Celestion are renowned for high quality loudspeakers, used on stage and in clubs, theatres and other venues the world over. From our early radio loudspeakers to complex sound reinforcement systems, Celestion speakers have helped to shape the history of sound reproduction.
Since the company's birth in 1924, Celestion have paid meticulous attention to every product detail, combining innovative ideas with skillful craftsmanship.
Today, Celestion continue to manufacture loudspeakers and components for many different applications. Incorporating both modern and traditional technology, we have successfully incorporated years of experience into advancing the future of loudspeaker design.
GP Acoustics (UK) Ltd. Registered in England/Wales. Registered Office: Global House, High St, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 1DL. Registration Number 2711002
Celestion began life in 1924 as a small company, designing and building loudspeakers. At around this time, the technology of radio was developing. The recently formed British Broadcasting Company - the BBC - had just started to transmit radio signals. And, as radio receivers improved and there were a greater number of transmissions, purpose built loudspeakers were needed so as to improve general intelligibility. At Celestion, we had found the ideal way to market our loudspeakers.
Our products were always well ahead of the competition - they not only sounded much better, but looked very stylish in their walnut and mahogany cases. From early cumbersome horn speakers developed separate speaker cabinets. With their ornately carved wooden casings, these speakers were given pride of place in every home. Our first loudspeaker, known as the ‘Celestion’, was launched in 1925, receiving great reviews. To follow this, we developed a complete range of loudspeakers, comprising models A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5.
As technology changed the radio from battery powered to mains, the receivers became smaller in size and were eventually housed in the same casing as the speakers. With greater demand for these receivers, the cabinet design gradually became less ornate and more functional. This increase in trade meant that a move to larger premises was needed - so in 1929, we moved to a factory at Kingston-upon-Thames.
In 1932, a permanent magnet moving coil loudspeaker was developed, with greatly improved sound quality. This in turn brought about the development of the first twin loudspeaker system for the home, the Celestion Reetone Dual, with its separate bass and treble speakers.
With the advent of television in the fifties, we knew our loudspeakers would be in as much demand as they were for radio. A series of loudspeakers was built, ranging from 2" to 10" in size, designed to meet the requirements of the television manufacturers - our newly developed HF1300 tweeter eventually became adopted by the BBC for use in their studios.