ADS Speakers
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zenith2134
Lunatic Member
I'd grab those 810's very quickly. if theyre mint thats a solid price. And one hell of a great speaker. Can you tell that I love A/D/S
nissan guy
Super Member
Those L1090's look great. I have never heard any home audio ads speakers personally, but from what others say they are very nice.
Thanks Dave for the nice words. I own several ADS models including the 570 and 780.
I have 1290 as well but read on AK (multiple times) that the 1090 has less cabinet resonnce and is the sweet spot of that line. The 1230 was praised very highly by many - I have a pair of 1530 (same shape concept just bigger) which were used as monitors at Telarc (I was told - the 1530 in general not my pair). I also have 980 - all great speakers. I love the sound, the balance and the fact that they all have rubber surrounds.
The prices are not bargains (except the 810) but the bigger ones are a bit rare and will reward with tubes or SS and do not need a lot of wattage (example: the 1530 has a 95db/1w sensitivity). I think most ADS i in the 88-93 range.
I also have to admit that ADS is not knwon for the heavy bottom - it is rather tight and well defined "quality" bass - good enough to say the least for me. They paly any type of music well except if your goal is to scare the neighbours...
I have 1290 as well but read on AK (multiple times) that the 1090 has less cabinet resonnce and is the sweet spot of that line. The 1230 was praised very highly by many - I have a pair of 1530 (same shape concept just bigger) which were used as monitors at Telarc (I was told - the 1530 in general not my pair). I also have 980 - all great speakers. I love the sound, the balance and the fact that they all have rubber surrounds.
The prices are not bargains (except the 810) but the bigger ones are a bit rare and will reward with tubes or SS and do not need a lot of wattage (example: the 1530 has a 95db/1w sensitivity). I think most ADS i in the 88-93 range.
I also have to admit that ADS is not knwon for the heavy bottom - it is rather tight and well defined "quality" bass - good enough to say the least for me. They paly any type of music well except if your goal is to scare the neighbours...
MJWPicMan
MJWPicMan
I don't know about the prices, I just put his ad up because people seem to love ADS speakers. BTY, he is the seller for the 1090s also. I had never heard them before, and went to audition them because I knew the 1230s were rare. The dome tweeters are nice. Sweet and clean without being harsh, but I've never been a fan of metal tweeters. But the mids were carrying most of the load and the bass was muddy and a little boomy. Vocals were thin, they didn't have any "chest" to them, and the soundstage was pretty vauge. Compared to my Vandersteen 2Ce Signatures, which I bought for $600, the 1230s were inferior in every aspect, but they were markedly better than the 1090s.
myu701
Vintage futurist
^ Well, I think the Vandersteen 2Ce signatures are in a different league. I think you got a very good price on yours. If I had my choice between the ADS L1230 and the CE Sigs, there'd be no contest. The signatures are reputed to be a notable improvement over the standard 2Ce, aren't they? Would you say worth $200 more?
80sKid
Who You Calling A Kid?
I agree that the 1090 would be a great choice.
I wouldn't go for the 1230. I have had them in my home for a few days and though they sounded awesome, they are way too big. I have heard smaller speakers sound just as good. And they didn't provide impressive bass for all that size either. (The bass measured as very flat, which is commendable. But very few hifi nuts actually like flat FR in the bass region.) However, they are superbly built and certainly something to admire in person.
I believe I sold the immaculate pair I had for around $600 (that was 5 years ago).
I wouldn't go for the 1230. I have had them in my home for a few days and though they sounded awesome, they are way too big. I have heard smaller speakers sound just as good. And they didn't provide impressive bass for all that size either. (The bass measured as very flat, which is commendable. But very few hifi nuts actually like flat FR in the bass region.) However, they are superbly built and certainly something to admire in person.
I believe I sold the immaculate pair I had for around $600 (that was 5 years ago).
MJWPicMan
MJWPicMan
Yes I agree myu, the 2Ce Signatures are in a different league, and are 25 years newer, but sell for not that much more money. I've had 2Cs, which are from 1980 and can be bought now for appx. $300/pr, and the're better in every aspect than the 1230s. There's a pair of 2Cis on Audiogon right now for $450, and in a side by side they would shellac the 1230s.
And yes the Signature is a marked improvement on the 2Ce, a pair of which I sold to buy my Signatures. More spatial, better transparancy and imaging, faster bass, and the Sigs are a remarkably open speaker. I don't know about $200 more, but money's kind of relative. If you're dead broke a C note is a small fortune, but if you've got it and can spend it yes they are.
As for the electronics no Sancho his equipment was not the quailty of mine. He was using a Yamaha silver plated reciever and a Denon SACD player. And quality speaker wire, which helps. While neither of those components are TOTL they're not that bad. I'm pretty sure it's the speakers faults that I was hearing.
Maybe it was my fault because the ADSs didn't meet my expectatioins, which, having never heard them, I shouldn't have had. According to Audiogon's BlueBook the 1230s were from 1978, and I can understand where if you heard them then you might have thought they were a wonderful speaker. Maybe I'm spoiled, but I don't think they're very good, at least not $600 good. I'd rather have a pair of DCM Time Windows, which can be had for half that price if you look, and are a pretty good speaker.
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statman122
Well-Known Member
I don't know anything about the other mods, but I'd sure snap up those 810's at that price~!
relaximus
Consoles 'Я' Us
Indeed! I sold my DQ-30's, TW'3 and L1090/2's and bought Sancho's TF-700's. In my room and with my upstream components, they work quite well. Actually far better, to my ear, than any of the others. I still have Braun/ADS L700A's and Dynaco A25's (also thanks to Sancho) in my office as well as KG-4's and KHL 17's. Right now, I am happy. Tomorrow? Who knows. I was fortunate enough to get a CX center and and pair of TimePiece's to completment the TF-700's. Yes, I am still running a mere 5.1 system for HT. Don't get me wrong, I really loved the L1090's. They were an eye-opening experience, much like the DQ-30's. But, much like the Dahlquist's, I eventually grew tired of them and wanted something else. For the moment, I am happy. I can, however, truly say that the L1090's were among the most pleasant loudspeakers I have ever heard.
Dave
Dave
myu701
Vintage futurist
Thanks, MJW. Didn't mean to hijack the thread... but at least it's a comparison to the speakers in question.
I've had my eye on the plain 2CE's for some time but will see on holding out for the 2CE signatures. I'm finding it worth breaking the audio budget, despite widening the time in between purchases, if the item bought is a noticeable step up in quality than cheaper candidates.
