So, how does it perform? During a single-blind A-B comparison between the Advent 400 FM Radio with it’s own speaker and an Advent 300 Receiver driving Rogers LS3/5A loudspeakers and an Andrew Jones/Pioneer SW8 MK2 subwoofer, my spouse had a hard time distinguishing the two while listening to light classical music on Station KUSC-FM at moderate levels. Owners of MINI Coopers will recognize the color as Pepper White. Over time, the white has yellowed, but the new hue seems fitting for an old, vintage piece of audio gear. It’s the same one that’s on the Advent Model 300 receiver.īoth the receiver and speaker cabinets are made of white polystyrene. The most distinctive feature on the Model 400 is its tuning knob, which resembles the dial of a combination safe. #Advent Aw 400 Manual driverSimilarly, offering the receiver with its own loudspeaker unit allowed the amplification circuitry to be specifically matched to complement the loudspeaker driver and enclosure. Dropping the stereo requirement allowed for a high quality, low distortion FM signal without putting a great deal of cost into the tuner. The receiver has bass and treble controls with Bandaxall circuitry-a design that tailors the extreme highs and lows while keeping the midrange relatively unimpaired. Since 2019, Holman has held the title of Distinguished Engineer for Apple.īut for Holman, it all started with the humble Advent Model 400 FM Radio-a monophonic, FM-only receiver rated at 15 watts, with a detached, single-driver loudspeaker unit. In 2011, he was hired by Apple for the uniquely titled position of Audio Direction, wherein he had a hand in the audio quality of Apple’s entire spectrum of products. From there, he developed the THX audio and video fidelity standard for Lucasfilm, which ultimately landed him an Academy Award for Technical Achievement. Holman went on to become an engineering legend himself, putting his stamp on the modest Advent Model 300 receiver with its Holman phonograph preamplifier stage-and then on a higher end, no-holds barred version of the same preamp for the APT corporation. And so the Model 400 came fitted with an AC cord that’s nearly eight feet long, along with 40 feet of speaker cable that can be wrapped around the back of the speaker if the length is not needed. In the case of the Model 400 development, Holman recounted how Kloss scolded him for short-changing the consumer in the length of the AC electrical cord, when putting a longer cord added little cost but made for a happier customer. There, he created, among other remarkable products, the KLH Model Eight FM Radio-the forerunner of the Advent Model 400.ĭuring a 1970s interview on KPFK’S “In Fidelity”, Holman shared with host Peter Sutheim the day Kloss taught him the value of spending just a little bit more to produce a much better product. His accomplishments in audio are legendary: Co-founder of Acoustic Research helped Edgar Villchur bring to life the acoustic suspension loudspeaker-the progenitor of virtually every bookshelf speaker today (including the one in the Model 400) started KLH, with investors Malcolm Low and J. The Model 400 FM Radio was Tomlinson Holman’s first project under the direction of the Advent Corporation’s founder, Henry Kloss. To my surprise, it sprung back to life all on its own. I figured a new capacitor or two would do the trick. Long out of order, the pandemic prompted me to see what I could do to bring back sound to this old radio. I t sat for years as decorative bookends-the upright cube-like receiver on one end, and the separate speaker unit on the other.
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