OK, so here is a thread I haven't ever seen here: What speakers have you owned? starting with the earliest, price paid, new/used, and perhaps the models that really impressed you (for the price) in CAPS.
Rat Shack Something or others, $120, new Fisher Something or others, $280, new ADS L710's, $550, new Snell A2i's, $1100, used BEVERIDGE SYSTEM 3'S, $1000, used Martin Logan CLS, $1400, used MARTIN LOGAN SL3'S, $2300, used
Bose 201s - late 1980's (terrible build and sound)
Klipsch KG3 - 1990 (not the greatest paired with a mid-range Onkyo AV receiver) Gave these to my friend who is an indie rocker who loves vinyl. He runs them off a vintage Marantz receiver. They never sounded so good.
Wharfedale Evo 30 - Last week.
I also have a 5.1 system from The Speaker Company that sounds great considering it only cost me $330.
Starting with the first..? I had to build my own enclosures until AR came along. Jensen JP 52 bought in 1946 Jim Lansing 001 system (I think it was D130 and DLH 175 ? Acoustic Research AR 2A Acoustic Research AR 3A Acoustic Research AR 98LS Bose Acoustimass 7 Then it got fun with used ones from craigslist Bose 901 Definitive Technology BP10 Klipsch KG5.5 Klipsch KG4 Klipsch KLF10 Boston Acoustics VR 965 Boston Acoustics VR 940 ADS L500 ADS L520 Miscellaneous centers and subwoofers
I think the Jim Lansings back in the 50s were the most satisfying(My high frequency hearing was still good then). The AR 3As bought in 1969 were still my favorite til I sold them in 2009. The ADS L520s right now sound more natural than the Bostons, the Def. Tech and the 901s, but I like them all.
Epi 100's, ESS LS 5's, EPI 200C, Bose 901 V, Polk monitor 7 with huge Polk subwoofer, EPI 500s, Definitive Technologies BP10's (the orignials purchased from Sandy Gross himself at the 1992 Chicago CES show! Still love em.
My eldest son uses the EPI 100's and my youngest uses the Polk monitor 7s. The EPI still sound wonderful.
Not much evolution for me. My first pair of speakers after college was a gift from my wife. They were the JSE Infinite Slope Model .6 with matching oak speaker stands from Stereo Lab in Columbus, OH. Twenty years later I still have those today as my mains.
Over time I've added a second pair of the .6s in the honey oak finish for the rears and a JSE .5 for the center channel. I'm extremely please with the musical performance. Someday I hope to add a larger pair of JSEs such as the 1.8s or 2.0 for the mains for a greater bass extension and a possible 7.0 configuration.
I'm not using a sub due to integration concerns and the wife acceptance factor. So the home theater experience is not as impactful as it could be otherwise. I'm hopeful that the future will provide an opportunity to obtain a larger pair of JSEs for improved bass extension.
Interesting so many of you have had so many speakers, I have had only a few and generally keep em a long time. However, I just found some used I really love:
1976 - JBL Monitors (don't know the model) 1984 - ADS 1290II - My ex-wife got em. 2006 - PSB Mini-monitors (some of the best small speakers ever!) 2007 - Paradigm Studio 20's now - Green Mountain Europas (awesome)
I have always wanted Maggies but never seem to have room - the GMA's have the same qualities to my ears.
Hi, I seemed to work backwards toward vintage speakers over the years. I like the warm full sound and good bang for the buck. Currently still have the Infinite Slopes, Heresy's, ADS 810's, Ohm Walsh 2's and JBL L-112's.
1972- XAM speakers 1975- Criterion 1977- EPI 100 1979- Marantz Imperial 5 1980's- poor student in graduate school EPI 100's 1990's - became hobby:
Advent New Large Advent 4002 AR4 AR2a AR91 A/D/S L-1290 A/D/S L-810 A/D/S L-500 Dynaco A25 JBL L50 JBL L-112 JSE Infinite Slope Model 1 KLH 6 Klipsch Heresy KEF K-140 Kirksaeter Silverline 60 Linn Kan Mirage small bookshelf Ohm Walsh 2 Polk RT-5 Polk 7 Rectilinear Xla
Up date to 03-21-08's Jensen Sonab OA-12's or 14's I can't remember Sonab OA-116 Dahlquist DQ-10 Maggie 1.6 Vandersteen 3A Sigs & 2Wq subs + Wilson Sophia 1 ( Another Classic !!!!) & quite a jump up from the others.
