Advent Large (1970–1981)

Name: Advent Large
Brand: Advent

The original Advent Loudspeaker, a two-way acoustic suspension design that delivered high-fidelity sound at a fraction of competitor prices.

Overview

The Advent Loudspeaker, later called the "Large Advent" or "OLA," was Advent Corporation's flagship. It was introduced in 1970 and produced until 1981. It was built as a cheaper alternative to high-end speakers like the Acoustic Research AR-3a, with comparable performance for less than half the price. In the lineup it sat above the Smaller Advent and below the Advent/3. The speaker was developed in part to fund research into low-cost projection television. Once the Smaller Advent arrived, the original model was retroactively renamed the "Large Advent."

Specifications

Woofer	10-inch (25 cm) paper cone with foam surround
Tweeter	3-inch paper cone "domed" midrange-tweeter ("fried egg")
Crossover Frequency	1 kHz
Crossover Type	First-order (6 dB/octave)
Balance Control	Tweeter level switch: flat, +3 dB, –3 dB
Nominal Impedance	8 ohms
Power Handling	100W program
Enclosure Type	Acoustic suspension (sealed)
Box Resonance (with woofer)	Approximately 43 Hz
Driver Configuration	Dual driver, 2-way

Design

The cabinet is 1/2" MDF. It came in walnut veneer or a vinyl-covered utility version, and the two are acoustically identical. The grille is a thin wood panel with cutouts for the drivers, not a framed fabric cover. The 10-inch woofer has an odd 'not-round-not-square' frame. Early versions used a masonite ring to mount the cone, while later "New" Large Advent models used a revised basket without it. The crossover is a simple first-order design with a single capacitor on the tweeter and an inductor on the woofer. It was originally built with electrolytic capacitors and sandcast resistors.

Context

The Large Advent competed with models from Acoustic Research, KLH, Pioneer, Sony, and Yamaha. It was succeeded by the "New Large Advent" in the late 1970s. Its acoustic suspension design and dual-driver configuration put it at the front of affordable high-fidelity speakers during its production run.

Market

Original pricing in 1971 was $116 each for walnut veneer and $102 each for unfinished units. Today, restored pairs sell for $150-$400, while unrestored examples typically fetch $100-$200. Common problems are deteriorated woofer foam surrounds, failing "fried egg" tweeters, and aged crossover components. Refoaming is standard, and recapping the crossover is recommended for critical listening.