Yeah, my Realistic Nova 7B's are the speakers I have until I find the deal. In the mean time I fell in great-like with the 7b's, and want to develop one of my systems around them.
Best 1970's Vintage Speakers for $200 or less
- Thread starter Jon1964
- Start date
Yeah, my Realistic Nova 7B's are the speakers I have until I find the deal. In the mean time I fell in great-like with the 7b's, and want to develop one of my systems around them.
Thanks, and believe me I appreciate your point. Not needing work is the point of this thread though. It defines the conversation to ready to go speakers at a $200 or less price point.
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lunchmeat
Cannabinoid
It sounds like you really just need to wade into this hobby and see what you can pick up. Over the years I have amassed a decent collection of older, mid-fi to Hi-Fi quality speakers. The most I have ever paid is 50 bucks. That was for a pair of Klipsch Fortes at a thrift store. The key is to be patient and always have your eyes open. Do this and you will eventually hit on something special. Also, if you're going to play in this arena you can't be afraid of a simple refoam job. If it was hard I couldn't do it and I have done lots of speakers. Good luck on your quest.
poppachubby
Boo Yaka! Boo Yaka!
I understand you need floor standers but give some thought to the Dynaco A series. The 25 and 35 in particular are timeless. My experience has been that they need 40+ watts to really drive the dynamic extension out of them.
I think you are really limiting yourself by keeping to the 70's. I think you should limit only the image of the speaker and not the year itself. The 80's produced some great speakers by companies like Mission which sell for your budgeted range. Frankly the speakers in the 70s and 80s were all wood grain and look the same.
I own both a pair of Dynaco A25 and Mission 707, both are excellent speakers although far from perfect. A great deal by comparison of todays standards and prices.
Good luck!
I think you are really limiting yourself by keeping to the 70's. I think you should limit only the image of the speaker and not the year itself. The 80's produced some great speakers by companies like Mission which sell for your budgeted range. Frankly the speakers in the 70s and 80s were all wood grain and look the same.
I own both a pair of Dynaco A25 and Mission 707, both are excellent speakers although far from perfect. A great deal by comparison of todays standards and prices.
Good luck!
Thanks.
Thank you, and I appreciate your input. I want sentiment and performance. So (real) wood grain 1970's are my bag. Blue lighted dials are my interest as well.
Yeah, my dream find...
Dig your Monte Carlo. My dad bought one new in 1970. Green on green with white vinyl top, color keyed hub caps, and fender skirts. 400-2 barrel with Turbo Hydro 400 and 3.31 12 bolt. Console shift as well. Traded it in '74 for a new silver Grand Prix SJ with a 400-4. I digress...
scubaguy10
Well-Known Member
For $200, I bought 2 pairs of Original Large Advents that had been refoamed. This was maybe 4 years ago. Stacked together, they are serious floorstanders, power hungry but very musical and uncolored. I know that I constantly rave about Advents like a broken record, but they are easy to find, reliable and great sounding. And in your price range.
Don't overlook speakers that need a little work. My daughter's boyfriend had some speakers that he had picked up dumpster diving, and was ready to throw away because they didn't work. I looked at them. They turned out to be Boston Acoustic T830s, and after I refoamed the woofers they sounded great. They are currently in said daughter's system. Total cost: about $12.00.
Don't overlook speakers that need a little work. My daughter's boyfriend had some speakers that he had picked up dumpster diving, and was ready to throw away because they didn't work. I looked at them. They turned out to be Boston Acoustic T830s, and after I refoamed the woofers they sounded great. They are currently in said daughter's system. Total cost: about $12.00.
Big Tuna
Too Much Power!
There's lots to chose from out there, and prices are all over the map. We all wish we could find our dream speakers for $200 or less. IMO, the best ones at or around 200(if you don't mind extending it just a little) are the Pioneer HPM-60/700. It depends on the size of speaker you are looking for, too. You can only go so big with $200. Medium sized 3 ways with a 10" or 12" woofer can be had for around there, give or take a few.
The ones that I've found have been much less than $200 but usually did need some work. However, replacing the capacitors in the crossovers is very easy and if you use Dayton caps from Parts Express (which have a large following), it's also very cheap. Refoaming speakers does have a little greater learning curve, but isn't really too hard and I think it's lots of fun. If you're intimidated, just buy some really cheap speakers at a thrift shop, experiment and practice, then take them back when you're done.
Ones I've like the best in that range have been Accoustic Research, and KLH. I'm refurbishing some KLH 17's right now and they have a great reputation. There are lots of threads here and elsewhere on those brands. I've also gotten some very nice Marantz Imperial 7's and various Sansui speakers in that price range. Oh, and don't forget Paradigm and PSB (both Canadian companies), although they may not be that old.
I enjoy getting speakers that need work. I learn more and feel more satisfaction when done. Besides, when you don't pay much you can try out more different kinds to see which ones you like the best. Tons of fun.
Allan
Ones I've like the best in that range have been Accoustic Research, and KLH. I'm refurbishing some KLH 17's right now and they have a great reputation. There are lots of threads here and elsewhere on those brands. I've also gotten some very nice Marantz Imperial 7's and various Sansui speakers in that price range. Oh, and don't forget Paradigm and PSB (both Canadian companies), although they may not be that old.
I enjoy getting speakers that need work. I learn more and feel more satisfaction when done. Besides, when you don't pay much you can try out more different kinds to see which ones you like the best. Tons of fun.
