Magnavox Horns 580053 vs 580053-1 vs 580088-1

[dougp59]

My 1958 Fantasia was originally equipped with 580053 horns according to the AMP schematic.
I see 580053-1 for sale on eBay. ChatGPT says those are circa 1960.

Does anyone have info on these? Are they identical in specs?

My console NOW has 5800881-1 horns from later in the 60s. On the green plastic caps, someone wrote 12 ohms for each.

Q: Should I 'roll back' and get a pair of the older horns even though these sound fine?

[TC Chris]

Duke Ellington said, "If it sounds good, it is good." He was talking but music, but it applies pretty well to equipment. I'll bet the original owner burned up the horns by some form of abuse and had them replaced by a dealer. HF speakers are always more vulnerable to amp clipping than woofers. So unless you are the kinda guy who replicates the wax-pencil marks on your restored car, don't spend $$$ replacing speakers that work and sound good.

Chris Campbell

[electra225]

I agree with Chris 100%. Don't mess with progress. Magnavox matched the amps to the speakers to the cabinets on their instruments. If you replace a component with the intention of "making it better", that seldom is successful. Like when you replace the 389 in your GTO because you think that will make it better, that ruins the whole thing. If you want something with a new engine in it, but a new car that has a new engine. If you want an old car, put up with the old engine. It is probably better to not get bogged down worrying about correct numbers. A Duesenberg needs correct numbers. If a Magnavox stereo works and works well, numbers are of no consequence. I'll get off my soapbox now......

Another point that needs to be offered here is that Magnavox was notorious for "mixing and matching" components. They would change parts in production and they would make almost anything a customer was willing to pay for, normal production parts notwithstanding. It is common to find something in a Magnavox right in front of your eyes that should not technically exist. One of our moderators owns an Imperial stereo that technically does not exist, yet there it is...

Attempting to document Magnavox "anything" and put your word on it is a fool's errand in many cases......

[William]

The changer looks like the changer in my Berkshire, Collaro 456), but with a different tone arm and better knobs/controls.

Bill

[electra225]

Could that be some form of an early "Custom"? Did they make a stereo version of the 456?