Western Electric 713C (1941) Speaker

Midrange clarity that makes you forget you're listening to old gear.

Overview

You don’t just hear a Western Electric 713C driver—you feel it in your ribs and your spine. Paired with the KS12027 horn, this compression driver was part of a studio monitor system that still haunts audiophiles decades later. It wasn’t built for show or mass appeal; it was built for truth. The 713C and KS12027 combo lived inside the WE757 studio monitor cabinet, a speaker system that blended engineering precision with sonic warmth in a way few vintage designs ever managed. And while Western Electric stamped their name on it, the “KS” in KS12027 tells a quieter story: these horns were made to Kearney Specification, meaning they were outsourced but held to the exacting standards of W.E.’s facility in Kearney, New Jersey. This wasn’t off-the-shelf compromise—it was controlled collaboration.

Owners report a midrange that is vivid and textured. One listener said the combination of the WE 728B woofer, 713C driver, and KS12027 horn delivers "gorgeous detailed bass and a midrange that can literally bring tears (of joy) to your eyes." Another said the same setup "blows away my 511b/802s in realism and smoothness." That listener allowed only a slight roll-off at the extreme highs, and added an "incredible richness that is hard to believe." The horn, by all accounts, "sounds incredible." These drivers and horns command "the really big bucks" among collectors and on eBay.

Specifications

Manufacturer	Western Electric; later production rights, tooling, and spare parts transferred to Altec Lansing Corporation
Product type	Compression driver and horn assembly
Exact product name	Western Electric 713C driver
Exact product name	KS12027 horn
Used in	WE757 studio monitor cabinet
KS12027 horn fits	713C driver
KS12027 horn compatibility	Will fit all the 713s
KS12027 horn dimensions	Mouth dimensions: 2 5/16 and 19 5/16; throat diameter: 0.7"

Key Features

The 4-Cell Horn Design

The KS12027 is a "4 cell horn." That design breaks the acoustic path into segmented chambers, which helps control dispersion and impedance and smooths the response for studio monitoring. The throat diameter is 0.7", matched to the 713C driver's output for efficient coupling and minimal distortion. Mouth dimensions are 2 5/16 by 19 5/16. That suggests a horizontal directivity pattern with wide but controlled coverage, likely tailored for broadcast or mastering environments where off-axis consistency mattered.

Kearney Specification: What “KS” Really Means

The "KS" prefix stands for "Kearney Specification," after Western Electric's manufacturing hub in Kearney, New Jersey. Products with the KS designation were sourced from outside vendors but built to W.E.'s tolerances. The KS12027 horn isn't stamped "Western Electric," but it was still a product of their standards. It was made to fit the 713C driver specifically, and reports confirm it "will fit all the 713s," which suggests some interchangeability within the family.

Historical Context

In 1949, the U.S. government forced Western Electric to sign a consent decree halting their manufacture of these products. The goal was to break up monopolistic practices and open the market to competition. Altec Lansing Corporation received the rights, tooling, and spare parts to continue production. After that, the lineage gets blurry. Some WE757 monitors were built entirely by Western Electric. Some were assembled by W.E. but fitted with KS drivers, likely sourced from Altec. Later versions were fully built and sold by Altec Lansing with their own drivers. Altec even listed the 713C driver in a catalog around 1950 or 1951. Most Western Electric designs didn't stay in Altec's lineup indefinitely, but the horns and compression drivers, including the KS12027, were still being made as late as March 1956.

Collectibility & Value

A complete WE757 system with original 713C driver and KS12027 horn is hard to find. It's described as "a fairly rare speaker," especially in working condition. Collectors are known to pay "the really big bucks" for these components, and eBay listings back that up. A KS12027 horn has appeared for sale at $1,699.99, and another at $3,499.99. The 713C driver itself turns up occasionally, sometimes listed as "A WESTERN ELECTRIC 713C DRIVER FROM 757A WITH ORIGINAL DIAPHRAGM." There's also an eBay listing for a 713C "control cabinet," though it's unclear if that refers to a test fixture or a misidentified component. There is no data on common failures or maintenance needs, so ownership carries risk. A 70-year-old diaphragm may be fatigued.

eBay Listings

Western Electric 713C vintage audio equipment - eBay listing photo 1

For Western Electric 713C RECEIVER Logo Water Slide Decal St

$9.00

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