Anyone have A/D/S L-1230's ?

Timothy Smith
Timothy Smith Posts: 764
edited December 2011 in Vintage Speakers
I just bought a minty pair of A/D/S L-1230 speakers last Friday.

Spent a little time listening over the weekend.

These really seem to hit the sweet spot for sound as far as my A/D/S speaker experience goes.

I have, or have had: L-10, L-420, L-520, L-570, L-620, L-690, L-810 (two sets), and L-910's, and so far like the 1230's best. I think the 1230's are 810 bookshelf components repackaged in a tall/shallow/wide column.

Anyone have any good/OK/bad listening experience/comments?

Thanks.
Norh ACA-2B tube pre, Sumo Andromeda SS amp. Magneplanar MMG speakers, M&K MX1250 Subwoofer, Pro-Ject RM1.3 Genie TT with Sumiko Pearl MM cart., Keces DAC, Cambridge Audio Azur 640c CD player
Post edited by Timothy Smith on
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Comments

  • DollarDave
    DollarDave Posts: 2,575
    edited June 2011
    I'm jealous. What's your address and vacation schedule?
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  • Timothy Smith
    Timothy Smith Posts: 764
    edited June 2011
    DaveMuell wrote: »
    I'm jealous. What's your address and vacation schedule?

    No vacation this year since I bought the speakers.

    If you do break & enter there is some cold and cheap beer in the basement fridge you you are welcome to drink a few of if you are a Polkie.
    Norh ACA-2B tube pre, Sumo Andromeda SS amp. Magneplanar MMG speakers, M&K MX1250 Subwoofer, Pro-Ject RM1.3 Genie TT with Sumiko Pearl MM cart., Keces DAC, Cambridge Audio Azur 640c CD player
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  • cjmustang69
    cjmustang69 Posts: 117
    edited June 2011
    I have several pair of ADS speakers also(710s, 980s, 1230s, 1290s, 910s) - the most recent purchase being a pair of 1230s. I have found the 1230s to sound very nice - but haven't concluded I like them better than my 910s. In my room, the 910s have little more bass and don't sound as bright as the 1230s. I haven't concluded if this better or not - just different at this point. Overall, I enjoy the vintage ADS sound.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited June 2011
    I've also owned a handful and like them very much. You can usually find them on the cheap used and it's typically a good idea to stock up on parts.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Evrythngmatters
    Evrythngmatters Posts: 187
    edited June 2011
    This thread is just what I needed. I just purchased some L300C ADS speakers and love the sound. Very surprising sound from these little guys. Your speakers are like the holy grail it seems of the ADS line from what I have read so far. I am curious how this thread will unfold. I am looking at some L710 and wonder how they sound as well. Trying to find the best of the bunch, kinda like how most consider the Monitor 7's the best in the monitor series.
    Everything matters. That is all.
    Money cannot buy happiness, but it sure can buy a bad **** boat to pull up along side it though.
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  • cjmustang69
    cjmustang69 Posts: 117
    edited June 2011
    My first pair of ADS speakers are my L980s. I was very impressed with the quality of the cabinets (I believe each speaker weighs 65 lbs) and the quality of their sound - particularly the mids and highs - when I went to buy them. When I got them home and listened to them more - I was even more impressed by them. I believe the 980s are a very nice sounding bookshelf speaker.
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  • snow
    snow Posts: 4,337
    edited June 2011
    cjmustang69 wrote: »
    My first pair of ADS speakers are my L980s. I was very impressed with the quality of the cabinets (I believe each speaker weighs 65 lbs) and the quality of their sound - particularly the mids and highs - when I went to buy them. When I got them home and listened to them more - I was even more impressed by them. I believe the 980s are a very nice sounding bookshelf speaker.
    I have to agree on the sound of the mids and highs very nice IMHO I had a pair of L810's



    REGARDS SNOW
    Well, I just pulled off the impossible by doing a double-blind comparison all by myself, purely by virtue of the fact that I completely and stupidly forgot what I did last. I guess that getting old does have its advantages after all :D
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  • bluecomet
    bluecomet Posts: 1,118
    edited June 2011
    I have a pair of L810's and have to agree the mids and highs are great. I think the holy grail of ADS may be the 1550 floor stander. I am not sure on the model number but I saw them on ebay a few months ago and from the reviews of the day they were awesome speakers. I have also heard many good things about the L1230 speakers. ADS speakers are one of the best bang for the buck on the vintage speaker market.
    Polk HT system 1: LSIC, LSI25 mains, LSI F/X rears, Lsi F/X rear centers,
    Yamaha RX-V2500 System, Carver A753 3 channel amp.

    Polk HT system 2: , SRT system with f/x 1,000's rear speakers on 7.1 system currently using Onkyo TX-RZ820 receiver, powered by Sunfire Grand Theater amp

    Polk Speaker collection: SDA SRS 1.2tl x 2, SRT system, SDA SRS 2 P/B, SDA 2A, SDA 1C Studio, SDA CRS+, Monitor 7B & 4, SRS 3.1tl, RTA 15tl, LS90, LSI 9
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  • Timothy Smith
    Timothy Smith Posts: 764
    edited June 2011
    dorokusai wrote: »
    I've also owned a handful and like them very much. You can usually find them on the cheap used and it's typically a good idea to stock up on parts.

    A/D/S speakers are a must buy at a fair price, and unbeliveable at a cheap price.

    I maybe paid a bit too much for the L-1230's but they were in unbelievable condition: In the original boxes, with protective plastic shipping caps on the tweeters and mids. Drivers perfect, wood perfect, no snags on grill cloths. I had to buy them.

