I bought my Altec 604-8G's when I was 18. I am now 66. Everything else has changed but the Altec's are still here. Bill @ GPA did his magic on them a few years ago and I finally had some custom 620 cabinets built. 1.5 watts of SET 45 tube amps and the sound is spectacular. I have listened to many systems over my years and still nothing moves me as much as these things.
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I utilize Western Electric 713b drivers and a Western Electric 12025 horn in my speaker system. The 713b's are probably from the early 1940's. To me, they are among the finest compression drivers ever made.
I like a number of modern wide range drivers, like the AER BD series, the Cube Audio Nenuphar driver, and various Voxativ drivers, Songer field coil driver, etc. But, I would not dismiss some very much older wide range drivers. The Jensen/ERP M10 field coil driver is a terrific sounding driver that competes with any of the modern drivers I've heard and it comes from the 1940's.
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I still use and love my IRS Beta
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Kef r107's for keeps ... after Nautilus 802, Sonus faber Luito towers, Avalon eclipse, Klipsch RP-8060FA, Tyler acoustics, snell E3's, Type D, vienna acoustics..all sold. But can't let go of kef 107.. I guess it'll be forever.
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My current stable is Infinity qB, Infinity RS1.5 and JSE Infinite Slope 1.8. The JSE's are the best built and most impressive looking. But the Infinity RS1.5s are my favorite sounding speaker. They even survived a pair of Vandersteen 3s I bought to replace them.... |
I only have vintage. Infinite Slope Model 1, Dahlquist DQ12s, ADS L1290 and finally the set that made them all expendable Speaker Lab SK corner horns.
Nobody asked but I also have vintage equipment. 2 Dynaco ST-70, SAE Mark XXIV, the original owner of Luxman M2000 and Luxman CL-35 preamp and also a Hafler DH 500.
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I recently bought a clean pair of 16 ohm Altec 604Es in nicely-made but non-Altec cabinets. The crossovers are original too (N1500-A) but I have a pair of 16 ohm Mastering Labs crossovers on the way.
These will be the 4th pair of Altecs I've owned beginning in 1960 (!) with a single 604C in mono then a 604D picked up new in 1962 for a stereo pair.
I replaced these in the mid 70s with a used pair of Model 17s with 604-8G drivers. Five years ago I bought a pair of Model 19s which proved too big for our small home. My current 604Es are in smallish cabinets and work very nicely with 3 10" JL Audio subs.
Anyone else using the ML Xovers?
Fred |
Just wondered if there are other vintage users in this crowd?
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Vintage is just as good as newer models,,
But next to my Wide band, sorry No Cigar.
Wide Bands are the new high fidelity tech speaker.
So... no Vintage for this guy. |
I have Klipsh horns from 1970, Yamaha NS100M from 1978, PSB stratus Gold from 1984, Boston Acoustics A 400 from slightly later than '85. I love them all and play them all. They do all sound different but they do also all sound great. Almost forgot Sonab A-116, I have not played those in years but I still have them. |
Once you get into co/triaxial speakers, hard to get out unless you are looking for a different sound. I love my Altec's, so coherent. Subwoofers? |
What is vintage?
Have a pair of MTX AAL154 I think?
cerwin Vega D-9 pair, new crossover caps, air coil etc etc,
BIC venturi v830 and v630.
Bought the Vega d-9 new about 1986-1987. Unboxed, one in back seat, one in trunk of my 84 cutlass supreme.
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Almost all vintage here:
JBL L-150 purchased from Illinois circa 1975 or 76. Still in use. Lots more JBL - L-65, L-100, L-110, L-220, L-300, 4333, 4343, 4350. Multiple pairs of several of those. Altec Segovias, Altec Valencias, Scott S-10 and S-11, KLH Model 4, Boston T-1030, Dynaco A-25 (one pair clean, the other pair NOS still in the boxes((to pair with reference standard dead stock ST70 just back from frame off restoration)) ), Heathkit AS-101, maybe some others I can’t think of right now. All are still in my current collection. I’ve sold off about half or the list would be a lot longer. Need to get rid of the rest but it’s like selling children.
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I have two pair of vintage speakers, apogee duetta 2 and polk audio sda2a's. The apogee's are bone stock, and the Polk's have been upgraded with new tweeters, high end capacitors, resistors and inductors, |
I'm using Infinity RS1.5s. Since buying them for $264 about 5 years ago, I've tried to replace them 3 times with some much more expensive floorstanders. In all three cases, the much more expensive floorstanders have been shown the back door..... |
My bedroom system is using a set of KLH Model 19s which are a small bookshelf speaker with dual 4" full range drivers. They image pretty well but no bass, but they do go low enough that it was no worries integrating them with a sub that rolls in below 60Hz.
