Favorite vintage loudspeaker?

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  • John30_30
    John30_30 Posts: 1,024
    edited March 2010
    RuSsMaN wrote: »
    Klh 17 are 'the' number one vintage speaker for me.

    Want to use the power that Sansui offers? Find a pair of DQ-10's.

    I'm sure appreciating the deal your pal Mark gave me on the Norman Lab Model 9's a year ago, and the new hasn't worn off.
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  • tkfoh
    tkfoh Posts: 30
    edited March 2010
    ADVENTS, still own three pair, like the fried egg tweeter
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  • snow
    snow Posts: 4,337
    edited March 2010
    Pycroft wrote: »
    Anyone ever heard of these: Renaissance Audio MLP-501?
    James
    Sounds like like white van speakers to me. :)



    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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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited March 2010
    Acoustic Research Model 5.
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  • ohskigod
    ohskigod Posts: 6,502
    edited March 2010
    AR9's, Bozak Symphony
    Living Room 2 Channel -
    Schiit SYS Passive Pre. Jolida CD player. Songbird streamer. California Audio Labs Sigma II DAC, DIY 300as1/a1 Ice modules Class D amp. LSi15 with MM842 woofer upgrade, Nordost Blue Heaven and Unity interconnects.

    Upstairs 2 Channel Rig -
    Prometheus Ref. TVC passive pre, SAE A-205 Amp, Wiim pro streamer and Topping E50 DAC, California Audio Labs DX1 CD player, Von Schweikert VR3.5 speakers.

    Studio Rig - Scarlett 18i20(Gen3) DAW, Mac Mini, Aiyma A07 Max (BridgedX2), Totem Mites
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited March 2010
    I would've said AR-9 also but I didn't. Not quite vintage enough at 1978.

    A real sleeper is the smallest of the original Bozak, the Tempo. A 12" three-way in a box about the size of a 3a.
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  • brhaskell
    brhaskell Posts: 1
    edited January 2012
    AR9LS or LSi are super speakers. Beautiful too! Small footprint for a large tower speaker, easily driven properly with your Sansui, and SQ is amazing from the top to bottom of the sound spectrum.
    They're NOT room critical like the 9 with the side firing woofers either.
    They'll handle about any music too. Very versatile and easy to please. Hard to find though

    I have a pair of AR9LS I purchased in 1985. As time passed the cone surrounds deteriorated and the foam at the bottom port had turned to glue I brought them to what seemed a legitimate speaker build/repair and when I got them back all the low end was gone. I was driving them with an Aragon 8008 amplifier and they would handle any and everything thrown at them. I still have the original boxes and packing and was wondering if you had any idea where I could get them repaired/restored.
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  • vcwatkins
    vcwatkins Posts: 1,993
    edited January 2012
    Advents. Like Hartleys better, but you won't find 'em (non-Zodiaks anyway).
    b]Beach Audio[/b]: Rega RP6 (mods) - AT33PTG/II - Parks Budgie SUT - PSAudio NPC * Eversolo DMP-A6 * Topping D90iii * Joule-Electra LA-100 mkIII * Pass Aleph 30 * MIT S3 * Polk SRS 2.3tl (mods) * PSAudio PPP3
    Beach Study: Pro-Ject Stream Box S2 Ultra & Pre Box S2 * Pass ACA * DH Labs SS Q10 * Brines Folded ML-TQWT RS 40-1354 * PSA Dectet
    Beach Master: WiiM Pro * Dayens Menuetto * Zu Libtec * Dynaudio Audience 50
    Beach Den: Bluesound Powernode 2i * DH Labs SS Q10 * Zu Omen DWII * Richard Gray RGPC
    Town Study: WiiM Pro * Chord Qute (Pardo) * Elekit TU-8600 * MIT S3 * Revel M22 * Beyer DT-990 * Shunyata Hydra 2
    Town Den: Music Hall mm5.1se - Denon DL-103r - Jolida JD9ii (mods) * WiiM Pro * Cary xCiter * Rogue 99 Magnum * Schiit Aegir * MIT S3 * Polk SRS 1.2tl (mods) * Dectet * Bottlehead Crack - Senn 600
    Town Porch: WiiM Pro Plus * Sunfire Sig II * Canare 4S11 * Magnepan 1.6 * Dectet
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited January 2012
    All I know, is I wish i still had my Acoustic Research AR9Lsi's.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • sda2mike
    sda2mike Posts: 3,131
    edited January 2012
    i have some marantz imperial 6's that i just recapped...they're great...i also have some smaller klh model 32..built for the long haul as well
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited January 2012
    steveinaz wrote: »
    All I know, is I wish i still had my Acoustic Research AR9Lsi's.

    I just picked up a pair for my bud Ray in Brooklyn. I have to yank everything out and get them re-foamed before he comes to get them. Not a scratch on the cabs or grilles. $35
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  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited January 2012
    SD Acoustics SD 1 ,Rogers LS7,EPI 100
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  • Timothy Smith
    Timothy Smith Posts: 764
    edited January 2012
    Timothy Smith wrote: »
    I would recommend Dahlquist DQ-10's and almost anything by A/D/S.

    Add the EPI 150 and related EPI models.

    It is amazing what a humble 8" woofer and pushed-in looking 1" inverted dome tweeter and a crossover that consists of a single 10 microfarad capacitor can sound like.
    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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  • gudnoyez
    gudnoyez Posts: 8,114
    edited January 2012
    The Sansui sp 2000 were some good floorstanding speakers matched up with the Au series amps a little heavy on the bass, but might sound good with that reciever. I have seen some sansui speakers come up on craigslist and ebay on occasion.
    Home Theater
    Parasound Halo A 31 OnkyoTX-NR838 Sony XBR55X850B 55" 4K RtiA9 Fronts CsiA6 Center RtiA3 Rears FxiA6 Side Surrounds Dual Psw 111's Oppo 105D Signal Ultra Speaker Cables & IC's Signal Magic Power Cable Technics SL Q300 Panamax MR4300 Audioquest Chocolate HDMI Cables Audioquest Forest USB Cable

    2 Channel
    Adcom 555II Vincent SA-T1 Marantz SA 15S2 Denon DR-M11 Clearaudio Bluemotion SDA 2.3tl's (Z) edition MIT Terminator II Speaker Cables & IC's Adcom 545II Adcom Gtp-450 Marantz CD5004 Technics M245X SDA 2B's, SDA CRS+

    Stuff for the Head
    JD LABS C5 Headphone Amplifier, Sennheiser HD 598, Polk Audio Buckle, Polk Audio Hinge, Velodyne vPulse, Bose IE2, Sennheiser CX 200 Street II, Sennheiser MX 365

    Shower & Off the beaten path Rigs
    Polk Audio Boom Swimmer, Polk Audio Urchin B)
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited January 2012
    gudnoyez wrote: »
    The Sansui sp 2000 were some good floorstanding speakers matched up with the Au series amps a little heavy on the bass, but might sound good with that reciever. I have seen some sansui speakers come up on craigslist and ebay on occasion.

    Show me a speaker with a 12" woofer, in a cabinet as well made as those, that puts out LESS low end, and I'll bowl you in Macy's window at noontime on a business day.

    I had to GIVE a pair of SP2000 away about a month ago. Had them for about two years in storage and couldn't sell them for $50/pair looking and working like new in the original cartons. The only person I could find to give them to was a guy that already had a pair. What does that tell you?
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  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,147
    edited January 2012
    George Grand wrote: »
    Show me a speaker with a 12" woofer, in a cabinet as well made as those, that puts out LESS low end, and I'll bowl you in Macy's window at noontime on a business day.

    I had to GIVE a pair of SP2000 away about a month ago. Had them for about two years in storage and couldn't sell them for $50/pair looking and working like new in the original cartons. The only person I could find to give them to was a guy that already had a pair. What does that tell you?

    I agree George.
    There is a very , very small collector base for Sansui speakers. Kenwoods' collector base isn't much bigger but there are more collectors of them just to mention it.

    I liked them both for Motown mainly. I had always had better sounding speakers while I owned them but the tight woofers were great for disco, funk and Motown style music.
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited January 2012
    My favorite was my first "good" speaker, the Pioneer CS-A700. I forgot what I paid back in 74-75, but it was a lot for me. I had recently gotten out of the Navy, and was working at Dart Drug making $1.80 an hour. It took a while to save the dinero, but was worth it when I bought them home.

    http://classicaudio.com/gallery/audio/pioSPKRS.html
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,147
    edited January 2012
    DSkip wrote: »
    It never ceases to amaze me how a thread that hasn't been touched in 2 years gets revived and continues like nothing ever happened. Seems to always result in an interesting read (or re-read).

