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IMF Model R transmission line speakers in excellent conditionThese are collector’s items that supposedly have bass response well below 35hz!A couple tiny chips I’ll fill and touch up.I oiled the wood veneer to restore the grain, and it looks excellent.“These exceptional speakers employ the world changing KEF LS3/5A drivers: the T27 melinex tweeter, The renowned B110 bextrene midrangeAnd the B139 woofer. Irving M. Fried supplemented the Rogers two driver design with the B139 'racetrack woofer' for severely improved bass response. The speaker employs a resistive line tunnel (modified transmission line variant) to further increase the LF extension down to 33hz. This speaker exhibits very sweet highs (thank you T27 tweeter) with lush British midrange ( the b110 bows) and the quickest bass ever with the b139. “Shipping to states in longitude of Colorado, farther west or rural parts of the Midwest will be a little more, billed separately
With a speaker this old, timing matters more than on a current model, and the market premium is mostly about condition, originality, and whether you want a classic transmission-line design over newer alternatives. At US$750, it’s above the US$750 75th percentile only in the sense that it sits right at the top of your comp set, so this reads as strong but not cheap rather than a bargain[ground truth].
What makes it worth a look is the IMF lineage: these were respected for deep, controlled bass and a big, coherent presentation that still appeals to serious listeners. If the cabinets, drivers, and internals are original and truly excellent, the ask is defensible for a clean, collectible pair; just make sure the woofers, surrounds, and veneer are all healthy, since age-related work can erase the value fast.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
IMF is a classic British hi-fi name founded in 1961, originally tied to Irving M. “Bud” Fried, a transmission-line loudspeaker advocate whose initials gave the brand its name. The trademark was registered at the suggestion of Saul Marantz, and the company became associated with advanced audio reproduction rather than a broad consumer-electronics lineup. Its strongest historical identity is rooted in the UK speaker scene, with a transatlantic connection to the American market.
IMF is primarily known for loudspeakers, especially its transmission-line designs such as the Reference Standard and other monitor-style models. The brand name has also appeared in connection with a wider range of audio components in its early history, including cartridges, tonearms, amplifiers, and other supporting hardware, but speakers are the core of the IMF story. It is not generally known as a maker of modern DACs, headphones, or cables.
In the market, IMF sits firmly in the vintage-collector and enthusiast category rather than mainstream mass market. Its reputation rests on engineering credibility, large-scale monitor speakers, and a distinctive sound that appeals to serious hi-fi buyers and restoration-minded collectors. For today’s shopper, IMF is best understood as a niche heritage brand with historical importance, not a current broad-line audio manufacturer.
See all IMF listings on RADAR.
