Does anyone else have RtR Speakers?

[YTthedrummer]

I first became acquainted with RtR speakers (West Coast sound) back in mid 70's. My friend had a pair of 280's and I eventually opted for the HPR-12 Magnums, which feature a 12" woofer and 12" passive radiator, midrange, two dome tweeters and a piezo super-tweeter. I sold the originals back in late 80's in downsize inspired by my wife, but recently acquired another set in mint condition both sonically and cosmetically. They have a good overall sound to them, are very efficient and loud, and produce exceptional bass!!

I'm curious to know if anyone else uses these speakers, or any of RtR's other old vintage product lines.

Gary

I've got a pair of 180D's that a friend gave me because they didn't make a sound. Tracked problem to circuit breakers,removed them and sodered fuse holders in their place w/2 amp fuses.Very nice,well built speakers that,IMO,sound pretty decent. Woofers do i9n fact have rubber surrounds.Apperently,these were in storage almost all of these years w/failed cicuit breakers.My buddy was given them by orig.ownerwho stuck them in a closet in the late 70's. They look new and I like them. I have way too many spkrs. so these are for sale...I live in Seattle. contact me if interested. Thanks,Y-T

 

[fugtrug]

Hey Mark you are the first person I,ve come across with a pair of 100 Ds . I got mine for a $100 , they were pretty mint bar a blown tweeter .Even so I stripped them out and modified them extensively which I laboriously posted on here but it's vanished just like i'm about to .

 

[Hafizullah]

I first became acquainted with RtR speakers (West Coast sound) back in mid 70's. My friend had a pair of 280's and I eventually opted for the HPR-12 Magnums, which feature a 12" woofer and 12" passive radiator, midrange, two dome tweeters and a piezo super-tweeter. I sold the originals back in late 80's in downsize inspired by my wife, but recently acquired another set in mint condition both sonically and cosmetically. They have a good overall sound to them, are very efficient and loud, and produce exceptional bass!!

I'm curious to know if anyone else uses these speakers, or any of RtR's other old vintage product lines.

Gary

I've got a pair of HPR-12 Magnums. Quite happy with them. Very solid & tight bass down to around 30Hz, transparent & detailed mids & highs. The piezo tweeter sounds surprisingly good.

I have done some work rehabbing them. Under the grungy finish was some very nice walnut veneer that looks gorgeous with a bit of sanding and some Danish oil. Blacked the baffle & rear, and replaced the grillcloth with dark brown instead of the stock black.

Recapping them was easy and resulted in a very-discernible improvement in the sound, so when you're ready for a little soldering-iron action, you'll be really glad you did. There are really two editions of this speaker, and the earlier run (my set) has a very simple xover. I opted for some midprice Clarity caps and the result was greater openness, transparency & more-detailed soundstage without it being in-your-face. Definitely improved the sound of the piezo tweeter. I also removed the reset switch, which someone here recommended.

I'm persuaded that replacing the internal wiring with OCC, the crappy sandcast resistor with something better, the iron-core inductor with an air-core, and the old binding posts with better will improve the sound a bit more, so I'm about to do that.

 

[freemone233]

Latest acquisition is a pair of RTR PS/1 "Pyramid" that were part of the DAC/1 package. Sitting atop the ESR-15 and 280-DR.

 

[goodolpg]

Is this Groundhog Day?

 

[GD70]

Latest acquisition is a pair of RTR PS/1 "Pyramid" that were part of the DAC/1 package. Sitting atop the ESR-15 and 280-DR.View attachment 2223159

That’s impressive! PLEASE make and post a video or two in the video thread, so we can get an idea of how your system sounds!

 

[A23gt]

Latest acquisition is a pair of RTR PS/1 "Pyramid" that were part of the DAC/1 package. Sitting atop the ESR-15 and 280-DR.View attachment 2223159

Those are some hard to find components. I have been looking for the DAC/1 components for a good while. The 280DR/ESR-15 aren’t exactly common either.