No name single driver 4" speakers with real wood cabinets (made in the 70's, this was the late 80's) Rad Shack Minimus 7 (still have em probably put them in garage) Pioneer HPM 60 JBL bookshelf (can't remember the names but low-end models from the mid 90's) JBL speakers in old Magnavox TV (had titanium tweeter, I should have ripped these out when I got rid of the TV) KLH Model 20 (goodwill find) Klipsch KSB 1.1 (now my mains in HT setup) Klipsch Quintet III (surrounds and center in HT) Klipsch Heresy (my main music only setup)
Next up? LaScalas or Khorns (if the wife will let me).
Sharp speakers that came with an all in one system EPI T/E 70 Atlantean 110 BSR Colossus 15" from DAK (for 20 years, alas-I was clueless) Bose 301 Wharfedale Diamond 8.4 Wharfedale Pacific Pi20 Magnepan MMG Magnepan MG12
My first speakers were Pye's with their Pye turntable and integrated. A very musical system. Then I owned some KLH's for about two days. Took the KLH's back and found audiophiledom. Next up were Maggie 1's imp which I still think sound great. Sold these for Acoustat 3 with Meddalions which I had for several years. Then upgraded to Hales System 2 Signatures which were amazing for their time( I owned these the longest). A couple of years ago sold those and now have the SF Guarneri Hommages; which IMHO are the best of the lot.
My dad's old KLHs in 1978. NHT SuperZeros in 1995. Sonus Faber Concertinos in 2001. ProAc Tablette 50 Sigs in 2002. ProAC 1SCs in 2002. ProAc 2.5s in 2003. NADA in 2006. Back on track in 2009!
My dad gave me AR3a speakers in early 1980's (first speakers in my life launching me to the stereophile). I have owned NHT 1.1, NHT 2.5i, ProAc 1.5, ProAc Ref 8 Sig, Sonus faber Concertino Domus and still kept them all.
the best impression and the worst desillution, were the spirit by soundcraft absolute zero. with peavey cs200x
the ab-zero when brand new, sounded verry similar to genelec but non metallic, amazing, but when they broke-in 2 days later, were something else, i could never get used to.
but... depends on your ear/brain, what likes more, color or grey sound. "diferent harmonics"
urei 809 with lots of eq, sounds nice, but highs are not detailed enough. becouse the tweeter diaphragm its 1.75-inch
tannoy system 8nfn or 215ii, too much coloration, for my taste.
tannoy system 2 with crown d75, had an amazing out of the speaker sound = 3d mids, but same coloration as the others.
genelec 1030a nice, really nice.
jbl control 1 also nice highs with lots of EQ. weak low end.
behringer truth b2031a grey, not good, the black: nice.
jbl 4206 nice,
but the amp makes a big diference.
mcintosh c32/c33 with jbl 4343 had almost a perfect sound for me, exept the verry collapsing mids.
logitech x-540 , sounds amazing for the price, with just a litle eq. but the room also makes a big diference.
the crossover also. its fun to make experiments with passive two way speakers. and make them active with amps and active analog or digital crossovers.
yamaha ns-10/40 uhmm, with lots of eq are nice to my ears.
jbl eon 15g2 , with lots of eq, sounds nice. "the one with the first version of the amp, lm338" but... same 1.75" non detailed highs.
m-audio bx8a, sounds grey, but with lots of eq can sound colored.
krk rp5 sounds nice out of the box, but the rp8 dont like it.
emu.com rp5, uhmmm nice mids, but... highs are piercing but sounds overall too dark. similar to event 20/20 passsive.
alesis monitors, wrong mids, weak harmonics, for my taste.
jbl control 25, with eq sounds nice. a bit cheap, but complete, a bit compressed dynamic range.
i like more the trumpet mids & highs sound, vs. the direct sound, but krk rp5 mk1, are the exeption.
havent heard klipsh copper wooofer with tractrix horns, but look pretty anyway.
etc..etc..etc..
personall evolution, ? more like personal roller coaster
In order from 1975: Advent large Bose 901 added bose am5 (2 satellites and a sub) Quad 57 ESL Ohm 5 MKII Apogee Stage Quad 22L2 & 21L2 Apogee Caliper Sigantures
I feed the Apogees the cleanest signal I can afford and they are awesome. They quad ESL 57 have a great midrange and the Ohms are great at filling a room. I like the accuracy of the Apogee.
