Fisher XP-10 (1965)
Floor-standing Consolette speaker introduced as Fisher’s flagship in 1965, notable for debuting the soft dome tweeter invented by William Hecht.
Overview
The Fisher XP-10 Consolette Speaker was introduced in 1965 by Fisher Radio Corporation as the top-of-the-line model in the XP-Series, where it remained the flagship even after the 1966 introduction of new models like the XP-6, XP-7, and XP-9. It was launched alongside the XP-5, expanding the XP series with new high and low-end offerings. Designed as a high-fidelity floor speaker, the XP-10 features a sealed enclosure with a Consolette-style cabinet finished in walnut veneer and accented by three vertical walnut stripes on the front. The system was celebrated for its smoothness, transient response, and musical quality, with AUDIO magazine praising its clean and precise handling of a wide range of instruments.
Specifications
| Frequency Response | 28 Hz to 28 kHz |
| Recommended Amplifier Power | 10–60 watts |
| Woofer | 15" diameter, 18–19 Hz free air resonance, 2" voice coil, 6 lb magnet |
| Midrange | 8" diameter, 1.5" voice coil, 5.5 lb magnet |
| Tweeter | 2" soft dome, 2" voice coil, 5.5 lb magnet, 120° dispersion |
| Crossover Frequencies | 200 Hz and 2,500 Hz |
| Nominal Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Dimensions | 30 1/2" H, 24 3/8" W, 14 3/4" D |
| Weight | 80 lb each |
| Enclosure Type | Sealed enclosure, Consolette design |
| Crossover Type | 2nd order, 3-way, Butterworth |
| Driver Complement | 15" woofer, 8" mid driver, tweeter |
| Grille | Original fabric |
| Driver Loading | Drivers loaded from the back |
Design
The Fisher XP-10 was the first speaker to incorporate the soft dome tweeter invented by William Hecht, mounted on the XP-10 in 1965—one year before its use in the XP-7. The original tweeter features a non-rigid mock dome coated in rubber, described as having a large metal body, an orange dome, and weighing about 6 lbs. Drivers are rear-loaded into the cabinet, which is constructed with walnut veneer and includes three vertical walnut stripes on the front baffle.
Context
The XP-10 was the flagship of Fisher’s XP speaker series, which included the XP-1, XP-2, XP-4, XP-5, XP-6, XP-7, XP-9, and XP-10. The XP series was known for delivering high-quality sound in furniture-grade cabinets, appealing to audiophiles who valued both performance and aesthetics in the 1960s.
Market
Originally priced at $249.50 in 1965, the XP-10 is now commonly valued around $150, with $250 considered acceptable depending on condition. Common issues include deteriorated foam surrounds and dried-out original tweeters that no longer function properly. Refurbishment typically involves refoaming kits (~$30), which take 1–2 hours to install, along with potential upgrades to crossovers and tweeters.
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