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Help with making a decision - Fried Studio V mars

Hey, I am new to the site but have been into audio equipment since the mid 1990's. I currently have a pair of Bud Fried's studio v speakers that I bought directly from the man himself back in the late 90's. They are in amazing shape top to bottom and I am don't really want to sell them but I am moving out of the country and don't know if I really want to leave them in a storage unit either. I am not trying to sell them from the forum! I just want to get some opinions of what they are worth so I can decide if I want to keep them or not. I have not been active in any buying or selling in years and can't really find anything online as far as sold values. Any opinions would be appreciated, thanks in advance
hifiko

Showing 5 responses by bobana0

bobana0
9 posts
 
The Studio Vs with the Gefco drivers all work perfectly.

One of the Studio Vs with the Focal drivers has a bad woofer. It is a Focal 8V412db, which is a 4 ohm 8-inch woofer with a dual voice coil. I have considered trying to get it repaired, but I don't know who to trust with it. It has a bit of an oddly shaped basket (frame) and the speaker baffle has been set up accordingly. I don't think Focal currently makes an 8-inch DVC woofer and I haven't been able to find any other suitable replacement.

By the way, the 6-inch midranges are Focal 6V011dbl (also DVC). They still work perfectly.
bobana0
9 posts
 
I own two pairs of Studio Vs (three... if you count a pair of weird ones that use Focal drivers instead of the usual Hiquphon tweeter and Gefco woofer and mid-range). I paid $500.00 (plus shipping) for the latest (2012) pair, but they needed new tweeters. I paid about $1,000.00 (plus shipping) for my first pair in 2006. In all cases, the cabinets were in good, but not great, shape.

If they are as you describe them, I can't imagine them being worth less than $750.00 - $800.0.
bobana0
9 posts
 
Agreed. I wouldn't give up my Studio Vs for twice what I paid for them. With or without the MARS system, I really enjoy them.

By the way, has anyone else heard of Studio Vs with all Focal drivers? I believe they're real Frieds because their name is on the inductors in the crossover. One woofer (an 8v412db) is shot and I can't find a replacement.
bobana0
9 posts
 
Real good info Trelia. Thanks.

A couple of years ago I actually purchased a pair of the CS2.2 woofers from Thiel because their Thiele-Small numbers were very close to the Focal woofer. Unfortunately, the baffle would need significant modification to get them to fit.

The other problem is that I would need a dual voice coil woofer if I want the MARS to work. That isn't a big priority, but it would be nice.

Right now I use the functioning Focal Studio V as the center channel in a 5.1 setup with two Gefco Studio Vs up front and a pair of Studio IVs in back. I wouldn't trade it for anything.
bobana0
9 posts
 
Can Bill do more than refoaming and reconing? The reason that I ask is that I think it may be a problem with the voice coil because the woofer looks fine but sounds bad (distortion and other extraneous noise).
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