Anybody own Vintage Celestions ??

[radioactive]

Fwiw here's what I recently bought.
https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/speaker-i-d-sort-of.899775/

 

[ditton works]

Ok, haven’t been on here for while..
Moved house got divorced etc...

finally got back to speakers
I’ve had all SL range 6s/6si/600/600si/700se/Sl12 etc but believe it not never had a pair of SL6!! Until today. They needed a bit of TLC on the metal baffle covers, aluminium oxide needed sorting out... bit of a polish.. all good. They have been signing away all day.. well impressed.

 

[DNForever]

ditton works, I registered basically to thank you for the information you've given in this thread. I'm in the USA and love Celestions. I have 4 of the SL6S, but one is missing an original tweeter. I've tried on and off through the years to like newer bookshelf speakers, but they all pale in comparison to these especially in the mids-treble range, at least to me. It's time & money intense to keep trying new speakers that seem geared toward "home theater" only to be disappointed, so I think I'm a Vintage Man from now on. So interesting that you used to work there. I just bought a pair of DL6 series 2 in black for a decent price as well and looking forward to them in a 2nd system. It will be the only other pair of Celestions I'll have heard other than the SL6S, so I'm pretty excited. Hope you are doing well with all your changes, take care and enjoy the music.
Nick

 

[KRab]

Maybe my favorite speaker set...not that I've had that many, but....I bought these new when they come out, after auditioning speakers for months. They replaced a pair of EPI 120s (which were also loved, but were too big for the house at the time). Not as deep in the bass, but what was there was solid. Very clean and clear mids and highs. This is still the cleanest sounding speaker I've heard. The grilles are long gone, being a victim of cat scratch fever, and the woofers have been replaced by (what I assume to be) the Series II rubber surround drivers. They play so nicely in the bedrooms system with the NAD C326BEE.
My Celestion DL8s

 

[ditton works]

ditton works, I registered basically to thank you for the information you've given in this thread. I'm in the USA and love Celestions. I have 4 of the SL6S, but one is missing an original tweeter. I've tried on and off through the years to like newer bookshelf speakers, but they all pale in comparison to these especially in the mids-treble range, at least to me. It's time & money intense to keep trying new speakers that seem geared toward "home theater" only to be disappointed, so I think I'm a Vintage Man from now on. So interesting that you used to work there. I just bought a pair of DL6 series 2 in black for a decent price as well and looking forward to them in a 2nd system. It will be the only other pair of Celestions I'll have heard other than the SL6S, so I'm pretty excited. Hope you are doing well with all your changes, take care and enjoy the music.
Nick

Thanks man..
DL6’s are really quite good. I think you will like them.

 

[ditton works]

Maybe my favorite speaker set...not that I've had that many, but....I bought these new when they come out, after auditioning speakers for months. They replaced a pair of EPI 120s (which were also loved, but were too big for the house at the time). Not as deep in the bass, but what was there was solid. Very clean and clear mids and highs. This is still the cleanest sounding speaker I've heard. The grilles are long gone, being a victim of cat scratch fever, and the woofers have been replaced by (what I assume to be) the Series II rubber surround drivers. They play so nicely in the bedrooms system with the NAD C326BEE.
My Celestion DL8s

View attachment 1867963 View attachment 1867964

DL8 series 1, nice tweeters in those.yes they are the series 2 bass units..

 

[Lavane]

Ok, haven’t been on here for while..
Moved house got divorced etc...

finally got back to speakers
I’ve had all SL range 6s/6si/600/600si/700se/Sl12 etc but believe it not never had a pair of SL6!! Until today. They needed a bit of TLC on the metal baffle covers, aluminium oxide needed sorting out... bit of a polish.. all good. They have been signing away all day.. well impressed.

Those are what I'm keeping an eye out for. Probably slim pickings here on the left coast though. I was gifted a pair of Ditton 250 series ll's recently.
After recapping them, and I did find several of the caps had drifted, I was surprised that they sounded as good as they do. Good enough I would like to try some of the better sounding models. I noticed the first 250's had a port on the back. These are sealed, but still have the thin baffle plate at the back on the inside. I thought that a bit odd since there wasn't a port anymore.

 

[ditton works]

Those are what I'm keeping an eye out for. Probably slim pickings here on the left coast though. I was gifted a pair of Ditton 250 series ll's recently.
After recapping them, and I did find several of the caps had drifted, I was surprised that they sounded as good as they do. Good enough I would like to try some of the better sounding models. I noticed the first 250's had a port on the back. These are sealed, but still have the thin baffle plate at the back on the inside. I thought that a bit odd since there wasn't a port anymore.

DL series are worth a listen especially the DL4,6 and 8. Never liked the DL10!

 

[Lavane]

DL series are worth a listen especially the DL4,6 and 8. Never liked the DL10!

I found a pair of 44's for sale dirt cheap. But man are they rough. Banged up and painted black. They looked to be a fairly early model?

 

[ditton works]

I found a pair of 44's for sale dirt cheap. But man are they rough. Banged up and painted black. They looked to be a fairly early model?
View attachment 1871628

Oooh I love Ditton 44’s. Those are early ones Prob 1974...super sounding speakers. if you want/need any tips on improving them? let me know.
Great find., you will love them

 

[Roboturner91]

Maybe my favorite speaker set...not that I've had that many, but....I bought these new when they come out, after auditioning speakers for months. They replaced a pair of EPI 120s (which were also loved, but were too big for the house at the time). Not as deep in the bass, but what was there was solid. Very clean and clear mids and highs. This is still the cleanest sounding speaker I've heard. The grilles are long gone, being a victim of cat scratch fever, and the woofers have been replaced by (what I assume to be) the Series II rubber surround drivers. They play so nicely in the bedrooms system with the NAD C326BEE.
My Celestion DL8s

View attachment 1867963 View attachment 1867964

I have a pair of these in my bedroom, also with NAD amplification. They are really, really nice. My main system outgrew them a while ago but I still listen to them regularly.

 

[ditton works]

I have a pair of these in my bedroom, also with NAD amplification. They are really, really nice. My main system outgrew them a while ago but I still listen to them regularly.

NAD and Celestion DL8’s used to be my second set too. Obviously they have some limitations but nice speakers

 

[Roboturner91]

I think their limitations are why I like them, they seem to smooth over a lot of bad recordings. The cabinets on mine are a little raggedy but I may build new boxes. The baffle and drivers are in great shape and I already rebuilt the crossovers.

 

[ditton works]

My first pair of SL12’s..

really quite like them

 

[Starbender]

Last month one of my ditton 332's hf2001 tweeter blown..Nothing replace the pair... yet...

 

[Starbender]

My first pair of SL12’s..

really quite like them

Keep them safe

 

[montrecott]

Last month one of my ditton 332's hf2001 tweeter blown..Nothing replace the pair... yet...

I had a pair of those. Very nice speakers.

 

[ditton works]

Thought I’d add a few more pics of various Celestion speakers in working on or using.

 

[ditton works]

Modified my pair of DL6’s.
I’ve fitted the polyolefine DL8 bass drivers and crossovers.

I’ve replaced the internal wadding and done so much neater that they were.
Pretty pleased with how they sound.
Still very laid back sound with soft bass.
I think the mids are slightly different now as the cone material is different.
I have some alternative tweeters to try next..

 

[ditton works]

Latest update..
System 6000 all
Set up now