Cerwin-Vega D-3 (c. 1983–1988)
The D-3 is a floorstanding loudspeaker from Cerwin-Vega’s D-series, which also included the D-1 and D-2 models. The Archive’s holdings on this speaker are modest: a Wikimedia Commons photograph confirms its existence and appearance, and a hifiengine.com database entry supplies the bulk of the technical data. Notably, no period reviews, brochure scans, or owner discussions have surfaced for the D-3 itself; however, the HiFI-Stereo magazine speaker listings from 1984 and 1995 show Cerwin-Vega speakers were actively marketed during the D-3's production era, with a 1995 listing noting Cerwin-Vega speakers feature a 5-year limited warranty (HiFI-Stereo, 1995, p.132). A 1984 HiFI-Stereo listing also documented a two-way enclosed speaker system with a 21 cm woofer and 2.5 cm dome tweeter, illustrating the variety of speaker designs marketed during this period (HiFI-Stereo, 1984, p.124).
What is recorded is a conventional three-way, bass-reflex design. The driver complement consists of a 12-inch woofer, a 5.5-inch midrange, and a 1-inch tweeter, with the crossover set at 3,500 Hz. The cabinet measures 26.8″ H × 16″ W × 13.5″ D and weighs 44 lbs. Sensitivity is listed at 92 dB SPL, nominal impedance at 8 ohms, and the recommended amplifier range at 10–200 watts. Frequency response is given as 28 Hz–20 kHz ±3 dB. These figures come from the hifiengine database, which is user-contributed; some values there are marked as estimates, and the research does not indicate which of these entries are manufacturer-verified versus estimated. Treat the specs accordingly — they are plausible for a Cerwin-Vega floorstander of this era, but they are not confirmed against a primary source.
The D-3 was likely produced from 1983 to 1988, and a price of $450 each ($900 per pair) has been suggested — but that figure appears to be an estimate from the same database and should be treated as unverified. No original pricing from a period advertisement or catalog has been found. Similarly, nothing is documented about the D-3’s relationship to its siblings beyond shared family lineage: no comparative specs, no “larger than D-1” statements, no positioning within the line.
In short: the D-3 is a real, visually confirmed Cerwin-Vega floorstander from the mid-1980s with a plausible spec sheet and almost no surviving paper trail. If you own a pair, have a brochure, or recall a contemporary review, the Archive would welcome the documentation.
- Type: 3-way floorstanding loudspeaker, bass-reflex/ported
- Drivers: 12″ woofer, 5.5″ midrange, 1″ tweeter
- Crossover: 3,500 Hz
- Sensitivity: 92 dB SPL (hifiengine, unverified)
- Impedance: 8 ohms (hifiengine, unverified)
- Frequency response: 28 Hz–20 kHz ±3 dB (hifiengine, unverified)
- Recommended amplification: 10–200 W (hifiengine, unverified)
- Dimensions: 26.8″ H × 16″ W × 13.5″ D; 44 lbs
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