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Mordaunt-Short System 442 manufactured in Britain at Durford Mill, Petersfield, Hampshire. The label in your photograph specifically says System 442, with a 6-ohm nominal impedance and serial number 130716.These are not ordinary Mordaunt-Short speakers. The 442 was the company's high-end/statemen...
At A$1,100, this is well above the usual used market for this model and looks ambitious against the broader comparable pool, not a fair everyday ask. The listing is asking premium money, so it needs premium presentation and proof of condition to justify itself.
That said, the 442 is a respected vintage floorstander with a real following for its lively, substantial sound and solid bass scale when everything is healthy. If the cabinets, drivers, and surrounds are clean and original, and especially if the seller can show they’re fully working, it could still suit a fan of the model—but at this price I’d want strong evidence, because the margin for error is thin.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Mordaunt-Short emerged in 1967 from London, when audio enthusiasts Norman Mordaunt and Rodney Short joined forces to craft loudspeakers blending British engineering precision with accessible excellence. Relocating to Petersfield, Hampshire, the company quickly built a heritage rooted in innovation, launching iconic lines like Festival, Carnival, and Pageant in the late 1970s, followed by the enduring MS20, MS30, and MS40 ranges in the 1980s. Acquired by TGI Plc in 1987—forming Europe's largest loudspeaker maker alongside Tannoy and Goodmans—and later by Audio Partnership Plc in 1999, it sustained its family-like devotion to sonic purity amid corporate shifts.
The brand has steadfastly focused on loudspeakers, eschewing diversification into amplifiers, turntables, DACs, headphones, or cables. Standouts include the MS25 and 35ti models of 1987, the Declaration and Premiere series post-1999, and later entries like Avant, Performance, Aviano, and Mezzo, all emphasizing reliable, high-fidelity sound reproduction through refined driver designs and cabinetry.
Positioned as a mid-tier British stalwart, Mordaunt-Short earned acclaim for delivering neutral, detailed audio without premium pricing, appealing to discerning buyers seeking value-driven hi-fi. Though its prominence waned in the 2010s as parent Audio Partnership prioritized Cambridge Audio—leading to discontinued premium lines—its legacy endures among vintage collectors and loyalists, with the official site affirming ongoing traditions of award-winning British speaker craft.
See all Mordaunt Short listings on RADAR.
