An outline of Advent Speakers in pictures
1. Classics (Original Series)
1.1 Large advent (1969 - 1977)
1.1.1 Walnut veneer with Bullnose front
1.1.2 Standard Utility
The utility was the most common being it was affordable, but the walnut definitely looks better. If you have a steel connector plate on the back of the cabinet, they are the 1st model from 1969. They all have Masonite woofers and grill spacers. Green fried egg tweeters are rarely ever seen on these, but they do exist. The woofers have a 12" basket, but have a 10" cone sunk into them with the use of the Masonite ring. This allowed for a higher excursion and therefore a greater low-bass extension.
Here's the article that brought the double stacked advents to prominence:
http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/30thAnniversary/143_double_advent.html
1.2 Smaller Advent (~1972 - 1976)
Here's a link to StereoPhile's review on the smaller advent
http://stereophile.com/historical/506advent/
There were no cabinet variations like the original large advents had, only the utility style. Available with red or green fried egg tweeters. The green has a more recessed HF sound. The smaller advent was a 4 ohm speaker, and the only 4 ohm speaker of the original line. The smaller advent is a fine speaker and sounds similar to the LA while taking up less space.
The woofers were a 11" basket using a 9.5" woofer. The "Spitwad" dust cap is stock and critical for the response of the woofer
1.3 Advent /2 and 2W (~1973 - 1977)
1.3.1 /2 in a utility style cabinet
1.3.2 In the plastic and steel cabinet
The 2 series was meant to be the poor man's advents. Corners were cut in the manufacturing, including the cheap paper tweeters, and poor crossover design. It was touted as being "large advent sound in a small box" but was actually a very sad representation. The 2 and 2w are known for being excessively bright, and bounce HF everywhere with the tweeter array.
The 2W was a plastic version that was supposed to be a modern-looking speaker. However most mistake it for an indoor/outdoor speaker.
The 2 series had a 10" basket with 8.5" cone sunk into it with a masonite ring to support it. It is also important to note that there are NO surrounds in production for the 2 series. You will need to cut some smaller advent surrounds to fit.
1.4 The Advent /3 (~1973 -1976(?)
The advent /3 is a great small bookshelf that still has the classic look and sound. It uses the same cone tweeter as the model 2, but only one instead of two in an array. The plus to the /3 was the amazing bass response for such a small box. However, its downfall is its terrible efficiency (85db / watt) which makes it power hungry, but at the same time easy to bottom out of you turn them up. Most will use them in an environment where good sound is preferred but excessive volume is not (IE an office or bedroom)
The woofers were 6" with butyl surrounds or treated cloth surrounds (depending on year produced)
1.5 Advent 400 series (manufacture dates unknown)
1.5.1 Advent 400
1.5.2 Advent 402
The 400 series was designed to go with the advent 400 series table radios. It is unlikely you will ever find a pair for sale at any given time, but pick two up when you can. They are impressive small
2 New advent line
Here are the "New Advent" line of speakers. This all came about for 1978 and later. There were a version of the New advent that were POWERED! Each speaker had built in amplifiers. 50 watts for the tweeter and 100 for the woofer. They could be driven with a preamp or high level input like an amplifier. They are quite rare and almost always need repair to get working, but are cool pieces of advent history.
2.1 The "New Advent Loudspeaker (1978 - 1983)
2.1.1 "New Advent" utility
2.1.2 New Advent in walnut with bullnose front
The New advents were based on the same design on the originals with some improvements. The first was the All-steel woofer baskets. The masonite ring was gone and in its place was a different surround. Next, the flush mount fried egg tweeters. The Green tweeters were no longer available from this point on. The crossover was improved sightly to offer a more balanced response, and the cabinet volume by a new cubic inches.
The styling of the utility remained the same as the originals, however the bullnose cabinets got a more contemporary, smooth and rounded look.. The grill spacers are gone as well.
2.2 The Advent /1 (1978 - 1983)
2.2.1 Early version of the /1
2.2.2 Later versions of the /1
The advent /1 was designed to be the replacement for the original smaller advent. Once again, this had no cabinet design variances, only the utility styling. There are two versions of the /1. The first had a grill with sharp edges and was flush with the cabinet front, attached with velcro. The later version had a rounded edge grill that was attached with nipples. The woofer and tweeter were the same as what was used in the New advent.
2.3 The Advent /4 (1979 - 1983)
The advent /4 was the solution to replace the old Advent /3 --which allthough was a good speaker -was inefficient. The woofer and tweeter were used in later designs. There were also two grill designs like the /1 -one rounded grill and one sharp.
an 8" two-way design
2.4 The Advent /9 (1980 - 1984)
The /9 was a slightly improved version of the /4. The driver compliment was the same, however the cabinet volume as increased by a few cubic inches and the crossover response was changed so that there was slightly less upper midrange. They are not often seen and not well known, and can be a good sounding cheap bookshelf.
3 x002 series
There are claims that these are the best advents made: The x002 series. (I’ve seen a 5012w in Bangkal being sold at double the price of the large advent.)
