November 1973. Sweet spot for Bozak production. At least change out the crossover caps, and they'll really sing.
It would be nice to follow some of the recommendations given here as these guys are probably some of the most knowledge able on the planet.But if your like me I need to start out back quite a bit.Like tensleep said just a good quality Yamaha would be a good start.I have some Bozak 302a and to my ears Yamaha is what they sounded best with.I ran mine with a CR2020 and a CA1010.Concert Grands were always at or near the top of my dream speakers ever since I got the 302a but I realize I don't now nor will ever have the room to do them justice.OK, I want to, but I haven't bought them yet. Now after reading twiiii's post I wonder if I have enough listening space. To state my intention clearly, they will not be a part of a surround sound system. If I buy them I plan on having the crossovers recapped. I will not be adding tweeters. I am not going to buy a $5000 amp in the forseeable future, likely never. (unless I win the lottery)
I had hoped to place them upstairs in the bigger 16 by 28 living room that has a vaulted ceiling. One end has an open doorway to the kitchen and the other end opens into the foyer. So I'm wondering (out loud) if that room is right. Maybe not. My second option is the 14 by 26 listening room with a 9 foot ceiling. I will run audio from a cable box into them wherever they end up so the wife can listen to them while watching the idiot box but for the most part they will be simple 2 channel stereo speakers properly amped. I will gradually add to them a good reel to reel, turntable, cd player and for now a Pioneer sx 838. That's it. I realize its not a dream set up for the true audiophile. Just a competent set up. Old iconic speakers brought back to life hooked up to some other vintage quality TOTL components that I will acquire over time.
I appreciate all input. Exposing my ignorance humbles me. I don't have the ability or knowledge twiiii and vinyldavid to measure these things you speak of. Just my ears. Hell the speakers I have set up now in my listening area sound great to me. Electro Voice fr210b's stacked on top of some EV Interface 3's. But they lack a little on the low end, just a little. Not having heard a set of Altec a7's in 30 years I am wondering (out loud again) if the horns really sound as good as I remember. After listening to the Bozak grands that need recapped, in a space much too small for them I am wondering (out loud again) what they would sound like recapped. It probably is an apples vs oranges comparison. One thing I am absolutely sure of is that the Bozaks would definitely be more aesthetically pleasing upstairs than the Altec a7's.
So I just ruled the Altecs out. So it comes down to this, is the upstairs room right for the speakers?