Dennis Murphy CAOW1 with upgraded drivers

[nogaro]

I'm selling another pair of my beloved speakers - these I've had for about 3-4 years. These are very similar to the CAOW1 that sell on the Salk Sound website for $999. The differences being the upgraded drivers and the cabinet size(this is how they were purchased from Dennis by the original owner before me). The drivers are the Hiquphon OW2 (instead of OW1) and Seas ER15RLY (instead of CA15RLY). The cabinet is about 15x7x9 (HWD). The net result is that these have usable bass down to 50 Hz per Dennis.
They do have some scratches and nicks and I'd rate them at a 7 on the Audiogon scale. I think I've included all noticeable nicks in the pics below. The sound, of course, is fantastic as you would expect from Dennis.

I'm asking $500 + shipping (from 98105).

 

[nogaro]

These speakers are gaining weight as they haven't gotten a workout sitting in my garage. I'm sure there's an amp somewhere out there that would love to exercise with them.

 

[macddmac]

Was there a center channel design for the caow-1 ?
Cheers, Mac

 

[j_garcia]

Should have offered these up when you lived down the street from me

 

[nogaro]

Was there a center channel design for the caow-1 ?
Cheers, Mac

Don't know if it was specifically designed for these, but the Song Center uses the same drivers and the crossover was also designed by DM (I think). So, I would expect it to be a good match. The Satin black finish (to match these) is $795.

SongCenter features/pricing

 

[nogaro]

Should have offered these up when you lived down the street from me

They were even in your house!!! The move happened so fast combined with all my travel there really wasn't any time at all. But, if you're interested and they don't sell, I may bring them to the bay area on one of my trips.

 

[j_garcia]

Don't know if it was specifically designed for these, but the Song Center uses the same drivers and the crossover was also designed by DM (I think). So, I would expect it to be a good match. The Satin black finish (to match these) is $795.

SongCenter features/pricing

I'm sure if you contact Dennis, he can probably put drivers or a complete one together if it came to that too.

They were even in your house!!! The move happened so fast combined with all my travel there really wasn't any time at all. But, if you're interested and they don't sell, I may bring them to the bay area on one of my trips.

No worries. They sounded really nice. If they don't sell and they're still around we can discuss. I'm looking to fund a few other projects, but if the timing is right, I might be interested.

 

[nogaro]

I'm sure if you contact Dennis, he can probably put drivers or a complete one together if it came to that too.



No worries. They sounded really nice. If they don't sell and they're still around we can discuss. I'm looking to fund a few other projects, but if the timing is right, I might be interested.

They do sound really good. Unfortunately, I'm way past my fair share of speakers. I've enjoyed these tremendously for the better part of 3 years and it's time for someone else to get their aural fix from them

 

[Swerd]

Was there a center channel design for the caow-1 ?
Cheers, Mac

I have a pair of CAOW1s that I normally use in a bedroom 2-channel system. I also have SongTowers and a SongCenter in my family room HT. Just for grins, I have tried the CAOW1s in my HT system instead of the SongTowers, and I can confirm that they work quite nicely with the SongCenter.

My CAOW1s have the CA15 woofer and the OW1 tweeter, and my SongCenter has the ER15 woofers and the OW2 tweeter. Those differences don't seem to matter, as the crossover designer is the same.

These are very good sounding speakers, and nogaro's price is good. Did you build them? They look good in your photos. I haven't looked at the prices recently, but your price is probably better than what it might cost to build them today.

 

[nogaro]

I have a pair of CAOW1s that I normally use in a bedroom 2-channel system. I also have SongTowers and a SongCenter in my family room HT. Just for grins, I have tried the CAOW1s in my HT system instead of the SongTowers, and I can confirm that they work quite nicely with the SongCenter.

My CAOW1s have the CA15 woofer and the OW1 tweeter, and my SongCenter has the ER15 woofers and the OW2 tweeter. Those differences don't seem to matter, as the crossover designer is the same.

These are very good sounding speakers, and nogaro's price is good. Did you build them? They look good in your photos. I haven't looked at the prices recently, but your price is probably better than what it might cost to build them today.

My building skills are about the same as my singing skills - non-existent outside of the shower. These were built by DM's guy - I forget his name now (don't believe what they say - all that alcohol does catch up to ya).

Oh, they will cost way more to build now. Just the drivers alone (no crossover or cabinets) will run somebody around $420 (not adding shipping). The cabinets are very nice, heavy, and inert cabinets. I've never built speakers so I don't know how much the cabinets or crossovers would cost.

 

[Alex2507]

Why are you torturing me like this?

I have done nothing to you.

 

[nogaro]

It's only torture if you don't buy them. If you do, it's pure pleasure.
So, the question is, why are you torturing yourself? Just buy them already and let the pleasure begin

 

[Alex2507]

I'd be all over this if I didn't have a Swerd built DM bookshelf solution already in place with The MB27.

I might still be all over it if you were local. I bless the miles between us.

I'm not the sort that has $500 'extra' speakers.

 

[fuzz092888]

I'd be all over this if I didn't have a Swerd built DM bookshelf solution already in place with The MB27.

I might still be all over it if you were local. I bless the miles between us.

I'm not the sort that has $500 'extra' speakers.

I am...........if I had $500. I'm counting down the days to my first paycheck.........and I just so happen to find myself in need of some extra bookshelves. Maybe I can get the woodworking kids to refinish these in a nice veneer.

 

[nogaro]

I'd be all over this if I didn't have a Swerd built DM bookshelf solution already in place with The MB27.

I might still be all over it if you were local. I bless the miles between us.

I'm not the sort that has $500 'extra' speakers.

Good thing you put quotes around the extra or DM would've driven up and smacked you upside the head You don't have the same advantage of miles from him. These are a little too good to be extras, unless, of course, you happen to have acquired ADTG's harem.

 

[nogaro]

I am...........if I had $500. I'm counting down the days to my first paycheck.........and I just so happen to find myself in need of some extra bookshelves. Maybe I can get the woodworking kids to refinish these in a nice veneer.

I like the look of these as they are. What veneer are you thinking of?

 

[Alex2507]

If Dennis wants to smack my head he only need let it be known. I'd drive down for the pleasure.

Your CAOW1s are making me sweat a little. The part about upgraded drivers is what's getting to me.

My current MB27s are over $500 in parts. That's what would be the 'extra' speakers as your CAOW1s are worth more in parts, have more bass extension and can presumably be driven to higher SPLs. I listen at low SPLs, cross to dual subs and am still diggin' the curved sided gloss black cabinets that Swerd bled into for me.

Who ever does end up with your speakers is in for a real treat. Don't sell them to fuzz though. A few of us that care about him are organizing an intervention so that he can hopefully one day buy his girl a ring.

 

[fuzz092888]

I like the look of these as they are. What veneer are you thinking of?

Either a maple burl like the front baffle on these, a quilted maple, or something completely different, but in the burl or quilted family. I'm also rolling around the idea of an automotive high gloss.

 

[fuzz092888]

Don't sell them to fuzz though. A few of us that care about him are organizing an intervention so that he can hopefully one day buy his girl a ring.

Nah, puppy comes before ring in my book so we're good to go on some more speakers

 

[nogaro]

Either a maple burl like the front baffle on these, a quilted maple, or something completely different, but in the burl or quilted family. I'm also rolling around the idea of an automotive high gloss.

Automotive high gloss does sound very appealing. The choice between burl/quilt and automotive, for me, would highly depend on where they're being placed. Post some pics when you get a chance please - if you don't mind.