Can you identify these speakers?
- Thread starter PROJECT 2501
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SoundsAlike
Super Member
They look Japanese -- Sansui? I'd avoid and look for something better but that's just my gut
I would agree. Bet the smaller woofer is active and the other is a passive radiator. The tweeters don't look inspiring. Sorry.
swechsler
Frog Whisperer
Smaller? They look identical to me.
Agreed that they're probably not worth the purchase price, whatever it is. I probably wouldn't take them if they were free.
PROJECT 2501
Active Member
Thanks for the replies..
Couple questions. .
both of the woofers look identical in size so I cant distinguish between which one is the "smaller" of the two. Could you please clarify?
Would either of you care to elaborate further on exactly what you find uninspiring about the tweeters and why you feel I should avoid them?
Im apparently in error but I believe that they look like they have potential to be a exceptional speaker. They appear to have solid constructed enclosures with real walnut veneer..
The walnut veneered baffle conveys a message to me that these were probably a premium model in whichever line they were apart of.
I most likely am wrong but I just dont share the same impressions.. so if you could, please set me straight and explain all the details that youve found to be a red flag..
Thanks
Couple questions. .
both of the woofers look identical in size so I cant distinguish between which one is the "smaller" of the two. Could you please clarify?
Would either of you care to elaborate further on exactly what you find uninspiring about the tweeters and why you feel I should avoid them?
Im apparently in error but I believe that they look like they have potential to be a exceptional speaker. They appear to have solid constructed enclosures with real walnut veneer..
The walnut veneered baffle conveys a message to me that these were probably a premium model in whichever line they were apart of.
I most likely am wrong but I just dont share the same impressions.. so if you could, please set me straight and explain all the details that youve found to be a red flag..
Thanks
Hi PROJECT 2501,
pull a woofer and check the magnet, they may be labeled.
They do look like some house brand Sansui, kenwood.. ect...
Depending the $$ you can find better, if you are able to pull a woofer, it may be helpful. If they are in fact house brand speakers.. I think they look pretty cool personally, and nothing I can see shows a PR, they both looks like similar drivers. Are they 12's? If you can get them for under $50-100, and you like the styling, go for it, but better brands can be had for not so much $$. On the flip side, they may be an obscure brand like some (Acoustics) the California company, not the crap brand.
The only way to be sure would be to remove a woofer.
Good Luck!!
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swechsler
Frog Whisperer
The tweeters look like the cheap cones you'd find in poor quality speakers from the 1970s. And the veneer looks fake, not real walnut. Lastly, the twin woofers appear too large for the cabinet, which to me means this was designed to impress by appearance rather than sound.
My mistake, must have been the angle making the lower driver in one pic to be marginally smaller, now on 2nd look, they probably are the same.
These have no identifying marks or labels save maybe on the grilles, so you might find something there. On the back, also no label. Faintly, can't see any type of binding posts there, that's usually not great. Also, faintly, might be an RCA connector on the bottom speaker, a typical sign of cheap construction.
The two tweeters are both paper cone and about 3 inches in diameter, in my experience an inexpensive choice. Also, most better speakers, if they have more than one tweeter, will go with a small size 1-2 inch, and then a much smaller tweeter. With just two of the same larger size, more a kabuki thing (lots of drivers, but not terribly good quality).
Finally, the large 10-12 inch woofers - paper cone extending as surrounds, no visible lead wires on cone near dustcap suggesting small voice coil, no ribbing on cone is not inspiring. As for the cabinet, the front edges are not finished, which would not suggest a well finished cabinet detail. I would be surprised if it was real veneer, likely more a plastic faux finish or a vinyl, but vinyl would have likely started to show wear by now.
Not trying to be disparaging, but call it as we see it. Go check it out in person, and if you do buy them, get us more detailed pics and pull the drivers. I would be surprised if there were more than 4 crossover components in each speaker.
Roving Sign
Active Member
I think there is a similar set at my local pub - and they were MTX...I think.
Place changed hands recently - not sure they still have that rig.
Good excuse for a beer...
Place changed hands recently - not sure they still have that rig.
Good excuse for a beer...
PROJECT 2501
Active Member
Excellent responses by you all...
Theyre only $20 but theyre an hour to a hour and a half drive...
