Picked up a pair of MCS 8320 speakers $30 at GW to match my MCS TT

[Update] Picked up a pair of MCS 8320 speakers $30 at GW to match my MCS TT

Hi all - my first post in the Speakers section. My existing setup has included some 80s Fisher speakers (D-12 maybe? Can't remember), and a set of older Jensen 3 ways.

A few weeks ago I picked up an MCS 6700 Turntable for cheap at a thrift shop, in excellent condition. After a new stylus, I was blown away by the quality of this fully automatic TT.

So when I saw some MCS speakers at Goodwill, I decided to get them. From what I understand they were made in the early 80s, by Technics, for JC Penney.

If they sound any good when I get them home, i may have to locate an MCS amplifier as well just to keep it all matching

Info:

MCS® Linear Phase Speaker System 683-8320 Cat. No.: 853-2517 -Penney's; J.C., Penncrest
13.5 x 24 x 12.25 inch / 343 x 610 x 311 mm
HiFi-Box 3-Way MCS® Modular Component System Linear Phase Speaker System Model 683-8320 Cat.No.: 853-2517.
Impedance: 8 Ohms, Frequency Response: 32 - 22000Hz, built-in speaker-protection circuitry.
Made in Japan.







And the MCS TT I picked up:

Those are cool! I've been looking at similar Technics speakers from that era. And that table is pretty boss.

I've always been fond of MCS gear, thank you for sharing!

Congrats! My nephew set up an all MCS system - including your 6700 TT and 8320 speakers. I sent him a MCS 3865 integrated amp and a MCS 3035 equalizer. He loved it, although has since replaced the speakers with a nice set of Klipsch KG4s.

He said the 8320s had pretty good bass. Is that true?

Thanks for the replies! I love that TT, really impressive.

I'll report back when I get to try the speakers.

I hope they work. From what I've read, some people bypass the protection circuit, which tends to go bad. And a lot of people think the treble is overdone; I tend to like a bright system so we'll see. I've also read that the bass is pretty decent on these.

Further info. In my original post, I gave my current speakers as a frame of reference, in case anyone had opinions as to whether the MCS are better or worse. I won't be able to hook them up until tomorrow night, so thought I'd ask.

My current speakers. The Jensens sound very mid-rangey, not much high end, and not much warmth to the bass. The Fishers are actually really nice sounding, I have no complaints about them.

Old Jensen TF-3 speakers:



Old Fishers:

Update:

Update: I got the MCS 8320 speakers cleaned up and plugged in tonight, and gave them a test spin.

They actually sounded really good! The bass was nice and warm, but tight. Really nice. The mids were fine, just as they should be to my ears. The treble was a little forward, slightly brash but certainly not harsh or unlistenable; after turning down the treble setting on the speaker (to about -1.5) it sounded great to me.

As a matter of fact, many speakers that most people like are nice and rounded off on the treble end,but and not quite as bright as I like. That may be a result of my 80s teenage years.

Back when I was a teen in the 80s, dullness in the treble end of things usually meant a tape playback head was dirty, worn, or mis-aligned - or worse that the cassette tape was worn out. So I associated nice bright, detailed treble (hi-hat definition, sharp sounding acoustic guitar strumming, etc.) with better quality.

Anyway, they seem to be just what I like. And for $30? Yeah.

My first listens were the NARADA label sampler called "A Childhood Remembered", and PAUL SIMON's "Rhythm Of The Saints".

Very cool! I'm glad you like them. :thmbsp: