What made me an audiophile was a pair of my first speakers which were the old Kenwood speakers when they were made in Japan and not china like today. They aren't audiophile speakers but they were really really good and I thought all speakers sounded like that but I was wrong. When I got rid of them due to age, I couldn't find any that sounded even close to those. Later on I started listening to recommendations from others because all speakers I ran across were just bad. Finally audiophile speakers suited me just fine but I still remember those speakers today. Oh, they were pre 1970. You might be better off wondering what happened to music once 1980 rolled around with a few exceptions of course.
All Pre 1970 Vintage speakers suck! Prove me wrong
Have tried many vintage speakers.
My conclusion: All pre-1970 vintage speakers suck. Well-made but crappy sound.
Used with both vintage amps and modern.
I do like many vintage amps such as Radio Craftsmen RC-500, Marantz tube, Scott tube, Heath W5, Lafayette and Pilot tube.
But back to pre-1970 speakers:
No bass, harsh, or honky mids and no highs. Not musical or listenable to me.
Tried many including Acoustic Research AR-3a, 2Ax, etc. The entire AR product line. Also Klipsch Horn, Large EVs. Altec VOTT. Pioneer CS-88 and 99.
Nothing pre 1970 is even close to the better modern speakers.
I challenge you: Prove me wrong.