Looking for good quality vintage speakers

08-11-08: Cwlondon
For those of you who suggest that no vintage speakers are worth considering:

Are you DEALERS, by any chance?

Why dont you write this kind of stuff in your classified ads and spare the forums?

Why the hostility? Ed and I aren't dealers. Ed reviews for Positive Feedback Online. I'm a 54-yr-old lifetime enthusiast who sold audio gear in SoCal in the mid-'70s when these vintage speakers were brand new. I know what they can--and can't--do.

The original post did not mention the limited funds or that the vintage speakers would provide atmosphere for a vintage clothing store. That changes everything.

I'm not averse to vintage gear--I have 5 amplifiers and two preamps from the mid-'80s and a couple more preamps from the mid-'90s. The stereo pair in my HT surround rig are 12-yr-old Mirage M5si's. But finding vintage speakers for cheap that give you what you want is a crap shoot. Many, many speakers at all price ranges in the '70s had foam surrounds, and they ALWAYS disintegrate. Next, driver technology has improved mightily in the 30+ years since the Dahlquist DQ-10, Larger Advent. and AR 3a.

You CAN find good value vintage or used speakers, but there are many more, even if they have a legendary reputation, that are a box full of headaches for a novice. If you go used or vintage, try to pick something with butyl surrounds, like ADS or Snell, not foam-surrounded speakers like Dahlquist and Advent unless the foam surrounds have been replaced. ESS AMT 1a or 1b's were so cool, they'd be worth replacing the foam surrounds. To me, they're iconic of the '70s.

Once he explained himself, the idea of putting a vintage system in a vintage clothing store is very cool, and we're all on the same page to help him find something that sounds good, is very affordable, and looks retro-cool. The Cambridge sat/sub system is a good start. I hope he lucks into some full-range ADS spkrs. They were ahead of the resolution curve and they're extremely well built with top-notch drivers.

Another great one is Celestion-Ditton if you can find'em.

I loved the Snell stuff back in the 80s. If your pal is offering you a pair of E3s, I think you'll be happy.

What about these "a/d/s HT300?" They are going crazy cheap on eBay but have a $500 retail value? Something seems fishy...Yay or nay?

**CASEY**

Here's also a list of what this local guy is selling...any of these worth calling on?

Vandersteen 2CE Signature speakers. Near Mint. $900.00 pr
Snell Type A original great condition awesome $999.00 PR
McIntosh XR-5 good condition new surrounds $300.00 pr
McIntosh ML-1C very good shape, new surrounds $400.00 pr
McIntosh Ml-1C very good shape, new surrounds* $350.00 pr
McIntosh XR-14 speakers Very good shape $400.00 pr
Genesis Research Model 2 rare new surrounds $200.00 pr
ADS L1230 excellent cond rare $450.00 pr
ADS L710 speakers excellent condition rare $350.00 pr
ADS L690 speakers excellent shape rare $200.00 pr
ADS L570 speakers excellent shape $125.00 pr
ADS L620 excellent shape walnut $200.00 pr
KEF Q15 speakers Mahogany finish near Mint $150.00 pr
Polk Audio SDA-1B excellent condition $400.00 pr
Polk Audio RTA-12 excellent condition $300.00 pr
Polk Audio S-10 mint condition rare $250.00 pr
Polk Audio Monitor 7 mint condition $150.00 pr
B&O RL-140 with stands mint condition a steal $450.00 pr
B&O RL-60 brand new with boxes $200.00 pr
B&O Beovox 5700 mint and THE BEST sounding B&O $500.00 pr
AudioSource b2-50 MKII BEST SUB ever made, period $700.00
Jamo 5 piece high end 5.1 system with powered sub near mint $350.00
Paradigm Monitor 9 v.3 good shape with boxes $350.00 pr
Paradigm PW-2200 near mint black $700.00 pr
Mirage M790 speakers great condition $300.00 pr
Mirage M990 speakers very good condition $350.00 pr
Mirage Frx9 brand new, never used $2400. MSRP $700.00 pr
Canton Karat 300 speakers great shape $300.00 pr
Canton Karat 100 speakers great shape $200.00 pr
Conrad johnson Synthesis LM-310 exceedingly rare, excellent condition $2000.00
Klipsch Chorus II mint condition oiled oak $850.00 pr
Klipsch RF-5 excellent condition black $600.00 pr
Klipsch RF-35 near mint condition black $400.00 pr
Klipsch RS-3 II rear surround speakers black $200.00 pr
Klipsch RC-3 II center speaker black mint $200.00 ea
Klipsch RC-35 center speaker black mint $200.00 ea
Klipsch KSW-12 Powered Subwoofer near mint $250.00 ea
EV s-180 subs 18" nice cabinets $600.00 pr
EV s-500+ speakers great shape $1200.00 pr
Cerwin Vega commercial subs 18" wheeled cabinet$500.00 pr
Bose 901 IV excellent shape walnut $300.00 pr
Bozak Rhapsody last pair ever sold by Bozak $500.00 pr
DCM Time Windows mint, except foam, with boxes $300.00 pr
Fried Model R very rare excellent shape walnut $700.00 pr
PSB Century 800+ excellent shape black $400.00 pr
JBL N38 very good shape $150.00 pr
Rectinear Highboy III near mint lt grilles $400.00 pr
Rectilinear Highboy III for parts $100.00 pr
Mordaunt-Short Pageant II mint Teak sweet $350.00 pr
Braun LS-100 very rare excellent black $500.00 pr
Dynaudio Audience rare version lt oak mint $400.00 pr

**CASEY**

Johnny- You mentioned the "headaches" associated with some older speakers, related to their foam surrounds and I concur completely. Then you suggest speakers with Heil Air motion Tweeters and all the headaches that they provided when the accordian diaphragms in them failed at the folds(very common). Surrounds are much cheaper/easier to find and replace(for most). Happy listening!