Cerwin-Vega RE 30

The Cerwin-Vega RE 30 is a three-way loudspeaker from the company's RE series, a line that seems to sit apart from the more commonly seen AT and later models. Documentation on this specific model is thin. What survives points to a speaker that was well regarded in its day. One owner on a vintage audio forum said they were "well reviewed back then," and the same thread suggests they share a family resemblance with the RE 25. That same owner called the RE 25 "the best CV I have heard" - delicate-sounding compared to later Cerwin-Vega offerings.

Here is what is known about the drivers. The RE 30 uses a 12" woofer, a 2" midrange, and a 1-1/2" tweeter. The tweeter is a ring radiator design, which one collector called "a nice ring radiator style tweeter" that Cerwin-Vega made themselves. The crossover capacitors are aging, as on many speakers of this vintage, so anyone restoring a pair should plan on replacing the caps in the crossovers.

A period listing in HiFI-Stereo (1998, p.162) confirms the RE 30 as a bass-reflex, three-way design with a 12" woofer, 4" cone midrange, and 1" metallized-Mylar dome tweeter, with fuse protection and crossover points at 500 Hz. It was rated at 250 W continuous power handling, 90 dB sensitivity, and 4 ohms impedance. Dimensions were 13 x 44 x 10 inches and weight was 90 lb. The listed price was $2,800 per pair in a solid oak finish, with other wood finishes optional, backed by a 5-year warranty. The two sources don't agree on the midrange and tweeter. The forum source says 2" mid and 1-1/2" tweeter, while the magazine listing says 4" cone mid and 1" dome tweeter. Both are included here.

No production years, original introduction date, or broader market context have been documented. The RE 30's position in the Cerwin-Vega lineup relative to the RE 25 is also unrecorded, though owners frequently discuss the two models together.