Calling all SonicS Speaker owners!
- Thread starter Hondo115
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audiomotif
Audiomotif
These were lacking any mid or bass....some old AS-330s
So I totally rewired them and replaced both crossovers and internal wiring with solid copper runs and then tidied up the cabinets. A little acoustic mineral wool was added to isolate the woofer to the mid and tweeter horns...
The difference? to my ears they sound good now! need to run some comparison tests.
So I totally rewired them and replaced both crossovers and internal wiring with solid copper runs and then tidied up the cabinets. A little acoustic mineral wool was added to isolate the woofer to the mid and tweeter horns...
The difference? to my ears they sound good now! need to run some comparison tests.
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audiomotif
Audiomotif
They look in great condition. I'm familiar with the AS-227s (I own the bigger brothers too AS337A) which I assume predate these. Good sound... they pipped a pair of new Monitor Audio BX2 and B&W 601s.
If they sound a little muddy or lacking bass.. replace caps or crossover... they will come alive. Worth it as the cabinets are well made.
Ric Harris
Active Member
Okay Sonic vs Sonics? Anyway there's a pair of behemoth ones that are Sonic 4's on the goodwill website. They're likely POS speakers sound wise but 3 way cabinets are hard to find and i have all the goodies to make real speakers out of them. Nevertheless what store brand are the pigs anyhow?
Well since this thread has been sputtering along for almost 9 years, I figured I'd do my best to keep it going. Clearing out the basement this weekend and pulled these AS-441A's out of the heap. Purchased a couple of years ago at auction (I was interested in the Sansui QRX-5500) but these came with it. Decent build and good sound and fairly large. Not sure what I'm going to do with them at this point, other than use them as a room divider!
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SonicsAS-441
New Member
I am the proud (new) owner of the above AS-441 speakers, found the bottom pair up on eBay looking at other speakers and decided to take a chance on them after reading this entire thread. Additionally we later agreed on me purchasing the 2nd set that he had. I haven't been able to test them as much as I would like, but enough to know that I am pretty impressed and definitely wanted the 2nd set which I will be picking them up tomorrow night. I will try to post more detailed impressions in the next week or so.
SonicsAS-441
New Member
Also I am new to this vintage speaker scene, can anybody look at those nice inside the box photos that the previous owner posted and give any advice on if some maintenance/upgrades could help these speakers?
SonicsAS-441
New Member
The pair that are in better condition have made their way into my primary 5.1 sound system as the 2nd right and left front channels to go along with my Paradigm Monitor 9s. I like to keep 2 fronts per channel so that I can play Bluetooth music from my phone and crank it loudly enough to hear it easily throughout the house even though the system is on the bottom floor of a split level.
The 2 that are slightly worse cosmetically are going to be the stars of my garage system. I purchased an open box LG 700 watt "mini" shelf system. It is a 2.1 with a decent sub. I immediately replaced the main speakers with these Sonics and wow can that system pump out the sound! Never one to waste anything the LG main speakers replaced the tiny satellite speakers on a small 75 watt 2.1 Bluetooth System I picked up for $40 for just that upgrade, and as a side note I am very pleased with that also.
As for the sound on these Sonics. Well my take is that they produce amazing highs, great mids, and powerful, impressive bass. They absolutely kill it on Michael Bubble's remake of Moondance. Shook the house on The Way That I Am by Ingrid Michaelson while maintaining crisp highs all through. If I had just listened to those songs on it, I would be praising these as the best speakers that I have ever heard. However, when I got to some rock songs that have a lot going on at the same time the sound got just a little bit muddy at louder volumes. It seems while they can handle all the ranges independently, they do show a little weakness when it is all happening at once in modern rock songs.
Overall I am absolutely ecstatic about my purchase, and while they probably aren't the best speakers I have ever heard, they are certainly very, very good, and also certainly they are easily the best deal that I have ever gotten on any speakers!
The 2 that are slightly worse cosmetically are going to be the stars of my garage system. I purchased an open box LG 700 watt "mini" shelf system. It is a 2.1 with a decent sub. I immediately replaced the main speakers with these Sonics and wow can that system pump out the sound! Never one to waste anything the LG main speakers replaced the tiny satellite speakers on a small 75 watt 2.1 Bluetooth System I picked up for $40 for just that upgrade, and as a side note I am very pleased with that also.
As for the sound on these Sonics. Well my take is that they produce amazing highs, great mids, and powerful, impressive bass. They absolutely kill it on Michael Bubble's remake of Moondance. Shook the house on The Way That I Am by Ingrid Michaelson while maintaining crisp highs all through. If I had just listened to those songs on it, I would be praising these as the best speakers that I have ever heard. However, when I got to some rock songs that have a lot going on at the same time the sound got just a little bit muddy at louder volumes. It seems while they can handle all the ranges independently, they do show a little weakness when it is all happening at once in modern rock songs.