The x002 series were the cream of the crop when it came to both looks and sound. The cabinet styling was the same for the entire line except for one special model the 5012w
The cabinet styling resembled the "new advent" bullnose but they were all covered in utility vinyl.The 5012 was styled EXACTLY after the "New advent" walnut veneer finish, grill trim and all.
The x002 series Introduced something new - a soft dome tweeter. This opened up the top end for the advents that had not previously been possible with the older fried egg tweeters. They could also handle more power and were not as venerable do death from excessive volume. The dome tweeter was available on all models EXCEPT the 2002.
The x002 series showed up on the market around 1985. It is unknown exactly when the x002 series production ended. There are later versions that actually were made after jensen took over, so it may have been well into the early 90s
3.1 The 2002
The 2002 was essentially an Advent /4 with the new cabinet design. Driver compliment and crossover response did not change at all. Again, good sounding cheap bookshelf speakers.
3.2 The 3002
No picture yet. The 3002 is an upgraded version of the /9. Same cabinet volume, but a new soft dome tweeter and crossover, along with the new cabinet styling. Some will argue that the tweeter dominates the woofer in this model.
SPECS OF THE 3002
Sealed
8 inch woofer
1 inch dome tweeter
48 hz-23 khz, +-3db
88db sensitivity, @1 watt, @1 meter
10 watts reccomended minimum apmlifier power
2.8 khz crossover
8 ohms
Walnut grain cabinet
20x12x9 inches
weight 42lbs per pair
$300 per pair
3.3 The 4002
This is the successor to both the Advent /1 and its older cousin the "smaller advent." It is the cabinet volume of the advent /1, same woofer as the advent /1 and new advent, but new front styling, a soft dome tweeter and new crossover. These are excellent speakers for their size and are relatively inexpensive.
3.4 The 5002
By far the best advent I've ever heard. Its a re-vamped "new advent" with a soft dome tweeter, new crossover, and bullnose styling. There were two versions, one with a crossover control (normal and "conversation" -which was supposed to cut mids so that the human voice could be heard) and one version without.
The 5002 are everywhere and don't cost more than a standard set of large or new advents. A great buy indeed.
4 Jensen Advents
The Jensen advents were made after Jensen bought Advent around 1989. Jensen sold the company again in the later 90s to a Chinese manufacturer, and all quality ceased from then on. The advent sound was dead however for the meantime Jensen was still using Advent designs and drivers so things seemed to sound the same as the previous real advents. Just like the previous advents, they stuck to one cabinet look: black on the sides and wood on the top and bottom. Although this is not the same look as the originals, they all had this look none the less.
Production shortcuts were taken to reduce costs. This included printed circuit boards for the crossover, less dampening, and cheaper driver materials. Plastic was used for trim, name badges and grill frames.
Additional Note: similar woofers were used in all models. For example, the 6003 woofer, maestro, legacy, or anything else with the 10" woofer all use the same driver. The same can be said for all the models using an 8 inch driver and 6" drivers.
The Advent badge changed from this:
ADVE\T
To this
///ADVE\T
Also, at the end of the jensen line, there was a 25th anniversary model, which was essentially a 5012w from the x002 line. The only thing that was different about it was it had the new logo and the back pannel had a different connection plate and 25th anniversery markings. Other than that It was a 5012w all around.
4.1 6003
This was the first 3 way advent. A new dough-nut midrange was used along with the tradition 10" woofer and dome tweeter from the x002 series. Most will argue that these aren't real advents in the sense that they are not the original two way design. I think they are far too strong in the midrange.
4.2 Maestro
The maestro was a different looking version of the 6003. Driver compliment and crossover is the same, but the cabinet looks like a legacy.
4.3 Legacy
There are various versions of the Legacy, but it is not quite known what the differences are in the production line. The legacy was as close to original sounding advents as you could get at the time. Decent speakers for the money. All were a 10", two way design with a soft dome tweeter.
4.4 Heritage
A dual 8" two way design with a soft dome tweeter. The advent towers were best for places where size was a problem and you still wanted good bass response. The Heritage are the best in the tower line of jensen advents. Reported to be a 6 ohm speaker.
4.5 Prodigy Tower
Basically a single 8" version of the heritage. Not as good looking of a cabinet either. Being only a single 8 it is lacking in the bass department.
4.6 Laureate
This is the smaller brother of the heritage. it uses two 6" woofers instead of the 8"
Very nice small towers.
4.7 Graduate
Second to bottom of the line in the jensen series. A 6" two way design. The tweeters are fragile in these, so don't clip or crank for long periods.
4.8 Prodigy II
The Prodigy II has the driver compliment of the prodigy towers, but in a smaller enclosure suitable for a bookshelf.
4.9 Baby series
4.9.1 Original Baby
4.9.2 Baby II
4.9.3 Baby III
The Baby came in three varieties. The original had a 6" woofer and 2" cone tweeter. The Baby II was the same woofer with a poly carbonate tweeter. The Baby 3 was a slightly different cabinet design and a poly dome tweeter. All three are good small speakers, but beware the fragile tweeters in the baby II.
4.9.4 Mini
The smallest of them all. Also Argued as not a true advent design because its ported!
5-1/4" woofer
Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 6:49 pm