Phase Technology design and PMC?

[Vintage Pete]

Since we don't have a Phase technology forum, I'll start this thread here since also I think the topic relates in a way to PMC and their designs.

As many of you know, I'm a longtime JBL fan, and have multiple systems (4 systems). All but one have JBL speakers, the exception being my master bedroom system, which has a pair of Phase Technology PC80 tower speakers.

See attachment. (sorry the photo isn't the best I've ever taken but you can get the idea).


I bought the speakers around 1996, I believe. I have always liked them-they are a two way design and have a 6" flat piston woofer in a ported, transmission-line type enclosure. Although one of the drives could probably stand a rebuild (foam deterioration on the flat front surface), these speakers offer suprisingly good sound, in particular the low end. At times I'm really almost astonished at how deep and powerful the low end can be, for such a small driver. All of my other systems have subwoofers, but I've never seen a need for one in this system. (good thing, I don't have the room!).

I often think of Dan ("jdandy") and other PMC owners here when I listen to these, as I believe the EB1i utilizes a similar design concept-that being a transmission line with a port at the bottom of the front baffle. This is not so say these are by any means in the same league as the PMC EB1's-I'm only talking from the standpoint of the type of performance that can be achieved by this type of design. The PMC's obviously are a state of the art design achievement, bringing this type of design to its full potential.

Getting back to the Phase Technology models-there was a taller, model PC100 tower system available at the time that was a three way design, and had two 6 inch bass drivers, I believe. They offered even better performance than the 80's-but they were a bit too large for my bedroom application.

I'm curious as to whether anyone here has had experience with the Phase Technology PC80 or PC100 towers, and what your thoughts are. Better yet, anyone who has knowledge of and/or experience with both the PT's and the PMC's.

Another curious point-as I google for info and/or photos of the PC80 or PC100 towers-it's as if they never existed. You can find the PC80-which was a small, bookshelf-sized monitor. I can't find a thing on the PC80 or PC100 towers-and I know they existed, I have a pair!


Anybody have any thoughts to share?


Pete

[jdandy]

Pete.......Was Phase Technology a national product, or perhaps a local product sold through audio dealerships? If they were a local prduct, say Florida based or even southern US, that may be why there seems to be no trail. Perhaps the company only existed for a very short time.

[Vintage Pete]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Pete.......Was Phase Technology a national product, or perhaps a local product sold through audio dealerships? If they were a local prduct, say Florida based or even southern US, that may be why there seems to be no trail. Perhaps the company only existed for a very short time.

Dan,

I'm very surprised you have not heard of them. They've been around a long time, and are still very much in business, so far as I can tell. It's just that I can't find anything on the tower version of the PC80, and nothing on the PC100.

Here is the company website: Phase Technology


Pete

[US Blues]

When I was in the audio biz back in the 80's Phase Tech was a company who sold their products through select dealers whose territories did not overlap. They were a sort-of "house brand" for upper-mid to high-end dealers, providing a profitable, quality product manufactured by an independent company. In the 80's Phase Tech speakers were sonically competitive with highly regarded brands at a slightly lower price point, their products were a good value.

[jdandy]

Pete.......Thanks for the Link to Phase Technology. They have a wide varity of speakers. I did not see any that still employ the transmission line design, although they are still using the flat piston drivers for woofers in some of their speakers.

[schaefer11]

I cannot recall the exact details, but I believe that Phase Technology once supplied McIntosh with cabinets, drivers or some such for their early speakers. I believe they may still be an OEM manufacturer for some brands.

[deafbykhorns]

Pete,
I just had the pleasure of visiting the Phase Technology manufacturing facility and spent about an hour with Ken Hecht. They are an OEM manufacturer for some high end speaker manufacturers which I probably should not to mention. They are also located in Jacksonville (about 45minutes from Dan)

His father also developed and patented the first dome tweeter, his son seems to have stayed at the cutting edge of Technology by developing DART

Here's a recent post after my visit to the factory.
http://audioaficionado.org/home-thea...e-theater.html

[Powell]

Hey guys,

I have had the pleasure of using a pair of the PC9.5's and PC 1.5's over the past few months. Paired with a MX150 and MC501 they perform at or above most any standard. On a previous trip down to Jacksonville... Ken paired the 9.5's with some other very VERY well respected brands (as well probably shouldn't mention......), They honestly sounded just as good and even "to me" better than the rest.. No easy feat!

Phase Tech is most certainly the Dark Horse of the speaker industry. If they put half the funds in marketing as they do R&D, There wouldn't be much of a competition left.