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Cerwin Vega HED 1230... Worth the price?

Bradgraub

Bradgraub

Member
Been looking to upgrade my crappy late 80s Pioneer 3-ways with something a little better and a pair of CV HED 1230s popped up on my local CL. I've read that CVs are good for rock based music and that's my primary style I listen to. Is 225 an acceptable price for them?

Link: http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/ele/3880918410.html

Also I know it should go in the speakers forum, but if anyone could tell me if these are a good match for my Pioneer sx-780 that'd be much appreciated also!


Thanks AKers!
 
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$225 will buy you some fantastic speakers. I don't have any personal experience with this model, but that price seems extraordinary for a pair of C-V's of this vintage. I'd keep looking.
 
Hmm any suggestions then? I think I def want to stay vintage with my setup, I am a weirdo with aesthetic continuity haha
 
I'd strongly consider giving these a listen. I don't have any EPI/Epicure speakers with the passive radiators, but the rest of the EPI's I absolutely love and it's hard to go wrong with them. The veneer looks very nice, and between that and the professional refoaming it might make these worth the asking price (or a little less if you can get it). If nothing else, the guy is willing to demo them so you can get a free listen for the price of a drive to his house.

And yes, I know they're quite a departure from a large floorstanding speaker, but EPI's are a pretty rewarding listen in my opinion.

http://southjersey.craigslist.org/ele/3908360859.html

I'm having a tough time finding other great stuff on Philly CL right now, but if you have something to hold you over, I'd wait until the right deal comes up.
 
Thanks for the help man I really appreciate it. I'm gonna check out those EPIs, SJ is a lot easier for me to get to than central jers
 
That price is high for those, but not outlandishly so with them being refoamed and in very nice shape.

Do you know the model number of your Pioneer speakers?
 
mynameisphun said:
http://cnj.craigslist.org/ele/3924947248.html

This guy's got a lot of stuff in your price range, though the prices aren't necessarily "deal" status, he's still got some good stuff and all in one place. I'd strongly consider the Polk Monitor 10's, Genesis 20's, DQ-10's (especially if mirror imaged), and the large Advents.
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i have the micro acoustic frm-1, and i love them, but i dont have anything to compare them too so not sure if they are decent or what. i dont think you should pay $200 tho, i paid $60 and probably that was too much. they dont have a name so i cant imagine anyone being on the hunt for them.
 
If you haven't listened to much else besides your Pioneer 3-ways, I think you might be amazed at how much better sound you'll get out of some pretty unassuming-looking speakers for not all that much money. I've spent $20 a pair for Infinity Qe's, Jensen Model 4's, EPI 100's, Genesis V-6's, etc... - and despite their size, I'd take any of these over a cheap set of rack system 3-ways from the 80's/90's. I have a set of Jensen 3-way 15" speakers similar to your Pioneers and they sound like garbage compared to almost anything else I have in my collection.

It really is a lot of fun to shop for deals on vintage speakers. It would take a very special set of vintage speakers for me to part with $225, but I'm always looking for a deal. My one-owner Epicure 400+ and Norman Labs Model 10's were each $100/pair, but admittedly both in need of a refoam. There's lots of cool stuff out there.

I'm not saying you might not be completely happy with a set of Cerwin-Vegas...but I'd be looking to spend $50-75 on them, not $200+.
 
Really appreciate the input. I've been collecting records for 12 or so years and have always just had inherited rack systems and finally got around to getting some decent equipment. Don't know much about pricing on stuff yet. I broke down and bought a Yamaha YP-701 off that auction site for 175 but it came with a brand new Shure m97xe with it's goofy little tin and everything. Gonna go check out those Epicures, if the guy is willing to deal I might get them, might wait. Either way, really appreciate the advice.
 
Brad, that is awesome to hear! I had that same sort of revelation with my first pair of Genesis speakers (same family as EPI/Epicure) - picked up these ugly, beat-up, vinyl-clad speakers in need of foam for $4 at a yard sale (untested) never having repaired/refoamed speakers, and not really knowing it was possible - then did a little research, refoamed them, and when I was finished...the sound coming out of those little Genesis V-6 speakers was nothing short of magical. I had had some cheap modern Polk Audio speakers, and it was amazing how lifeless and dull those Polks sounded compared to these beat-up little Genesis.

If you care to, do a little reading at www.humanspeakers.com - Hu Powell was an employee of Genesis Physics in the mid-80's, and when they folded he continued developing and manufacturing (by hand) the parts to both keep old EPI/Epicure/Genesis speakers working and also parts to improve their performance.

Are your new speakers as pretty in person as they looked in those small Craigslist pictures? Did they come with grills? Real wood veneer? I'd love to see some pictures when you have a chance.
 
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