Cerwin - Vega At40 Specs
The original red foam surrounds are prone to "foam rot" over decades. If they look crumbly or have tears, they must be replaced. Luckily, AT-40 re-foam kits are inexpensive and widely available online for DIY restoration.
The Cerwin-Vega AT40 is an iconic loudspeaker that has earned a reputation for its exceptional sound quality, durability, and affordability. With its 3-way design, bi-amping capability, and adjustable crossover, the AT40 offers a high degree of flexibility and control. Whether you're a music enthusiast, audiophile, or musician, the Cerwin-Vega AT40 is definitely worth considering.
Have a pair of AT40s? Check the serial numbers on the back; early production runs (1988-1989) used a slightly different 4-ohm tweeter. Always verify impedance with a multimeter before cranking the volume.
The dedicated 5-inch midrange driver handles the critical vocal and instrumental fundamentals, ensuring clarity and presence. The 1-inch tweeter takes over the highest frequencies, adding air, sparkle, and detail to cymbals and other high-end harmonics.
The #1 enemy. The iconic orange foam surround on the 10" woofer will disintegrate. It is not a matter of "if," but "when." cerwin vega at40 specs
With a 95 dB sensitivity rating, these speakers can produce high volume even when driven by relatively modest amplifiers. Built for Power:
Removable cloth grilles that, when detached, reveal the iconic striking red pressed-foam woofer surrounds. Technical Specifications
: 730 mm × 365 mm × 320 mm (Approx. 28.7” × 14.3” × 12.6”) Driver Architecture and Layout
What do you plan to use to drive them?
10-inch ATW10 driver featuring the signature orange foam surround. Midrange: Dedicated cone driver for vocal clarity.
Like much of the AT series, the AT-40 is celebrated for its deep bass and crisp highs, though it is often described as being built for impact rather than clinical "audiophile" precision. Construction:
A standout feature of the AT-40 is the inclusion of manual acoustic adjustments on the rear plate. Listeners can manually adjust the output levels of both the midrange and the tweeter using dials. This is incredibly helpful for tailoring the speaker's sound profile to your specific room acoustics—allowing you to tone down the brightness in a room with hardwood floors, or boost the mids in a heavily carpeted space. Performance Characteristics: How Do They Sound?
The is crucial. Do not place these against a wall. They need at least 12 inches of breathing room behind them. If you place them flush against a wall, the 38 Hz tuning will balloon to 55 Hz, resulting in boomy, one-note bass. The original red foam surrounds are prone to
The AT series was manufactured under license at the Dali factory in Denmark for the European market, using drivers and crossovers imported from the USA.
Vocals and instruments are directed to a dedicated midrange driver. Crossover points sit at on the low end and 3,000 Hz on the high end. Keeping the critical vocal range separate from the low-frequency woofer prevents muddying or acoustic intermodulation distortion during intense, heavy bass passages. 3. The High-Frequency Tweeter
To help you contextualize these specs, here is how the AT40 stacks up against similar era speakers.