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Can the best Cerwin Vega speaker of all time get even better? | AT-15

Creative Sound Solutions

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Link to kit on CSS website: https://www.css-audio.com/online-stor...

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Can a classic pair of Cerwin Vega AT-15s be improved with modern speaker-design techniques?

We got our hands on a pair of AT-15s and decided to find out. Rather than simply replacing aging crossover components, we measured the complete speaker and every individual driver, examined the original cabinet and crossover design, made some structural changes, and designed an entirely new crossover around the original Cerwin Vega drivers.

In this video we go through the complete process—from the stock measurements and cabinet teardown to driver testing, crossover simulation, construction and the final result.

The goal wasn't to turn the AT-15 into a completely different speaker. It was to find out what the original drivers and cabinet were capable of when approached using the measurement and design methods we use on modern CSS loudspeakers.

In this video:

Stock Cerwin Vega AT-15 measurements
Cabinet teardown and bracing
Individual woofer, midrange and tweeter measurements
Analysis of the original crossover
Complete crossover redesign
New crossover construction

If you're interested in vintage speakers, loudspeaker measurements, crossover design or DIY audio, this one gets fairly deep into the entire process.

CSS Audio
DIY speaker kits, drivers and components

#CerwinVega #VintageAudio #DIYAudio

20 Comments

@Mykytys 2 weeks ago (edited)

I remember back in the 90s, when I was working as a stereo salesman, four young men—much like I was at the time—came in to buy speakers. They had driven about 200 miles in a BMW 3 Series (if I remember correctly). They got so excited about the AT-15 model (I remember turning on the loudness function, and the guys were sold.) that they ended up buying a pair. They managed to squeeze one speaker into the trunk and the other onto the back seat. There was no other option: two of them had to take the train home, while the other two drove the BMW back.
😁

@sebastianhasbun3846 3 weeks ago

I would love more videos like this. This was such a fun watch.

@emotive7 3 weeks ago

I'd love a CSS kit that was retro styled like this but with modern components.

@tmdillon1969 3 weeks ago

This makes me smile. I've built all three of my CSS projects in my shop, listening through Cerwin Vega VS-120s, and I've always been struck by how much better they sound than their reputation suggests. I've also wondered if there is a business to be had putting these classic CV speakers into real boxes with real veneer. I've tried re-veneering these using similar vinyl sheets, and I'll never, ever, ever try that again. If you guys ever do a crossover for a VS-120, or I come across a pair of these ATs for the right price, I may just try that. And I have to chuckle that the interior of these consumer-level speakers from decades ago looks just like the interior of modern Klipsch speakers they're charging thousands for. Right down to the particle board!

@fiveangle 3 weeks ago

Hearing the big entrance breakdown on Money For Nothing on the D9's at a stereo show at the Oakland Coliseum, and my astonishment when my mother took them home that day, literally changed the course of my life. They may not be the best loudspeakers you could buy but there was just something magical about a huge speaker that could shake your house, even with a lower wattage receiver. Cerwin Vega filled a niche that no one else could occupy at the time <3

@Pksparty2112 2 weeks ago

I’m absolutely pumped to see your big bad old school speaker build.
I’m making that move away from the audiophile style speakers and back to the 70s rock speakers I had in my youth. Basically finished that full circle of my 50 year journey.

@-MrDontCare- 3 weeks ago

I miss my AT-15's. ❤ Had mine for 10 years.

@brianboro5278 3 weeks ago

Possibly the best explanation of a crossover design i have ever seen. Ill watch this again and again.

@slyfoxx2973 3 weeks ago

I like how you weren't using speaker cable as thick as a garden hose!

@-Primer- 3 weeks ago

When I worked at Circuit City in 1993 , Vegas were always the center of attention. Loud and Proud !

@danielsgarageILMODC 2 weeks ago

I got my AT-15s from Circuit city back in 1988-1989. Love my AT's and you cant tell me any different. As a kid, these we're so loud running off of a Kenwood 150wpc. lol. I'm only about 5 minutes into this video and had to comment. Love the vega content.

@PsychobabbleRapp 10 days ago

I bought 4 AT 15's from Rex TV in Springfield Ohio in 1985 , powered them with 2 Carver TFM 45's bridged to mono, and I had a 3 channel DBX dynamic range controller tan through a Marantz Pre amp, and used a Teac 3 head metal tape deck for play back, because my turn table would skip at high volume, and I never got tired of showing people how powerful they were, ... they had so much punch and solid hitting base, they would shock the little wire elements elements lose inside a light bulb and cause it to burn out, I knocked out light bulbs in both living room lamps several times..