Good Old speakers vs Entry New speakers

DaveHCYJ

I'm trying to decide on a Christmas gift for my dad. He loves music. I got him some head phones last year. I was thinking about some speakers this year, but my budget is pretty limited. Something in the range of 75-150, which could get me some Monitor 30's or 40's or maybe 50's if I go the refurbished route.

I'm just wondering if these entry level speakers would be an upgrade or not for him. He's got some anchient tube amp from the 70's and speakers from the 70's also. They were probably quite good for their time, but I don't know if age or new technology will have made them not so great now. They are solid wood construction with I would guess an 8 inch woofer and a midrange and a tweeter. There is a switch on the back of them to select 4ohm or 8ohm. That is all I remember about them, unfortunately I don't live nearby so I can't get more info on them.

So what do you think, would monitor 40's or maybe 50's if I can find them be an upgrade?

concealer404

Hard to know without knowing exactly what the current speakers are.

Is he hanging onto them because he thinks they sound good, or is it sentimental value?

DaveHCYJ

He's hanging on to them most likely because he's too cheap to get new ones and/or its what he's always had so he might not know there is better stuff out there. He isn't very knowledgeable about technology and probably has just never put any thought into it.

concealer404

Who knows, there might NOT be better.

Again, hard to tell.

I dare say that your $150 could be better spent on a 2-channel speaker than the new Monitor line speakers, to be honest. Maybe a very nice set of Monitor 7s?

kawizx9r

Vintage would be my recommendation as well, some great bang for the buck speakers available out there.

DaveHCYJ

Hmm, ok. Maybe I can get my mom to do some reconnaissance work for me and see if she can find a brand or model number on the current speakers.

The only problem I might have with vintage speakers is I have no idea where to buy them other than locally. I live on the opposite coast from my parents so I need wherever I buy them from to ship them also, which pretty much limits me to something like polkdirect or newegg, because the cost of shipping speakers will quickly eat my budget if I do it on my own. At least with big sellers you either get free shipping or a discounted bulk rate compared to showing up at the UPS store on your own.

newrival

I would say that if you can't get him anything used you shouldnt do it. It is highly likely that whatever he has is better than whatever you can buy for $150 new including shipping.

how about some nice vinyl or a cd from somwere like mo-fi? (mobile fidelity sound labs: www.mofi.com)

The best thing you can do isfind out what he has and let us know. Like everyone's said, he may have something it would take $1k to even match, let alone better.

zingo

What speakers does he have currently?

kawizx9r

DaveHCYJ wrote: »

Hmm, ok. Maybe I can get my mom to do some reconnaissance work for me and see if she can find a brand or model number on the current speakers.

zingo wrote: »

What speakers does he have currently?

He doesn't know.

DaveHCYJ

My mom was able to gather some intel, but no actual model or brand. The speakers are from the early 70's and likely were not that expensive. I don't really know how to translate not that expensive, but she seemed pretty confident they weren't that great.

That sort of settles it in my mind that something newer would probably be better. I've got my eye on some refurbished monitor 50's right now unless anyone has a better suggestion.

virtualdean

DaveHCYJ wrote: »

My mom was able to gather some intel, but no actual model or brand. The speakers are from the early 70's and likely were not that expensive. I don't really know how to translate not that expensive, but she seemed pretty confident they weren't that great.

That sort of settles it in my mind that something newer would probably be better. I've got my eye on some refurbished monitor 50's right now unless anyone has a better suggestion.

yes, call up your old man sometime soon. He and you would enjoy it at any rate...Strike up a conversation about 2 channel stereo gear and tell him that you are starting to get into it because "your friends are into it", or "there's a Babe working at the local audio store and you don't want to sound ignorant",
Whatever. Ask him for advice. Ask him if he likes his Ancient Ones brand of speakers. What would he get if money was no object and what would he get if the local stray cat got in and shredded his current speakers....And get him to talk about his Speaker brand.
you get the idea...either you realize you can't afford to get what he wants or you discover he is easy to please. And..maybe it will spark your education about Audio and get you into it.

good luck.

(sob!) (heavy sigh) Nobody ever bought me any speakers
you are a good Son.

cnh

DaveHCYJ wrote: »

My mom was able to gather some intel, but no actual model or brand. The speakers are from the early 70's and likely were not that expensive. I don't really know how to translate not that expensive, but she seemed pretty confident they weren't that great.

