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A/D/S line pecking order?

Been looking for ADS for quite some time and I really don't see much in my area, or even the major metropolitan 3 hours away. There's a pair of L780s but I take it the 710s are preferred. Seems there's 520s for $400(? / !) and 'coming soon' 810s at a vintage shop an hour away...
 
bhairavi said:
Been looking for ADS for quite some time and I really don't see much in my area, or even the major metropolitan 3 hours away. There's a pair of L780s but I take it the 710s are preferred. Seems there's 520s for $400(? / !) and 'coming soon' 810s at a vintage shop an hour away...
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If those 810's are in nice shape and a good price.....say around 500.00.......grab them, you will love them. A superb sounding speaker for all genres of music but especially
great for rock as they really have a punchy bass and mid bass.
 
Young46 said:
I’ve got 810’s (2 pair.) I’ve had 1090’s. Got, Had, says my preference. And that was before I scored a Cary Audio CAI1 integrated amp. The L810’s paired with that amp are just awesome to my ears. So much so it is my main system and the McIntosh MAC-4100 is in the number 2 system now. I have the L810’s elevated on the original metal stands, about 8’ apart, 7” away from wall (at centerline of cabinet) and toed in about 20 degrees. I sit about 6 ft away from the speakers but a table is keeping me from a couple more feet which migt be better. Damn table is heavy and my old ass would struggle to move it but when I can get some he I’m going to try it.

I’ve had L910’s (too big for my room and WAF) and they too are just awesome sounding to me. I have a pair of L710’s and I’ve seen a lot of people on AK say they are better than the 810’s. No, not for me. I mean they do sound good and they are not going anywhere but to me the 810’s just sound better. I’ve got a pair of L500’s too with aDs on cabinets and rubber surrounds. Very nice sounding 2 way speakers. All in excellent condition. The major complaint I see regarding the 810’s is their bass response. Too much base people say. I say positioned right in the right room the bass response is excellent. At least they are for my ears. :beerchug:
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I have never heard the L910s but imagine they are awesome......always thought they were the odd looking ones of the bunch especially with those unique stands that are attached to the side of the cabinets. I agree with everything you said about the L810s !
 
I’m listening w/ L-780’s. I’m very satisfied w/ them. Purchased them new when they first came out. Listen mostly to classical, easy-listening, plus 60’s & 70’s pop. Anyone else have experiences w/ these speakers? Inquiring minds want to know…
 
Terryrays said:
I’m listening w/ L-780’s. I’m very satisfied w/ them. Purchased them new when they first came out. Listen mostly to classical, easy-listening, plus 60’s & 70’s pop. Anyone else have experiences w/ these speakers? Inquiring minds want to know…
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A friend of mine just picked up a pair of those several months ago. I believe it's the 780's. I think it's his 2nd time with them as he sold his first pair. Said they sound great but I have yet to hear them for myself. I've had the L710's, L810's, L730's and have heard the L1290's and the L980's. Yet to hear an ADS speaker that didn't sound excellent.

I am listening to my L810's right now. They used to be the speakers of my aforementioned friend. How they wound up in my hands is a long story....lol. But I am glad I have them. Because to my ears, these L810's are the best sounding of the all the ADS bookshelf speakers. The L980's were very very close however.

You simply can't go wrong with ADS no matter which model you have.
 
Sigh.. another day, another pair of pristine-looking walnut-veneered ADS 1290/2s for $190.. missed.


OTOH since last posting in this thread I've accumulated..

420s
400s (original)
710s (cloth)
710s (metal, sounded too bright, sold them off)
520s
570s
 
bhairavi said:
Sigh.. another day, another pair of pristine-looking walnut-veneered ADS 1290/2s for $190.. missed.


OTOH since last posting in this thread I've accumulated..

420s
400s (original)
710s (cloth)
710s (metal, sounded too bright, sold them off)
520s
570s
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This is a little confusing. You kept the 710s with the cloth speaker grills but sold the 710s with the metal speaker grills because the latter ones
sounded too bright ? Both the earlier and later version of the 710s, the earlier with the cloth grills and the later with the metal grills, are pretty
much the same. I'm pretty sure they use the same drivers. But if there is any difference, I've always heard the series II versions of ADS speakers,
which is the later version, actually was a slight improvement over the earlier versions when it comes to smoothness and detail.

This is the first I have ever heard anyone ever say that an ADS speaker sounded too bright, especially the L710 Series II. If they were sounding too bright
something had to be wrong with them.
 
Adamo0926 said:
This is a little confusing. You kept the 710s with the cloth speaker grills but sold the 710s with the metal speaker grills because the latter ones
sounded too bright ? Both the earlier and later version of the 710s, the earlier with the cloth grills and the later with the metal grills, are pretty
much the same. I'm pretty sure they use the same drivers. But if there is any difference, I've always heard the series II versions of ADS speakers,
which is the later version, actually was a slight improvement over the earlier versions when it comes to smoothness and detail.