I'm hoping to get a speaker about the same size that has more resolution soon. But the amp was specifically designed to not make more than 5 watts/channel. So I need something that is as easy to drive.
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i'm still listening to my ads L470s, which cost me (no kidding) $5 at a garage sale. excellent clarity and surprisingly deep, tight bass for such little boxes. likewise, my polk monitor 10b has outlasted innumerable others and remains one of the great mancave rock and roll speakers.
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In my office system I have KEF Calindas purchased new in 1979. I have Kef Reference 104/2s in my main system. Purchased them about 4 years ago from the original owner in perfect condition. The manufacture date is 1991. |
I have an early pair of Shahinian Obelisk (approx 1980). Obelisk were released in 1977 and are still in production 44 years later. The drivers have changed, but the overall design is the same. I don't know of any other speaker that falls into this long-lived category. They were ahead of their time and sound absolutely amazing.
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I sold the entire line of Bozak speakers until they closed shop. The B401 speakers were one of my favorites. My only complaint was they were a laid back in the treble. I never did warm up to their aluminum tweeters. |
Mid 70’s Bozak B-401 Rapsodys w egg crate grills..
Surprisngly good sounding, decent bass.
Thoren TD-125 II > Schiit Freya+ > Sony TA-N55ES amplifier.
All original; one owner mint except for one inch by one quarter inch high hard plastic feet that may help the sound by decoupling the speakers from my carpeted wooden floors.
Every time I fire these up I end up spending at LEAST 2 hours listening to them. |
Jtgofish,
The Gale's are a great choice...beautiful appearance as well. |
Gale 401a circa 1974.Used with a modern valve amp they are superb.
Toshiba SS30s from the early 60s.One of the great listening experiences-almost Tannoy DC like in presentation-lacking the smear that plagues most speakers.
Interesting to note Tangents are mentioned.I had the RS4s for years.Wonderful very BBC sounding speakers. |
I tried many, to arrive at, Craigs/List $150 kg4s.am now convinced one MAY not have to spend a fortune to enjoy music didnt really know about klip. speakers Its nice to be surprised once and awhile Good Luck |
Tangent RS2 and Cizak model 1 |
I'm using a pair of KEF Reference 104.2s as my mains, a KEF 200 C, and two KEF Reference 102.2s for surrounds. I have two 102.2s in a secondary system, and a pair of AR3a speakers sitting in my closet that I hope to set up again someday.
db |
Nothing but "vintage" here:
Two systems
Cave system in basement: Original Snell "E" bought new 1979
"Big system" in living room:Acoustat model "2" bought used in 1981.
best of both worlds; electrostatic planers and high efficiency 2-way boxs.
love them both and have no desire what so ever to replace them.
e |
Have used many excellent modern speakers from budget to pricey, but like vintage better. Currently using Tannoy Cheviots in one sysemt and KLH Model 6s in the other system.
The vintage speakers have a really nice "chesty" sound to them that I find modern speakers don't have. |
I have several pair of vintage speakers-still have my original AR 3a's tucked away in the closet-my daughter has
my ess amt 1b's.Recently I traded and picked up a pair of ohm walsh 2.
I am using them in a second system in the house with my
ancient AR amp--about 35 yrs old and a very old Onkyo cd
player nothing fancy with the cables or speaker wire.I gotta say the walsh's are something else-you can't believe
equipment this old could sound this good! |
Being from New England I've collected three models of the Acoustic Research speakers, the AR-9, AR-3A, and the Ar-2AX, as well as a pair of the Large Advents. I must admit the only pair I have set up are the AR-9s which are legendary four-way speakers with two 12-inch woofers. Must find a good home for the other speakers one of these days. |
In a second system, I have 1978 Altec Model 19s, driven by a turntable of similar vintage and an amp which is just a little bit younger. They are wonderful. And they are the best bang for buck I can think of in speakerland. |
Sold my Magnepan MG-1s in Late 2007 after a well over 25 year run. Even had 'em factory rebuilt once. A 'landmark' in my personal stereo development. Replacement? New 1.6s, of course! |
McIntosh XR-7 (2 pairs), McIntosh XR-5 (1 pair), JBL L-65 (one pair). I have the Macs coupled with the 107 Equalizers.
The Macs reproduce just about everything wonderfully. The JBLs sound best with quality rock.
I enjoy them all. |
Bondmanp,
What brand of vintage speaks from Tech HiFi? You didn't say.
The best I remember at Tech HiFi to be had for that price on sale might be Ohm E's? I sold dozens of them back in the day.
