• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Advice on Speakers for a Vintage Setup

Z

ZapBrannigan

New Member
Hello!

I'm building my first proper HiFi system - I'm trying to go for a vintage aesthetic with a slightly warm sound.

I've acquired a beautiful vintage Pioneer SA-510 amp which will be at the centre of the setup. I've gone for a modern Yamaha CDS-300 CD player because I couldn't turn it down as I git it for a very cheap price. I'm currently trying to complete the setup with a set of speakers and I'm struggling to find any reviews or advice on what type to go for.

The room is small open-plan kitchen/living room with hard floors. I'm looking for some bookshelf/standmount speakers that will fill the room but still sound good at the lower end of the power spectrum as it is a flat and I won't be cranking them up too often.

I've spied some vintage B&W DM5s from the early '70s on eBay, and some brand new Mission MISS-LX2 and some used Dali Spektor 2s for all around the same price - I know very little about speakers so any advice is appreciated!
 
Register to hide this ad
What's your budget for this ?
Also,do you want the speakers to have that "vintage vibe" too -or- are more modern speakers ok as well ??

Anyhow w/a lower power integrated like that Pioneer you're gonna want to stick with fairly sensitive 8ohm speakers as SOP.

FWIW & welcome to AK.

Bret P.
 
JBL L100 is a classic speaker of that era. They have a cult following, they are hard to find and usually a little pricey if re furbished.
Well worth the time and investment.
 
The B&W’s would be good option but shortly this thread will be filled with a ton of great options. You should probably give a budget so that people have better idea of to recommend. You may also want to mention the type of Music you will listening to as that can also narrow the field for options.

Given the power of that Pioneer I would recommend you limit your choices to fairly efficient speaker of 90db or better. Good luck!
 
You are describing a need for 'The Smaller Advent". But it's a thirsty 4 ohm speaker and your amp ain't gonna like that. You can go 6 ohm nominal at best.
But it WILL run "The Advent Loudspeaker". Next up would be most any "early" Dynaco.
If you want more "loud" with a low buy in then the Kenwood KL777A is the ticket, but it's over 2 feet tall. I'm not a fan of any speakers with many drivers that look similar to it except the Sansui Sp-3500 and Pioneer CS99A, and you will pay for them.
And there's bunches of other good candidates.
 
Thank you for the tips and the welcome everyone!​

My budget is about £100-150 GBP but I can go a little over if necessary as I want these speakers to last me some time.

I know the amp is a little underpowered, but I'm hoping this won't be too noticeable as it's a small room and I won't be cranking it loud often. When I move to a bigger house this will likely become a bedroom system.

I will be listening to hard rock and Metal about 70% of the time, with the rest of the time being Reggae or classic hip hop. I'd be happy with a classic or modern set really - I'll take a look at the L100s :).
 
most of the speakers from the New England School (AR, EPI, Advent etc) would likely be worth a look. Of them, I'd recommend you check into the KLH speakers of the '60's and '70's. They are forgiving in the sense that the high end tends to be softer but are generally pretty accurate as well. Of them the KLH 17 offers good sound in a relatively small package. That's the one I would be looking for based on what you describe.
E83E61A0-C135-498F-BA92-223E4AD8EC62.jpeg
 
Looks like you are in the UK. Hard to say how many of the old US classics would be around. I was going to suggest EPI 100's.
 
sfox52 said:
Looks like you are in the UK. Hard to say how many of the old US classics would be around. I was going to suggest EPI 100's.
Click to expand...

I have EPI 100's and just posted about them yesterday, as they appear to need to be re-foamed. Now wondering if it's worth the US $175 to do it by a professional or put that $$ toward new, smaller speakers.
 
Seing that you're in the UK I'd be looking for any number of "Brit" speakers.
Celestion would definitely be on my list for sure,I say that as I have a pair of Ditton 110 that I like alot.
Lots of classic British brands to choose from,Spendor,Harbeth,Rogers just to name a few..
Other include:
KEF
Mission
ATC
PMC
Wharfedale
Tannoy
Pro-Ac
Mordaunt-Short

This is one of those things where one can immerse themselves in the local "vibe" and improve their odds by looking for common brands for thier region.

Good luck & happy hunting !

HTH

Bret P.
 
buckeye56 said:
I have EPI 100's and just posted about them yesterday, as they appear to need to be re-foamed. Now wondering if it's worth the US $175 to do it by a professional or put that $$ toward new, smaller speakers.
Click to expand...

I recently refoamed a pair of AR LST-2 speakers. First I ever tried, thought it would be quite difficult, but actually, it's a simple procedure that just requires some patience and a place to do the work. A pair of new foam surrounds that matched my woofers were $25 for a pair and it included the glue and shims. You just add a knife and some patience. There are tons of videos which should give you a sense of the level of effort.
 
buckeye56 said:
I have EPI 100's and just posted about them yesterday, as they appear to need to be re-foamed. Now wondering if it's worth the US $175 to do it by a professional or put that $$ toward new, smaller speakers.
Click to expand...

tkrotchko said:
I recently refoamed a pair of AR LST-2 speakers. First I ever tried, thought it would be quite difficult, but actually, it's a simple procedure that just requires some patience and a place to do the work. A pair of new foam surrounds that matched my woofers were $25 for a pair and it included the glue and shims. You just add a knife and some patience. There are tons of videos which should give you a sense of the level of effort.
Click to expand...

$175 is outrageous. A friend of mine had 2 woofers refoamed recently by a local tech for $90. Had I known, I would have done them for the cost of the surrounds and a couple of beers. Watch the YouTube video and then do them yourself. It's not very hard and doesn't take very long.
 
I see all three of these get good reviews. Since some of them are newer, I'd try to listen to them at a local shop and then listen to the B&W to see which you like. I think all of them would be fine unless they have a sonic character that you don't like. The B&W is old so you get the value of the used price but the newer speakers get the advantage of technology to make them better, not that they are, but they could be.

The Dali sucks up power at 84.5dB sensitivity. The other two are just a few dB louder for the same watt. All don't have much bass response but you could add a sub at some point.

All close enough that I would want to give em a listen, if possible.
 
Thanks guys, I'm going to take a trip to Richer Sounds armed with this knowledge and see if I can listen to them. I took a risk with the old Amp and I'd rather play it safe with the speakers, although it does feel painful to turn down the B&Ws.
 
Look for KLH 5, 17 and 900. All are great sounding bookshelfs speakers. The 900s are not early vintage but they are compact and as my daughter told me once,"they Rock".
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom