Advent

Henry Kloss bet everything on one loudspeaker — and won

History

Advent Corporation was founded in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1967 by Henry Kloss, the legendary audio engineer who had previously co-founded Acoustic Research (AR) and KLH. The company name "Advent" came from the description of Kloss's new venture as "the advent of a new principle in sound."

Kloss left AR in 1957 to found KLH with Malcolm Low and J. Anton Hofmann, but eventually sold his interest in that company as well. Advent represented his third major speaker company and his most commercially successful venture.

The Advent Loudspeaker (1968) was revolutionary: it offered genuine high-fidelity sound—including meaningful bass response to 40Hz—at a price of just $98 each (about $175 per pair, or roughly $1,400 in today's money). This was accomplished through careful engineering of acoustic suspension woofers, efficient manufacturing, and direct sales.

The original Advent used a 10" acoustic suspension woofer and a 3\/4" dome tweeter in a modest-sized cabinet. It achieved sound quality comparable to speakers costing three times as much, democratizing high-end audio.

The Advent\/2 (1970) and Advent\/3 (1972) provided smaller, more affordable options. The Large Advent (1970) improved upon the original with a 12" woofer and better crossover. The New Advent (1977) updated the design with improved drivers and a more refined cabinet.

Advent also made significant contributions to video technology, introducing one of the first large-screen projection televisions in 1972. The company was acquired by Jensen in 1979, and the brand has changed hands multiple times since.

Key Facts

Legendary Products

The Advent Loudspeaker (1968)

The speaker that changed the industry. By offering genuine high-fidelity sound—including bass to 40Hz—at an affordable price, the Advent made quality audio accessible to mainstream consumers. Used a 10" acoustic suspension woofer and 3\/4" dome tweeter.

Large Advent (1970)

An improved version with a 12" woofer, enhanced crossover, and larger cabinet. The Large Advent offered deeper bass and higher output capability while maintaining the affordable price point that made Advent famous.

New Advent (1977)

A complete redesign featuring improved drivers, a more sophisticated crossover network, and better cabinet construction. The New Advent represented the pinnacle of Advent's engineering and remains highly collectible.

Advent\/2 and Advent\/3 (1970s)

Smaller, more affordable speakers that brought Advent quality to compact spaces. The Advent\/2 used an 8" woofer, while the Advent\/3 was even more compact—perfect for dorm rooms and apartments.

Sound Signature

The Advent sound is what audiophiles call the "New England sound" — a direct descendant of Henry Kloss's work at Acoustic Research and KLH. These speakers deliver a full, warm bass response from their acoustic suspension design that feels remarkably natural, never boomy or overblown. The 10-inch and 12-inch woofers in sealed cabinets produce bass that goes genuinely deep for their size, with the kind of taut control that makes upright bass and kick drums sound convincingly real.

Up top, Advent speakers are smooth and forgiving without sacrificing detail. The dome tweeters roll off gently rather than throwing brightness at you, which means you can listen for hours without fatigue. This is the kind of speaker that makes you forget about the equipment and just enjoy the music — exactly what Kloss intended.

Collecting Advent

Advent speakers are one of the best entry points into vintage audio collecting. The Large Advent with its 12-inch woofer is the model most collectors seek first — it represents the peak of the original Kloss design philosophy and can still hold its own against modern speakers costing several times more. The New Advent (1977) is considered the best-sounding of the line, with refined drivers and a more sophisticated crossover that smoothed out the original's few rough edges.

When shopping for vintage Advents, look for pairs with original drivers intact — refoamed originals sound better than aftermarket replacements. Early production walnut-veneer cabinets are more desirable than the later vinyl-wrapped versions. The Advent/3, while modest in size, has developed a cult following as a near-perfect small speaker for bedrooms and offices. Prices remain remarkably accessible, making Advents the rare vintage speaker where the sound quality far exceeds what you pay.

Competitors & Comparisons

Advent vs AR: Similar acoustic suspension; Advent more affordable

Advent vs KLH: Both Kloss designs; similar philosophies

Advent vs Large Advent: Latter has deeper bass, higher output

Amplifiers

• advent-videobeam-1000-(projection-television) — Early consumer projection television with built-in audio system, part of Advent's expansion into home entertainment. With the complete spec table.

Audio Equipment

• prodigy-towers — High-value floor-standing speakers from Advent's Prodigy series, offering balanced sound and solid construction for budget-conscious audiophiles.