    At least this one is NOT an item for sale thread. Somebody actually used the search function to revive this and that's fine by alot of us who actually participated in the earlier days. This is actually a fine question to those who have lived long enough to have owned plenty of classics. Experience is the best teacher and I agree 100% on that.
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
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  • michael1947
    michael1947 Posts: 775
    edited January 2012
    My all-time fav would be my JBL 4411's and you can find nice sets on e-bay for 5 - 700 + shipping although I saw a clean one owner go last winter for 2,300.
    Main Family Room: Sony 46 LCD, Sony Blue Ray, Sony DVD/VCR combo,Onkyo TXNR 708, Parasound 5250,
    Polk SDS-SRS with mods, CSI 5 center + Klipsch SC2, Polk RT2000P rears, Klipsch KG 1.5's sides, Polk Micro Pro 1000, Polk Micro Pro 2000, Polk SW505, Belkin PF60, Signal Cable Classics,Monster IC's, 2 15 amp circuits & 1 20 amp circuit.

    Living Room: Belkin PF60, Parasound HCA2200, MIT ProlineEXP balanced IC's,Emotiva XDA-1 DAC/Pre,Emotiva ERC2 transport,MIT AVT2, Polk LSI 9's.
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  • TNHNDYMAN
    TNHNDYMAN Posts: 2,145
    edited January 2012
    My favorite so far is the Polk Monitor 10's w/ Peerless tweets. Recently aquired JBL L100's are pretty nice as well. Have 2 pair of EPI 100V's but both need the surrounds redone, so they might be my first set to try to fix myself.
    2-ch System: Parasound P/LD 2000 pre, Parasound HCA-1000 amp, Parasound T/DQ Tuner, Phase Technology PC-100 Tower speakers, Technics SL-1600 Turntable, Denon 2910 SACD/CD player, Peachtree DAC iT and X1asynchorus USB converter, HSU VTF-3 subwoofer.

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  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,147
    edited January 2012
    DSkip wrote: »
    Don't read that as a complaint, because it wasn't. It's just amusing when the thread picks up right where it left off with no mention of the lapse of time between posts. This was an interesting read that I missed the first time around and I'm glad it got revived.

    I'm sorry. I misunderstood.

    Back to this old thread, we'd think there would be more than 52 responses. I guess classic speakers don't bring alot of interest these days with all the cool affordable newer tech speakers on the market these days and also the wanting of in-walls and out of site preferences...:-(
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
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  • timalan
    timalan Posts: 106
    edited January 2012
    How old does a speaker have to be to be considered "vintage"?

    I have a soft spot for a pair of Bose 8.2's, circa 1985, that I had for 15 years... no, they didn't sound great, but they were the first decent speakers I ever owned that were my own. Picked up for $40 at a garage sale when I was in high school, and they were these epically cool tower speakers that really did sound amazing for certain types of music. An odd speaker for Bose -- each had a rear-ported 10" woofer and a pair of 3" tweeters, much closer to a "typical" design. Not trying to start an anti-Bose flame war, but the 8.2 was classy looking, and carries a high nostalgia factor for me. Paired with an older H/K amp, they could really sing.
    5.1 theater - Pioneer SC-07, Mirage OMD-CC center, 4 x Mirage Omnisats, Boston Acoustics VPS-210 sub
    2.1 living room - NAD 7400 integrated, 2 x Platinum Audio Duos, MIT Terminator4 cables
    2.1 bedroom- Arcam Solo, 2 x Mirage OMD-5's
    FOR SALE - Genesis Servo-10 sub, Genesis Servo-12 amp; Martin Logan Dynamo sub; Mirage MM-6 sub; Harman Kardon DPR-1001 7.1 receiver
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,770
    edited January 2012
    My current favorites are pushing the half century mark (the drivers, that is; the cabinets are a couple of years old and the crossovers date from the late 1970s). Oh, the supertweeters (and their XOs) and the subwoofer are modern, too...

    604E061111.jpg



    My all-time favorites are probably Altec A5s equipped with 515 woofers and 1505 horns on top, with 288 2" AlNiCo compression drivers on 'em and Jean Hiraga's crossovers... not in a position to afford a pair of those, though...
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  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited January 2012
    I would have to say Rogers LS3/5a's or the Harbeth p3esr.

    Not sure if you guys would consider either of them vintage but they are probably the most natural sounding bookies I have ever heard.

    Here is the Rogers
    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSFjkOZrxGTkPh7NtBRo3mKe8KdiNQjq5IGAK8cEqFnvvVP2aVJ

    Here is the Harbeth
    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRC0Ana_dt50xMtbNvy8-ekBEzRBiq8DetA24F5TQuWzynNS5bR
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