Coral Beta 10's - A find I Couldn't Resist

[Drugolf]

Over the last few years the vintage Audio Group I started here in the area has grown into a fun and large gathering of cool folks. One of the things we've mostly agreed to do is post up items we find and want to move on for the groups consideration before out to the regular other options. A couple weeks ago one of the group posted a pristine pair of Coral Beta 10 speakers that walked into his little repair shop down in Twin Falls that he was selling for the customer that would benefit from the sale (needed money).
As the title suggests, I couldn't resist. They weren't cheap but the price was also very reasonable considering some of the numbers now associated with these. The fact they are in pristine condition only made my decision easier.
Likely they will end up in a BLH, but for now they are being used as-is to run some quality sound through them and wake them back up from likely years of slumber. And they sound great. Yep, a little lacking on the bottom end, but everything else is really really good.
Beautiful looking drivers. They still have the protective mesh on them (like panty hose) this the grey color in the photo.
The grills are reversible which is pretty cool.

Anybody have any experience with these?

 

[Redboy]

Gosh, those are beautiful!

I haven't heard the Coral Betas before, but I owned a pair of Flat 5s (4s?) for a while and understand the appeal. I wouldn't have been able to pass those up, either!

 

[TubeHiFiNut]

Fun speakers.

 

[MrEd]

Those look very nice
Good score

 

[Roscoe65]

Oliver Sayes uses a pair of these in his own system.

 

[StevenZ]

Very nice! I would love to hear those

 

[kray]

I've been tempted by these before... how are they coming along? any more juicy audiophile descriptions?

 

[Drugolf]

I've been tempted by these before... how are they coming along? any more juicy audiophile descriptions?

nothing new to report yet. I have them in my main lounge hooked up to tube amps and it is hot here right now so I really haven't been too motivated to fire up all those valves.

 

[Drugolf]

Moved these from the main lounge where they just weren't getting enough time and into my home office. Hooked up currently to a Marantz PM-11S1 and are really killing it. Bass is lacking though. Plenty of sparkle at the top end but everything in the mid range sounds very real.

 

[Drugolf]

I've been spending more time here lately with the Coral's....because they are just that damn good...in the main room. Driving them with a bottlehead 2a3 amp seems to do the trick. Works great with these Paul!

I am really impressed with how these handle the higher frequencies. I am not wanting for anything more up there.

This has allowed me to augment the low end with a subwoofer and after playing around with placement and adjustable settings like Phase etc. The integration has gone quite well. The sub is an old Janis W-2 which is their 12" and includes it's own amp crossover module that you put in-line between the preamp and main speaker amp(s) via RCA. My room is 12 x 12 and the 12" sub seems t do fine, but I am going to try 2 subs soon using miniSP.

Next up will be to take some measurements maybe this week when everyone else in the house is outta here.

I of course am tempted to put these glorious drivers in another cabinet.

 

[Audionut]

I've been spending more time here lately with the Coral's....because they are just that damn good...in the main room. Driving them with a bottlehead 2a3 amp seems to do the trick. Works great with these Paul!

I am really impressed with how these handle the higher frequencies. I am not wanting for anything more up there.

This has allowed me to augment the low end with a subwoofer and after playing around with placement and adjustable settings like Phase etc. The integration has gone quite well. The sub is an old Janis W-2 which is their 12" and includes it's own amp crossover module that you put in-line between the preamp and main speaker amp(s) via RCA. My room is 12 x 12 and the 12" sub seems t do fine, but I am going to try 2 subs soon using miniSP.

Next up will be to take some measurements maybe this week when everyone else in the house is outta here.

I of course am tempted to put these glorious drivers in another cabinet.

View attachment 43940

Not trying to steer you out of building new cabinets but those actually look quite nice. I wonder if they were originally the same color as the baffle? Interesting looking speakers to say the least. They look like good fun!

 

[Drugolf]

Not trying to steer you out of building new cabinets but those actually look quite nice. I wonder if they were originally the same color as the baffle? Interesting looking speakers to say the least. They look like good fun!

I get your take for sure. I kinda wish the cabinets were rough so I had an excuse because right now they are too good to toss aside in the "hopes" of gaining just a little more on the bottom end. I knowing me, my build will not be cheap. Plus the abr would go to waste. but I also thinking with good subwoofer integration I may not feel I need to help them with a new cabinet on that end. So far so good with the Janis alone.

There is a good chance yes that the exteriors were a bit darker/richer similar to the fronts, but then again you know how it is when you apply a finish to 2 different woods, even if the same variety. They aren't as different as the photo shows - maybe a little more of the darker red patina remains.