I do love my ESR-6 though. I can only imagine how good the 15’s sound. They probably reach a little further into the midrange than the 6’s and are likely more sensitive.

 

[Roguesquatch]

Picked these up at a garage sale 7 years ago for $10 having no idea what the RTR logo was. They sound fantastic and I have never been able to figure out what model the actually are. Anybody know what the heck these are?

 

[A23gt]

View attachment 2248782 View attachment 2248783 View attachment 2248784
Picked these up at a garage sale 7 years ago for $10 having no idea what the RTR logo was. They sound fantastic and I have never been able to figure out what model the actually are. Anybody know what the heck these are?

10 inch or 12 inch woofer? Looks like something from the EXP series except the binding posts aren’t 5 way on yours. How are the cabinets? Heavy with real veneer?

My EXP-12 are somewhat similar and sound real nice too.

 

[YTthedrummer]

I have a pair of the 180Ds... and they'll be a pair of speakers that you'll have to pry from my cold dead fingers long after I'm gone! :yes:

Scott

I too have a pair of 180D's I'm glad to have them. They were given to me with dead circuit breakers,I replaced them w/ 2amp fuse holders...Other than that,they appear very well built.

 

[Roguesquatch]

10 inch or 12 inch woofer? Looks like something from the EXP series except the binding posts aren’t 5 way on yours. How are the cabinets? Heavy with real veneer?

My EXP-12 are somewhat similar and sound real nice too.

Sorry it took so long to get back to you. I had just put them up in the attic at the time of my post and promptly tweaked my back shortly thereafter. Anyway, I just brought them down and the woofer measures 8", the veneer is not wood and they are only moderately heavy for their size.

 

[A23gt]

Sorry it took so long to get back to you. I had just put them up in the attic at the time of my post and promptly tweaked my back shortly thereafter. Anyway, I just brought them down and the woofer measures 8", the veneer is not wood and they are only moderately heavy for their size.

This one stumps me. Not sure what they would. Maybe someone else will have an idea.

 

[YTthedrummer]

I am thinking about looking at a pair of RtR 180D's that are on the local C:L. In the ad it says rubber surrounds on the 10" alnico woofers, one front firing and one down firing. Since a lot people in this thread have mentioned the foam surrounds rotting out I wonder if they are not the original woofers. Did any of the 180D's have rubber surrounds? One picture of the back shows they can bi-amped with a switch and two pairs of binding posts, one HF pot, circuit breaker reset button and a completely round RtR logo. I wouldn't mind buying them if they had the original drivers.

ALL of the 180D's had rubber surrounds(at least all that I've seen). Their weakness would be the circuit breaker. I had a pair given to me several years ago that are in beautiful condition. Imagine trying them out years later to find out they didn't work.(not a peep). Tracked it down to useless breakers and replaced with holders and 2 amp fuses,They sound wonderful.

 

[A23gt]

ALL of the 180D's had rubber surrounds(at least all that I've seen). Their weakness would be the circuit breaker. I had a pair given to me several years ago that are in beautiful condition. Imagine trying them out years later to find out they didn't work.(not a peep). Tracked it down to useless breakers and replaced with holders and 2 amp fuses,They sound wonderful.

Most of the good RTR speakers used either accordion surrounds or rubber and both last a really long time. Like YT said 180D’s are rubber. I also ditch the circuit breakers on my RTR’s. They get really bad as they age.

 

[Fluffhead515]

My RtR 240D's....these are amazing....the only RtR I have seen or heard in person....

 

[rockin280dr]

I first became acquainted with RtR speakers (West Coast sound) back in mid 70's. My friend had a pair of 280's and I eventually opted for the HPR-12 Magnums, which feature a 12" woofer and 12" passive radiator, midrange, two dome tweeters and a piezo super-tweeter. I sold the originals back in late 80's in downsize inspired by my wife, but recently acquired another set in mint condition both sonically and cosmetically. They have a good overall sound to them, are very efficient and loud, and produce exceptional bass!!

I'm curious to know if anyone else uses these speakers, or any of RtR's other old vintage product lines.