Cassette Decks

• advent-dolby-noise-reduction-unit-(stand-alone) — Stand-alone Dolby B noise reduction processor for reducing tape hiss in cassette and reel-to-reel systems. With the complete spec table.

Cassette Decks

• Built-in Dolby B Noise Reduction in Model 201 (1974) — Early consumer cassette deck featuring integrated Dolby B noise reduction for improved audio fidelity and reduced tape hiss.
• MODEL 201 (1971, Improved Version with Dolby B) (1971) — Improved 1971 version of the Advent MODEL 201 featuring Dolby B noise reduction, marking a milestone in high-fidelity cassette recording.
• Model 201 (1971) (1971) — An improved 1971 version of the Advent Model 201 featuring Dolby B noise reduction and enhanced transport mechanics for high-fidelity cassette playback and recording.

Receivers

• advent-model-400-fm-radio/tuner (1975) — FM radio tuner from Advent's 1970s consumer audio lineup, representing the brand's expansion into solid-state receiver technology.
• Model 300 (1970s) — Advent Model 300 stereo receiver, mid-1970s. 15 watts/channel, praised by Julian Hirsch for value engineering and FM sensitivity. $259.95 original price.

Speakers

• /1 — The Advent /1 (1978–1983) delivers startlingly natural sound in a compact vintage bookshelf design—still competitive with modern speakers.
• /2 — The Advent /2 (1973–1977) promised Large Advent sound in a small box — instead, it delivered a bright, service-prone bookshelf speaker with a cult following.
• /4 — The Advent /4 (1979–1983) brought efficient, balanced bookshelf performance to the classic Advent sound—durable, musical, and still a smart buy today.
• /9 — The Advent /9 (1980–1984) is a modest but musical bookshelf speaker—a refined evolution of the /4 with smooth mids and honest acoustic suspension bass.
• 100A — Advent 100A Dolby B noise reduction unit (1971–1973). Successor to Advent Model 100 with improved switching and dual line inputs.
• 200 — The rare 1970 Advent 200 cassette deck—Nakamichi-built, CrO₂-optimized, and quickly replaced—marks the dawn of high-fidelity cassette.
• 2002 — The Advent 2002 (1979–1983) delivers refined, balanced sound in a compact floorstanding design—Henry Kloss’s legacy, quietly realized.
• 201 — The Advent 201 (1971) was the first true hi-fi cassette deck, combining Dolby B, CrO₂ support, and a rugged Wollensak transport to redefine cassette fidelity.
• 201A — The Advent 201A made high-fidelity cassettes real with Dolby B, rugged transport, and audiophile tuning — a landmark in home audio history.
• 3 — The Advent 3 (1973–1976) delivers balanced, coherent sound in a compact sealed box—but lacks efficiency and can bottom out when pushed.
• 300 — The Advent 300 receiver packs a legendary phono preamp by Tomlinson Holman into a modest 15W chassis—beloved by vinyl fans, debated by purists.
• 3002 — The Advent 3002 (1978–1983) delivers neutral, detailed sound in a compact bookshelf design—but expect to re-foam and recap to hear it at its best.
• 400 — Advent 400, a two-piece FM table radio from 1975 with separate tuner/amp and speaker, priced at $125. Little-documented model from the loudspeaker company.
• 4002 (1975) — Vintage bookshelf speakers from the 1970s featuring acoustic suspension design and warm, balanced sound. This page has the complete spec table.
• 500 — The Advent 500 model number appears in period sources for at least two distinctly different products, separated by more than a decade — making this a
• 5000 — Advent 5000 loudspeaker, documented only by a brief 1978 HiFI-Stereo directory listing showing a $499.95 price, walnut finish, and basic specs.
• 5002 (1975) — Vintage floor-standing speaker from the 1970s featuring acoustic suspension design and warm, balanced sound. Includes full specifications.
• advent-6003-(later-called-maestro) (1975) — Vintage floor-standing speaker with acoustic suspension design and warm sound signature. Includes full specifications and production years.
• APX-7000 — Advent APX-7000 signal processor from 1994, combining BBE harmonic restoration with a 12-band equalizer. Very little survives in the record beyond a single period magazine listing.
• AR-4x — Clarifying that the AR-4x is an Acoustic Research speaker, not an Advent product; no Advent documentation exists for this model.
• Baby — Compact bookshelf speaker system with acoustic suspension design and Ferrofluid-cooled tweeter. Includes production dates.
• baby-ii — Compact bookshelf speakers from the 1970s featuring acoustic suspension design and warm audiophile sound. With full specifications.
