Advent 5002’s - What’s going on here?

[Toiler]

Hello all. Thank you for taking a moment to review my post.

I am in the market for some speakers for my Pioneer SX-850. A friend recommended Advent 5002’s.

My online searching has revealed either an inconsistency or my own ignorance!

The attached photos are of Advent 5002’s (unless I am mistaken - or they are - or something weird is going on).

Two questions:

Why do the speakers look so different from one another?

Which speaker is ‘better’?

Thank you very much.

 

[swechsler]

The first pic, with the black dome tweeter, is a 5002. The second one is the Large Advent (Bullnose), an earlier model.

I haven't heard the 5002, but the dome is probably a better tweeter than what's generally referred to as the "fried egg tweeter" (for its appearance, not its sound) in the Bullnose.

 

[Toiler]

Okay, makes sense to me but to confirm, the photo (2nd) with the green grill over the tweeter is from an older, model large Advent, correct?

Question: wiki has model is preferable?

Thanks very much!

 

[Guido57]

Some prefer the Original, some the NLA, and others the 5002.
I slightly prefer the OLA over NLA. I've never heard a 5002. While the 5002 may have a better tweeter one person, who's opinion I respect, thinks the crossover for 5002 isn't quite right.
What ever, it should be a matching set.
By the way, someone did a crappy job replacing the surrounds on both of those pictured.

 

[elitopus]

I would try to find a pair of OLA or NLA. They made a bunch of them. I’d look for a pair in walnut cabs. There was a crappy vinyl utility cab version too.

Also some of the newer Advents like the Legacy and Heritage sound decent as well. But the cabs aren’t as nice as the older walnut veneered models.

Be aware that Advents are the most modified and hacked up speakers out there. There’s a thread in the speaker forum about it. Just make sure they have original woofers and tweeters.

 

[daveshel]

I slightly prefer the OLA over NLA. I've never heard a 5002. While the 5002 may have a better tweeter one person, who's opinion I respect, thinks the crossover for 5002 isn't quite right.

OLA is the original large Advent, designed by Henry Kloss, who had been a founder of both AR and KLH. It came out in 1967, and was a bit crude looking behind the grills. The NLA (new large Advent) came out around 1980 after Kloss had departed to make projection TVs. It was the sonic equivalent of the OLA but was a bit prettier with the grills off. Advent went out of business in 1981, and eventually the brand was acquired by Jensen. The 5002 was Jensen's attempt to recreate the old flagship models. I've never heard one, but knowing Jensen, I'd be surprised if it was only the crossover that wasn't quite right.

 

[hornbostel]

I have OLA and a pair of 5012/w’s, which is a walnut finished version of the 5002. Properly restored its a fantastic speaker. The mids and highs are better than the OLA due to the more modern dome tweet. I actually prefer the bass of the OLA to the 5012. There is some serious punch in the OLA. The 5012 overall is better IMHO.

 

[kevintomb]

I have heard the OLA and the Legacy first version.
Honestly liked the Legacy a bit more.
They were NOT all that different though, as some try to bash on Jensen. In fact quite similar, but Legacy had a better tweeter for sure.

 

[KingBubba]

The fried egg tweeter was too sizzlie for me. When I first fired up my NLAs, I noticed the issue and when I looked at my wife, she made a face. She did not like them either.

 

[Guido57]

The Large Advent in general was a 'forward' sounding speaker, perhaps it was the general audio presentation of the speaker rather than just the tweeter? Advents could also be pretty fussy as to the room and placement IMAHO.

 

[gdeihl]

Can't speak to the 5002s, but the OLAs sound better than the bull nose version, which I found deficient in the midrange. My EPI M201s beat both of them, though, the best midrange of any 2-way speaker I have owned.