Or could be EPIs or smaller Infinitys or Advents maybe? |
...in my den, my secondary system. I got these new in 1978 as a high school graduation present. Bought at Tech HiFi on sale for $178/pr. Although I am afraid to do the "pencil eraser test," I am still using the original foam surrounds. The cabinets and grills are a bit worn, but they still sound rich and full as always. They never were detail or imaging champs, though. Heck of a value, all things considered! |
Allison 3s & 4s. Still wonderful. |
Snell. When I lost my Apogee Duetta Sigs, I needed something affordable. I found a pair of Snell AII's for $600 here on Audiogon and then a pair of original E's for $100. The AII's had been rebuilt recently, but needed a tweeter replaced. Millersound did a great job on the E's and even had an original tweeter for AII's. I have been happier than I thought was going to be possible. Just be warned that you will need to know somebody good for service if you can't do it yourself. |
McIntosh ML1Cs from 1970ish. Sound great! (and LOUD) |
Infinity RSIIb are my mains now, replacing a set of Zu Druids + Mini-Method sub. I'm currently in the process of building outboard crossovers for them using Mundorf Supreme caps, Northcreek and Solen Heptalitz inductors, Duelund resistors, Cardas copper litz wire, etc. Also adding cabinet bracing and damping to the bass enclosure.
Finally, I'm working with a speaker maker to begin production of new, improved diaphragms for the EMIM and EMIT drivers - I want these babies to last forever! |
Altec Model 19's in mint original condition. I've owned many of the newer highly "rated" speakers and I enjoy the Altec's more. Low power tube amps + Altec's = music. |
Beveridge Model III's (full restoration by Rick B.) and soon, Bev Model 2's. |
AR-LSTs. I've had the crossovers recapped/upgraded, but all drivers are original. These speakers produce the best soundstage that I've ever heard. |
I have a single EV Georgian in Mahogany that I am going to build a mono system. I have hooked it up for some extended listening with one of my MC40 amps and love it. If a person is looking for audio on a lowish budget, I think vintage has a lot to offer. |
I use a pair of Wharfedale W25's in a bedroom system. It's a sealed two-way bookshelf design with an eight inch woofer. Very musical with a 15 watt EL84 amp.
My favorite speakers I have are Dunlavy SCIV's in my main listening room which I consider to be classics if not quite vintage yet. |
1972 Khorns
Rebuilt crossovers, new wiring, etc.
When it's time to rock.nothing better! |
Monitor Audio MA4's since the late 70's (can't remember exactly, maybe early 80's?). Although they will soon be replaced by Tyler Acoustic D3M's. |
Ohm Walsh 2s (with OHM driver upgrade to newer 100 series 3 driver).
Realistic Minimus 7's on the deck.
OHM L's with OHM sub bass activator circuit and custom Morel driver mods. |
I have an older pair of JBL 4343's. Have the upgraded 2122H midrange drivers and the 2235H woofers. Biamp the system using Cary CAD805's on the top and a Crown K2 amp on the 2235's. Use these speakers as the mains for my home theater system. I love Vintage JBL. |
Well It should be who is using "Classic" speakers then, however instant Classic speakers could be 6 months old too! Who knows.
It seems to me the only way to define this thread would be Vintage as in, fairly early crude days of audio reproduction analog sources available only, tape, reel to reel, and vinyl..
Units that are Silver, some black, Remote controls were virtually not available on any units.. Speakers were built mostly made out of Plywood or really bad chipboard, even before MDF was the specified universal material..
Really before the Start of Commercial CD sales or digital reproduction would seem to be a Good time marker to consider it "Vintage" equipment in most peoples minds.. |
I don't know how the term 'vintage' came to mean 'old'. That word simply describes some specific period of time, originally applied to wine.
About like saying 'back in the day'. huh? When was that?
Merriam-Webster:
Main Entry: vin·tage
Pronunciation: \vin-tij\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, probably alteration of vendage, from Anglo-French vendage, vendenge, from Latin vindemia grape-gathering, vintage, from vinum wine, grapes + demere to take off, from de- + emere to take — more at wine, redeem
Date: 15th century
1 a (1): a season's yield of grapes or wine from a vineyard (2): wine; especially : a usually superior wine all or most of which comes from a single year b: a collection of contemporaneous and similar persons or things : crop
2: the act or time of harvesting grapes or making wine
3 a: a period of origin or manufacture b: length of existence : age
But yes, I have used lots of old speakers. They did not sound as good as newer designs.
Steve |
Still have a pair of KEF 104/102s and a NAD 3200 power envelope. |
