Onken Plans and Pics

Drugolf

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Been working the web looking for the best versions of plans for both the Onkens - Original and Petite. Anybody have anything that is known to be the best version currently available? I found the cool Hiraga Audiophile summary that shows the old French diagrams, but are there any better plans?

Also, does anybody have any photos of old original Japanese build versions? Doesn't seem to be many on the web for whatever reason.
 
Ping Joe Roberts... saddly I saw he no longer posts here.
He is a wealth of knowledge on these, I have read a lot of Joes comments on them.
If I can jog my memory I might find link to them.
I might be able contact Joe via another forum, have not talked to him in a while.
 
No, not in this case. Onken is Onken I believe and I am Just looking for the best drafted plans for the Onken. Version meant which is the correct most detailed.
 
I had the opportunity to hear @ICTWoody 's speakers here in San Antonio where they were originally built before somehow they ended up wherever he is. Damn they sounded great!
 
And to think he has upgraded the crossover and horn considerably. Kansas City I believe.
 
I had the opportunity to hear @ICTWoody 's speakers here in San Antonio where they were originally built before somehow they ended up wherever he is. Damn they sounded great!

I'm in Wichita, Kansas.

They sounded good when I got them. But getting rid of the Parts Express Woofer and the 511 horn has made a big difference. They are a whole other speaker now. Only thing that remains from what you heard is the box.

I really enjoy the sound of the AlNiCo drivers. There were enough questions regarding the 7/8" exit throat of the 902 driver, that I went to the 802's... and then I got the Jabo's and 288s together. Never tried the Jabo's with a 1" driver.

Every upgrade I've made has been a big improvement. They are really something now.

- Woody
 
Man, I can only imagine how they sound now. Knowing their originally owner, I'm not entirely sure he didn't use the right woofer in the beginning. The guy sure goes through a lot of gear and speakers though so perhaps he wasn't willing to work with them as much as you are.
 
Man, I can only imagine how they sound now. Knowing their originally owner, I'm not entirely sure he didn't use the right woofer in the beginning. The guy sure goes through a lot of gear and speakers though so perhaps he wasn't willing to work with them as much as you are.

He didn't. The Onken is designed around the 416 woofer. The original ad said "spec'd very close to the Altec 416" but when I looked at T/S params, they seemed pretty far apart. The PE driver had a similar construction to a 416C... but the real 416A (reconed by GPA as a 416-8A) sounds so much better. The PE driver sounded dry. Didn't have the meat on it compared to the real deal.

Maybe he had Altecs in there and then kept them when he sold them? I'm not sure. I know he traded them to the 2nd owner (who I got them from) straight up along with some tube amps (quicksilvers if I recall) and preamp, for some Thiels. They are a very nice build with incredible attention to detail. But there were a few decisions made I thought were strange considering the level of detail on some things.

The guy I got them from is a big Thiel enthusiast and while he liked these he found some new Thiels he wanted and his wife said not both. He only had these for about a year max.

- Woody
 
Ping Joe Roberts... saddly I saw he no longer posts here.
He is a wealth of knowledge on these, I have read a lot of Joes comments on them.
If I can jog my memory I might find link to them.
I might be able contact Joe via another forum, have not talked to him in a while.

Anybody know how I can reach out to Joe to pick his brain?
 
Yeah Redboy, I've been contemplating both actually as I have 414A's (4 of them) as well as the 416's. And the petites are probably going to be a better room fit for me. And this would be a CNC effort.
 
Anybody know how I can reach out to Joe to pick his brain?
I think he's on a forum sabbatical (or, at least, the fora at which I spend too much time) -- that said, a PM here, or at AK or at AA might rouse him from his internet-posting torpor ;)
Perhaps @je2a3 would have insight, too, of an appropriate way to catch Mr. R's ear, so to speak.

I miss his perspectives, and his banter and candor (or is that bantor and cander?) too.
🙁
 
If you can find a copy of Sound Practices Vol 1 #4 online, it has the plans on page 20. I have no scanner at home now but I'm looking at the magazine article with dimensioned plans for the Onken and Petite Onken.
I've seen the whole collection of SP issues for download.
I think Joe Roberts has a web scanner that alerts him whenever anyone mentions downloading his magazine illegally. He should be here soon.
 
I found this for you,
onken 414.jpg
I will cotinue to reach out to Joe and see if he wll respond.
Not like we are best buds, but we have comunicatd a bit and he was gragracious and sent me some caps for a project at one point
If you search oken on audio asylum hi efficiency you find a lot of good if and lot of inut from Joe.
 
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