60's (?) Realistic electrostatic 2

[Freekshow]

our local thrift store has a pair of fairly nice 60's (i think) realistic electrostat speakers for fifteen bucks. Ive read in places that the transformers or something are problematic. Should i gamble with them?

 

[cooljjay]

15$ hows that a gamble, I spend more then that on a pound of coffee I would buy them, just to play with if they are truly electrostats :yes:

 

[jt45]

our local thrift store has a pair of fairly nice 60's (i think) realistic electrostat speakers for fifteen bucks. Ive read in places that the transformers or something are problematic. Should i gamble with them?

15.00 isnt much of a gamble I would give those a try! By the way welcome to AK !:yes:

 

[mhardy6647]

The tweeters in the R/S electrostats are single-ended but actually sound pretty good. The bass from the woofer, unfortunately, is essentially non-existent. The 2 does date to the 1960s; the 2A was made into the early 1970s; see www.radioshackcatalogs.com for info.

The tweeters are somewhat fragile. Their power supply is very simple if any service would be needed.

 

[Dan ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ]

The tweeters are somewhat fragile. Their power supply is very simple if any service would be needed.

Yep. :yes:

 

[mhardy6647]

They (the tweeters) really do sound pretty good, too...

 

[Freekshow]

Sweet!

Thanks guys for all the responses. I'm kinda new to the home audio thing, but i'm ate up with vintage stuff (mostly cars). I already have a pair of jbl decade l26's and i feel a full-on addiction coming on. Now i need a good receiver or amp to drive them with. I'll probably end up with the electrostats, too.

 

[EVBoy]

Can they be tested? I bought a pair and the tweeters didn't work. I was out $10.

 

[mhardy6647]

Can they be tested? I bought a pair and the tweeters didn't work. I was out $10.

mmm... sounds like you already did (sorry!)

Do you mean, independent of the power supply? I don't know. You also cannot really test a HV electrostatic power supply with a DMM or VTVM as you might with a normal power supply.

 

[AnalogDigit]

$15 is worth the gamble.