Month: October 2014

Continuing with my previous post on this exceptional fine pair of monitor’s history. She is known as the Duntech PCL-15 “The Little Dutchess” or “Dutchess” closed box, with speaker finish of either sapele mahogany or black oak.

The blue book states that years of production is between 1988-1999, with a MSRP initial retail pricing of US$1300 per piece (today value of approximate US$2600). The current used market value is around US$350.

It is a VERY RARE speakers in the marketplace now.

Which led me to think if the pair that I have the fortune to own now is part of the original production line or was it ala carte custom order. See, Kelvin (original owner) mentioned he ordered this pair in 2001 through a local dealer. It is not available off the shelf. A check archive.org of Duntech Audio website all the way back to 1999/2001does not provide any clue either. In their studio line, there is no mentioned of PCL15 product , just the PCL 10 & PCL 25

What is different from this pair to most PCL 15 is that it is a professional configuration, with neutrik connector bi-wire connections.  Aside to the better audio quality over the + / – terminations, it is easily to plug-in & out the cable connection. Just one twist of the neutrik connector to unplugged it from secured connection.

There is one thread on the web that talks about different version of the same model.

“I have had a black pair of PCL-15’s for a few years now and thought they where accurate but lacking in bass. However I recently purchased another pair of PCL-15’s, a light timber veneered model and the main driver is mounted on a square aluminium plate where as the black pair has the driver mounted on the speaker box timber..

Other than this, they look identical,however the sound of my newer pair is a great improvement in the overall sound especially the bass. I use them for mixing my recordings and the black pair to me seemed like rather like the Yamaha NS10M, hard to achieve a pleasing mix but once you where there it translated well to other speakers and systems. So I thought it was their design of being very revealing and accurate but not pleasing. The new pair i have seem much more musical but still accurate. This has me thinking there is a possibility there is something wrong with the old pair. Has any one else experienced this variation in within the Duntech PLC_15 model?

All pics on the net of the black pair seem to have the aluminium plate as well? I am hoping some one can shed some light on this for me. ”  

Material used:

Most Duntech models had the internal space pretty much completely filled with an open cell yellowish soft foam (Dunlop Hypersoft HS1730 :-)). The crossovers normally used air cored inductors, first order crossovers and Solen or Bennic polypropylene capacitors. The crossovers should be mounted on a piece of MDF, with connections made via plated pins approx. 5mm diameter, mounted into the MDF. All crossover cabling should be very neatly formed, not haphazardly wired. All the crossover components should be mounted with heat glue to the MDF. Van Den Hul internal cabling was often used. – By Sub Sonic 

Note:

PCL 10 (4.25″ woofer, 0.5″ tweeter) is produced from 1996 at MSRP of US$1400 per pair.

PCL 25 (6.5″ woofer x 2 , 1″ tweeter) is produced from 1995 at MSRP of US$2000 per pair.

I have recently acquired this wonderful pair of speakers.  Always wanted to own a pair of Duntech designed by John Dunlavy during my audio days.

The  previous owner, Kelvin, is a sound engineer, audio designer and music lover.  He bought it in 2001 at the cost of S$4500 and comes with matching 31″ SST speakers stands and studio cables. Speakers connections are Neutrik bi-wire type -banana plug.

Based on his estimate, there are probably only 3 pairs of such speakers in Singapore.

Kelvin takes care of the speakers by oiling the wooden body every six months or so.  For a 14 years old speakers, i must say it’s still in very good condition ! Obviously, the sound is stellar and that’s for another post.

Some comments by Studio engineers and Reviewers :

“ The most accurate monitors available….period”

“Absolutely phase coherent”

“Super extended, super sweet & throws a huge soundstage”

“Incredible mids & highs. MAGICAL!”

“Ultra accurate & Very detailed reproduction. Excellent stereo imaging”

There’s very limited information to this speakers and would like to post and share the joy of owing it. More to comes on how I got it as well as photos and thoughts on it.

For starters, here is the full specifications of Duntech PCL 15 (Pro) speakers.

DUNTECH PCL 15

PROFESSIONAL CONTROL ROOM LOUDSPEAKER

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

cabinet design : sealed acoustic suspension

drivers : 7” woofercc(3” voice coil & 3” damped central dust cap)                                1” silk dome tweeter   (with proprietary flared duct                                            waveguide & acoustical felt damper)

crossover : passive 2-way

crossover point : 3.8kHz

frequency response : 50Hz to 20kHz +/- 3db

sensitivity : 83db 1 watt @ 1 metre

max power handling : 100 watts

maximum SPL : 110db

nominal impedance : 6 ohms

minimal impedance : 6 ohms 

speakers connections : Neutrik NL 4 MPR Bi-wire                                                                                                 Pin 1+ / 1-  HF                                                                                                                            Pin 2+ / 2- LF

 dimensions : 13” (H) x 9” (W) x 7.5” (D)

weight : 14 lbs per speakers

 DUNTECH INTERNATIONAL  AUDIO STANDARDS CORPORATION PO BOX 421, Salisbury , South Australia

And that my friend is audio winning 🙂