High sensitive vintage speakers ideally under $500 max up to $1000

[Grenadeslio]

Klipsch Heresys sitting on top of twin 12" subwoofers should fill the bill. My first thought was as someone else mentioned above, some 12" Cerwin Vegas, but again not sure of availability for you. Pants flapping bass with good sensitivity though.

If you have access to eBay then maybe Parts Express is also available, I know they list stuff there also. The Dayton Sub 1200's sell for $148 here, so a pair along with pre-owned Heresys at $400 net cost $696. All the efficiency you need plus 25hz capability.

 

[transmaster]

Yeah maybe I am just looking at wrong place..tried ebay but there is nothing..don't know if there are some dedicated audio/speakers websites for people who get rid of their used equipment.

Check out this thread in the British Audio section. Beatcomber obtained a pair of used Spendor speakers from the UK. Not from eBay either. You might ask him what connections he used to obtain them. From the sounds of it he received great recommendations from audio forums based in the UK.

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/in...lovely-speakers-from-the-uk-yesterday.832767/

 

[jeb98]

I don’t know where you live but are there flea markets where you live? Of course it also takes luck and perseverance but I sometimes see nice speakers in the flea markets I’ve been to in Europe.

Also, there’s a sight called hifishark.com (no affiliation) that you can select country and region. There are some European audio sales sights kind of like usaudiomarket and such. Good luck in the search

 

[transmaster]

I have mentioned elsewhere I am using the Dayton Audio DTA-120BT class ”D” audio amps with my 48-year-old W35, and W45 Wharfedales. These amps have the ideal power output for vintage speakers. Plus the firmware protective system they have will prevent any evil from happening to your elderly drivers. I hesitate to use the term “they sound great” because they don’t “sound” instead they enable the speakers they are attached to, to sound great. I wish now that I had purchased the Yamaha RX-A880 instead of the A770, the A880 has pre-amp outputs that I could have connected these DTA-120BT too so I could have all of the modern goodies the Yamaha has plus the inputs for a turntable. As it is I cannot safely use the Yamaha it is to powerful for my old Wharfedale’s.

 

[martin15560]

So far I've found 3 speakers (locally) which is good but honestly they seems to me little overpriced (mainly the first ones which I like the most ) and I am still thinking about W90 / E90 or Cornwalls so I am not sure.

1. Sansui SP-5500X for $1230
2. Kenwood KL-777A for $620
3. IMF SUPER COMPACT II for $440

What do you think..try to negotiate or keep looking, is the price ok or how much would you pay for them? I would like to use the speakers without subwoofer will they be enough?

Edit: Are there any specific models of Rudy Bozaks or Bang and Olufsen which you'd recommend?

Edit2: Also in some other thread I saw somebody was recommending these brands: ElectroVoice, JBL, Altec, ADS, Ohm should I be looking for some models of these maybe ?

 

[transmaster]

There not a Sansui speaker in the world worth that much money.

 

[transmaster]

Ditto the Kenwood

 

[biscuithead]

” really large ones that would be ok . I like bass but I don't want the sound to be boomy “

Edit2: Just out of curiosity, what should I be looking for if I'd want the "best" efficient vintage speakers not considering the price limit? (if it is OT I can start new thread).

In Europe, Tannoy

Altecs...
efficient and impressive

Vintage Cornwalls can be had in the $800 range.
Look at Chorus and Fortes as well.

I use to run a pair of Heresy with 7 watts... very nice.... but not dance music.

 

[transmaster]

Take a look at the Wharfedale W70.
This is the ”D” model note in the Spec’s its power range is 8 to 40 Watts drive. I don’t yet have an example of this speaker, I will go for the W70E model the Achromatic version. That is a 12” woofer.

 

[Poultrygeist]

An 8 watt SET can easily power speakers with SPL's in the lower 90's without running out of gas. In Europe you have access to many HE full range single drivers that can be magical with single ended triode amps. The German Visaton B200 is a good example and sounds excellent in these easy to build open baffles. Another source would be the large drivers pulled from 1950's to early 60's consoles and organs that were tube powered. Not only are they highly efficient but their cones and alnico motors were designed to move air in free space ( OB ) resulting in good bass output.

http://www.wildburroaudio.com/projects.php

Here's a link to a blog featuring some full range drivers that are flea watt and OB friendly.

http://glowinthedarkaudio.com/speakers.html

 

[savatage1973]

There not a Sansui speaker in the world worth that much money.

Agreed 100%. The only one on that list that even remotely appealed to me were the cheapest--the IMF's, and that still is not a "good deal". Prices are different due to global locations, but all of those were WAAAAYYYY high IMO.