• DBX-117 — Advent DBX-117 dynamics processor / noise reduction unit. Little documented; period magazines measured 0.05% distortion and up to 20 dB dynamic range restoration.
• Graduate — Bookshelf speakers designed by Henry Kloss, featuring an 8” long-throw woofer and 3/4” soft dome tweeter in a sealed acoustic suspension enclosure.
• Heritage — The Advent Heritage is a late-era acoustic suspension floorstander known for balanced sound and understated design—foam replacement is essential for longevity.
• heritage-center — Passive bookshelf speakers with acoustic suspension design and 8-ohm impedance, part of Advent's Heritage series from the 1980s.
• heritage-h100 (1980) — Advent Heritage H100 floorstanding speaker from 1980 featuring acoustic suspension design and walnut veneer cabinet. This page has full specifications.
• heritage-h200 (1980) — Advent Heritage H200 floorstanding speaker from 1980, featuring acoustic suspension design and warm, balanced sound. Covers the complete spec table.
• heritage-h300 (1989) — High-performance floor-standing speaker from Advent's Heritage series, combining classic acoustic principles with modern materials for warm, balanced sound.
• heritage-h400 (1980) — High-fidelity floor-standing speaker from Advent's Heritage series, featuring acoustic suspension design and warm musical sound.
• heritage-h500 (1980) — High-quality bookshelf speaker from Advent's Heritage series, known for balanced sound and value in the 1980s. Includes detailed specs and production dates.
• HT-103 — Advent HT-103 home theater speaker system, mid-1990s, acoustically matched L/C/R suite with 5.25in woofer and dome tweeter.
• Large — The original Advent Loudspeaker, a two-way acoustic suspension design that delivered high-fidelity sound at a fraction of competitor prices.
• Large Advent — The Advent Large Advent brought high-fidelity bass and clarity to the masses in the late '60s—still a budget classic if you refoam and recapp.
• Large Advent 5002 — An improved version of the original Advent loudspeaker, featuring a 12-inch acoustic suspension woofer and enhanced crossover for deeper bass and higher.
• Large Advent 5012 — A floor-standing acoustic suspension loudspeaker with a 12-inch woofer and 2-inch dome tweeter, designed as an upgraded successor to the original Advent.
• Large Advent A3 — An improved version of the original Advent Loudspeaker, featuring a 12-inch woofer and enhanced crossover in a larger acoustic suspension cabinet.
• Large Advent Large (1970-1981) — A floor-standing loudspeaker with a 12-inch woofer in a sealed cabinet, designed as an improved version of the original 1968 Advent Loudspeaker.
• Large Advent Loudspeaker (1970-1981) — An improved version of the original Advent speaker, featuring a 12-inch woofer and enhanced crossover for deeper bass and higher output.
• Large Bookshelf — The Advent Large Bookshelf (1969–1977) delivers deep, room-filling bass in a no-frills design—affordable vintage performance that still hits hard.
• Large Boomer — The Advent Large Boomer (1970–1975) delivers rich, lifelike midrange and surprising bass depth in a no-frills design that defined affordable hi-fi.
• Large Large Advent — Advent Large Advent Loudspeaker (1970–1981) — a 12-inch woofer update to the original Advent Loudspeaker, with enhanced crossover and larger cabinet. Documentation is thin; specs largely unverified.
• Large Loudspeaker — The Advent Large Loudspeaker (1970–1981) brought acoustic suspension bass to the masses with a 10-inch woofer and quirky fried egg tweeter — warm, deep.
• Large New Large Advent — A rebranded evolution of Advent’s flagship speaker line, combining a 12" woofer and enhanced crossover in a larger cabinet for deeper bass and higher.
• Large Original Large Advent — An upgraded floor-standing loudspeaker from Advent Corporation, released in 1970 as a larger, more powerful evolution of the original 1968 Advent
• Large The Advent (1969-1974) — An improved version of the original Advent Loudspeaker, featuring a 12-inch woofer and enhanced crossover in a larger sealed cabinet.
• laureate (1974) — High-fidelity acoustic suspension loudspeaker from Advent's premium 1970s lineup, known for accurate sound and solid walnut construction.
• Legacy — Floor-standing two-way acoustic suspension speaker system designed by Henry Kloss, marketed as a “digital ready” successor to the Large Advent.
