Onkyo SC-401 (?)
A three-way bookshelf loudspeaker made by Onkyo, with a reported test date of September 1982 and an ambiguous original listing of "500" in a European test report.
Overview
The Onkyo SC-401 is a bookshelf loudspeaker produced by Onkyo, part of a numbered speaker series that includes the SC-301, SC-601, and others. While exact production years and full specifications remain undocumented in verified sources, the model appears in a 1982 test report with a notation of "09/82", suggesting it was evaluated that September. Described in Bulgarian audio listings as a "трилентови тонколони" (three-way speaker), the SC-401 was likely positioned as a compact yet technically capable model for stereo systems of the early 1980s. It carries the same naming convention as other Onkyo speakers of the era, indicating a structured product lineup, though its precise placement within that hierarchy is unconfirmed.
One European test report lists the SC-401 with a score of "9-11 points" and an adjacent value of "500"—possibly indicating a price in Deutsche Mark or another currency, though this is not definitively established. The speaker was marketed as a three-way design, implying dedicated drivers for low, mid, and high frequencies, This configuration suggests Onkyo aimed for improved tonal separation and reduced distortion in critical listening ranges.
Specifications
According to available listings, the Onkyo SC-401 has a frequency response of 32 Hz to 20,000 Hz and an impedance of 8 ohms. A Bulgarian audio ad attributes a power handling of "2x200W" to the model, though this figure may reflect maximum input rather than RMS. Notably, a Facebook post citing "100 watts per" and including tuner specifications (FM/MW) appears to conflate the SC-401 with a receiver or amplifier, making that data unreliable. The 8-ohm impedance and three-way layout indicate a design intended for compatibility with standard solid-state and tube amplifiers of the period, without requiring exotic matching.
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