In 74 I bought a pair of all-in-one (1)Utah 12" drivers and built plywood boxes for them. What can I say; I was a freshman in high school. When I graduated I bought a demo pair of (2) Marantz Imperial 8's. My brother still has them. Then I bought a pair of (3)Speakerlab 30's . . . still have them. (4) Boston A70's with a JBL B380 sub. Still have (5) Another pair of Speakerlab 30's. Still have (6) Wharfedale W70D II's. Still have (7) Nestorovic Type V's. Still have and love (8) ADS L1590's with the PA1 amps. Still have (Cont from 2002) (9) Nestorovic System 12 (Best of the lot) (10) RBH T2's (11) Escalante Junipers w/RBH 1212 Sub
RADIO SHACK ???? THEY WERE 4" DEEP THEY SUCKED 1981 BOSE 301 1984 THEY GOT ME EVICTED PARADIGM 9S ,STUDIO MONITERS ,PS1200 SUBS 1991 ,THEY STILL SOUND GOOD. LEGACY FOCUS 2001 I LOVE THEM MY MAIN RIGS CARVER PLATM AMAZINGS 2008 HEY THEY LOOK GREAT ANYWAY. IN THE FUTURE MAYBE SOUND LABS OR THE LEGACY WHISPERS
If you liked the older Walshes, you'll love the newer series 3 line. 100's cost under $2000 and sound much like Walsh 5 in the average room. Walsh 5 does more in larger rooms and has level adjustments, but these are not needed for most music in most rooms if you have flexibility in placement, room tuning, etc. (check out my review of the 100's I have posted here which apples to apples compares them to old Walsh 2's and newer Walsh 5's).
I've listened to a lot more than I've owned and there are still a few out there I want to try someday (KEF 107.2, KEF 104.2, Ohm Walsh 5, etc). Couldn't afford them when they came out. Thats the great thing about pre-owned gear; one can finally afford them...
Definitive Technology BP-2000 (sold them a week ago, I guess they weren't memorable) NHT-2.9 (head in a vice good, but otherwise...) Design Acoustics PS-10 I'm sure I'm leaving out bunches...
Chronology of speakers IÂ’ve owned: The list is very accurate from 1979-1996. After that, things got crazy as the revolving door started spinning at warp speedÂ… 1979 Sansui- SP-1200 1980 Bose 501 1982 Infinity RSb 1987 Thiel CS2 1991 Spica Angelus (with Velodyne ULD-15) 1994 Legacy Focus The rest of these are not in correct order but arranged mostly by Make and model number. A lot were received in trades or just speakers I wanted to listen to before getting rid of and should not be considered speakers I was trying to move up to: Klipsch Cornwalls X2 (owned two different times) Klipsch LaScalas X2 Klipsch Chorus X2 (just sold a pair) Klipsch Epic CF-4 Klipsch RF-7 Klipsch Heresy Klipsch Fortes X2 Klipsch Quartet Magnepan model 2167 (their first model number from the early 70s) Magnepan MMG Magnepan 1.6QR Eminent Technology LFT-8B (one of the best planars out there) Carver Amazing Silver Carver Amazing Platinum (Series 3) Carver AL-3 Sunfire CRM-2s KEF Refereence 4 KEF Reference 105.2 KEF C-55 Bose 901 X2 Ohm Walsh 2 Ohm Walsh 4 KLH Model 6V (not the original 6, this was a high end version tower speaker) Martin Loudspeakers (American company, still in business) Vandersteen 1B Vandersteen 1C Vandersteen 2Ci Martin Logan Sequel II Martin Logan SL3 Energy Veritas 2.4i (great speaker!) Atlantic Technology (towers, canÂ’t remember the number) Pioneer HPM-100 Pioneer HPM- 150s (just sold) Pioneer HMP-1500 (similar to the 150s) Norh- 4.0 Norh Prism 5.2 Acoustic Research AR-9 Polk Monitor 7s Polk SDA-1B Polk SDA-1C Polk LSi-15 Polk LSi-25 Onix Rocket RS-850 Onix Mini-Strata Mirage M-1si (great speaker) Quad 12L2 (just sold) Gallo Ref 3.1 (just sold) Roksan Rok One
Now, this is what I currently own (as of 9/11/08 as who knows what I will own tomorrow. Looking at Acoustant 2+2 later today, for example)
Infinity IL-50s, IL-10s Dunlavy SC-IV Spica Angelus (two pairs, still the best imaging speakers ever made) Digital Phase AP-4s (maybe the best IÂ’ve ever owned)
What can I say. I enjoy trying different designs out for myself instead of just reading about them. I have pics of most if anyone wants more info about them.