Overall I am absolutely ecstatic about my purchase, and while they probably aren't the best speakers I have ever heard, they are certainly very, very good, and also certainly they are easily the best deal that I have ever gotten on any speakers!
SonicsAS-441
New Member
By the way, to enter my main system, the Sonics replaced some fully reconditioned Bose 601 Series II speakers that I found at a local second hand shop a couple years ago. The Sonics narrowly defeated the 601s outright, but probably only had to be close to win as I can probably sell the 601s for $500+, while the Sonics would bring much less per pair. Best of all I don't even have to feel bad selling them to someone as the Bose 601 series IIs are actually very good speakers that happen to wear the Bose name.
SonicsAS-441
New Member
There is currently a nice looking pair of AS-447 speakers on eBay. Unfortunately shipping is obviously pretty high at $120, but if anybody is in Florida I believe that is where they are. Last I checked the price before shipping was $250. They have been up for a while though, so I could see some flexibility being available. I believe these would be the big brother to my speakers with an insane 15" woofer.
SonicsAS-441
New Member
Another pair of AS-447 speakers came up for sale in my state of OH, so I grabbed them. I stand corrected, they don't have a 15" woofer, but a 16" woofer. I am pretty excited to get them home next weekend. They look to be immaculate outside of one missing a logo. My lesser set of 441A speakers can make a donation to make these whole though.
Additionally if you are near Dallas, TX there is a pair of AS-330 speakers for only $75. However shipping of over $150 will likely ruin the deal for those that aren't close enough to pick them up.
Additionally if you are near Dallas, TX there is a pair of AS-330 speakers for only $75. However shipping of over $150 will likely ruin the deal for those that aren't close enough to pick them up.
SonicsAS-441
New Member
I do really like the Sonics speakers so far. Assuming I like the 447 speakers as well as I anticipate I have a use for all that I have. The pair of 447 speakers will be the fronts in my "entertainment room" 5.1 system, one set of 441A speakers will be my stereo system speakers in the living room (hooked up to my surround system in there, but only activated when using it for stereo audio, and finally the 2nd set of 441A speakers will be my garage system being used in place of the cheap speakers with my "700 watt" LG mini bookshelf system.
SonicsAS-441
New Member
Just realized that post was from you. Thanks so much for the incredible deal on both pairs of the AS-441A speakers! Hopefully it makes you feel better knowing that I am enjoying and using them rather than flipping them for profit. I am so glad I stumbled onto your ad, otherwise I may never have discovered Sonics speakers and the hidden gems that they are.
SonicsAS-441
New Member
I just acquired a pair of Sonics AS-207x speakers to be my new surrounds. Now I just need to find a random single Sonics speaker and I can have an all vintage Sonics 5 speaker surround sound, I guess I could always use one of my 441s, but then I am unsure what I would do with its counterpart. Either way I guess I have taken the mantle as the new Sonics ambassador on here. When I pick up the AS-447s on Sunday I will also be getting some original literature with them which I will try to convert to digital and post on here.
stickybeak
New Member
hey there just signed up to the forum to join the sonicS club! i just bought a pair off ebay and they are something a little different i think... sonics as-202 however on the front they say "gallo sound" so not too sure! the person selling them let me listen to them before i bought them and they sounded great (although i'm a complete beginner so i really don't know haha) once i've moved into my new place i'll crack them open and have a look inside, pretty stoked though! the only thing i can find about "gallo sound" is a company called anthony gallo speakers, but they seem like a relatively modern company... might have to email them and see! (sorry for the awkward 2nd picture they room they're in is really cramped)
SonicsAS-441
New Member
Welcome, those AS-202 speakers look to be slightly newer than my AS-441 and 447. My guess is that the speaker grilles are some sort of custom job, or at least the emblem is. Congrats on the find.
I did get my 447 pair home and hooked up. I am very pleased. Also found that as I suspected, the cabinet size on the 441 and 447 is identical. They just use a different design to fit a 16" woofer in about the smallest width possible.
I also did get the literature and hope to convert it to a digital format sometime.
I did get my 447 pair home and hooked up. I am very pleased. Also found that as I suspected, the cabinet size on the 441 and 447 is identical. They just use a different design to fit a 16" woofer in about the smallest width possible.
I also did get the literature and hope to convert it to a digital format sometime.
audiomotif
Audiomotif
Hi,
I just picked up a pair of AS331a. I will be refinishing the cabinets and replacing the internal wiring and crossovers. the drivers all look in good condition. I believe they are around 1970 in age, although I've yet to find a date stamp inside. Very similar arrangement to my AS337a speakers..It will be interesting to see how they fair after refurbishment.
will post progress of refurb..
I just picked up a pair of AS331a. I will be refinishing the cabinets and replacing the internal wiring and crossovers. the drivers all look in good condition. I believe they are around 1970 in age, although I've yet to find a date stamp inside. Very similar arrangement to my AS337a speakers..It will be interesting to see how they fair after refurbishment.
will post progress of refurb..
