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Insignias Returned, Indignias No Time, Got Some Advents Now

HypnoToad

HypnoToad

RIP Ms Puss Puss
Subscriber
The Sony's got foam rot so I bought the Insignias from Best Buy. I liked them but with everyone saying that there is a lot better out there, I decided to consider other options.

People on here were saying the Indignias were much better but I don't have the time or the equipement to build them at this time.

After reading up I found a lot of people like the Advents.

I live near a store that sells vinly records and the guy their uses nothing else.

I was looking at CL and noticed a pair, they had been refoamed and were in perfect working order. The cabinets were okay too.

The guy was a member of AK and invited me around for an audition, both my wife and I thought they sounded better than the Insignias. This was born out after a direct comparison. The room he had them in was very small.

When I got them home I plugged them up and found they sounded much bigger in our lounge. People had said they lacked bass but after carefull positioning they had more than enough. They have a lot of extension but not the "over" pronounced "one note" bass like a lot of speakers.

My wife can't believe they are 30 years old.

We then took the Insignia's back to Best Buy and got our money back, which is more than I paid for the Advents.

I am just so amazed that something that seems so basic and is so old sounds so good.

While at Best Buy they were playing some Polk Floorstanders that were around $250.00 each. The Advents would put them to shame, like my wife said the Polks sounded "tizzy" but the Advents sounded open and like you were there.

I have to hand it to people on here they knew what they were saying, older is quiet often better and a hell of a lot cheaper to boot!
 
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Advents are classics. They are very accurate across the full range and have very good quality deep bass response. Very few modern speakers at any price are as all around neutal and accurate.
 
I would agree. I love both my OLAs and my Smaller Advents :) Great speakers with great sound. It is hard to believe they are over 30 years old.
 
It is pretty amazing when I think about it too, how a 30+ yr old speaker does sound better than some/ lot of the stuff they offer today. If not done already, you might look at having those old capacitors in them replaced, for an even more improved sound! Some even suggest replacing the foam in them with other fiber batting material.

What I personally like about these old speakers is the true variety of sound you can get from the various name brands like EPI, JBL, Kloss, Altec, AR and a lot others. If you thought the Advents were good- take some time and listen to some of the other well known brands out there if you can. Those brands combined with certain brand electronics can make for some extremely enjoyable & engaging listening.
DC
 
Good survey, first time I'm reading it. However I think the results are skewed based on speaker exposure. There are a few speakers in those choices that I would chose over The Original Large Advent. The 1st one that comes to mind is The New Large Advent. I own 2 pair of Original Advents and a pair of New Large Advents. The only speakers I have presently that beats them is a pair of Polk 10A's and Spica TC60's. Just my 2 cents.
 
I wouldn't judge the sound of anything you hear at Best Buy, et al. as being true to the speaker.

First, the settings are virtually always jacked around, and secondly, as often as not, they're not hooked up right.
 
I totally applaud you for what you've done. Thanks for not supporting the evil "big box" stores, and, you've got Better speakers for less!
 
It's not every day that you get the opportunity to A/B your speakers against ones you are auditioning. Smart move bringing them with you!

I'm glad you are enjoying the speakers.
 
I have to admit that I'm a devoted AR fan, but my Dad had a set of large Advents and I thought they sounded pretty good.

Anyhow a few months back I happened upon a set of Advents/3 for $5. I believe these were the precursor to the Baby Advent.

I must admit, I've never heard such incredible sound from such a small package. I have a set of AR 2 clones with a 10 inch acoustic suspension woofers. Those Advent/3's could match on even the lowest bass notes.

Very impressive!

They are the mains now for a family member, who has very, very little space.

Regards,
Jerry
 
KF61, if it helps at all, I'd be willing to swap out my Advents for your LaScalas.

On second thought, I'd probably end up in divorce court if I tried to shoe-horn those bad boys into my tiny office.
 
Hmm..."people said they lacked bass". Only a Gallaudet alumni would make such a claim. Nope, I take that back because they have a heightened sense of feel and as anybody who owns a pair knows, the bass can be felt as well as heard.
I'll challenge anyone to go into any electronic super store and find a pair of speakers that we'll be discussing on AK 30 years from now. Good luck with that.
One more thing, I know a guy who has at least 3 pair of NLA's (refoamed) just waiting for a new home. He had 4 until I came along. I may go back and buy 'em all!
 
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