As you can see right now I have them on those classic tube metal stands with a slight pitch up. I need to try and find something that gets them up to ear height but straight and listen to them there. I'd be fine with building some great looking stands for them.

I'd love to have some Lowther fans hear these and give me an impression of how the 10' might be making a difference compared to the smaller drivers. you'd think they give up some speed or extension at the higher end, but I'm not hearing it.

 

[Audionut]

I get your take for sure. I kinda wish the cabinets were rough so I had an excuse because right now they are too good to toss aside in the "hopes" of gaining just a little more on the bottom end. I knowing me, my build will not be cheap. Plus the abr would go to waste. but I also thinking with good subwoofer integration I may not feel I need to help them with a new cabinet on that end. So far so good with the Janis alone.

There is a good chance yes that the exteriors were a bit darker/richer similar to the fronts, but then again you know how it is when you apply a finish to 2 different woods, even if the same variety. They aren't as different as the photo shows - maybe a little more of the darker red patina remains.

As you can see right now I have them on those classic tube metal stands with a slight pitch up. I need to try and find something that gets them up to ear height but straight and listen to them there. I'd be fine with building some great looking stands for them.

I'd love to have some Lowther fans hear these and give me an impression of how the 10' might be making a difference compared to the smaller drivers. you'd think they give up some speed or extension at the higher end, but I'm not hearing it.

I hear ya, having the drivers at ear level is key to get optimal performance optics. I’ve tested many speakers and noticed a substantial improvement by lifting them up off the ground to ear level, or adjusting my ear heigh (leaning back/forward/squatting...). If I didn’t love my 604’s so much (at perfect ear level), I’d build a set of 32/802/414’s with the 32/414 snugged up tight, and the middle of them being at ear level (tall cabinets).

 

[Katalyst]

Curious about the Janis W2. I have a W1 but have not had luck finding the matching amp. When you start the dsp project please post about it. Thanks.

 

[Drugolf]

Curious about the Janis W2. I have a W1 but have not had luck finding the matching amp. When you start the dsp project please post about it. Thanks.

You bet. Mine didn't have the amp either and I found one on Ebay I think. Should be easy to actively crossover with a dedicated amp. The Janis crossover filters low and high pass at 100hz and 18db slopes.

 

[RPMac]

I’d build a set of 32/802/414’s with the 32/414 snugged up tight, and the middle of them being at ear level (tall cabinets).

This is what I did…9 1/2” from center line of the 32 horn mouth to center of 414. 2 1/2” from bottom of 32 mouth to top of 414 cut out. I have 414z, so mounted on back of baffle. I built these when I used 902s, then I got some 807s and didn’t think they would fit, but I have about 1/4” between the 807 and 414 motor. (I can hear my mother-in-law English teacher chastising me for that run on sentence).

My original plan and what I would do if I had 802s, would use 2 414s side by side and the 32 centered between them as low and close as could get it. Unfortunately, bad packaging got me a busted cone on the second part.

 

[Audionut]

This is what I did…9 1/2” from center line of the 32 horn mouth to center of 414. 2 1/2” from bottom of 32 mouth to top of 414 cut out. I have 414z, so mounted on back of baffle. I built these when I used 902s, then I got some 807s and didn’t think they would fit, but I have about 1/4” between the 807 and 414 motor. (I can hear my mother-in-law English teacher chastising me for that run on sentence).

My original plan and what I would do if I had 802s, would use 2 414s side by side and the 32 centered between them as low and close as could get it. Unfortunately, bad packaging got me a busted cone on the second part.

She may chastise you for not correcting the sentence! (I actually do that from time to time)
I‘d figure that some manufacturers were more concerned with a speaker looking good on the floor or in a room, versus building it to the correct height. Though some of the speakers would get quite large, I guess it was common to put them on bookshelves (in which case that will give you the flexibility to get them up to ear level).

 

[MWalt]

I of course am tempted to put these glorious drivers in another cabinet.

I understand the temptation here, but those speakers look great as is!

 

[Drugolf]

I understand the temptation here, but those speakers look great as is!

They do. And if I am to pair them up with subwoofers anyway, why?

 

[emtor]

I have no experience with the Beta 10s, but I came across the Coral Flat 8 II, so I bought all 5 of them.
2 of them is presently sititing in open baffle panels and I'm very pleased with how they sound.
Of course no eartquake bass, but who cares.
They were popular in the -80's. Now they are a rare find.