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Boston Acoustics A100 speakers

mjw21a

mjw21a

Super Member
Ok, so I've stumbled across a pair of Boston Acoustics A100 speakers locally for $160 AUD (126 USD) which strikes me as quite cheap for what seems to be a well thought of speaker. As I understand it these are 90db efficient.

Does anyone know how easy to drive these are? I plan to use with a JLH 1969 Hood Repro amp if I go ahead and buy them.
 
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You may want to pick them up and try them, I'm thinking they would be better off with more power. They almost ALL need new surrounds, too. The factory ones don't last that long. But they are easy to do. I have had every one in that series, the 400's are playing now. I'm using 75 WPC tubes now, but they liked the 160 WPC solid state power I was using before. If they are a good deal you can always flip them if they don't suit your needs. They are nice sounding.
 
Yes $160 is very cheap for a pair of speakers. As I understand though , the JLH amps output a lot of current so they're able to drive less efficient speakers than their wattage would suggest
 
If you aren't going for concert hall levels you should be fine but if you tend to like it on the loud side the Boston's come alive with 75-100 watts.
 
I’m actually enjoying mine in rotation as I type. Remarkable speakers driven by my Yamaha M/60 C/60 power & pre amp & more recently Adcom 5500 power/ pre.
The BA’s respond with plenty of bottom end & clarity Throughout the speaker range. Once I repaired the surrounds.
They love power.
 
I had a pair, pretty easy to drive and sound pretty good, not up their with the best but good detailed sound, the sought after ones were the A200 & A400.
 
HypnoToad said:
I had a pair, pretty easy to drive and sound pretty good, not up their with the best but good detailed sound, the sought after ones were the A200 & A400.
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Ok, that's the information I'm after. I may just have to grab them. They're a relatively shallow speaker too which is beneficial for the space I want them for. I'll grab them for the spare bedroom.
 
mjw21a said:
Ok, that's the information I'm after. I may just have to grab them. They're a relatively shallow speaker too which is beneficial for the space I want them for. I'll grab them for the spare bedroom.
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They are made shallow for that reason, Space. The cabinet has a built in “ Back wall”. Unlike some speakers. That keeps the bass from becoming boomy, so against the wall isn’t a issue, it’s the purpose of the shallow cabinet
They will sound great believe me with your equipment and limited space. Grab them !!
 
I bought a pair of A100s a few years ago. I will never sell them. 15 wpc and they sound great. Lovely bass without boom and digs low. A nice uncolored sound across the spectrum. The first speakers I didn't want to change after a few years.
 
Ok, you've convinced me. I'm definitely grabbing these. Perfect for what I want them for, and the price is right :)
 
mjw21a said:
Ok, you've convinced me. I'm definitely grabbing these. Perfect for what I want them for, and the price is right :)
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Good choice!! I haven’t heard the A200 or A400’s, What I do know is the A100 is one fine speaker that impress me on each listen. Since this is the only choice you have between the three buy & listen until you come across the others.

You can then flip and move up the ladder, It’s better too pick up what’s at hand than to have nothing at all
 
johnr66 said:
I bought a pair of A100s a few years ago. I will never sell them. 15 wpc and they sound great. Lovely bass without boom and digs low. A nice uncolored sound across the spectrum. The first speakers I didn't want to change after a few years.
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A perfect description of the Boston Acoustics A100’s. Uncolored sound & digs deep is the strong points. You can leave the tone control flat for the most part.
 
A quite enjoyed a pair I had briefly. They did nothing wrong, and for the price they're going for, they're a no-brainer. A200 and A400 are on my bucket list of speakers to try. The sheer size of the A400 make it look a little awkward, but I can imagine they sound very nice.
 
I had a technics amp with watt meters showing 30 watts being pushed to the A100s and that was louder than I could handle.. walls were shaking..
 
Rex81 said:
The sheer size of the A400 make it look a little awkward, but I can imagine they sound very nice.
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I believe the A200's and A400's are the same height and width though the A400's maybe about an inch deeper. The A200's are one of the few speakers I regretted selling but at least I know they went to a good home!
 
colohiker said:
I believe the A200's and A400's are the same height and width though the A400's maybe about an inch deeper. The A200's are one of the few speakers I regretted selling but at least I know they went to a good home!
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Absolutely correct and in addition to that, these speakers were designed to be placed up against the wall and that makes them much less intrusive in a listening room than just about any other speakers. Place them correctly, give them some decent quality gear upstream and you'll enjoy the hell out of them. :)

P.S. They are rather old as far as speakers go so treat them to a fresh recap using better quality caps and double check the ferrofluid in the tweeters, replace if necessary.
 
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