Help & Answers
Everything you might want to know about Lowther loudspeakers, our drive units and amplifiers, building your own, and how to get in touch. Can't find your answer? Email us at hello@lowtherloudspeakers.com.
Lowther Masterpieces are our handcrafted folded-horn loudspeakers, built to order in the veneers and style that suit your home.
Horn loaded designs use carefully shaped enclosures to control how sound leaves the driver, giving higher efficiency, scale, and realism from a single full-range unit.
They are for listeners who value natural, lifelike reproduction and are willing to invest in carefully placed, handmade loudspeakers rather than mass-market systems.
Yes. Our "Build your Lowther" plans and drive units are designed for home builders who want to create their own horn loaded loudspeakers using our designs.
Lowther is a British manufacturer of high-end, handcrafted full-range loudspeaker drive units, horn-loaded and full-range loudspeakers, valve amplifiers (such as the PX4) and related accessories. Founded in 1934, Lowther designs and builds full-range, crossover-free drivers and the cabinets that horn-load them, and also supplies plans and drive units to DIY home builders. Everything is made to order in Britain.
Lowther traces its loudspeaker heritage to the pioneering acoustic engineer Paul Voigt, who developed the Domestic Corner Horn in 1934 and met O.P. Lowther of the Lowther Manufacturing Company Ltd that same year. Voigt's full-range, horn-loaded designs became the foundation of the Lowther sound. The company later flourished under Donald Chave, who championed and developed the Lowther full-range drive units through the mid-20th century.
Donald Chave was the driving force behind Lowther for much of the 20th century, developing and promoting Lowther's full-range drive units and horn loudspeakers after the pioneering work of Paul Voigt. The "Donald Chave era" is central to Lowther's identity as a full-range, horn-loading loudspeaker company.
The brand operates as Lowther Loudspeakers and has historic links to the Lowther Manufacturing Company Ltd founded by O.P. Lowther. For the exact current registered company name and number, please contact Lowther directly at hello@lowtherloudspeakers.com.
Today Lowther makes full-range drive units (the Concert, Sinfonia, Philharmonic and Grand Opera collections, including Alnico, ceramic, neodymium and field-coil variants), complete handcrafted loudspeakers, the PX4 valve amplifier, phase plugs, cables and accessories. Lowther also publishes cabinet plans and supplies drive units for DIY builders, and offers refurbishment and upgrade services for older units.
A Lowther DIY project centres on a matched pair of Lowther full-range drive units together with the official Lowther cabinet plans for the design you choose. The plans give the full cut sheet, internal geometry and assembly guidance; you source the cabinet material (we recommend high-grade MDF or Baltic birch plywood) and build the enclosure yourself. Recommended drive units for each cabinet can be added directly to your cart once you are signed in.
Yes. Lowther provides official cabinet plans for classic designs including the Acousta 90, Acousta 115/116, Acousta 124, Bicor 200, Accolade 2, Accolade 4 and the Academy. Create a free account on the Build Your Own Lowther page and you can download the PDF plans at no cost, along with recommended drive units for each cabinet.
Each plan lists a recommended and a standard drive unit. As a guide: the Acousta 90 and Bicor 200 suit a single pair of DX3 Concert (or EX3 Concert sealed) units; the Acousta 115/116 pairs well with the PM6A Sinfonia; the Acousta 124 and Academy use four PM7A Sinfonia or DX3/EX3 Concert units. Full-range Lowther drivers are single-driver, crossover-free designs, so the cabinet is matched to the driver rather than the other way around. If you are unsure, our team will help you choose the right units for your amplifier.
Builds range from Beginner (Acousta 90) through Intermediate (Acousta 115/116, 124, Bicor 200, Accolade 2 and 4) to Advanced (Academy). You will need standard woodworking tools â a table saw or track saw for accurate angled cuts, clamps, wood glue for airtight joints, and finishing equipment for veneering or painting. Sealing the cabinet correctly is the single most important step for good sound.
