Vintage speaker ranking
kiyolsakie6
Posts: 1
I have recently entered the audiophile life and I have come across a lot of "vintage speakers". Seeing as I am in my 20's I wasn't around when a lot of these brands were popular. I was wondering if anyone could give me an idea of the quality/ranking of speakers in the 70's/80's?
Comments
-
Well, the Polk Audio loudspeakers of that era were very nice.
You also might like to look at hifi websites that cater more towards vintage tastes. Along that line, audiokarma is (still) quite popular.
-
Look at the multitude of reviews from "stereo review" on line.
Polk audio, JBL, ADS, Braun, Infinity, Pinnacle, Klipsch, Mirage. Best to just ok is a matter of your own ears.
Get you a copy of the 1986 Audio Review's yearly compilation mag. and you'll have hours of fun looking at the ads, and comments. There was a copy every year. 200 pages of fun. Seeing everything and their prices was always fun for me! I still have a lot of those magazines.
Like @mhardy6647 said above...They are online now and easy to navigate.
Most every brand was a nice quality built speaker system back then
Where do you live where old speakers are everywhere for the picking?
Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them. -
Also: AR, Advent, KLH, Dynaco.....
-
Exclude anything Bose.Don't take experimental gene therapies from known eugenicists.
-
Dahlquist DQ-10's A pair of those would be quite the restoration project.
-
Maybe less common stateside, but I'll put in a plug for PSB. Their vintage stuff is great and flies under the radar.
-
As do some other brands from up North.
-
Home Theater/2 Channel:
Front: SDA-2ATL forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/143984/my-2as-finally-finished-almost/p1
Center: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/150760/my-center-channel-project/p1
Surrounds & Rears: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/151647/my-surround-project/p1
Sonicaps, Mills, RDO-194s-198s, Dynamat, Hurricane Nuts, Blackhole5
Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV, Carver PM-600, SVS PB2-Plus Subwoofer
dhsspeakerservice.com/ -
westmassguy wrote: »
You mean possibly "Bose 901 Series II Continentals ...." :-)
IIRC 501s of that era weren't half bad.
Infinity of that era sound good too. A friend of mine has Qa & Qb set each & they really sound nice.
-
dcm timewindows
-
westmassguy wrote: »
You mean possibly "Bose 901 Series II Continentals ...." :-)
IIRC 501s of that era weren't half bad.
Infinity of that era sound good too. A friend of mine has Qa & Qb set each & they really sound nice.
The original 601s were quite good, and of course my Continentals tooHome Theater/2 Channel:
Front: SDA-2ATL forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/143984/my-2as-finally-finished-almost/p1
Center: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/150760/my-center-channel-project/p1
Surrounds & Rears: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/151647/my-surround-project/p1
Sonicaps, Mills, RDO-194s-198s, Dynamat, Hurricane Nuts, Blackhole5
Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV, Carver PM-600, SVS PB2-Plus Subwoofer
dhsspeakerservice.com/ -
All those 901 drivers, yet couldn't get a dedicated tweeter implemented...Don't take experimental gene therapies from known eugenicists.
-
Speakers are definitely the most personal decision in a stereo and, as others have said, there are many good vintage brands.
It might help to narrow your search a bit by looking at which speakers might fit your situation.
First off, you need to take into account the room you're going to put them in and where you can live with them in the room. Some speakers are designed to be against a wall while others need to be 3 or so feet from any boundary. Some large speakers need an equally large room, etc.
Next, do you like specific types of music and at what levels do you listen? Some speakers are better at jazz or classical or rock, while some are good at lower levels and some are designed for a frat party.
In other words, your needs will help us point you towards vintage speakers that might fit the bill for you.Alon Petite / Infinity 1.2S / Coda Continuum / Counterpoint SA5000 / Oppo BDP-105D / Technics SP-15 w/SAEC WE-308SX & Ortofon AS-309 arms / Ikeda 9C2 & Dynavector XX2 Mk II carts
