Camber Speakers?

zingo

It's looks like I'm going to pick-up a local pair of Camber 3.0ti speakers (in original boxes), but there doesn't seem to be too much info on the company; and especially those speakers. Various reviews seem to like Camber's Canadian build quality, and the drivers seem to be Seas and Audux, but even CP has very little to say about Camber. I'll probably get my ears on them and decide, but anyone have experience with this now defunct company?

zingo

Well, I will be checking these out tomorrow, so we'll see!

zingo

zingo

Picked them up without listening, although they are in really good condition (cabinets and drivers); original boxes obviously with foam packing and even the manufacturer sticker on the box and the vendors stamp from a local Seattle shop. I'll give them a listen tonight, but with the condition this guy keeps his audio equipment, I'm not expecting an issues. And hey, for $35, how bad can they sound?!?

oldrocker

$35.00, can't go bad there....Happy find..

cnh

Should be good for the price. I believe a friend had a pair of large Cambers on a NAD 3020 years ago that were very nice, indeed. Didn't the CBC use Camber monitors in their studios at one point?

Look forward to the review.

zingo

Yes the CBC did use Cambers in their studios.

zingo

zingo

Interesting build with binding posts on the bottom, a riser to secure the grill sock and allow speaker cables to exit out the back, titanium tweeter, reverse rolled rubber surround woofer with very pliable suspension, rear port, and the cabinets were textured and painted with the badge on the woofer - so they were made to be used without the grill?

Conradicles

They sure look cool to me. What are the dimensions?

zingo

zingo

Top caps also pop off I realized when taking the socks off. Tweeter is 1", woofer is 8" with a mesh dust cap; interior walls of the cabinets are lined with heavy wool, and the cabinet is stuffed about 60%. Speakers are about 18" tall by 12" wide and 8" deep, and weigh 30lbs. A better build quality than similar era Polks, and what seems to be very well constructed short of using exotic materials.

zingo

Tweeter looks fairly standard midline titanium unit with large magnet and wide faceplate, and was made by either Seas or Vifa; records are unclear. Woofer is made by Audux or Vifa, has a cast aluminum basket, a wire mesh dustcap (has the look of a coaxial driver in direct light), and is braced to the cabinet along with other internal bracing. Binding post allow for bi-amp/wiring, and my pair, or any that I have found online did not come with jumpers; they must have been serious about the amplification. I still need to get to the crossover to look at it.

A few more details I was able to aggregate:
- 92db sensitive
- Frequency response: 38 - 20000 Hz (a few mentions of a true sub 40Hz monitor)
-New Cost: US $800.00 (Camber was subsidized by the Canadian government, so claims are the speakers were largely under priced)
-Stereophile reviewed as "Champagne on a beer budget"

txcoastal1

Blah Blah Blah....how do they sound
When are you going to hook them up...they look like a lot of bang for your buck
They had decent reviews
saw a pair listed for 200 so you stole these puppies

zingo

I should be able to finish the connections tonight and give them a listen; I'll be driving them with my little TEAC integrated amp using ICEpower modules.

zingo

zingo

They are very enjoyable speakers that put a smile on my face while listening to music tonight. I can hear why they would be used as monitors, but they don't sound like studio monitors. Loads of detail with excellent imaging, but a bit of a hot top end and a little sibilance. The midrange is full and natural, but there is a bit of lower mid-bass emphasis before the woofer rolls just past 40hz. The bass response is very impressive and full, allowing me to enjoy organ music and stand-up bass without needing a subwoofer; although it does have a distinct lack of chest thump when compared to a large subwoofer. I would be very happy listening to music on these in a mid size room without ever wanting for a subwoofer.

The two-way design in a large ported cabinet does provide good integration of drivers and at no time do the speakers sound like they are trying too hard. They can play loud without being strained, and remind me of small horn speakers in their clarity and edge. The 8" woofer provides many of the pros and cons of this speaker, but ultimately offers a better listening experience than a 6" woofer in the same configuration with the wide frequency response. The speakers provided a glimpse of the artist in the room as I could hear Rebecca Pidgen's microphone, and the presence of her recording studio room. For $35 these are a steal, for $200 in good condition they are worth the window into your music.

zingo

Decided I had listened to the speakers long enough without connecting my subwoofer...

zingo

I kept thinking a truck was driving by the house and checking out the front widow; nope. I realized I left music on in the cabin and it was the subwoofer. (We have a cedar cabin on the back of our property about 100ft from the house; which is where the home theater is.)