Ill flip a coin to decide whether or not to pursue them
Thanks
Theyre only $20 but theyre an hour to a hour and a half drive...
Ill flip a coin to decide whether or not to pursue them
Thanks
You're in Winchester, CA, near Riverside? A 90 minute drive will take you either to LA, Barstow, Indio, or San Diego, not to mention all of Orange County.
Ummmm... Id save the time, they do look cool, but so do some a lot of the house brand speakers of the same era, they were designed that way to be visually appealing. I'm a Pioneer freak, but some of the later 70's to mid 80's speakers with the added lights, and plastic parts just scream lower quality. They seem to be in the same boat.
The fact that they have 2, 12's in that small of a cabinet would hinder me, to much for cabinets that small.
If you are able, ask the poster to remove a woofer.
for 20 bucks they can be used for test speakers, or maybe some garage speakers, A good brand to start with is Realistic, I started with a set of the Nova 7B's and they sounded pretty great, stick with a known brand such as Klipsch, JBL, Altec, CV, and even realistic. All build great speakers, and if you area willing to make the drive for 20 dollar speakers, save your chips and get familiar with CL and wait for the right deal, it will happen.
Ok did not notice that.. Im in SJ, if your in the LA area, you have it made. I picked up my JBL L-150's for $50.00 from LA. LA CL is a great place to find speakers.
Lost of west coast sound to be found in LA.. :thmbsp:
mars_volta
Super Member
Looks DIY.
Maybe if they were free just down the road...
Maybe if they were free just down the road...
http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/ele/4954403972.html might be interesting, cabs look good and larger cabinet, but who knows, a lot closer though.
These polks would be a lot better, but may need some work or new woofers.
Old post so see if still available:
http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/ele/4925109571.html
These would be and are great speakers, but much more expensive, out in Anza. 2 month old listing so who knows if they are still there?
http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/ele/4905292990.html
mars_volta
Super Member
Holy crap those polks for $99???
Hey,
I agree with all that has been said, and I don't recognize them either. I've been dragging home speakers since the early 70's, it becomes a gut feeling as to whether a pair of speakers is worth my time or not.
However, nobody here has been able to say that they've heard them. For $20 and that longish drive? I'd get them in a heartbeat. Why? Because it's fun. And, you'd be the first one on the block to have actually heard them, in person.
I've had the pleasure of actually listening to pairs of speakers that were very poorly thought of on the internet only to find once I'm home, they're actually worth keeping. Until you've heard them, in your home, on your system, it's darned near impossible to know for sure.
If you do get them, I would plan on putting fresh capacitors in there. Those tweeters clearly need to be working at their peak to keep those 2 woofers in check.
Biggles
I agree with all that has been said, and I don't recognize them either. I've been dragging home speakers since the early 70's, it becomes a gut feeling as to whether a pair of speakers is worth my time or not.
However, nobody here has been able to say that they've heard them. For $20 and that longish drive? I'd get them in a heartbeat. Why? Because it's fun. And, you'd be the first one on the block to have actually heard them, in person.
I've had the pleasure of actually listening to pairs of speakers that were very poorly thought of on the internet only to find once I'm home, they're actually worth keeping. Until you've heard them, in your home, on your system, it's darned near impossible to know for sure.
If you do get them, I would plan on putting fresh capacitors in there. Those tweeters clearly need to be working at their peak to keep those 2 woofers in check.
Biggles
Some people are willing to pick up lots of speakers to try out and goof around with, maybe with multiple systems. Others are looking for one pair for their stereo.
Since you are new to audio, I suspect if you get these and really get into the hobby, you will be replacing/upgrading them. Many (most?) of us went through a phase early on where we collected a lot of mediocre stuff. Eventually you download a lot of that and concentrate on smaller quantity with better quality. You could skip a few steps here.
Or Biggles might be right. He's sure heard his share of speakers.
The future is yours to decide!
Since you are new to audio, I suspect if you get these and really get into the hobby, you will be replacing/upgrading them. Many (most?) of us went through a phase early on where we collected a lot of mediocre stuff. Eventually you download a lot of that and concentrate on smaller quantity with better quality. You could skip a few steps here.
Or Biggles might be right. He's sure heard his share of speakers.
The future is yours to decide!