 

[Poultrygeist]

An 8 watt SET can easily power speakers with SPL's in the lower 90's without running out of gas. In Europe you have access to many HE full range single drivers that can be magical with single ended triode amps. The German Visaton B200 is a good example and sounds excellent in these easy to build open baffles. Another source would be the large drivers pulled from 1950's to early 60's consoles and organs that were tube powered. Not only are they highly efficient but their cones and alnico motors were designed to move air in free space ( OB ) resulting in good bass output.

http://www.wildburroaudio.com/projects.php

Here's a link to a blog featuring some full range drivers that are flea watt and OB friendly.

http://glowinthedarkaudio.com/speakers.html

Deep bass is not something that you're likely to find with full range single drivers but that's easily remedied with a sub or large augmenting woofers.

 

[Ross6860]

Have these models of Heresy, Cornwall or Fortes between 50' and 60' some specific designation? If there is no year in the offering how can I tell it's the right period and not the later production line?

The Heresy will probably not have the bass output you are looking for, but they are very efficient and what bass they produce is nice and tight.

Heresy, Forte, Cornwall, Chorus, Quartet, with no numerical designation (like Heresy III, Forte II, etc.) will be the oldest version. Numerical designations denote newer designs. Heresy, Heresy II, Heresy III, with the Heresy III being the newest of the three.

I wouldn't worry too much about the series designation. There's plenty of info in the Klipsch forum. For example, some folks like the original Chorus, some prefer the Chorus II. The Chorus II has a different mid-range horn and has a passive radiator, while the original Chorus is a ported cabinet.

Good luck with your search.

 

[martin15560]

In Europe, Tannoy

Altecs...
efficient and impressive

Vintage Cornwalls can be had in the $800 range.
Look at Chorus and Fortes as well.

I use to run a pair of Heresy with 7 watts... very nice.... but not dance music.

Do you have any specific model of Tannoy in mind e.g. Monitor Gold?

 

[martin15560]

An 8 watt SET can easily power speakers with SPL's in the lower 90's without running out of gas. In Europe you have access to many HE full range single drivers that can be magical with single ended triode amps. The German Visaton B200 is a good example and sounds excellent in these easy to build open baffles. Another source would be the large drivers pulled from 1950's to early 60's consoles and organs that were tube powered. Not only are they highly efficient but their cones and alnico motors were designed to move air in free space ( OB ) resulting in good bass output.

http://www.wildburroaudio.com/projects.php

Here's a link to a blog featuring some full range drivers that are flea watt and OB friendly.

http://glowinthedarkaudio.com/speakers.html

Right now I would prefer to get multi-driver speakers and in some time I am thinking about DIY way using Altec 604 drivers.

 

[martin15560]

Take a look at the Wharfedale W70.
This is the ”D” model note in the Spec’s its power range is 8 to 40 Watts drive. I don’t yet have an example of this speaker, I will go for the W70E model the Achromatic version. That is a 12” woofer.

View attachment 1333599

Yeah I was thinking about this model either I just wanted more the W90 because (don't know if it is true) I supposed the higher model number the bigger case and (maybe) better bass.

Problem is the W90 or E90 are not that common and E90 I saw offering for $1500-2000. Also the Klipsch are quite expensive in here e.g. Cornwall and Chorus around $1500. Maybe it would be better try to find some brand more common for Europe like mentioned Tannoy. Or are these prices ok, how much would you pay for Cornwall / Fortes / Chorus.

And is it so that bigger the closet the better are the bass at certain speakers sensitivity? I don't really mind really big piece of furniture so something like Cornwall I would be ok with.


Edit: Also which previously mentioned model (of Klipsch, Wharfedale) do you think is the most sensitive one?

 

[mhardy6647]

Right now I would prefer to get multi-driver speakers and in some time I am thinking about DIY way using Altec 604 drivers.

Well, I'd never call that a bad idea but...
Unfortunately, I don't think you'll stay under budget; you might want to look at some more affordable coaxes, vintage or modern.

 

[martin15560]

Well, I'd never call that a bad idea but...
Unfortunately, I don't think you'll stay under budget; you might want to look at some more affordable coaxes, vintage or modern.

Yeah ideally I would like try to find some speakers which I would not want to change for anything else and maybe in next few years if I have some spare time I will try to make something on my own but I don't have the knowledge and right now time neither so I am hoping for some speakers for at least ten years to keep . And it doesn't have to be necessarily under $1000 (I won't likely get most of the mentioned speakers here in the price range anyway ).

 

[Dneprrider]

I am from Czech Republic.

check out the hifi shark search for Czech Republic and a speaker line of interest - for example https://www.hifishark.com/search?q=klipsch
I see some stuff available which may be close to you

 

[martin15560]

check out the hifi shark search for Czech Republic and a speaker line of interest - for example https://www.hifishark.com/search?q=klipsch
I see some stuff available which may be close to you

I've found R-26/28F, RS-52, RF 42 and R-15 M...I don't know if some of them would be suitable but neither of them really vintage speakers I think. I would be willing to go for them even to neighboring state but particularly Klipsch are quite overpriced (at least comparing to US prices, maybe it is normal market price for Europe I don't know).