A Winter Sale, and some ruminations from Specimen owner Ian Schneller:
Well then, it is that time of year again. When winter comes I try to gather my wits and scoop all the corners clean in the shop. I have assembled many of the historic oddities that I have produced over the last decade and put the finishing touches on them to offer this collection as my winter sale. I am applying a 30% discount to all these horns and amps for a limited time. Some of these horns and amps have storied pasts, which are no secret and am happy to tell you the tales if you want to hear them. “Over the hills and far away” “From the darkest depths of Mordor” Not exactly, but you get the idea.
My confession is that I have created products which are too difficult to produce with a profit margin in place. However, it is what has kept this ship afloat for thirty six years. These items are much more than sandbags being thrown out of a gondola, they are a way of life, a vestige of truth. So, in order to stay true, I am offering them to you today, in the best way I can. A confidante of mine asked me the other day, “Do you want to be a museum or a business? They both are valid”. I agree. I want to be a museum selling directly to my clientele. Here are the goods. They are very limited in supply with no guarantee of replenishment. They do, however embody all of my love.
All of these horns and Amps can be mixed and matched and used together. Additionally, my horns can be used with almost any other sound source for a variety of purposes. Mono, Stereo, or as sound reinforcement or instrument amplification. Inexpensive bluetooth-receiving solid state amps are readily available and are a common interface with modern digital sound sources like phones, tablets, and computers.
This singleton was made for my Aero Dynamisms show at Packer Schopf gallery in 2014. It is one of a kind and would pair nicely with the available Mono Block to make a beautiful system for spinning 78’s or mono records. It stands 36″ tall with a bell that is 15″ across. It has a translucent red orange bell in shellac. Serialized #SP890 List price $2900
Specimen Little Horn Speakers These are one of the last two pairs from the original production run of dense cast urethane Little Horns. They stand 36″ tall. One pair in white and one with red bells. I am offering them for sale as the last of their kind. The cost to produce them became prohibitive. They are exceptional sounding. Serialized #SP823A/B List price $6300
**SOLD** Specimen Little Horn Speakers These are one of the last two pairs from the original production run of dense cast urethane Little Horns. They stand 36″ tall. One pair in white and one with red bells. I am offering them for sale as the last of their kind. The cost to produce them became prohibitive. They are exceptional sounding. Serialized #803 A/B List price $6300 **SOLD**
Specimen 144 Horn Speakers Beautifully efficient at 94.5 dB with the Fostex FE-168EZ 6.5″ full range drivers. They are magnificent sounding. One of a kind pair. These stand 50″ tall with a 20″ horn diameter, 11″ base, 14″ minimum shelf depth. Amp not included. List price $16,000
**SOLD** These are Little Horn Minis that stand 24″ tall. They are made of recycled newsprint and dryer lint. Natural Lacquered bases with horns finished in shellac with black bells. Serialized #SP871A/B List price $3700 **SOLD**
**SOLD** This is a fine pair of all natural Little Horn Minis They stand 24″ tall. Serialized #SP877A/B List price $3700 **SOLD**
These are beautiful Baltic birch and Italian poplar Liederhorns with grey bells and grey Fostex FF125WK 4.5″ Full Range drivers. They stand 41″ tall with 20″ bells. Serialized #SP824A/B. Gorgeous sounding. List price $5800
These are Calla Horns with Baltic birch bases and Italian poplar horns with matching grey bells and the exceptional limited edition Fostex FE108SS-HP 4″ Full Range They stand 43″ tall. Serialized #SP863A/B List price $6000
**SOLD** This Singleton was made for my Aero Dynamisms show at Packer Schopf gallery in 2014. It is one of a kind and would pair nicely with the available Mono Block to make a beautiful system for spinning 78’s or mono records. It has an aluminum back panelIt stands 36″ tall with a bell that is 10″ across. It has a translucent green bell in shellac. Serialized #633AX List price $3200 **SOLD**
**SOLD** These are three single Hornlets from the Sonic Arboretum exhibitions that appeared at the Guggenheim, the MCA in Chicago and the ICA in Boston. The horns generated for these shows were not made in pairs because arrays with as many as 72 horns were used. Here we have the stragglers from the bunch that would be perfect for an asymmetrical stereo set up or a mono system or even a mini array. 19″ tall overall, 9 1/4″ horn diameter, 5″ cube base
6-1/2″ minimum shelf depth. Mix and match to suit your personal style! **SOLD**
**SOLD** Here we have an early single Hornlet with a green bell fitted with a copper framed Fostex driver. 19″ tall. Serialized #SP872 List $1100 **SOLD**
**SOLD** Here is an early Hornlet with a black bell. Serialized from the Guggenheim Sonic Arboretum. 19″ tall. Serialized #SPG242 List $1100
**SOLD** Here is a single Hornlet with an all natural horn and a copper framed driver. Many of the early museum pieces enjoy cosmetics that include organic blotches and drippings from the glue used in the construction process. These are encapsulated under the shellac finish making each and every Specimen unique. 19″ tall. #SP876 List $1100 **SOLD**
Here is a single Hornling with a green base and an all natural horn. 26 3/8″ tall overall, 13 3/4″ horn diameter, 6″ cube base, 8″ minimum deep shelf. Serialized #SP242 List price $1325
Here is a single Hornling with a dark brown base and an all natural horn. Another early model. 26 3/8″ tall overall, 13 3/4″ horn diameter, 6″ cube base, 8″ minimum deep shelf. Serialized #SP259. List price $1325
One of only three Plumb Horn pairs made, and these being the ONLY XL Plumb Horns. They stand a towering 77 inches tall. These three pairs of horns have also affectionately been known as “Column Solvers”. My thinking is that if one has an unwanted load bearing column in their loft space for instance, that cannot be gotten rid of, these would lend a ready alibi to substantiate its presence. Otherwise, they are gorgeous tall horns that create a formidable sound stage and contribute a stunning visual element. Made of Baltic Birch and Italian Poplar with a nitrocellulose lacquer finish and red bells. These stand 77″ tall with an 11″ base and Fostex FE168EZ 6.5″ Full Range Sigma Series drivers. Serialized #SP643/644. List price $12000 Certainly a one of a kind pair
Another lovely pair of Plumb Horns. One of only three pairs made. These are the white Plumb Horns. Made of Baltic Birch and Italian Poplar with a nitrocellulose lacquer finishI have always envisioned these as receiving a decorative surface treatment, the patterns of dragonfly wings for instance. I am open to that still, or they are available in pristine white. These stand 65″ tall with 9″ bases. Serialized #SP830 A/B. List price $8000
These are the Crimson Plumbs!, The matching Dark Crimson Amp shown is no longer available but I would be happy to make another one, or I think there is a yellow amp that would go with these horns nicely. Serialized #SP730 A/B. List price (includes horns only, not the amp or pineapple) $8000
Satellite Sub Woofer Shockingly obsolete technology uses wires to connect your sound source to this unit. Cable type of your choice included. A built in audio amp powers this sub woofer and a pair of horns of your choice. Makes for a perfect desk/workstation system. Serialized #SP669 List price $1595
**SOLD** Serialized #SP832 Specimen Sub Cabinet. A rock solid Specimen Sub Woofer. Perfectly tuned with the massive Seas L26ROY 10″ driver. Set and forget. No onboard electronics to become obsolete. Requires an outboard amplifier for power. Solid state units are readily available and inexpensive. There is also a Specimen Tube amp for just such purposes in the works. Enjoy this welcome addition to any system. List $2750 **SOLD**
**SOLD** Single-ended Monoblock Tube Amplifier This amp is a lone mono voice for a single channel system. I made this to power my spinning Janus horn in the Sonic Arboretum show at the Boston ICA museum. https://www.specimenaudio.com/product/sonic-arboretum-ica-boston/ This would be a perfect companion to any of the single horns available. Remember that the White Album was mixed to mono folks! Serialized SP828. List price $4200 **SOLD**
Single-ended Stereo Hi-Fi Tube Amplifier. Natural Frame. Serialized #SP701 List price $4900
Single-ended Stereo Hi-Fi Tube Amplifier Natural Frame. Serialized #SP704. List price $4900, Sale price $3430
Single-ended Stereo Hi-Fi Tube Amplifier Natural Frame. Serialized #SP714. List price $4900
Single-ended Stereo Hi-Fi Tube Amplifier Yellow Frame. Serialized #SP7814. List price $4900
2A3 Stereo Amp This amp circuit is truly beautiful. One owner remarked that it is the negative space around the sound that is so impressive, everything you DON’T hear. I find this very interesting. The venerable 2A3 power tubes deliver three watts per channel that will blow your mind. List price $5700
Standing 9 feet tall, The Specimen XL Horn Speakers are extraordinarily efficient and provide an alarming bass response. Equipped with Eminence Beta12CX driver and a high frequency compression driver with a crossover, the XL is a perfect PA speaker, they are ideal for events and live music wherever a visual treat is also in order. This unique patented design lends itself to rear-loading of drivers. List price $40,000 for a pair, Sale price $28,000