This page is about the Cerwin-Vega AL-1002 speaker with specifications data sheet, pictures, woofer assembly and history of this ultimate home audio floorstanding loadspeaker.

Introduction.

According to the official Cerwin-Vega homepage (2001), the Cerwin-Vega AL-1002 was the ultimate home audio floorstanding loadspeaker, that could handle massive power at 1.000 watts into 4 ohms. Cerwin-Vega described it as an audio exclamation point, that had massive power handling and enormous sound output. That is still true to this day.

If rock and roll was dying, then Cerwin-Vega’s AL-1002 would make sure, that it certainly did not go quietly. Rock and roll already had a museum, so Cerwin-Vega built it a monument.

Picture of Cerwin-Vega AL-1002 floorstanding speaker in a living room in Copenhagen, Denmark, in the year of 2002. Sold by the audio store HiFi-Klubben in Copenhagen. Picture also features a 1977 Technics professional series stereo rack with Technics ST-9030 FM stereo tuner, Technics SU-9070 preamplifier, Technics SH-9010 frequency equalizer, Technics SH-9020 peak meter unit and two Technics SE-9060 power amplifiers.
Picture of Cerwin-Vega AL-1002 floorstanding speaker in a living room in Copenhagen, Denmark, in the year of 2002. Sold by the audio store HiFi-Klubben in Copenhagen. Picture also features a 1977 Technics professional series stereo rack with Technics ST-9030 FM stereo tuner, Technics SU-9070 preamplifier, Technics SH-9010 frequency equalizer, Technics SH-9020 peak meter unit and two Technics SE-9060 power amplifiers.
Picture of Cerwin-Vega AL-1002 floorstanding speakers in a living room in Copenhagen, Denmark, in the year of 2002. Sold by the audio store HiFi-Klubben in Copenhagen. Picture also features a 1977 Technics professional series stereo rack with Technics ST-9030 FM stereo tuner, Technics SU-9070 preamplifier, Technics SH-9010 frequency equalizer, Technics SH-9020 peak meter unit and two Technics SE-9060 power amplifiers.
Picture of Cerwin-Vega AL-1002 floorstanding speakers in a living room in Copenhagen, Denmark, in the year of 2002. Sold by the audio store HiFi-Klubben in Copenhagen. Picture also features a 1977 Technics professional series stereo rack with Technics ST-9030 FM stereo tuner, Technics SU-9070 preamplifier, Technics SH-9010 frequency equalizer, Technics SH-9020 peak meter unit and two Technics SE-9060 power amplifiers.

Pictures of Cerwin-Vega AL-1002.

Picture of Cerwin-Vega AL-1002 floorstanding speaker with 15 inch woofer, 8 inch midwoofer and 1,5 inch tweeter as seen from the front.
Picture of Cerwin-Vega AL-1002 floorstanding speakers with 15 inch woofer, 8 inch midwoofer and 1,5 inch tweeter as seen from the front.
Picture of Cerwin-Vega AL-1002 floorstanding speaker with 4 terminals and 2 bass reflex ports as seen from the rear.
Picture of Cerwin-Vega AL-1002 floorstanding speakers with 4 terminals and 2 bass reflex ports as seen from the rear.

Cerwin-Vega AL-1002 woofer, midwoofer and tweeter assembly.

It has a 15 inch diecast aluminum high efficiency vented woofer with a 9 inch magnet assembly, full 2 inch long-throw voice coil and inverted dust cap for the low frequency output. It has a 8 inch rapid-attack midwoofer with a 6,5 inch magnet assembly and 1,5 inch voice coil for the mid frequency output. It has a 1 inch Supronyl soft dome with low diffraction polished aluminum tweeter flange for the high frequency output. The woofer has the production code ALW 152.

