ignoramustot
Active Member
Hi folks
My first post/question here so pls be kind to a newbie-know-nothing from Downunder ...
Does anyone here have any info on or experience with vintage Onkyo S-25 speakers, please?
I have found a few other posts in AK related to vintage Onkyo model 25 speakers, but they seem to be a different model from what I am looking at on fleabite/bay.
These are the speakers I am considering: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Vintage-Rare-Onkyo-S-25-Speakers-Floorstanding/203111671191
Your thoughts, please? Are these something of quality from the early-mid '70s, or something to be avoided from the suspect more-flash-than-substance early-mid '80s? The dark-stained gloss timber and "frontal flashiness" tends to say early '80s to me...
They appear to be different to these '70s Onkyo model 25 speakers discussed here previously: https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/onkyo-model-25s.509222/
Looking at the links from the following AK post from 2009, I think the ones I am looking at may be 1980s models, but the model numbers appear different from those used in Japan, and none of the pictures on the Japanese pages seem to have the twin lower front bass ports of the speakers for sale in Australia:
https://audiokarma.org/forums/index...t-vintage-onkyo-speakers.261983/#post-3172748
1970s: https://audio-heritage.jp/ONKYO/speaker/index.html
1980s: https://audio-heritage.jp/ONKYO/speaker/index2.html
Context: I am putting together a basic (and I hope cheap!) early-mid '70s vintage set-up, primarily to be used to enjoy a bunch of old vinyl ('60s-'70s; blues, jazz, rock, classical orchestral, bit of opera ...).
I have picked up a Dual 1219 TT (needs a bit of careful maintenance love but mechanically completely intact and in very good external condition) and a Rotel RX-402 receiver-amp (25 watts/channel/RMS; likewise in apparently good shape, currently having its internals cleaned/checked and a few blown display bulbs replaced).
My next step is to find some suitable speakers, which is a challenge during the COVID lockdown we have here at the moment because I can't go to listen to them... I figure I should look for something with high efficiency/sensitivity, given the modest RMS of the Rotel, although the listening will be at modest volume, and in a medium-small room. (I was keen on some early Acoustic Research, e.g,. AR6, but I understand they have lower sensitivity and may be best with a more powerful amp.)
Key consideration: my wife wants some speakers with "a warm vintage sound" to suit her vintage blues and jazz records. I'm aware that "warm" is a very subjective term for sound! My ears have recently become accustomed to some DALI Concept 2 bookshelf speakers that have a crisp modern sound, so I don't want "warm" to be a euphemism for vintage-muddy and flabby in attack/timing. Madam and I are agreed on wanting to avoid heavy bass that overwhelms the mid-tones. Balance on a budget, while trying not to be too picky.
I had hoped to get lucky finding some early B&W (e.g. DM4), Kef or Wharfedale, or if I get very lucky, some '70s B&O Beovox or Corals that aren't too knocked around, but such items come on the markets rarely in Oz, or if in good condition, only at prices or locations beyond my budget.
And that's when I noticed these Onkyo S-25 3-ways, rated at 40 watts max, 8 ohms. There seems to be no info anywhere on the (English-language) web on them (haven't checked Japanese sites because I can't read it). The seller says they have 10inch woofers and "the other drivers are 3 and 4 inch". Dimensions are approx H: 760mm * W: 370mm * L: 310mm. He guesses their mass about 10kg each.
I cannot physically inspect these speakers so I have no idea if those are real metal mounts for the drivers or plasti-chrome. From the pics, physical condition appears very good. Seller says he has never opened them so cannot advise on condition of internals or if there has been any previous maintenance.
Any constructive suggestions would be very welcome, please. Many thanks for your time and patience reading this far.
cheers and best wishes to all in the current challenges,
Rob in Melbourne, Australia
My first post/question here so pls be kind to a newbie-know-nothing from Downunder ...
Does anyone here have any info on or experience with vintage Onkyo S-25 speakers, please?
I have found a few other posts in AK related to vintage Onkyo model 25 speakers, but they seem to be a different model from what I am looking at on fleabite/bay.
These are the speakers I am considering: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Vintage-Rare-Onkyo-S-25-Speakers-Floorstanding/203111671191
Your thoughts, please? Are these something of quality from the early-mid '70s, or something to be avoided from the suspect more-flash-than-substance early-mid '80s? The dark-stained gloss timber and "frontal flashiness" tends to say early '80s to me...
They appear to be different to these '70s Onkyo model 25 speakers discussed here previously: https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/onkyo-model-25s.509222/
Looking at the links from the following AK post from 2009, I think the ones I am looking at may be 1980s models, but the model numbers appear different from those used in Japan, and none of the pictures on the Japanese pages seem to have the twin lower front bass ports of the speakers for sale in Australia:
https://audiokarma.org/forums/index...t-vintage-onkyo-speakers.261983/#post-3172748
1970s: https://audio-heritage.jp/ONKYO/speaker/index.html
1980s: https://audio-heritage.jp/ONKYO/speaker/index2.html
Context: I am putting together a basic (and I hope cheap!) early-mid '70s vintage set-up, primarily to be used to enjoy a bunch of old vinyl ('60s-'70s; blues, jazz, rock, classical orchestral, bit of opera ...).
I have picked up a Dual 1219 TT (needs a bit of careful maintenance love but mechanically completely intact and in very good external condition) and a Rotel RX-402 receiver-amp (25 watts/channel/RMS; likewise in apparently good shape, currently having its internals cleaned/checked and a few blown display bulbs replaced).
My next step is to find some suitable speakers, which is a challenge during the COVID lockdown we have here at the moment because I can't go to listen to them... I figure I should look for something with high efficiency/sensitivity, given the modest RMS of the Rotel, although the listening will be at modest volume, and in a medium-small room. (I was keen on some early Acoustic Research, e.g,. AR6, but I understand they have lower sensitivity and may be best with a more powerful amp.)
Key consideration: my wife wants some speakers with "a warm vintage sound" to suit her vintage blues and jazz records. I'm aware that "warm" is a very subjective term for sound! My ears have recently become accustomed to some DALI Concept 2 bookshelf speakers that have a crisp modern sound, so I don't want "warm" to be a euphemism for vintage-muddy and flabby in attack/timing. Madam and I are agreed on wanting to avoid heavy bass that overwhelms the mid-tones. Balance on a budget, while trying not to be too picky.
I had hoped to get lucky finding some early B&W (e.g. DM4), Kef or Wharfedale, or if I get very lucky, some '70s B&O Beovox or Corals that aren't too knocked around, but such items come on the markets rarely in Oz, or if in good condition, only at prices or locations beyond my budget.
And that's when I noticed these Onkyo S-25 3-ways, rated at 40 watts max, 8 ohms. There seems to be no info anywhere on the (English-language) web on them (haven't checked Japanese sites because I can't read it). The seller says they have 10inch woofers and "the other drivers are 3 and 4 inch". Dimensions are approx H: 760mm * W: 370mm * L: 310mm. He guesses their mass about 10kg each.
I cannot physically inspect these speakers so I have no idea if those are real metal mounts for the drivers or plasti-chrome. From the pics, physical condition appears very good. Seller says he has never opened them so cannot advise on condition of internals or if there has been any previous maintenance.
Any constructive suggestions would be very welcome, please. Many thanks for your time and patience reading this far.
cheers and best wishes to all in the current challenges,
Rob in Melbourne, Australia
