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help a newbie get started with vintage speakers!

If you can find a pair of full size Advents for that price, you might consider those. People advised against the Advent/3, I didn't see anyone dissuade you from Advents in general, they fit your styling desire and certainly have a large faithful following.
 
Okay, perfect.
A couple outstanding models in those brands to be on the look out for would be KLH Model six (2 way), KLH model five, and the AR2ax. All can be had for $250 or less typically, depending a little on condition and location of course. The Model five is the best of the 3 and only falls slightly short of giving the venerable king of the mountain (in that category) AR3 a run for it's money. If money is considered, the Model Five wins.
On the EPI front, look up M150. Beautiful walnut cabs with brass inlay accents and an outstanding sounding speaker.
 
KLH Fives are an excellent choice (I own a pair) but seem to have a more relaxed presentation compared to the newer vintage models mentioned, so I'm not sure how well that will match the sound of the Sansui (if I still owned a 2000x I could tell you).
If you decide to look into Boston Acoustics, here is a good one to keep an eye out for:
http://buffalo.craigslist.org/ele/5865827115.html
I owned a pair just like those for over 20 years and loved them. They don't go quite as deep in the bass as a KLH Five, but have a nice balanced sound. They are beyond awesome when you stack 2 pair of them.
 
There are some JBL L36 listed in Athol for very close to your price range which could probably be bargained down (especially since the foam surrounds were installed incorrectly, they are supposed to be glued to the back of the cone).

KLH 5 are not super efficient, I don't think you'd get the most out of them with a low powered receiver. I had a pair of KLH 12 and it took 60+ WPC to get them singing.
 
35 wpc will work fine with KLH Six's and some of the others mentioned, as long as the room is in the 12 X 12 range, and you're not expecting dance club volume out of it.
 
I was in the same boat as the OP. I'm still new to hi fi. Found a nice set of Dynaco A25s, and they sound fantastic. Had to drive a couple of hours to pick them up, but it was well worth it.
 
I never heard a pair of OLA's that I didn't like. KLH 6's are very close, difficult to get apart if the xover needs to be recapped though, and it probably will. Boston A70's , Polk Monitor 5 or 10's. Dynacos and AR's are awesome. You will be somewhat limited in power.

I might add the Klipsch KG 4's. Very efficient and full sounding. Some think the horns are a little rough, but that can be smoothest right out with the mod that Bob Crites sells. Lots of them around and market seems to be $200-$300 pr. depending on where you live.
 
Update: Found a pair of AR 2ax that were a little out of my price range BUT the stands were included so I took a look. They sounded great and the size and style felt right so I took them home for $260.

Cosmetically, there is a slight stain on one of the grilles but the cases and stands are near perfect. The stands are a really nice addition.

I’m still waiting on my Sansui 2000x which I’ll have tomorrow, so I haven’t been able to try them out at my place just yet. :-/

I have already learned so much just from reading about all the different speakers suggested, and really appreciate all the input, so thanks everyone! Excited to be moving into the hands on part soon :-)
 
Well, you have one thing going for a new guy to hi-fi, the Northeast made a lot of good vintage speakers. I've owned a bunch of vintage Sansui stuff, many receivers, tuners and amps. My take is that you want a speaker that can deliver the low end of that receiver. That would mean something with a big woofer. The 10" in the AR 2 ax fits the bill and since it's an acoustic suspension speaker, the bass will be tight.

If you progress in the audio hobby, other pieces of gear may be in your system. Don't be afraid of getting a bit obsessed and trying different gear. I've been through a lot of gear getting to what I have now. You don't have to get on the upgrade path but it is an education. If you like the Sansui sound, I'd suggest to look for separates, like a standalone tuner and amp combination. They really deliver. Good luck with the hobby and report back your impressions. A lot of us have similar listening habits.

BTW, welcome to AK.
 
Wonder why nobody recommended Realistic/Optimus speakers? I have Optimus 5B and think they are great! And can be had cheap too. Are the other speakers that much better? I have no experience with those that are recommended most here, so just wonder.
 
Congratulations on the AR's!
Once you have them hooked up, please let us know how they sound.
Cheers!
 
Krosya said:
Wonder why nobody recommended Realistic/Optimus speakers? I have Optimus 5B and think they are great! And can be had cheap too. Are the other speakers that much better? I have no experience with those that are recommended most here, so just wonder.
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Pretty much all the speakers identified for the OP are great options including your Optimus. They each have their own signature. That's the fun part. It can get down to what you find nearby for a good price.
The fact that the OP got the AR stands with the 2ax really makes that a great deal that would be difficult to debate. Plus it sounds like they are in pretty good shape.
 
I just moved in, so I'm still rearranging furniture, not quite sure where these will go just yet, but I had to hook them up ASAP and see how they sounded. They look and sound amazing - very happy! I need to find the best spot for them, the room is a weird shape so I'm going to try different placements. They will definitely not be staying where they are in the photo.

stereo.JPG

Thanks everyone!
- Amy
 
Very nice! Those are the original AR2ax (pre1969) with the cast woofers and phenolic dome tweeters...IMO the best sounding ones. The tweeter and midrange controls on the back are notorious for cutting out due to corrosion so you might need to work them back and forth to find the sweet spot where both the mid and the tweeter will work. This can be fixed up if it's a problem, otherwise just enjoy 'em. Very well bought!!
 
everluck said:
I just moved in, so I'm still rearranging furniture, not quite sure where these will go just yet, but I had to hook them up ASAP and see how they sounded. They look and sound amazing - very happy! I need to find the best spot for them, the room is a weird shape so I'm going to try different placements. They will definitely not be staying where they are in the photo.

View attachment 821677

Thanks everyone!
- Amy
Click to expand...
Beautiful!
 
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