That sort of settles it in my mind that something newer would probably be better. I've got my eye on some refurbished monitor 50's right now unless anyone has a better suggestion.

Can't you just ask him what they are? Or look on the BACK or FRONT for a logo?

There were some very FINE vintage speakers made back then. Some are still collectors items. Plus....that old tube amp might still be pretty good depending....might just need some new tubes, etc. Do the research and get back to us, because it is possible that the old speakers are OK?

cnh

Tour2ma

Bingo... Could be anything from old (ugh) Pioneers to AR 3a's... May even be Polks...

If you can't find a tag or logo, can Mom snap a couple pics (grills on and off, please) and send them to you to post them? Someone here will ID them...

virtualdean wrote: »

(sob!) (heavy sigh) Nobody ever bought me any speakers
you are a good Son.

I was thinking the same thing...

tonyb

Given the OP's situation, I would guess 75-150 bucks isn't going too far in the upgrade dept. I suggest talking to pops directly,sure it may kill any surprise, but he may be happier in the end. Who knows, he may just dig what he has already and not want anything newer, or he may have something in mind already. Talk to the man,audio is a personal journey.

mrbigbluelight

Where's your dad located ?

There might be a boatload of Polkies in his city that may be able and/or willing to pick something up locally (Craigslist, etc) and drop them off at your dad's house.

..... might charge a burger and a beer for said service, but .....

You mentioned that he has an "ancient tube amp"; be interesting to find out what he has there, too.

camtah

Back in the day I had some old Genesis II+ speakers (4) and while they were very good in there day, the age as taken there toll on them. I had some leaky caps in a couple of crossovers and the foam surrounds deteriorated on the passive woofers. Because the cabinets were real walnut veneer, I decided to keep them around for a while. I had the woofers re coned and the caps replace. Alas, the I finally sold off two and my son has the other two rotting in hos basement somewhere. BTW, these had a lifetime warranty , but he company went under years ago. So much for that...

mantis

If he has cheap speakers from the 70's I'm willing to bet a fresh newer pair of polks will outperform then. Tweeter , driver , crossover technology has come along way since then.

Tour2ma

mrbigbluelight wrote: »

You mentioned that he has an "ancient tube amp"; be interesting to find out what he has there, too.

I got a sawbuck that says it's a Dynaco ST-70.

TroyD

The possibilites are intriguing and endless..

BDT

camtah

TroyD wrote: »

The possibilites are intriguing and endless..

BDT

Yes but the funds are not...:biggrin:

cnh

mantis wrote: »

If he has cheap speakers from the 70's I'm willing to bet a fresh newer pair of polks will outperform then. Tweeter , driver , crossover technology has come along way since then.

That's probably true Dan. But sometimes the simplest crossover is also something of beauty...take Henry Kloss's designs from that time? They still have a sound 'all their own' and if you like that sound as I do it holds up for you. It's not always about the latest and greatest technology? Whip some tubes on a vintage Kloss and enjoy!

But I don't disagree, really. The Kloss's may not resolve the MOST detail..but god are they 'musical' and 'warm'!

cnh

tonyb

One of my favs, though not really all that old, is the Aerial 10T which was replaced with the 20T. Even by todays standards, the 10t was a heck of a speaker.
The Dynaco st 70 may be spot on. Be interesting to see what exactly he has.

shack

I would guess whatever the OP was questioning has already happened or decided against since he was looking for a "Christmas present". Without knowing if he made the decision...further discussion is redundant.

mrbigbluelight

shack wrote: »

further discussion is redundant.

Which, of course, will not prevent further discussion.
The peanut gallery shall not be suppressed !


12-18-11
"Turns out one of them is blown so I'm glad I went ahead and ordered some Monitor 40's for Christmas"

I still would like to know what antique tube amp he was referring to.

Tour2ma

shack wrote: »

I would guess whatever the OP was questioning has already happened or decided against since he was looking for a "Christmas present". Without knowing if he made the decision...further discussion is redundant.

From now on I'm calling you Spock... or Spockdaddy...

tonyb,
Just playing the odds w/ the ST-70...

shack

Tour2ma wrote:

From now on I'm calling you Spock... or Spockdaddy...

That is also illogical...but I have no emotions about it either way...