Foldout phono - Family record player, speakers were detachable from main unit and could be 'positioned' to improve the 'sound'.
1973
Small Advents - Boston Tech Hifi, used
1983
B & W DM23* - Berkeley, new
1990s
Second System, JBL satellites & subwoofer from box store.
2000s
Second and Third Systems, Thriftstore Potpourri:
- Large Advents*, - B & O S60*, - PSB satellites*, - Energy subwoofer*. - Boston A100, - Infinity RS-100 satellites,
(Total expense around $100)
2008
Interest in sound quality is revitalized.
Second System DCM-400* - Thiftshop Primary System Usher CP-737** - Craigslist Third System ADS L730* - Craigslist
* = Still own and use ** = Will "ALWAYS" own and use!
My primary system drives speakers through an Adcom speaker selector so I can trace progress over the highlights from the past. It is a guilty little pleasure to demonstrate, usually to myself, how much improved the quality of the sound has improved.
Longines Symphonette plastic shoeboxes (part of a "record player" system) > Emerson Electronics plastic shoeboxes (part of my first "real" stereo system) > Panasonic (part of an all-in-one reveiver, turntable, 8-track player package) > Mission 717's > "better" Missions (model # long forgotten) > Miller & Kriesel Satellite/subwoofer system > B&W "600 something" stand mounted monitors > Vandersteen 1C's.
Sound Design from Spiegel catalog, total system including 8 track $99.99 circa 1970 when I was 16. Bose 501 in a quad system $600 Pioneer HPM-200 $1000 Kef 103/3 $1500 Martin Logan Scenario $750 Martin Logan Aeon I $2300
Motorola stereo phono with little integrated foldout speaks (first stereo as a kid)
Sanyo am/fm/cassette/phono integrated as an older kid (1st stereo "system")
Then:
Lafayette Criterion short floor-standers with Heil tweeters (model??)
Ohm L (still have these though custom tweaked /upgraded)
Tall, square, shallow Radio Shack/Optimus (model?? these had no bass but otherwise were not half bad) also Optimus, Minimus 7's (still have these), other decent sounding Optimus
After purchasing a new home I decided the look of my family room should be clean with simple bookshelf speakers and store away the Def Tech floorstanders.
So, I purchased (5) Mirage Omnisat V.2 speakers, (New), for $200.00 bucks a pop, totaling a grand.
Ladies and gentlemen, this was a big mistake because Wynton Marsalis did not sound like I wanted him to sound while playing through the Mirages. They were very nice for a small speaker, but the omni-directional concept doesn't come close to direct speakers for 2 channel music.
So, I got the approval from the Queen, (MY WIFE), to improve my speaker dilemna. I graduated to the Paradigm Signature 2's, (New), in the piano gloss finish for about $2,000.00. Sweet, sweet sound, but lacked the bottom end I was searching for.
Final conclusion, I have recently traded my Signature 2's up to the Paradigm Signature 6's, (New), in the piano gloss finish for about $3,800.00, (New). Out of all of the speakers I've had the Signature 6's are by far the best bang for the buck!!!
HOME MADE JBL D130 Woofers and a horn tweeter with a crossover in huge cabinets that I made. New. Hey, I was 16 and they were for my van in 1976. Very cool for the era. Used to open the side doors and let em rock at the keggers. You know, you were in high school too, right?
JBL L200 Used, Price, too much smoke to remember.
JBL L300 Used. Really big. Price, still too much smoke to remember but really expensive and incredible speakers for their time. Driven with a Pioneer SX-1280
PARADIGM TITANS new, price, not much. They were utilized in my first 5.1 system.
NILES in wall 5.1 system, came with the house.
B&W 602S3 600.00 and two KLIPSCH VA-1215 SUBS
VIENNA ACOUSTICS BEEHTOHOVEN CONCERT GRAND 5500.00
Mixed with Krell's help the Vienna's are great and yes, my memory has improved since my youth.
