Advice needed: Cheap Good speakers

Roshisan1

I just picked up a good cosmetic condition (underneath all the dirt and dust) ADCOM GTP-600 and GFA-6000 for $14.00. The amp had 2 channels out (blown internal fuses) and the preamp needs some cleaning/recapping. What is a good speaker set-up on the cheap that will sound great (2 or 5 channel)? I haven't figured out where to use it yet, but I need the wife to hear how much better it sounds than anything she has ever heard. She wants to know why I keep acquiring this "old junk" Thanks.

Timothy Smith

Go used/vintage young man.

Based on your recent Adcom experience, it sounds like you are not afraid to mess with used equipment, and maybe also need to based on budget constraints.

I would suggest looking on Craiglist for anything by Polk (of course), ADS, EPI, Dahlquist, Snell, Vandersteen, Energy etc. You can get some unbelievable deals if you are patient.

You might need to do some cleanup, replace woofer surrounds, replace a driver etc, and of course no warranty.

Case in point: I recently purchased a used set of EPI 150's made in the early '70's for $40 that, in my opinion, put to shame a brand new set of $1500 monitors with the latest materials and technology that I had on hand to demo and compare. The new speakers cost 37-1/2 times more and were less musical to my ears, and not as much fun to listen to.

As much as many members here like, admire, and desire new and expensive, I think most would have choosen the $40 speakers in a blind listening comparison test and be absolutely shocked by their choice.

I was talking to a friend and he was likewise shocked that I though something 40 years old was superior to the "latest and the greatest". I know it doesn't normally work that way (think about cars, motorcycles, computers, TV's etc.) in those cases newer is generally better other than for reasons of nostalgia, rarity, collectibility etc.

If you buy something used at a low price and don't like it, you can almost always chalk it up to experience and get your money right back out of it on Craigslist and try something else.

MrGlobe

What is your budget? Is this going to be for a home theater system or only for music listening? What kind of room will it be in? Are you able to have either bookshelf or floorstanding speakers? Used or new?

I would recommend buying 2 nice speakers over 5 not-so-nice speakers. Additionally, you will get a lot more for your money out of the used market than you will the new market (As you know by your $14 Adcom score).

Depending on your answers to the above questions, I would start with a nice pair of used bookshelf speakers. You will be able to use them as surrounds later if you upgrade to some larger speakers for the main L/R, but you can still get some amazing sound for music listening as well as watching movies.

bobsauto49

wenzizi ^ spam

Bobsama

I personally think old Monitor 5/7/10's sound pretty great for $80-150.

bluecomet

Any of the old Monitor 5/7/10's with the peerless tweets are an incredible bang for the buck IMHO.

george daniel

bluecomet wrote: »

Any of the old Monitor 5/7/10's with the peerless tweets are an incredible bang for the buck IMHO.

yep--what they said

Bobsama

george daniel wrote: »

yep--what they said

In addition, those with the SL2500 are pretty decent too.

Roshisan1

I appreciate all the advice. I am especially partial to aDs, ADS, a/d/s/ but am willing to try anything that sounds good. My budget is "scraped together" at this point (Christmas, 3 spoiled kids, etc.) I do intend to take advantage of the fact that alot of what I like is junk to many people such as the ADCOM stuff I picked up. I think I will be starting off 2 channel but since the gear is 5 channel, I will feel like I'm slacking if I don't ultimately use it all. I'd like to use the it in the master bedroom, but the wife is not very receptive (she did give me the go on a decent home theater set up). I would like to win her over with that muc better than Best Buy "sparkle". I dont think she has ever heard it before.

gwg_97

Do what I did. Start acquiring Polk monitor 5,7, and 10s and start building your surround system. Used monitors are pretty common on craigslist and it shouldn't take you long to assemble a fantastic sounding system.

Roshisan1

I may have found a screamin' deal on KEF C95s in excellent condition. Would they fit the bill?

Joe08867

I LOVE KEF. Seriously KEF is good stuff.

Face

Pioneer's SP series speakers sound really nice for the money, but the bookshelves really need a sub for low end. http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Home/Speakers/Home+Theater+Speakers/SP-BS41-LR

halo71

Roshisan1, where do you live? You'll like the C95's! I have a pair of C55's and love them. Didn't so much at first but over time they grew on me.

Roshisan1

Dang I missed out. Guy had them listed for $97.00. I figured I could have talked him down to $75.00. Can't win them all.