Gary

I have a set of 280dr's n a set of esr15's from way back in the seventies used to power them with a jvc 4channel 200 watt amp...all got stolen but with a bit of luck tracked down the speakers...the amp was never found...haven't had an Amp powerful enough to make them come alive n they in need of some repairs...I have tried for quite some time to find ANY info about them...Charlie

 

[rockin280dr]

Latest acquisition is a pair of RTR PS/1 "Pyramid" that were part of the DAC/1 package. Sitting atop the ESR-15 and 280-DR.View attachment 2223159

WOW....except for the pyramid those are the 280dr and esr15 like what I have they have been in storage for nearly 40 years...they are in need of circuit breakers and not sure what else...but they, in my opinion, they outrocked the bose and the klipschorns some of my friends had!! the subwoofers firing directly into the floor would rock the whole house!! need to find a qaulity and reputable speaker repair service....what do the pyramids have in them?

 

[A23gt]

WOW....except for the pyramid those are the 280dr and esr15 like what I have they have been in storage for nearly 40 years...they are in need of circuit breakers and not sure what else...but they, in my opinion, they outrocked the bose and the klipschorns some of my friends had!! the subwoofers firing directly into the floor would rock the whole house!! need to find a qaulity and reputable speaker repair service....what do the pyramids have in them?

They are very good speakers. They need good amplification and will need to be gone through. Don’t even try to plug in the ESR as the transformer isn’t available anymore and other worn out components could smoke them.

There’s a stereo review on the someplace around here and a schematic for the ESR.

The 280DR are likely fine.

 

[rockin280dr]

I have a set of RTR 280DR'S, I love them. Sweet sounding speakers to me.
I got them from the original owner who purchased them in 1971 @ $500.00 each.
When I was young (1972-73) a friend of mine had a set of RTR speakers he claimed he had ordered custom built @ $1000.00 ea. They looked just like and were set up just like the 280DR'S except they had four 15" woofers instead of four 10" with bigger cabinets. All I remember is and they came up to my chest and I am 6 ft tall. They shook the whole house when he cranked them up in the basement.
I have searched in vain to find any solid info or product line for 1970 thru 1980, it seems a bit hopeless. I only find forum posts here and there.

I understand there is a review of the RTR 280DR's in Audio magazine November 1973 issue, although I am yet to get a copy in my hands.

It seems alot of less then fair opinons of RTR speakers are based on RTR after BIC owned the name.
If a set of RTR speakers dated prior to the change in ownership were judged I beleive most anyone would provide a positive review of RTR pre BIC.
The RTR'S after BIC took over the name seem to be standard box design, more industrial type bang for your buck speakers to me. Nothing bad to say about RTR from me ...........I'll take any of 'em,.... but I would hunt for the old original early 70's designs & kill to get that custom set my friend had.
Glad to meet some RTR fans !


I say forget about price, forget about what you read, forget about what other's said, stand back, listen, if it sounds good to YOU that's all that matters.

hey there from the early 70's I too have a set of 280 drs with 3 10's 3 midrange and 3 piezo and a sub woofer along with a set of esr15s that are amazing! I used to run them with a 4 channel 2 amp 400 watt jvc amp..200 watts per amp with if memory serves ten band eq's on each amp 1amp to the 280's and 1 amp to the esr....turning down all the low slides to the esr's and slightly using the high slides to the 280's just for effect....I could crank'em up and to show the effect of the esr's i would turn them down and wait a minute to have folks hear just the 280's...the turn the esr's on and it would literally feel like the roof of the house raised up a foot or two!! the esr's would bring out all the super highs extremely well...one song in particular...black water by the doobies...the chimes on that song when cranked through the esr's would make you tingle all over...and the subs of the 280's with Zeppelin rocking through them would make the whole house rock and roll and shake the floors! 70's were a rockin time!!

 

[hdewees]

Love the pre-BIC RTR's. These are of my current RtR"s which someone called a RTR 1200d but I've never seen another pair
I also have 4 180D's and used to have 2 280D's which were awesome.