1988-Yamaha 3-way towers with paper drivers. 1994-Infinity Reference 4 1995-Definitive Technology BP-10 1 week later: NHT 2.5 1998-Martin Logan Aerius i 2003-NHT 2.5 i 2005-NHT 3.3 2007-NHT Three 2007-Genesis APM-1 Still have the last two entries.
Im 52 as teenager: Wharfedale W30D, AR2ax 20 something: Phillips (something with 12" woofer and treble/bass adjust 30 something into 40s: Bang & Olufsen M100-2 Late 40 to present: B&W N804
AR2 (first mono system, 1958, $89 in unfinished pine) AR2a (first stereo speakers, circa 1960) KLH Seven KLH Five McIntosh ML1C ESS AMT 1 (loved those Heil tweeters, but sloppy bass) ESS AMT 4 Mission 770 (still own these; can't bear to part with them) Quad ESL 63 (great speaker, but way too fragile) Goldmund Prologue with Entec SW10 subwoofer Metaphor Five (still own these; very good speaker from a company that had too brief an existence) Aerial 10T (current speakers)
I liked all these speakers, but if I had to choose just one to take to the desert island with me, it would be the Mission 770. It is a lovely sounding, friendly speaker that honors the music.
I've just upgraded to what will probably be the last speaker I buy for a long, long time. Vandersteen 3A Signature, in mohogany. Very nice!
Cerwin Vega used Design Acoustic PS-10 new $300ish Klipsch Forte new $800 KEF 101's? new $600 w/stands Linn Keilidh used $1100 Martin-Logan Arieus new $2100 Magnepan 1.5 used $800 Vandersteen 2ce Sig new $1500 Vandersteen 3A used $900 Vandersteen 3A Signature
A pair of Small Advents in 1978. A pair of Koss 1020's in 1982. A pair of JM Lab's in 1996,to a pair of Kirksaeter 220 in 2002. Found a pair of Advents and restored them in 2006. A pair of LSA 2 speakers in 2007. I loved the JM Labs, you listin to them for days! The Advents had some much power. I think I had two sub-woofer also. MK and Totem for the smaller speakers used.
And in addition, some Advents. And a pair of Bose 301. A pair of ADS, too (with a metal cabinet, I believe). I'll stop now, or every few minutes I'll remember another pair of speakers.
Oh, I can't really remember that far back. My father owned two audio installation and service companies after he left Hi-Fi Associates in Miami. My father always gave my younger brother and me a lot of audio equipment. (I got first dibs, since I was older.) Sometimes the equipment was from trade-ins or older pieces that customers abandoned. I absconded with a lot of equipment from the abandoned pile, including two Dyna ST-70's, a Dyna PAS 3 (PAS 3X, IIRC), an HK Citation 16, and a Hafler pre-amp (a kit that the original owner couldn't assemble; with only two inputs wired, the power supply mounted externally, and some of the controls by-passed, it was a nice little pre-amp). When I moved in the mid-80's, I gave those five pieces of equipment to two of my friends, and they continue to pump out some very good sound to this day.
The speakers that I remember owning from thirty-five to twenty-five years ago were several pairs of AR's, including a set of double AR's (I can't remember the model number; maybe the AR 3's), a large Infinity (jumbo bookshelf or small floor-stander) with a ribbon-type tweeter (not great), and a pair of DCM Time Windows (worse than the Infinitys). I think that I even used the AR's in a quadraphonic system for a while.
My father had a pair of JR 149 speakers, a cylindrical aluminium speaker built by Rogers. They had wood tops and bottoms and a foam grill, IIRC. I really became hooked on their sound, and years later, in 1987, I purchased a pair of used KEF 101 Reference Series, which continue to be the best speaker that I have owned, despite their lack of low end. Recently, on audiogon, primarily as backups for my KEF's, I purchased a pair of Linn Tukans and a pair of Spendor S3/5's. I like the Spendors, but they are not as open as the KEF's, IMO.
This week, a friend gave me a pair of KEF C-65's. They are a small vinyl-covered floor-stander with active and passive woofers. They have a weak high-end, a muffled mid-range, and a boomy low-end. They were not one of KEF's better offerings (they retailed for $700.00; it's really a shame). My wife and 12 year old daughter like them. M daughter thinks that they are going in her room.
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