Identification
Photo reference
1 uploaded photo
Overview
The image shows a large, wooden speaker cabinet designed to fit into a 90-degree corner, which is characteristic of vintage corner horn designs popular from the 1950s through the 1980s. A smaller, similarly shaped speaker cabinet is resting on top.
Story
Corner horn speakers were popularized in the mid-20th century, designed to use the walls of a room as an extension of the speaker's horn to produce massive, efficient bass response. Klipsch pioneered the design with the Klipschorn in the 1940s, inspiring many competitors and DIY kit builders throughout the 1950s and 1970s. The market for vintage audiophile speakers is highly polarized.
Maker / Origin
Unattributed
Condition & Value
Based on the single exterior photo, the wood veneer and grille cloth appear intact, though minor scuffs or fading are likely given their age. The critical condition factors—the state of the paper cones, surrounds, crossovers, and wiring inside the cabinets—are entirely unknown.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
The market for vintage audiophile speakers is highly polarized. Authentic, factory-built corner horns from legendary makers like Klipsch, Electro-Voice, and Vitavox command massive premiums from dedicated audiophiles and collectors. However, the market heavily discounts 'Frankenspeakers' (mixed components) or DIY cabinets, regardless of how well they are built. Shipping logistics for items of this size also restrict the buyer pool primarily to local pickup or expensive freight, meaning local market conditions heavily influence final sale prices.
▲ Large, corner-horn design is highly sought after by vintage audio enthusiasts.
▲ Mid-Century Modern aesthetic appeals to interior design buyers even if audio pedigree is lacking.
▼ Unverified maker — if these are DIY cabinets rather than factory Klipsch/EV, value drops to the low end of the range.
▼ Logistical burden — massive size requires local pickup or expensive freight, limiting the buyer pool.
Best Venue
Carefully remove the back panels or front grilles to photograph the drivers (speakers) and crossovers, looking for any stamped numbers, foil labels, or metal badges. If they are authentic Klipsch or Electro-Voice components, list them on specialized audiophile marketplaces (like Audiogon or US Audio Mart) or eBay with freight shipping options. If they are unbranded DIY cabinets, price them aggressively for local estate sale pickup.
Upside Potential
If the cabinets are opened and reveal pristine, original drivers from a premium maker like Electro-Voice (e. g., Patrician IV components) or Vitavox, the value could easily exceed $10,000, as seen in top-tier auction results.
Authenticity Risk
mediumWhile 'fake' speakers in the traditional sense are rare, 'DIY' or 'kit' builds housed in custom cabinets that mimic famous designs (like the Klipschorn) were extremely common in the 1950s-70s. Furthermore, original cabinets often have their valuable original drivers swapped out for cheaper modern replacements.
Also found — market-range context
Surfaced during research but not used to anchor the valuation — wrong form, species, era, or no published price. Shown so the market range around this item is visible.