GD70
Lunatic Member
Dyou say sumpthn?
Porkloin
Oscar Heil Groupie
She's coming over for beercan chicken next week. I'll lock up the 780's and have her wear that outfit. I know for a fact that she can't lift the Rock Monitors.
Krosya
Well-Known Member
Well, I got a chance to look and listen to some L1290's.......What can I say? They are nice. And if priced right, I would consider them. But based on my limited experience with them, I dont understand why they command current prices. I liked them, but was not blown away. Actually, in many ways I'm much more impressed by my L710s. They produce very full sound with good low end and great mids and highs, while 1290s didnt seem to be all that when it came to lower end. Also, 1290s didnt sound as good to me at lower volume. I dont know what was used to power them, but it was high end stuff with lots of power. And speakers themselves were in mint condition. Maybe the trick is to have them bi-amped? Not sure. At $300 I would probably take them, but I just couldnt fork out double that. I have speakers that didnt cost me near as much and they sound better to me. Dont know, maybe I dont get something. Maybe I expected something more, based on how much everyone raves about the L1290s. I might re-visit them at some point if I find them at more reasonable price. For now, I'm pretty happy with the ADS I have - I think L710s are more impressive, considering their size/cost.
mars_volta
Super Member
I wasn't that impressed with my 1290 IIs either.
Porkloin
Oscar Heil Groupie
I think this is a prime demonstration of the highly subjective nature of the hobby. You have two sets of speakers with (pretty much) the same core technology. Dual woofer three-ways with sticky dome high end with a second order crossover. The main difference is probably the enclosure proportions rendering the 710s a bit easier to place in a room.
What changed? Were you listening to the the 1290's in your room with your amp with your CD's? Good mood, bad mood? Was it before or after that toilet seat sized porterhouse slathered in monosodium glutemate?
I suppose, I could just ask: Did you A/B them together?
Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
Interesting comments about the 710/1290. I guess one needs to work the speaker harder. The 710 and 1290 both have a low end spec of 40Hz @ -3db. So the bass would be not much more on the 1290 until the speakers were driven hard. That is where the larger speaker will shine, higher volume and larger rooms. It will have more sound power. Sure glad the ads towers I tripped over were the bigguns cause the 710s do third system duty in my house right now. Hate to have to find a place for something that doesn't sound as good at lower volumes compared to the 710.
Krosya
Well-Known Member
Well, I wish I could A/B them, have in my home with my records, etc. - but that would mean I'd have to buy them first. Otherwise I just have to rely on memory and impression they leave when I listen to them. After all - I was even lucky to even have a chance to listen to them. Its not like they are available everywhere, you know. I guess what I'm saying is I trust my ears enough to make a decision based on what I hear. I mean, if speakers clearly good/bad - I'd hear that. After all I kinda know what my home speakers sound, so if something obviously outperforms them - I'd know. However, if something is similar enough that only doing A/B testing will/may show those small differences, I become less interested. At that point it becomes more about - do I really need them? How good of a deal it is? - things like that. On the other side - if a speaker sounds like its obviously better than anything I own - even if I dont need it, as long as its in my budget - I'd most likely buy it. Thats why I said - 1290s are very good, just in my case, I have speakers that sound as good or better to me, at a lower price point. Now, if this was some time ago, before I have collected ones I have, I'm sure I'd most likely buy those 1290s, even at the price they were. Even now, I still think I should re-visit this or another larger ADS model later at some point. But for now - L710s fully fulfill my ADS cravings.
PS. If someone locally wants to let me use their ADS 1290s or better for a while so I can do all those A/B etc tests - I'd jump on that chance.
Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
PS. If someone locally wants to let me use their ADS 1290s or better for a while so I can do all those A/B etc tests - I'd jump on that chance.
Might be a lot easier to haul your speakers to a place where the 1290s or better reside. Take some albums you are familiar with, too. Different systems but your music, you speakers, their speakers, easy enough to get an idea of the differences. It was how it was generally done, listening at the store before hauling a rig home to enjoy in your own space.