Allan
Many of the speakers that have been recommended here will work as floor-standers, but will sound much better if they're placed on low stands (12" or so) to get the woofers away from the floor. That's true of the original Advents and the AR 2ax, to name two. Advents will probably also need re-foaming unless a previous owner has attended to that job. The cloth surrounds in the ARs will usually be in good shape, but the tweeter level controls tend to oxidize with age and will often need a thorough cleaning or a replacement.
I agree with scubaguy10's recommendation that you consider speakers that need a little work. I scored a pair of EPI M180s, which work as floor-standers but sound better on short stands, for $10 at a garage sale. The foam kit set me back another $40 (the M180s have two woofers per cabinet, so I had to install new surrounds on four drivers). They're great-sounding speakers that I believe are worth far more than the $50 I have in them. Other brands I would consider at a sub-$200 price point would be Genesis, Allison, Burhoe, B&O, KLH, Ohm and Jensen. Jensen's glory days were behind it by 1979, but the company still put out some surprisingly decent speakers in the 1970s.
I agree with scubaguy10's recommendation that you consider speakers that need a little work. I scored a pair of EPI M180s, which work as floor-standers but sound better on short stands, for $10 at a garage sale. The foam kit set me back another $40 (the M180s have two woofers per cabinet, so I had to install new surrounds on four drivers). They're great-sounding speakers that I believe are worth far more than the $50 I have in them. Other brands I would consider at a sub-$200 price point would be Genesis, Allison, Burhoe, B&O, KLH, Ohm and Jensen. Jensen's glory days were behind it by 1979, but the company still put out some surprisingly decent speakers in the 1970s.
ESS AMT's. If you get lucky you may find a pair of AMT3's for that price. I got both my pairs for under $400-with all original drivers.
As with any vintage speaker they might need some work- but the AMT3's can hold there own to many modern speakers- as well as most of their own era- and well worth the effort!!
As with any vintage speaker they might need some work- but the AMT3's can hold there own to many modern speakers- as well as most of their own era- and well worth the effort!!
obviously depends on what you want them for. If I were looking for a sub $200 speaker -no particular order
DCM TF-600 (TF-400 would do for $100 or less)
Ohm Walsh 2 - hard to find these tho
Magnepan MGII a, b or c - you can often find these for under $200 and if you know what you are looking for, only problem they may have is "banana peel" and that can be fixed pretty easy. Down side is you better have a good amp or you will not get the full experience
Best bet out of these would be the DCM TF-600. I see these come up quite often. For me and the type of listening I do, I would take these over pretty much every other box speaker that is usually recommended.
Obviously, your listening style may vary.
DCM TF-600 (TF-400 would do for $100 or less)
Ohm Walsh 2 - hard to find these tho
Magnepan MGII a, b or c - you can often find these for under $200 and if you know what you are looking for, only problem they may have is "banana peel" and that can be fixed pretty easy. Down side is you better have a good amp or you will not get the full experience
Best bet out of these would be the DCM TF-600. I see these come up quite often. For me and the type of listening I do, I would take these over pretty much every other box speaker that is usually recommended.
Obviously, your listening style may vary.
haromaster87
Active Member
I may take some heat for this, but I feel the Realistic Mach Ones should at least be mentioned. It seems like most people on this site love 'em or hate 'em. They can often be had for well under $200. I got mine for $30, but that's because I got a good deal. haha Then, with about $10 worth of Caps, I did the crossover upgrade from this site, and I love them.
FWIW I've been exposed to many higher end speakers, and even own a few speakers that might be considered higher end, and I cannot see why these are given so much grief. I'll admit, when I first got them, they didn't sound all that good. But with less then $15 worth of parts, and a bit of time and effort, they sound amazing. So I figure if nothing else, they are worthy of this list.
FWIW I've been exposed to many higher end speakers, and even own a few speakers that might be considered higher end, and I cannot see why these are given so much grief. I'll admit, when I first got them, they didn't sound all that good. But with less then $15 worth of parts, and a bit of time and effort, they sound amazing. So I figure if nothing else, they are worthy of this list.
I'd take Mach Ones for $30 too, if only to test them out. I have to admit I don't think I've ever auditioned a set or if I did it was back when they were still in the catalogue! Since I'm currently using a Realistic receiver the match would look good.
Anyway, watch for the large Advents or the New Large Advents, or apparently sounding even better the Advent 5002. My mains now are the NLA which I paid 140 for with re-foaming already done. I love the bullnose front design on mine and use them on some low ~3" stands I made.
Anyway, watch for the large Advents or the New Large Advents, or apparently sounding even better the Advent 5002. My mains now are the NLA which I paid 140 for with re-foaming already done. I love the bullnose front design on mine and use them on some low ~3" stands I made.
I agree with you haromaster, although I think I see more positive reviews of Realistic speakers here than negative. The two sets I've had were both very substantial, well made speakers that sounded great after having the capacitors switched out. I still have one set (Minimus 7W's) that I use everyday in my bedroom system. I've never heard any of the Realistic floor standing speakers though.
Allan
haromaster87
Active Member
Yep, I'm also using mine with the Realistic STA-2000 I got in the same $30 bundle. haha Twas a nice little pull. They are really great speakers. I was originally going to spend $75 for the receiver and speakers, but the guys thought one wasn't working so he said $30 to get it out of his way. That worked for me!
Yep, you're right for the most part. I think it's because when I was searching for info on fixing my Machs up, I read all of the non-fans and what they had to say about them. Generally though, they seem to have a good following on this board. And for good reason, they really perform well. They seem to have this reputation for only being good for rock music and ridiculous levels, and while they do do that quite well, that's not all they do. I listen to many other genres, and they have done well with all of them thus far. And for the money, you can't beat the depth, and for lack of better words, ass they put behind the music. They really bring it at you, but it's okay. lol