Choose a cabinet design that matches your chosen Lowther drive unit, download the official plans, cut the panels accurately (paying attention to the angled joints), assemble with airtight glued joints, seal the enclosure, then mount the drive unit and finish the cabinet with veneer or a pigmented lacquer. Because Lowther drivers are full-range, there is no crossover to build â the enclosure does the acoustic work.
The Academy is an advanced Lowther cabinet design first released in the 1990s. It uses two drive units, with the second mounted in the upper section so sound radiates upward and outward for an unusually large sense of scale. Because of its labyrinth and size it is rated an advanced build, and plans are available to download.
Ja. Lowther stellt offizielle GehĂ€useplĂ€ne fĂŒr klassische Designs wie Acousta 90, Acousta 115/116, Acousta 124, Bicor 200, Accolade 2, Accolade 4 und die Academy bereit. Erstellen Sie auf der Seite âBuild Your Own Lowtherâ ein kostenloses Konto, dann können Sie die PDF-PlĂ€ne kostenlos herunterladen â zusammen mit den empfohlenen Chassis (Drive Units) fĂŒr jedes GehĂ€use. FĂŒr die Acousta gab es historisch mehrere GehĂ€usevarianten; die aktuellen PlĂ€ne decken die empfohlenen AusfĂŒhrungen ab.
Jeder Plan nennt ein empfohlenes und ein Standard-Chassis. Als Orientierung: Acousta 90 und Bicor 200 nutzen ein Paar DX3 Concert (oder EX3 Concert geschlossen); die Acousta 115/116 harmoniert mit dem PM6A Sinfonia; Acousta 124 und Academy verwenden vier PM7A Sinfonia oder DX3/EX3 Concert. Lowther-Chassis sind BreitbÀnder ohne Frequenzweiche, daher wird das GehÀuse auf das Chassis abgestimmt. Unser Team hilft Ihnen gern bei der Auswahl passend zu Ihrem VerstÀrker.
The Lowther PX4 is a handcrafted British Class-A valve (tube) amplifier built around the classic PX4 output triode. It delivers 10 W + 10 W into 6 Ω, uses automatic cathode bias, and can be run as either push-pull or single-ended. It is designed as a high-end partner for Lowther full-range and horn-loaded loudspeakers.
The Lowther PX4 can operate in both modes. Single-ended (SET) operation is prized for its purity and the directness of a single amplifying device, and it pairs naturally with high-efficiency Lowther drivers. Push-pull operation cancels even-order distortion and delivers more usable power and tighter bass control. By offering both, the PX4 lets the listener choose between the intimate directness of single-ended and the greater grip and headroom of push-pull, rather than being locked into one topology.
The PX4 produces 10 W + 10 W into 6 Ω. Because Lowther loudspeakers are high-efficiency (typically around 96â99 dB), this modest but pure valve output is more than enough to drive them to realistic levels. Its frequency response is 10 Hz â 45 kHz (-3 dB) with a 93 dB signal-to-noise ratio.
The PX4 is designed and handcrafted by Lowther, a British manufacturer with over 90 years of audio heritage. It is a high-end, made-to-order valve amplifier, using four PX4 output valves with 6SN7, 6J5 and 5U4G/5AR4 support valves, automatic cathode bias, and user-adjustable feedback from 0 dB to 10 dB.
A phase plug is a fixed, shaped component mounted at the centre of a loudspeaker drive unit, in front of the voice coil and pole piece. It fills the space in the middle of the cone and controls the path the sound waves take as they leave the driver. By equalising the distance sound travels from different parts of the diaphragm, a phase plug reduces internal reflections and phase cancellations, giving a smoother, more coherent high-frequency response. Lowther was one of the pioneers of the phase plug in full-range drive units.
Yes. In a full-range driver a phase plug improves high-frequency dispersion and smooths the top end by preventing the path-length differences that cause phase cancellation at the centre of the cone. The audible result is cleaner treble, better clarity and a more even response. Because the effect depends on the shape, Lowther offers three interchangeable phase plugs â the Standard Dome, the Phase Equaliser (the "Pepper Pot") and the Sound Diffuser (the "Door Knob") â so you can tune the presentation to your taste and driver.
