Onkyo SCEPTER 100 (c. 1971–1972, conflicting sources: 1970–1973, 1971–1974)
A three-way floorstanding loudspeaker system with hermetically sealed enclosure, designed for high-fidelity audio reproduction.
Overview
The Onkyo SCEPTER 100 is a large, three-way, floorstanding passive speaker system produced around 1971–1972. It features a hermetically sealed (airtight) acoustic suspension enclosure and is part of Onkyo’s premium Scepter series, which includes the Scepter 120 and Scepter 200. Designed for the Japanese domestic market, the SCEPTER 100 is now considered a rare collector’s item, with fewer than 1,000 units believed to have been made.
Specifications
| Price | ¥ 89,800 (c. 1971) |
| Model Rating Method | 3-Way, 3-Speaker, Airtight System, Floor Type |
| Type | Passive |
| Positioning | Floorstanding |
| Enclosure Type | Airtight System / hermetically sealed |
| Way system | 3 |
| Drivers | 35 cm cone woofer, horn-type midrange, horn-type tweeter |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz to 20 kHz (audio-database.com) |
| Lowest resonance frequency | 40Hz |
| Allowable input | 30W |
| Max Input | 60W |
| Impedance | 8 Ω |
| Output sound pressure | 99dB/W(50cm) |
| Sensitivity | ~93 dB/W/m |
| Crossover frequency | 700 Hz, 7 kHz |
| External dimensions | 714 mm (W) x 684 mm (H) x 433 mm (D) |
| Weight | 38kg |
Design
The SCEPTER 100 uses a 35 cm cone woofer with high-compliance corn paper and a foamed neoprene rubber edge, delivering deep bass response within its hermetically sealed acoustic suspension cabinet. The midrange is a sectoral horn-type "squaker" with an ultra-hard duralumin diaphragm, while the tweeter is a separable horn type, also featuring an ultra-hard duralumin diaphragm and a newly developed magnetic circuit. The front panel includes level controls for mid and high frequencies, and the speaker is equipped with a multi-amplifier terminal that supports bi-amping or tri-amping configurations.
Context
The SCEPTER 100 was part of Onkyo’s high-end Scepter series, which included models like the Scepter 120 and Scepter 500. It was primarily produced for the Japanese domestic market during the early 1970s, a period of rapid innovation in high-fidelity audio equipment.
Market
Fewer than 1,000 units of the SCEPTER 100 are believed to have been produced, contributing to its status as a rare collector’s item. A used unit had a bid price of 56,000 (currency unspecified, likely JPY) on November 29, 2023.
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