• Loudspeaker — The Advent Loudspeaker (1969–1977) brought high-end acoustic suspension sound to the masses—deep, neutral, and built to last.
• Maestro (A-1012, Top of the Line) (1979) — High-end floor-standing speaker from Advent's Maestro series, model A-1012, representing the pinnacle of the brand's late 1970s speaker engineering.
• mini — Compact bookshelf speakers from the 1970s with acoustic suspension design and walnut veneer finish. Includes full specifications.
• Model 100A — The Advent Model 100A is an updated version of the original Advent Model 100 Dolby B noise reduction unit, introduced around 1971–72.
• Model 101 — Advent Model 101 Dolby B noise reduction unit for home tape recording, c. 1970. Priced at $125. Companion to the Model 100.
• Model 200 — Advent Model 200 (1970) flagship cassette deck with Dolby B, rated best among 17 top models by Julian Hirsch in Stereo Review. $260.
• Model 201 — The Advent Model 201 (1971) was the first hi-fi cassette deck, combining Dolby B, CrO2 tape support, and a rugged transport to redefine cassette audio quality.
• Model 400 — Compact mono FM radio receiver with acoustic suspension speaker, designed by Henry Kloss. This page has full specifications and production years.
• Model 500 — Advent Model 500 SoundSpace Control signal processor, circa 1979. Little documented. Rear-channel processor with Baxendall bass control and straight-wire front channels.
• Model Prodigy — Advent Model Prodigy loudspeaker, known only from a single 1987 HiFI-Stereo review. 10-inch woofer, 2-inch polypropylene-dome midrange, 1-inch tweeter.
• model-1 (1975) — Affordable high-fidelity speaker from the 1970s featuring acoustic suspension design and warm sound signature. This page has the complete spec table.
• MODEL-100 — Advent Model 100 Dolby B noise reduction unit for home tape recording, introduced 1970 at $250. Standalone outboard processor for tape decks.
• model-4 (1975) — Advent Model 4 floorstanding speaker from the 1970s featuring acoustic suspension design and walnut veneer cabinet. Includes detailed specs.
• Prodigy — Compact floor-standing two-way speaker system from the Recoton/Jensen era of Advent, known for clean bass and smooth dispersion.
• Prodigy Tower — Very little is documented about the Advent Prodigy Tower. The model appears in a single test report from HiFI-Stereo (May 1989, p.49).
• Smaller Advent 3 — Advent Smaller Advent 3 (1972) compact acoustic suspension bookshelf speaker by Henry Kloss. Little-documented dorm-room model with 2-inch tweeter and walnut vinyl cabinet.
• Smaller Advent 4 — Advent Smaller Advent 4 (1977) bookshelf speaker with 8-inch woofer and ferrofluid tweeter. Priced at $315, it's a cult favorite among vintage audio collectors.
• Smaller Advent Loudspeaker — The Advent Smaller Advent Loudspeaker (1972) brought acoustic suspension quality to the masses—warm, coherent, and worth refurbishing if you find a pair.
• Smaller Advent model 3 — Compact Advent/3 loudspeaker from c. 1972, Henry Kloss's smallest acoustic suspension design for dorm rooms and apartments.
• Smaller The Smaller Advent — Advent Smaller The Smaller Advent — a little-documented speaker likely identical to The Smaller Advent. Period reviews confirm it matched the original Advent's sound at half the size and lower cost, w…
• The Advent Loudspeaker (Original/Larger Advent, 1969) (1969) — The original Advent loudspeaker, designed by Henry Kloss, brought high-fidelity performance to the masses through innovative acoustic suspension and mass production.
• The Loudspeaker (1969-1977) — The Advent Loudspeaker (1968) - a revolutionary acoustic suspension speaker that brought high-fidelity sound to mainstream consumers at $98 each.
• the-new-advent-loudspeaker — A classic high-fidelity loudspeaker featuring acoustic suspension design and renowned for its natural sound and accurate bass response.
• the-smaller-advent-loudspeaker — Affordable bookshelf speaker from 1970 with acoustic suspension design and warm sound signature. Find the complete spec table here.
• VideoBeam 1000 — A plug-and-play CRT-based home video projection system with a fixed 7-foot diagonal screen and rear-projected sound. Find full specifications here.
• VideoBeam 1000A — Three-tube CRT projection TV system with 7-foot diagonal output at 100 focal distance, designed by Henry Kloss. This page has the complete spec table.

Tuners

• 300-FM — Advent 300-FM stereo receiver: little-documented model combining Holman preamp and FM tuner. Known specs from period reviews.