Lowther makes three phase plugs. The Standard Dome is the core design fitted as standard and gives a smooth, refined high-frequency response. The Phase Equaliser ("Pepper Pot") also acts as a diffuser for improved high- and mid-range response. The Sound Diffuser ("Door Knob") suits the larger drive units and gives an even, natural presentation. All are available individually per pair or as a complete set.
Yes. Lowther phase plugs are interchangeable across the full-range drive units, so you can fit a replacement or an alternative phase plug to a PM4A (and other Lowther models). Each drive unit ships with a selected phase plug as standard, and you can order the Standard Dome, Phase Equaliser or Sound Diffuser separately as a pair, or the complete set, to replace or experiment with the top-end character.
The Standard Dome is the default and best all-round choice. Choose the Phase Equaliser ("Pepper Pot") if you want additional diffusion and an airier high/mid response, or the Sound Diffuser ("Door Knob") for larger drive units where a very even, natural balance is preferred. Many owners buy the complete set to compare all three in their own system.
Ein Phase Plug ist ein feststehendes, geformtes Bauteil in der Mitte eines Lautsprecherchassis, direkt vor der Schwingspule und dem Polkern. Er steuert die Laufwege der Schallwellen, reduziert innere Reflexionen und Phasenauslöschungen und sorgt so fĂŒr einen glatteren, kohĂ€renteren Hochtonverlauf. Lowther gehörte zu den Pionieren des Phase Plugs bei Breitband-Chassis und bietet drei austauschbare Varianten an: Standard Dome, Phase Equaliser (âPepper Potâ) und Sound Diffuser (âDoor Knobâ).
Lowther can refurbish and upgrade its full-range drive units and loudspeakers. Typical work includes re-coning and re-gapping drive units, replacing or upgrading diaphragms and voice coils, refreshing magnets and metalwork, and upgrading older units to a current specification (for example moving from an older Concert unit to a Sinfonia or Philharmonic diaphragm). Cabinets can also be assessed and restored.
Yes. Because Lowther drive units are hand-built, they can be serviced by the people who make them. Re-coning (fitting a new diaphragm) and re-gapping (resetting the voice coil in the magnetic gap) are standard refurbishment operations that can return a decades-old driver to full performance, and often allow an upgrade to a newer diaphragm at the same time.
Yes â this is normal and expected. Lowther full-range drivers have a genuine break-in (settling-in) period during which the diaphragm suspension relaxes and the frequency response smooths out. This is more rapid with the Sinfonia and Philharmonic diaphragms, while Concert diaphragms typically take a few weeks of playing to stabilise, and many owners report continued subtle improvement well beyond 1,000 hours. It is a characteristic of the design, not a fault.
Turnaround depends on the work required and current workshop demand, and because every unit is assessed and hand-serviced it is quoted per job. Submit the refurbishment or upgrade enquiry form on this page with your drive unit type, serial number and year of purchase, and the Lowther team will confirm the scope, cost and expected timescale.
Use the refurbishment or upgrade request form on this page, or email hello@lowtherloudspeakers.com with your drive unit model, serial number and the year you purchased them. The team will advise what can be done and provide a quotation.
The correct email address for Lowther Loudspeakers is hello@lowtherloudspeakers.com. This is the canonical contact address for all general, sales and support enquiries â please use it rather than any older "info@" style address.
You can contact Lowther by email at hello@lowtherloudspeakers.com, by phone on +44 20 8300 9166, or by using the contact form on this page. General enquiries are usually answered within 24 hours.
Lowther loudspeakers, drive units and amplifiers are handcrafted to order, so pricing depends on the model, finish and drive-unit options you choose. Indicative "from" prices are shown on individual product pages, and drive-unit prices are listed on the shop. For a full quotation, email hello@lowtherloudspeakers.com with the model and options you are interested in, or request a quote through the site.
Email hello@lowtherloudspeakers.com or use the enquiry form, telling us the loudspeaker or drive unit, your preferred finish and your location. Because each Lowther is made to order, we will confirm the exact price, options and lead time for your specification.