Porkloin
Oscar Heil Groupie
What? This is not the place to showcase your higher inner self being in control of that audio id that compels you to snap up every budget priced piece of walnut on Craigslist.Well, I wish I could A/B them, have in my home with my records, etc. - but that would mean I'd have to buy them first. Otherwise I just have to rely on memory and impression they leave when I listen to them. After all - I was even lucky to even have a chance to listen to them. Its not like they are available everywhere, you know. I guess what I'm saying is I trust my ears enough to make a decision based on what I hear. I mean, if speakers clearly good/bad - I'd hear that. After all I kinda know what my home speakers sound, so if something obviously outperforms them - I'd know. However, if something is similar enough that only doing A/B testing will/may show those small differences, I become less interested. At that point it becomes more about - do I really need them? How good of a deal it is? - things like that. On the other side - if a speaker sounds like its obviously better than anything I own - even if I dont need it, as long as its in my budget - I'd most likely buy it. Thats why I said - 1290s are very good, just in my case, I have speakers that sound as good or better to me, at a lower price point. Now, if this was some time ago, before I have collected ones I have, I'm sure I'd most likely buy those 1290s, even at the price they were. Even now, I still think I should re-visit this or another larger ADS model later at some point. But for now - L710s fully fulfill my ADS cravings.
PS. If someone locally wants to let me use their ADS 1290s or better for a while so I can do all those A/B etc tests - I'd jump on that chance.
Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
You were not looking for sellers, but folks willing to loan you a set of speakers. But if you are all that serious about hearing, drag on by. I have the 710s and 1590s you can compare, no hauling speakers. I ain't moving the 1590s they weight 7 stone and I have to lay em on their sides just to move em in the room.
Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
He indicated that they were about 6-bills, more than budget-priced and we won't talk value here. That might have been part of it, a smaller than needed slush fund.
egesledder
New Member
I'll have to give another shout out for the 710's. I absolutely love mine. Small package and extremely well balanced sound. Also helps that mine were free from craigslist due to blown fuses... I A/B'd them with a set of 810's and found them to be a bit more detailed, but with a bit less bass. Never heard a set of 1290's though.
Porkloin
Oscar Heil Groupie
Sorry. A bit of sarcastic praise for Krosya's restraint. For every level headed audiophile I know, I know of five hoarders.
Hopefully, that restraint will allow the slush fund to grow big enough for a pair of 1530's.
will d
Active Member
Ya know, all this talk about bigger is better is startin to bug me. My friend, enjoy what you procured, you haven't had them that long, SO ENJOY! Down the road you may find a great deal and decide to try some larger ADS speakers. But in the meantime, you've got a nice pair of ADS speakers. So who cares what others think, it's you that has the final say. If your happy with what you have, that's all that matters really. As I said before, ya did good, so enjoy them. Will D.Well, I wish I could A/B them, have in my home with my records, etc. - but that would mean I'd have to buy them first. Otherwise I just have to rely on memory and impression they leave when I listen to them. After all - I was even lucky to even have a chance to listen to them. Its not like they are available everywhere, you know. I guess what I'm saying is I trust my ears enough to make a decision based on what I hear. I mean, if speakers clearly good/bad - I'd hear that. After all I kinda know what my home speakers sound, so if something obviously outperforms them - I'd know. However, if something is similar enough that only doing A/B testing will/may show those small differences, I become less interested. At that point it becomes more about - do I really need them? How good of a deal it is? - things like that. On the other side - if a speaker sounds like its obviously better than anything I own - even if I dont need it, as long as its in my budget - I'd most likely buy it. Thats why I said - 1290s are very good, just in my case, I have speakers that sound as good or better to me, at a lower price point. Now, if this was some time ago, before I have collected ones I have, I'm sure I'd most likely buy those 1290s, even at the price they were. Even now, I still think I should re-visit this or another larger ADS model later at some point. But for now - L710s fully fulfill my ADS cravings.
PS. If someone locally wants to let me use their ADS 1290s or better for a while so I can do all those A/B etc tests - I'd jump on that chance.
Porkloin
Oscar Heil Groupie
Bigger IS better.
That's what I tell my girlfriend about my waistline all of the time.
I might add that "be happy with what you have" is rich coming from a guy that skips out to the car on a weekly basis to go pick up another trinket somewhere. When are you going to get unhappy with those Maggies, by the way?
Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
But, but, how is anyone going to get 4 large for that SX Boat that doesn's sound as good as the smaller ones? Remember we have a strong following for some nice puny receivers, those HK 330s for one and there are others. I know I picked one up recently after letting Mark buy my recapped one a couple years ago. Missed it. So nice to just push a button and have a decent radio station start playing on my 710s. Sorry for those of you that don't have decent radio stations.
Porkloin
Oscar Heil Groupie
"Radio" ? Do you have a link?
Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
xpn.org
will d
Active Member
Why did you not jump on that newly refurbished pair on cl? I sent you the link 3 hours after he posted them, ya might have still had a shot at em.