ATC 12' Driver info needed

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   Hi Forum,

I’m seeking info about a quad of early 90’s ATC 12’ drivers

They are labelled as 
Power (max): 300 Watts 
Impedance: 16 ohms
Model: ‘OEM 12’
Type: STD

I have emailed ATC directly a while back to see if they could shed any light on spec etc but I didn’t get a response. I’m also wondering what they are worth? Anything special here? I know ATC is a well respected make, but that's about all I know. These particular ones were from a guitar speaker cab. Well used for 5 years, but not hammered - being driven by a 50watt amp.

Anyone able to shed any light?

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Jimbobsen Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List New Member Joined: 21 September 2025 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jimbobsen Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: ATC 12' Driver info needed Posted: 21 September 2025 at 9:32pm
	Hi Forum, I’m seeking info about a quad of early 90’s ATC 12’ drivers They are labelled as Power (max): 300 Watts Impedance: 16 ohms Model: ‘OEM 12’ Type: STD I have emailed ATC directly a while back to see if they could shed any light on spec etc but I didn’t get a response. I’m also wondering what they are worth? Anything special here? I know ATC is a well respected make, but that's about all I know. These particular ones were from a guitar speaker cab. Well used for 5 years, but not hammered - being driven by a 50watt amp. Anyone able to shed any light?

KDW32 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Young Croc Joined: 09 April 2010 Location: Green Hell Status: Offline Points: 770	Post Options Post Reply Quote KDW32 Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 21 September 2025 at 9:40pm
	It's better to call ATC than email I've found.

fudge22 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Registered User Joined: 26 July 2022 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 263	Post Options Post Reply Quote fudge22 Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 22 September 2025 at 12:49am
	This is a scan of the info that came with the drivers in 1976.

Jimbobsen Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List New Member Joined: 21 September 2025 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jimbobsen Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 September 2025 at 10:09am
	Amazing :) Thank you both for the responses. Am I right to interpret that info that they are basically 'all rounders'? Kind of broad spectrum drivers? The next question is what do you think they are worth? I'm seeing similar units on Reverb listed for what seem outlandish amounts which seem kind of unlikely to me. Basically I have to get rid of them due to space and I'd like to get them with someone who will use and appreciate them. But if they are really nothing special I will donate them to my local charity shop :) Appreciate your thoughts

Bams Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Young Croc Joined: 08 April 2009 Status: Offline Points: 679	Post Options Post Reply Quote Bams Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 September 2025 at 10:40am
	ATC drivers are held in high regard by people who know them, but everybody else walks past them so it's quite difficult to sell them without the correct info. they made so many different takes on a chassis so without a correct answer from ATC themself guessing they are the same driver as from 1976 is quite tricky in my opinion. the pa75 314 std has the same specs but they only show up on images without the three screws holding the assembly together. https://atc.audio/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ATC-Driver-Specs.pdf giving them to a goodwill means they will be sold for a few quid and are snatched up by a 15 year old who ruins them by putting ac directly on to them, or by a collector who will sell them online. the few times i had something like this on hand i gifted them to a person who could show he could put them to good use, or sell them online with good background info and donating to a good cause directly.

Jimbobsen Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List New Member Joined: 21 September 2025 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jimbobsen Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 September 2025 at 4:48pm
	Thanks for the reply - I'm basically with you on this - I have a good cause in mind who can make good use of them and they will give me a nominal sum but I thought I should do a bit more research as things are pretty tight this end so I don't want to rob myself if it it suddenly became clear they are more sought after than I think. Thanks for the input. It's appreciated.

madboffin Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Old Croc Joined: 03 July 2009 Location: Milton Keynes Status: Offline Points: 1720	Post Options Post Reply Quote madboffin Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 22 September 2025 at 5:29pm
	The ATC OEM12 (and OEM15) were intended as a cheaper version of the ATC drivers for use in guitar cabinets and similar MI products, a market for which the existing ATC range was far too expensive. The main difference from their normal range was that they used a pressed steel chassis instead of the expensive cast aluminium type. I think these used spare capacity from a pressing plant that had lost a lot of customers due to de-industrialisation and was able (or desperate enough) to give them a special deal. They didn't sell as well as ATC had hoped and the range was dropped after a couple of years. Potential OEM customers stuck with their existing suppliers such as Fane and Celestion and the ATC's still couldn't match their quantity pricing. I always thought these ATCs were a bit too good for the intended market. There was nothing wrong with the ATC OEM speakers, the software was of identical quality to the main ATC product and I used some myself back in the day. But you do need to fit them on a good flat baffle. A pressed chassis will twist slightly if the baffle isn't flat, and most MI speakers have wider gaps than ATC's which allows for more tolerance. The recone kits were not the same as the standard product - the spider (rear suspension) was a different shape, to suit the dimensions of the pressed chassis. Edited by madboffin - 22 September 2025 at 5:32pm