Missing the Old Days


I’m new to the higher end audio game. What I don’t know about modern audiophile technology and doctrine could fill a library.

What I do know is how I like to listen to my music, which I’m quite sure would make some crinkle their eyes and squint at me with a look of “my lord son, really?” Kinda look lol.

My first foray into good speakers are my current Goldenear Triton 5’s and my JL D108 Sub. They sound nice....very nice...but they just don’t sound the way I like. So now I’ll soon hook them up to a Parasound Halo A21/P5 which I’m sure will improve the sound.

However, I’m aware that it still may not deliver the goods for me personally. I miss the days of those big, solid, powerful speakers that’d shake the dust off your shelves and make the squirrels living in your my attic fear for their lives. 

I miss my trusty old MTX AAL 2230’s. They weren’t fancy, they certainly weren’t overly detailed, but they kicked ass. They kicked a lot of ass. Where are the speakers that can deliver big sound, driving Bass and clarity without the need to run 1 or 2 Subs? Speakers that are powerhouses without costing 10, 15, 20 thousand or more? There used to be a time when you could go to any number of local Stereo shops and have multiple choices of all ranges of speakers and equipment. I have to drive an hour or more to find any store remotely close to that.

I’ve seen Tyler Acoustics, but I’m Leary. No dealers, only direct sales, very generic specs, and hardly any reviews anywhere. I’d like to hear a few of his models, the cheaper Halo 1’s that closely resemble my beloved MTX’s just look like a white van special Speaker with those shiny black woofers.

Maybe I’m just an old Deadhead stuck in the past, but if there are speakers like this out there that are quality and don’t cost as much as a car, I’d love to hear about them!
128x128bigjohn9095

Showing 3 responses by pkvintage

Thats is an easy question to answer  I have 8 pairs in my collection  that would work for you.

here's the list
Most of the JBL L line from the 70s
L100's
L50's
L26 
To name a few
All have great attack and play other genres of music well to. 

Celestion Ditton 
44
25
66
Great bass and a warmer east coast sound

IMF
TLS 50
TLS 80 
Awsome in all regards. 

Infinity Kappa 8

Many early Acoustic ResearchTeledyne Era
AR9
AR90, 91, 92 AR3

Match them with a Bryston 3b or 4b series amp and a matching Bryston B1 pre amp plus a quality DAC, important like a NAD M51 or again a Bryston bd1
You will have an awesome system that will play any music very well. 

Bonus... Under $4k  total and the equipment will hold its value or appreciate in value. 

If any of the speakers above have not been recapped it is well worth doing. 

For the record I currently have now or have had all the gear mentioned above. 

Good luck  

.... Plus pick up a nice Thorens or a Rega planar 3 Turntable  for under $500.00

You will be laughing all the way to Audio Nervana with out emptying you bank account. 
👍👍And they continue to be the good these days as well. A simple inexpensive cap upgrade and some new surrounds if needed and you have speakers worth listening to. 

The OP  IMO is going about it wrong to spend 1k to 2k on new speakers. His Parasound fear would work great with Amy of the speakers you and I both mentioned. 

I had a set of Klipsch rf 82 ll. Retailed for about $1200.00. They lasted a week only to be replaced by 40 year old  JBL L50 and some Infinity kappa 8.