have a pair of Celef Monitors that I bought from Audio T in West Hampstead in 1977. Still my main hi-fi speakers (now used as main pair surrounds too) and still going strong. Used with the A&R A60 amp that I bought at the same time. They're great, especially in the mid-range. Not as clear as the Missions with the tinkly top end but I've certainly never yearned for anything else. Don't know whether speaker technology has moved on though as I haven't looked around that much since buying them.
David

[pete the bus]

I've managed to find a pair of KEF Celef IV's which use the same Audax tweeter (although with a different flange, circular rather than rectangular), and have had the Celefs (with replacement tweeters) connected up for a couple of weeks now. Compared to the KEF Reference 104/2's they are much faster, much tighter, and have a much more detailed top-end, and the bottom end is amazingly tight and extended. Especially good with rock and dance music. They cannot match the KEFs for their gorgeous, sexy, forward midrange though, and the KEFs relaxing, easy to listen to "naturalness".
I am now wondering whether the Celef's would benefit from a smoother sounding amp to make them sound as "enticing" as the KEFs. At present I am using a Quad 306, which although very detailed and accurate, might be a little bright and "harsh" through the Celefs.
I haven't had time to send a letter to Stuart yet, but I do intend to in the near future. I am wondering if these are the only ones in existance!!!

Peter

[Truesonic]

Originally Posted by pete the bus

Hi.
I've trawled the web, i've even contacted Celef(Proac), but I cant find any info on these amazing old speakers. All Celef could tell me was the manufacturers of the individual units. Anybody know a good site where I might find some info? A review from an old hi-fi magazine would be good too.
The label on the back says : Celef Studio Professional.
Serial no.s 009 and 010. Amp rating 20-100 Watts. Impedance 8 Ohms - 6 Ohms minimum. Mode: Stand Mounting.
The dims are: H:30". W:14". D:15"
They came from a 2nd hand shop about 5-6 yrs ago, I got them fairly cheaply (£75), because the shop couldnt find any info either and didnt know how to price them. They are working except for one of the Audax tweeters, and sound wonderful, as you'd expect from Celef...
Many thanks for any info
Peter

This is my first posting which has been prompted by the various references to Celef which I was delighted to see. As you have found, there is little mention of any Celef models on the net and information on these superb and now somewhat exclusive speakers, is hard to come by.

I am sorry not to be able to throw any light on your Celef Studio Professional's. I suspect that they emanate from the mid seventies period and by their title, are likely to have been one of Stewarts premier designs with a cost to match.

I have a rare pair of Stewarts Celef PE 1 Domestic Monitors (in mint condition,) which cost me the best part of £400.00 when I bought them new in the mid seventies, from Audio-T at Gants Hill. So bearing in mind my speakers are domestic monitors and yours are studio monitors, yours are very likely to have been substantially more expensive!

Just for the benefit of others seeking information on Celef designs, the drivers in my Celef PE1's comprise a KEF B200 SP1039 and the splendid Audax HD13D34.which has a square mount plate and a wired, dome shaped protective grille.together with a Motarola KSN1036A Piezoelectric unit, used as a supertweeter, to which PE in the name refers.

Following a change of name In 1979 Celef became ProAc and Stewart Tyler, as Chairman with sole responsibility for design at ProAc, utilised the same drivers in a slightly different configuration to become ProAc 3's.

I have owned a pair of Kef 104/2,s from new and having tried all sorts of amplifiers over the years, including some highly esoteric mdels, have found that they and my Celefs both really come to life, when driven by my Audiolab 8000a which seems to my ears, to impart just the right balance of presence, control and clarity in the upper registers to benefit both designs. Not expensive, but a classic in its day, it should be possible to pick one up today for around £200. I can recommend it without hesitation.

It would be unfair to put his name out in a forum such as this, but I am in contact with a true expert on all vintage speakers, who has given me invaluable support and help in the past. If you would like to email me I would be pleased to put you in touch, being pretty sure he will be able to give you some helpful guidance and information.

[Hydie]

The bass/mid in the PE1 should be a SP1039.