Ads l880

DON73
DON73 Posts: 516
edited December 2010 in Vintage Speakers
Has anyone here listened to the ADS L 880s? They're on e-bay and the bidding is up over $500. I've always got room for one more speaker. Time is short.:smile:
TO ERR IS HUMAN. TO FORGIVE IS CANINE.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,772
    edited December 2010
    This may not help :-) but I have in recent years owned a pair of L-780s and a pair of L-710s. I vastly preferred the latter to the former, and sold the former. This is my somewhat less than helpful way of saying... if I were you, I'd look for a pair of L-810s or L-910s. The L-*80 series just ain't, to my ears, as magically delicious.

    EDIT: In fairness, the 880 is a better speaker than the 780 (I think there's a cast basket woofer in the former)... and the 780 ain't bad... it just doesn't have the phenomenal smoothness and listenablity of the 710.

    Lots and lots of ads speaker information may be found in the subdirectories at:
    http://www.sportsbil.com/ads/

    P1020545.jpg
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  • PolkMaster1
    PolkMaster1 Posts: 847
    edited December 2010
    You may want to try to contact the seller for these if you really want the L880s...
    http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1296609592&/ADS-L880-Bookshelf-Loudspeaker

    No affiliation and I have never heard an ADS speaker. I am a Polker - for life.
    Statistics show that 98% of us will die at some point in our lifetime.

    The other 2% will work for WalMart.
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  • DON73
    DON73 Posts: 516
    edited December 2010
    I had never heard of the 880s until I saw these on e-bay and wondered why the bidding went so high. They sold for $501. I have had 710s and I agree they're hard to beat for tight bass and clarity. The foam surrounds on mine crumbled and back then I didn't know they could be refoamed. I've kicked my butt many times since I gave them away. I don't really need more speakers but I've got some 810s and Polk 7s coming. I'm trying to make up a separate room for listening to vinyl and I have an affinity for old things "like me" I can buy new speakers any where but seeking out good old ones is more fun. I have a 112yr. old bolt action rifle that shoots like a new one........better than some. Anyway thanks for your replies. I enjoy hearing about peoples experience and there is more here than other forums I've visited.......friendlier here also.
    TO ERR IS HUMAN. TO FORGIVE IS CANINE.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,772
    edited December 2010
    I love my Polk 7As... but the L-710s are a clear notch beyond them in terms of articulation, smoothness, musicality, and "listenability" - they are among the most non-fatiguing speakers I've ever heard (vintage Quad electrostatics probably representing the ultimate in that regard).

    Truth be told... I felt the same way in 1978, too :-P but the Polks were far less expensive and were undeniably the bang-for-buck champions in their day. No way could I have afforded ads when I bought my Monitor 7As. The L-710s I have now were dump finds :-)

    BTW, these classic ads speakers are surprisingly sensitive and sound very good powered by fairly low-powered vacuum tube amps (e.g., push-pull EL84; ca. 12 to 14 watts).
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  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited December 2010
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    BTW, these classic ads speakers are surprisingly sensitive and sound very good powered by fairly low-powered vacuum tube amps (e.g., push-pull EL84; ca. 12 to 14 watts).

    Exactly what I was going to add. Very sensitive and revealing speakers.
    I like the Dome Mids myself. Just a very clean sounding speaker.

    Always wanted a pair to call my own.
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