bookasan
Appassionato circa audio
I had someone call me the other day, telling me they were looking for a small set of used speakers for under $75.00. Said he didn't care if they were newer or vintage, so I began to dig through the about 30 or so pairs of speakers I had in my garage.
I pulled out the 3 pairs of small speakers that didn't need new surrounds or any other work.
1) some old Frazier Loudspeaker bookshelf speakers (looks like mid 1960's). It has been some time since I opened up the back and looked inside, but I think they are 2-way.
2) Wharfedale W30 bookshelf. Not sure as to when they were made, but look to be late 60's to early 70's.
Again, not sure, but I think 2-way.
3) Cerwin Vega AT-8. 2-way with an 8" woofer, ported. 1987.
A little bigger than a bookshelf, but the next smallest I had.
Then I hooked them all up to a Sony STR-7065 (65 WPC), and A/B/C'd them, listening to CD's.
First the C-V's. Highs were ok, but these things just can't handle much. I was not impressed at all with the bottom. I expected tight, punchy bass out the 8" but it just wasn't there. Overall, I thought they sucked.
Then the Wharfedales. Lacking both in high end and bottom end.
I thought maybe something was wrong with them, but I remeber checking all of the drivers when I first got them.
Very "honky" exagerated midrange sound.
Then the Fraziers. WOW! These little guys sound better than many of the much larger speakers I have. Great punchy bass. They can seem to handle whatever I throw at them. Could use a little more detail in the high end, but not too bad.
One thing I never realized until I went to hook them up, was they are mirror immaged.
These must have been some high-end speakers for thier time.
And the winner is the Frazier's by a lanslide!
The guy decided he didn't want vintage after all and he didn't want the C-V's.
I now have the Fraziers hooked up in the Garage system.
I pulled out the 3 pairs of small speakers that didn't need new surrounds or any other work.
1) some old Frazier Loudspeaker bookshelf speakers (looks like mid 1960's). It has been some time since I opened up the back and looked inside, but I think they are 2-way.
2) Wharfedale W30 bookshelf. Not sure as to when they were made, but look to be late 60's to early 70's.
Again, not sure, but I think 2-way.
3) Cerwin Vega AT-8. 2-way with an 8" woofer, ported. 1987.
A little bigger than a bookshelf, but the next smallest I had.
Then I hooked them all up to a Sony STR-7065 (65 WPC), and A/B/C'd them, listening to CD's.
First the C-V's. Highs were ok, but these things just can't handle much. I was not impressed at all with the bottom. I expected tight, punchy bass out the 8" but it just wasn't there. Overall, I thought they sucked.
Then the Wharfedales. Lacking both in high end and bottom end.
I thought maybe something was wrong with them, but I remeber checking all of the drivers when I first got them.
Very "honky" exagerated midrange sound.
Then the Fraziers. WOW! These little guys sound better than many of the much larger speakers I have. Great punchy bass. They can seem to handle whatever I throw at them. Could use a little more detail in the high end, but not too bad.
One thing I never realized until I went to hook them up, was they are mirror immaged.
These must have been some high-end speakers for thier time.
And the winner is the Frazier's by a lanslide!
The guy decided he didn't want vintage after all and he didn't want the C-V's.
I now have the Fraziers hooked up in the Garage system.