Need help from ALON V 's owners.

The telltale difference between MkII and MkIII is the grill. The MkIII has a Vandersteen-
type sock over the top. The MkII has a removable grill: http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/frr.pl?rspkr&1038375059

If you like the Alon sound, you'll love the V's. They have a special sound. Whether it's
worth a 1200 mile trip can only be answered by you, especially with gas prices as they
are. I hope the price is right.

I talked to Carl at a CES show way back in the 90's I owned the Alon 5 MK 1 and wanted to update to the then new MK 2 . Carl advised that was not possible because of some cabinet changes [ internal ] and some small changes in crossover and I do not remember maybe a minor driver change. I think I have read that the MK 2 could be updated to a Mk3 That change was the addition of a alnico midrange. Carl also advised Me that you could update the drivers in a MK1 ,MK2 or MK3 to the all alnico drivers from the early Circes I did. There were crossover changes better parts and a minor change in layout but they would work fine in a MK1/ MK2 . Mingles is right about the sock, I like My Alon 5's MK1 with the Circes alnico drivers I also updated the crossovers with better parts but did not change any values in the crossover and moved it outside the cabinet. The Alons now sit in a corner as I have moved on to new speakers but may pull them out just for fun sometime. Marc

I now looked over My notes and see the addition of the alnico midrange took place when they went from MK 1 to the MK 2 . The minor crossover change when they went from MK 2 to the MK 3 . Marc

There was also a woofer upgrade at some at point on the MK3. I believe there was a $200 charge. This was mentioned at the end of the last Circe review in the Absolute Sound.

I have the last version of the 5 MK3 which I have upgraded a couple of times. First all alnico magnet drivers. Then about a year ago Carl at Nola built me reference grade outboard crossovers for my Alon 5 MK3. I also went with the latest version of the midrange driver which is used in his newest speakers and the Cardas copper speakers posts he uses. Finally I recently added Carl's IP-1 isolation platforms for the crossovers. He also upgraded my reference crossovers at no charge.

Anyway the sound is light years ahead of my original 5 MK3. Alan

07-25-08: Photoalan
There was also a woofer upgrade at some at point on the MK3.

I've seen a number of posts and classifieds where people have upgraded Model II's and V's with Alnico woofers. I don't know if this was standard on the V MkIII.

The V MkIII woofer was not alnico. The only driver that had alnico was the midrange which I think started with the V Mk II. You could upgrade to alnico on the woofer and or tweeter as I did. The Alon Circe model had all alnico drivers but also an outboard crossover, better cosmetics in the same size cabinet as the V. I don't really know anything about the Model II.

I have one grill for Alon V MKII speakers that I no longer need and want to sell if anyone is interested. Contact me.