    I introduced a local guy to the A/D/S sound and sold him a pair of 810's, and now he usually gets there before me when anything shows up on CL (Dang). I won't mention any names (Steve), but the seller said he got several calls right after he talked to me, and one was from Steve (not to mention any names).
    Norh ACA-2B tube pre, Sumo Andromeda SS amp. Magneplanar MMG speakers, M&K MX1250 Subwoofer, Pro-Ject RM1.3 Genie TT with Sumiko Pearl MM cart., Keces DAC, Cambridge Audio Azur 640c CD player
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  • cjmustang69
    cjmustang69 Posts: 117
    edited June 2011
    Good advice on stocking up on spare drivers - particularly the dome mids/tweeters. Because I really like the ADS speakers - for their sound, cabinetry, and their unique style (examples - metal mesh grills on 980s and the factory stands for the 910s) - I have several spare tweeters and mids just in case I need them in the future.
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited June 2011
    Congrats Tim...

    I have to get out by you one day and check those ADS's out. Have you run out of basement yet?
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  • hoosier21
    hoosier21 Posts: 4,411
    edited June 2011
    I have a pair of 1230s in my room right now, love them.

    But I have had them for a while and am about to move them on down line, for no good reason at all other than the need for change
    Dodd - Battery Preamp
    Monarchy Audio SE100 Delux - mono power amps
    Sony DVP-NS999ES - SACD player
    ADS 1230 - Polk SDA 2B
    DIY Stereo Subwoofer towers w/(4) 12 drivers each
    Crown K1 - Subwoofer amp
    Outlaw ICBM - crossover
    Beringher BFD - sub eq

    Where is the remote? Where is the $%#$% remote!

    "I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the most of us have...very hard to explain why you're mad, even if you're not mad..."
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited June 2011
    hoosier21 wrote: »
    I have a pair of 1230s in my room right now, love them.

    But I have had them for a while and am about to move them on down line, for no good reason at all other than the need for change

    Do you like them better than your 2b's?
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  • Timothy Smith
    Timothy Smith Posts: 764
    edited June 2011
    leroyjr1 wrote: »
    Congrats Tim...

    I have to get out by you one day and check those ADS's out. Have you run out of basement yet?


    Leroy Jr.: Stop by any time.

    The basement is getting a little tight. But am thinking about converting the formal living room into a basement area by throwing away the furniture, tearing out the carpet, boarding up the windows, and installing cinder blocks in front of the walls, but I think my wife will think that it would be "going backwards"...go figure.
    Norh ACA-2B tube pre, Sumo Andromeda SS amp. Magneplanar MMG speakers, M&K MX1250 Subwoofer, Pro-Ject RM1.3 Genie TT with Sumiko Pearl MM cart., Keces DAC, Cambridge Audio Azur 640c CD player
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited June 2011
    Timothy Smith wrote: »
    Leroy Jr.: Stop by any time.

    The basement is getting a little tight. But am thinking about converting the formal living room into a basement area by throwing away the furniture, tearing out the carpet, boarding up the windows, and installing cinder blocks in front of the walls, but I think my wife will think that it would be "going backwards"...go figure.


    Just getting back from Texas so once I catch up on things I'll give you a call.
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  • hoosier21
    hoosier21 Posts: 4,411
    edited June 2011
    leroyjr1 wrote: »
    Do you like them better than your 2b's?

    good question, they have been sitting since I got the ADS's. But I have almost all the upgrades in hand for the 2Bs, and was planing on moving them back in place.

    Unmodded 2Bs do/did not have the mids and highs the ADS's have.

    Maybe that helped.

    Russ
    Dodd - Battery Preamp
    Monarchy Audio SE100 Delux - mono power amps
    Sony DVP-NS999ES - SACD player
    ADS 1230 - Polk SDA 2B
    DIY Stereo Subwoofer towers w/(4) 12 drivers each
    Crown K1 - Subwoofer amp
    Outlaw ICBM - crossover
    Beringher BFD - sub eq

    Where is the remote? Where is the $%#$% remote!

    "I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the most of us have...very hard to explain why you're mad, even if you're not mad..."
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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited June 2011
    I have had a pair in my 2 channel rig for going on 5 years. Great tweeter/mid combo, very easy to drive, "East Coast" suspension cab sound.:biggrin:

    Photo before I bought I think.......
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

    2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable
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  • cjmustang69
    cjmustang69 Posts: 117
    edited June 2011
    Here are a couple of photos of ADS speakers for those who may not be familiar with them. Second photo is of the L980s and first has 910 and 1230 in it. You can see the factory stand for the 910 - which I think is pretty unique.
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  • victor. askew
    victor. askew Posts: 50
    edited June 2011
    Congrats and welcome to ADS spkr ownership. I have not owned the model that you have but have owned a pair of L1290 towers since back in the late 80's. Never selling them . Ever. You will enjoy these. They are keepers for sure.
    Amps- Nakamichi PA 7 & PA 5.
    P Amp- Classie Audio. Nakamichi CA 5
    Tape- Tandberg 3014A.
    Tape- Nakamichi 600.
    CD Calif Audio Tercet 3.
    CD-Rotel 1078.
    Spkrs- Polk Audio RTI 150 Towers.
    Spkrs- ADS L1290 Towers.
    Spkrs- Yamaha- NS 670,NS 500m,NS 200m, NS 200ma
    NS 200ma hybrids.
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  • Bruce Bamford
    Bruce Bamford Posts: 1
    edited November 2011
    I have a beautiful pair of 1230's for sale. Any comments on the best way to sell them for a premium price, or what a premium price should be?
    Thanks Bruce
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  • gigbyt
    gigbyt Posts: 145
    edited December 2011
    where are you located
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