Has anyone tried ToneSpeak speakers
- Thread starter Securb
- Start date
misterwhizzy
Well-known member
No, but I am interested.
idsnowdog
Imperator of Indignation
I own about a dozen MISCO speakers. They are made in St. Paul MN and are of good quality. An assortment of sizes from 8" to 12" with ceramic, alnico, hemp, and paper cones. They also make Voice Of Rock (VOR) speakers and Tone Tubby speakers. The ToneSpeak speaker I own is the New Orleans that has a ceramic magnet and hemp cone. I also have two alnico magnet 12" and one alnico magnet 10" with hemp cones that correspond to Tone Tubbys. The others have mostly weenie baskets and correspond to VOR speakers.
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idsnowdog
Imperator of Indignation
Here's the issue that I have with their speakers. At $150 per speaker, they are a great value for a well-built American speaker. However, the problem is they only have audio reviews for a select few of their models. Many don't have any sound samples and they have done very little to promote them. What good is it if they have five pro reviews for three models and ZERO for the other nine? To me that smacks of good R&D but poor marketing.
Like Eminence, they are selling speakers styled on well-known models from their competitors. On paper, they look competitive and if you look at their tone curves they look similar to something like a Celestion. However, like Eminence and their redcoat series, they sound different than what they are modeled after when compared head to head.
If they want to compete they need to do head-to-head comparisons with their competitors for ALL of their models and not overproduced sound samples of a few of their models. If like Eminence they produce a derivative they need to give stripped-down sound samples and head-to-head comparisons and let people judge whether they are better/worse/different than their competition.
Their marketing likes to talk about their similarities to "classic speakers" but if there's no way to compare them other than their spec sheet nobody is going to give them a chance. I can spend $150 for a Celestion Vintage 30 from China which I can hear everywhere and I know what they sound like or I can spend $150 on an American-made speaker that SAYS it sounds like the best Celestions but there are no sound samples available. Which do you choose?
Like Eminence, they are selling speakers styled on well-known models from their competitors. On paper, they look competitive and if you look at their tone curves they look similar to something like a Celestion. However, like Eminence and their redcoat series, they sound different than what they are modeled after when compared head to head.
If they want to compete they need to do head-to-head comparisons with their competitors for ALL of their models and not overproduced sound samples of a few of their models. If like Eminence they produce a derivative they need to give stripped-down sound samples and head-to-head comparisons and let people judge whether they are better/worse/different than their competition.
Their marketing likes to talk about their similarities to "classic speakers" but if there's no way to compare them other than their spec sheet nobody is going to give them a chance. I can spend $150 for a Celestion Vintage 30 from China which I can hear everywhere and I know what they sound like or I can spend $150 on an American-made speaker that SAYS it sounds like the best Celestions but there are no sound samples available. Which do you choose?
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misterwhizzy
Well-known member
While looking into these based on this thread, I ran across a video of one of the owners mentioning that one of the involved people is Anthony Lucas. If memory serves right, he was with Eminence long ago when I reached out to them and was helpful and awesome.
idsnowdog
Imperator of Indignation
Most of the sound samples are of the Austin 1250 or Birmingham 1275. Here's a head-to-head with a Jensen and Austin 1250. Although their product literature likes to talk about them being modeled on the Jensen's they sound very different. So, until they start doing competitive evaluations like this their marketing will fall short. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU9U-qgmdA0&t=537s
Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
They sound nice and certainly worth trying for the price they are (Celestion's) Really like the Birmingham especially.
They'd be $300+ if I bought one here though (lots for shipping + customs @ 70% ). Too bad.
My only hope is if they start turning up in local stores @ actual prices. I saw the Mojotone one's in a store the other day. Never seen them for sale here before. Pretty reasonable too. I'd give that one w/ a dinky magnet a go (sweet US vintage style sound) if I ever need another speaker... :lmao:
Maybe these will turn up too...lets see.
They'd be $300+ if I bought one here though (lots for shipping + customs @ 70% ). Too bad.
My only hope is if they start turning up in local stores @ actual prices. I saw the Mojotone one's in a store the other day. Never seen them for sale here before. Pretty reasonable too. I'd give that one w/ a dinky magnet a go (sweet US vintage style sound) if I ever need another speaker... :lmao:
Maybe these will turn up too...lets see.
Securb
One of Jerry's Kids
I have a set of the Birmingham on the way. I am guessing they should be here in a couple of days.
idsnowdog
Imperator of Indignation
They are supposed to be inspired by classic speakers from Jensen, Celestion, JBL, and Fane but there's a lack of direct comparison videos so how close they are is debatable. Here's one of the few direct comparison videos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU9U-qgmdA0&t=537s
Securb
One of Jerry's Kids
70's British speaker, so I would think a G12H in some way, but they say it has its own personality. When I talked to a few people over there this is what they suggested for an AC30 and the way I use it. I have heard people say the Birmingham is scooped so that would make me think a GT12-75 not a G12H. The bottom line is that I am guessing it is its own thing, and it sounds like a Tone Speak Birmingham.
Securb
One of Jerry's Kids
Got the swap done and I am digging it. It is a lot less raspy and pappery sounding. I know there was some speaker breakup in the tone before which was cool but not entirely my thing with this amp. What a pain in the balls this was, the entire head has to come out to swap out the speakers.
Securb
One of Jerry's Kids
I got my full review posted this morning. I really dig the speakers. They sound great now, and I can only imagine that they will get warmer and rounder as they break in.
http://www.tmrzoo.com/2024/76794/gu...gham-1275-took-my-vox-ac30-from-good-to-great
http://www.tmrzoo.com/2024/76794/gu...gham-1275-took-my-vox-ac30-from-good-to-great
Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
Glad you like them. If they catch on I'll probably be able to buy them here someday..
