I actually had the A-40’s in my basement workshop for years. When I upgraded my old system, I replaced the A-40’s with the Bookshelf Totems (they are about 5 year old models) I had. The improvement was huge, and this is just a second system I listen to more for background music. So nostalgia is nice but in most cases, it does not sound as good, and could cost you as much if not more then newer used or new speakers depending on what you can spend. Just one opinion here.
Recapturing my youth
I grew up in the 70s and 80s and my first pair of speakers were Boston Acoustics A-40s. I always lusted for a pair of the big floor standing models. When I was in HS, my band director had a pair of Snell As with the electronic crossover driven by a Hafler 500. It blew me away and can be credited with starting my journey into audio.
I have a primary 2-channel system in my main listening room. We’re renovating the family room and it will have a 2-channel system for the TV. I was thinking of getting some classic speakers for the new room and either buy them already restored or fix up some that I get a deal on. I live outside of Boston, so there are lots of resources for both BA and Snell parts and used speakers in the area. Any suggestions about the best way to go about this? Am I likely to be sonically disappointed by well restored speakers from this era? I’m assuming at minimum there will be new foam surrounds and capacitors in my future. I’m thinking about one of the floor standing models from Boston Acoustics or Snell that were shaped like the UN building. LOL.
Thoughts and suggestions are welcome. Thanks.
I have a primary 2-channel system in my main listening room. We’re renovating the family room and it will have a 2-channel system for the TV. I was thinking of getting some classic speakers for the new room and either buy them already restored or fix up some that I get a deal on. I live outside of Boston, so there are lots of resources for both BA and Snell parts and used speakers in the area. Any suggestions about the best way to go about this? Am I likely to be sonically disappointed by well restored speakers from this era? I’m assuming at minimum there will be new foam surrounds and capacitors in my future. I’m thinking about one of the floor standing models from Boston Acoustics or Snell that were shaped like the UN building. LOL.
Thoughts and suggestions are welcome. Thanks.
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Snell Type A's are your best choice! I have a pair I got from the original owner in Connecticut. They came from Audiocom in Old Greenwich - a store I once worked at! I paid $400 + $400 shipping to Florida. Four large boxes shipped USPS. All arrived safely! They are still in storage here. I assume I will have to replace the woofer surrounds. |
I figure $1200-$1500 is about as far as I'll go with purchase, repairs, and shipping. I think for me it's about the speakers I aspired to own as a kid. Growing up in Massachusetts (and eventually being the Ad and PR Manager for Acoustic Research in the 1980s) it's about the local speakers. BA, Snell, ADS, Allison, etc. There are a pair of "restored" Snell C speakers on the North Shore for sale right now. It's a waiting game and I need to be ready when the right speakers become available... G |
When I was in my twenties I lusted for a pair of Klipschorns. When I was in my fifties I bought a pair to use the bass horns as part of a DIY fully horn loaded system I was putting together. Needless to say I listened to the Khorns full range to see if they still thrilled me. They didn't. Perhaps the dream speakers of our youth really are best left as memories. |
When I was early 30s there was a younger woman that both my BF at the time and I lusted after. Among her ample physical assets were her liquid blue eyes. Some 10 years later I hooked up with her Some fantasies are better left in the mind OLD SPEAKERS Several of the speakers you mentioned are both big and heavy. Shipping is very costly, and if they are not properly boxed and palleted, you can be in for a rude awakening |
@tweak1 " ........are both big and heavy........if they are not properly boxed and palleted, you can be in for a rude awakening" I assume this description matched your later hook up also? I did the same thing once, yes, big mistake. |
I would go for a larger snell rather than a large boston acoustics they will sound better and you will need to make sure about the surrounds and possibly caps but remember the snell speakers will have complex crossovers and you may need to use them as is to avoid problems. The drivers and the cabinets in the snells are better as well as the ease of drive for your amplifier they are a higher quality speaker. |
Enjoy the Journey. (pun intended... old band, music from the past get it ???) There are so many great sounding speakers from the past that are so cheap that you can easily afford to try a lot and find the ones that meet both your room and your ears. I've been able to learn in my own environment about how things sound for the last 5 years for less than the price of a power cord. Taken a while but I'm finally on the path of what I really want out of a stereo. Now it's just tweaks to get the most out of what I have. |