This is the first I have ever heard anyone ever say that an ADS speaker sounded too bright, especially the L710 Series II. If they were sounding too bright
something had to be wrong with them.
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Maybe they needed a recap but doubtful. Generally ADS speakers do not need a recap and the few caps I've tested have been in spec.

But the drivers are not the same: my earlier 710s have 1" tweeters, metal grille ones have 3/4".

Furthermore I had refreshed the mid and tweeter domes on the 710s, and it may be I was a bit zealous with the amount of butyl compound applied. Nevertheless, I prefer less presence and my cloth grille 710s sounded best to both my wife and I. I also preferred the looks! I bought the 710s for $600 and sold them for $500 but with a pair of 570s on the side. I absolutely love the 570s with my SET amp, whereas, for whatever reason, the 520s sound better with the solid state Luxman and Sansui I tested them with.

For the record I also have 1590/2s, and they are a bit brighter than I would like, whereas my 1290/2s are absolutely perfect.
 
bhairavi said:
Maybe they needed a recap but doubtful. Generally ADS speakers do not need a recap and the few caps I've tested have been in spec.

But the drivers are not the same: my earlier 710s have 1" tweeters, metal grille ones have 3/4".

Furthermore I had refreshed the mid and tweeter domes on the 710s, and it may be I was a bit zealous with the amount of butyl compound applied. Nevertheless, I prefer less presence and my cloth grille 710s sounded best to both my wife and I. I also preferred the looks! I bought the 710s for $600 and sold them for $500 but with a pair of 570s on the side. I absolutely love the 570s with my SET amp, whereas, for whatever reason, the 520s sound better with the solid state Luxman and Sansui I tested them with.

For the record I also have 1590/2s, and they are a bit brighter than I would like, whereas my 1290/2s are absolutely perfect.
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Well I didn't realize they had the different size tweeters. I have the L810 Series II with the 3/4" tweeters and now wonder if the earlier version of the
L810 has the 1" tweeter as well. I've had the L710 Series II and as much as I liked them I think the L810 is the better speaker. I know there are a lot
of ADS fans that think the reverse is true. I use my SVS SB-1000 Pro sub with the L810's but they are great even without that. But I do like how the
sub really fills out the low end. The L710's definitely benefit from being paired with a sub.
 
Adamo0926 said:
Well I didn't realize they had the different size tweeters. I have the L810 Series II with the 3/4" tweeters and now wonder if the earlier version of the
L810 has the 1" tweeter as well. I've had the L710 Series II and as much as I liked them I think the L810 is the better speaker. I know there are a lot
of ADS fans that think the reverse is true. I use my SVS SB-1000 Pro sub with the L810's but they are great even without that. But I do like how the
sub really fills out the low end. The L710's definitely benefit from being paired with a sub.
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Yeah and see that's why I don't want to try the 810s (or for that matter the 620s which are the same cabinet size) - to me the 710s have ample bass and I don't want more, therefore I suspect I would agree with the subset of ADS fans who consider the 810s 'boomy'.

Also they're too big and the 710s are just the right size to sound great as three ways. Whereas, for example, the a/d/s CM7, which is probably their smallest three way - doesn't have the same special smoothness.
 
bhairavi said:
Yeah and see that's why I don't want to try the 810s (or for that matter the 620s which are the same cabinet size) - to me the 710s have ample bass and I don't want more, therefore I suspect I would agree with the subset of ADS fans who consider the 810s 'boomy'.

Also they're too big and the 710s are just the right size to sound great as three ways. Whereas, for example, the a/d/s CM7, which is probably their smallest three way - doesn't have the same special smoothness.
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I've had a number of ADS bookshelf speakers and the L810's are definitely my favorite of all the ones I have heard. What some consider "boomy" I consider "punch". Boomy to me would indicate a loose and floppy sounding mid to lower bass. And I think the mid and upper lower bass on the L810 is plenty tight and it gives certain genres of music like contemporary jazz and rock that punch which that music really needs to have.

I don't know if you have ever heard the even larger bookshelf L980's. But I have heard those also. Very nice sounding speaker but with 12" woofers you better be a bass head if you want to really like them....lol. That bass is very big and really gets low. No sub needed with those babies. They would probably drown out the sub ! But they are a superb sounding speaker.

I notice that you really love the L1290's. My friend has a pair of those and they sound fabulous. I describe them as the L810's on steroids. I believe they have the
same drivers as the L810's only in a tower. If you love the L1290's you would like the L810's a lot also. But obviously the L1290 is the superior speaker. Like I said, the
L810's on steroids : ) I'd love to get a pair of the L1290's and compare them side by side with the L810's.
 
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