Picture of Cerwin-Vega AL-1002 ALW 152 15 inch woofer and its magnet assembly as viewed from the back. It is very similar to ALW 150, also known as just ALW-15, which is found in the earlier AL-1000 model of this speaker.
Picture of Cerwin-Vega AL-1002 ALW 152 15 inch woofer and its magnet assembly as viewed from the back. It is very similar to ALW 150, also known as just ALW-15, which is found in the earlier AL-1000 model of this speaker.
Picture of Cerwin-Vega AL-1002 ALW 152 15 inch woofer and its inverted dust cap as viewed from the front. It is very similar to ALW 150, also known as just ALW-15, which is found in the earlier AL-1000 model of this speaker.
Picture of Cerwin-Vega AL-1002 ALW 152 15 inch woofer and its inverted dust cap as viewed from the front. It is very similar to ALW 150, also known as just ALW-15, which is found in the earlier AL-1000 model of this speaker.

Cerwin-Vega AL-1002 cross-over filter.

The crossover frequency between the woofer and the mid-woofer is 400 Hz and the crossover frequency between the mid-woofer and the tweeter is 3 kHz.

Picture of the cross filter, that is mounted inside the Cerwin-Vega AL-1002 speaker cabinet. Part number CXSHQ2092.
Picture of the cross filter, that is mounted inside the Cerwin-Vega AL-1002 speaker cabinet. Part number CXSHQ2092.

Cerwin-Vega AL-1002 specifications data sheet.

The official Cerwin-Vega homepage (2001) also provide a specifications data sheet for the Cerwin-Vega AL-1002 loudspeaker:

Frequency response28 Hz – 20 kHz @ -2,5 dB
Power handling1.000 W peak and 500 W RMS
Sound pressure level (SPL)123 dB @ 1 m
Sensitivity level95 dB @ 2,83 V/m
Nominal impedance4 Ω
Crossover frequency400 Hz and 3 kHz
Height114 cm (44,75 inch)
Width45 cm (17,38 inch)
Depth44 cm (15,50 or inch)
Weight42 kg (92,5 lb or pounds)
Building material25 mm (1 inch) and 19 mm (3/4″ or 0,75 inch) MDF
Table of Cerwin-Vega AL-1002 specifications.

Frequency response is from 28 Hz to 20 kHz at -2,5 dB. Power handling is 1.000 watts at peak power and 500 watts RMS at continuous power. Sound pressure level (SPL) is 123 dB at 1 m and peak power. Sensitivity level is 95 dB at 2,83 V/m. Nominal impedance is 4 ohms. Height is 114 cm (44,75 inch). Width is 45 cm (17,38 inch). Depth is 44 cm (15,50 or inch). Weight is 42 kg (92,5 lb or pounds).

The cabinet has 4 input terminals with 2 optional copper bridges for biwired configuration. They are connected to an internal crossover filter with a crossover frequency at 400 Hz and 3 kHz. Terminal screws are compatible with a 12 mm (1/2 inch) socket wrench for easy ensuring of a good connection.

Cabinet building material is medium-density fibreboard (MDF) wood with a thickness of 25 mm (1 inch) and 19 mm (3/4″ or 0,75 inch). The cabinet is ported with 2 rear faced bass reflex pipes, that are each 21 cm (8,3 inch) long and 10 cm (3,9 inch) wide, which is a circumference of 31,4 cm (12,4 inch). The cabinet comes in almost black grey granite vinyl and black removable front grille of black metal framework and black fabrik.

Cerwin-Vega AL-1002 speakers has a level of sensitivity, that allows for a wide range of power amplifiers to be used, but it is my experience, that its full potential is only achieved, when used with a powerful home audio or professional grade amplifier, that outputs at least 320 watts RMS at 4 ohms per channel. Examples of such heavy duty power amplifiers are Cerwin-Vega CXA-8 and CXA-10 for the home audio market and Cerwin-Vega CV-900, CV-1800 and CV-2800 for the professional audio market. They are all built on the same solid principles, but the ones for the home audio market are better suited for homes in terms of signal interface and cooling fans. If a less powerful amplifier, or an amplifier for another impedance, is used, then the full potential of the speaker will not be achieved and might even cause damage from distortion to the woofers and tweeters.

Picture of Cerwin-Vega CXA-10 power amplifier for the home audio market.
Picture of Cerwin-Vega CXA-10 power amplifier for the home audio market.

I recommend using a preamplifier and an equalizer before the amplifier in that order. The preamplifier can not only handle your different input sources, but also ensure correct signal impedance and signal level. The equilizer can balance channel differences, adjust signal level to perfection and shape the often flat music source signal to your personal preference. I find the need for shaping to be specifically notable around the lower frequencies, which often needs a 12 dB boost gain for those deeper transients to work the woofer nicely.

Cerwin-Vega AL-1002 voice coil.

Picture of Cerwin-Vega AL-1002 voice coil, that is burned due to overheating.
Picture of Cerwin-Vega AL-1002 voice coil, that is burned and damaged due to overheating.

Music and movie genres.

Cerwin-Vega AL-1002 are built for playing amplified rock and roll, heavy metal, techno, trance and other electronic music, which are music genres, that should be played loud and demands enormous power, while maintaining a controlled, powerful and non-distorted bass and crisp sound. This is exactly what this loudspeaker delivers. The same is true for action and horror movies.

Cerwin-Vega AL-1002 production years.

Cerwin-Vega AL-1002 was produced at their facility at 555 East Easy Street, Simi Valley, California, in USA and facilities in Europe, such as Poland, from about 1999 to 2001 and sold until about 2002, which was about the time, when audio shops switched their focus to surround sound configurations, that had separate subwoofer, for the home audio market. HiFi Klubben was a supplier of Cerwin-Vega in Denmark. Unfortunately HiFi Klubben no longer has spare parts, manuals nor data sheets available.

Picture of Cerwin-Vega AL-1002 floorstanding speaker with 15 inch woofer, 8 inch midwoofer and 1,5 inch tweeter as seen from the front in a living room.
Picture of Cerwin-Vega AL-1002 floorstanding speaker with 15 inch woofer, 8 inch midwoofer and 1,5 inch tweeter as seen from the front in a living room.

Cerwin-Vega AL-1002 remains one of the legends, when it comes to large floorstanding speakers.

Cerwin-Vega AL-1002 reconing and repair.

If you need any help with reconing and repair of your Cerwin-Vega AL-1002, or other Cerwin-Vega, speakers, then I recommend applying for membership in the Cerwin-Vega Facebook groups and Cerwin-Vega forums. The Cerwin-Vega speakers and amplifiers has thousands of helpful dedicated fans for life all over the globe.

Video of Cerwin-Vega AL-1002.

Video of Cerwin-Vega AL-1002, that is playing a subwoofer bass demonstration audio sequence from a vintage 1977 Technics professional series stereo rack with Technics ST-9030 FM stereo tuner, Technics SU-9070 preamplifier, Technics SH-9010 frequency equalizer, Technics SH-9020 peak meter unit and two Technics SE-9060 power amplifiers. Recorded in 2002.

More about Cerwin-Vega.

Cerwin-Vega is known for their extremely powerful speakers and unique design in their home audio, professional audio and car audio product series. Even more have experienced Cerwin-Vega’s amazing folded horn subwoofers, when clubbing at underground trance venues or attending large concerts. Cerwin-Vega also produces professional power amplifiers, build around a solid design and truly heavy duty components, that sets the competition aside.

Cerwin-Vega was founded by aerospace engineer Gene Czerwinski in 1954. He liked music and set himself the goal of reproducing the live musical experience. He would do this by designing durable high-efficient speakers, that gave true value for money. Cerwin-Vega stayed true to this mission, which had attracted world wide fans, that sees the brand as a part of their identity.

I also have a Cerwin-Vega themed wallpaper available for download. See Cerwin-Vega themed wallpaper with red logo on dark background.

Selfie in front of a Cerwin-Vega AL-1002 floorstanding speaker and its 15 inch ALW-15 woofer with inverted dust cap.

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