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Help with vintage high SPL speakers

slick.one

slick.one

Active Member
Hi folks, Im looking for suggestions for vintage speakers that play loud. I would say up to 110db. It would be in a restaurant setting and require a vintage look. Some ideas might include Bose 901s, Altec 14/15, and something like the Pioneer and Sansui lattice grille series speakers. What ideas do you guys have?
THANKS!
PS, at this point Im not really sure of the size of the space and will choose amplification as needed.
 
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slick.one said:
Hi folks, Im looking for suggestions for vintage speakers that play loud. I would say up to 110db. It would be in a restaurant setting and require a vintage look. Some ideas might include Bose 901s, Altec 14/15, and something like the Pioneer and Sansui lattice grille series speakers. What ideas do you guys have?
THANKS!
PS, at this point Im not really sure of the size of the space and will choose amplification as needed.
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If you search Bose 901 and 802 you will find MANY posts where these speakers have worked very well. But you will need a lot of clean power, so don't just be shopping for speakers.
 
Altec Valencias would be nice; the first models (846A) have a vintage look, they usually sell for under a grand, they're quite sensitive and they will play loud, albeit not with super-deep bass.

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Have to agree on looking into the 901.

I don't know... Just how loud is 110dB anyway? .... Is the OP looking for the SONIC traits of vintage speakers as well as the visual ones?

What type of room/s are we talking? A big, open space, or a group of rooms of varying size? And how are you gonna' do it? Just one big pair handling it all? Or are you looking to spread multiple pairs around the place in different spots?
 
Get enough short bursts of those 80 and above noises, and pretty-soon even 60-70dB noises will hurt... Ask me how I know this.
 
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What you are after is a balancing act. I would first "sample" some high SPL vintage audio works. EV, Altecs, Jensens,CV, Klipsch all would qualify nicely. For 110 SPL it will narrow further into horn loaded speakers usually, multiple mids/ tweeters for cone products.

For a good clean "tube like" sound find an am with MOFET outputs- Hafler and a few other will get you there.

Google into "vintage horn loaded speakers" to get some idea what to look for may help too. Personally I might build a set to meet my need there too. It may well invite musical instrument speaker too!

Good luck.
DC
 
If you absolutely must have such high volume sound levels, get some of the efficient speakers named above. And let me know which restaurant you own, so I can go elsewhere and eat in peace.
 
Vintage high SPL speakers

Thanks to all for the informative and humorous responses. Its not my restaurant and I was asked to consult on the topic. i like your ideas and will certainly avoid the place if it ever gets that loud!:thumbsdn:
 
slick.one said:
Thanks to all for the informative and humorous responses. Its not my restaurant and I was asked to consult on the topic. i like your ideas and will certainly avoid the place if it ever gets that loud!:thumbsdn:
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Just do keep in mind the power behind the speakers. Any of these speakers can likely get to 110, maybe more? But without clean power you'll be frying VC's or possibly the amp or maybe even both.
 
For a restaurant or other large commercial space, you'll want speakers that can direct the sound into specific areas rather than trying to load the whole space with 110db of sound. This is usually accomplished well with smaller cabinets hung in areas where sound is needed and the presentation is directed downward to be absorbed by fixtures, seating, and occupants.

It may very well be that you need 110db but trying to fill a large space with only two point sources and questionable direction may lead to less than stellar sound.

How did you derive the value of 110db for the space?

Reread your first post and am now assuming a few things about this assignment. If you want a vintage looking speaker that will perform in this setting, I'd suggest to buy new monitors from an electronic distributor and house them in custom cabinets or get a better assessment of the decor so that you could modify the new speakers to look old. Example: Fish and Seafood restaurant with an old nautical look--wrap some net around the speakers, maybe some paint, glue on some barnacles. The reason you want new speakers is that this isn't your basement vintage speaker collection. The owner isn't going to like speakers removed for surround replacement or network upgrades. With a newer distributed system, amplification and control are handled easily by new gear that will not be troublesome.
 
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