What are MB Quart home speakers Quart 290 and 390?

[cyclecamper]

I just bought 4 mb quart home speakers I know nothing about, at an auction (didn't even test, no claims of condition).

2 are Quart 290 (floor-standing)
2 are Quart 390 (bookshelf-size)

I paid $113 + 5 handling fee.

Anybody got any clue what I spent my good money on? Says made in Germany. I've heard of the company's components and car stuff, but have really not paid any attention. I just got auction fever...and sniped them manually.

[DrDyna]

They seem like decent speakers according to a few reviews. but even if they aren't, I'm sure you got more than your money's worth in cabinets and crossover components.

[dantheman]

I haven't seen an MB Quart speaker that was anything short of excellent compared to similar designs. I'd say you made a safe gamble provided they are in decent shape. Their drivers are extremely well made/engineered as I'm sure you know.

Dan

[dave_gerecke]

I haven't heard any MB Quart home speakers, but I have some MB Quart car audio speakers and they are great. MB Quart always seems to have a good reputation for quality, both construction of drivers and sound quality. If the cabinets are in good shape and nothing is making any wierd noises, I would think you got a good deal on that set of speakers. Congrats.

Peace,

Dave

[cyclecamper]

Thanks. I could not find any relevant reviews or anything in english about those models.

I pick them up tomorrow and will find out what they really sound like then.

[6.283]

Speakers of my youth, lovely
They were build ~200 mi from where I live. I did not even know they had been sold to the US. Maybe an imigrant brought them.
Anyway, they were highly appreciated here locally as well as nation wide. I still have the original catalogue dating back 1988/89. That had the 280 and 390. So the 290 must be from 1990 or so.

The original prices were:
280 = 498 DM ~ 250 to 350 USD each
390 = 698 DM ~ 350 to 450 USD each
Can't remember the exact exchange rate.

For that money I would have bought them as well. Just for the heck of it and to see if I still like them. Have fun with them and treat them well !
Maybe they could use some fresh caps by now.

[cyclecamper]

The 290 look like matching bookshelf versions of the floor-standing 390. I'd like to use them for sides and rear for home theater.

I just hope the surrounds are some kind of butyl or something that lasts, not foam. I'm sick and tired of nice older speakers with rotted foam woofer surrounds.

[speakerdoctor]

Here's a link to a nice MB Quart thread over at Audiokarma.org that's got some nice pics as well. If you aren't a member, you'll have to join to get access to the thread.

MB Quart owners - Raise your hands!! - AudioKarma.org Home Audio Stereo Discussion Forums

I've got a couple of posts in that thread pertaining to replacement of a blown tweeter. I found one eventually. The 490 I worked on had a very unique vent system hidden behind a small grille screwed to the BB. It consisted of TWO tubes. One large and an adjacent one that's quite small. I know nothing about that design, but seems interesting other than it might be a way to cram two vents into a small space.

This was the one I repaired.
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...d=256451872439

[6.283]

Originally Posted by cyclecamper

I just hope the surrounds are some kind of butyl or something that lasts, not foam. I'm sick and tired of nice older speakers with rotted foam woofer surrounds.

I hear ya ! They are made with lasting surrounds.

Actually, both are meant to be book shelfspeakers. The floor standers ended in a "S" after the number. See links.

MB Quart 290 | Hifi-Wiki.de

MB Quart 390 | Hifi-Wiki.de

Is that what you've got ? If not, something is wrong.

P.S. When you have 'em, maybe play the Brothers in Arms album for me tonight if you have that and like it That was one of the test drive albums back then.

[cyclecamper]

I picked them up. They look visually sound, except for one broken wire terminal post.

My 290 looks very similar to your 490 on eBay except mine are white and have a slightly lower power handling, might be a slightly smaller woofer?

My 390 is tall and narrow, with power handling a little lower than the 290.

Mine all have the "motion control system" plate/vent like speakerdoctor mentioned.
So mine are not quite like those links/pics in the denmark hifi-wiki, mine must be the 290 mcs and 390 mcs. Made from 1989-1991.

Looking at used prices, I got them for about half the normal going price.