Jbl c50 Olympus in colorado

[a25]

Pretty sweet. No idea if price is good or not. Any thoughts?

https://denver.craigslist.org/ele/d/vintage-jbl-c50-olympus/6452471307.html

No affiliation, pretty sure I'd be keeping these.

 

[colohiker]

Wow! Nice looking speakers but I don't know if I could move them after selling a kidney to finance the transaction

 

[z-adamson]

That price looks a little on the high side to me.

 

[nolasally]

S8R load worth 4500...S7R load about 2000.00 less

 

[tubed]

S8R load worth 4500...S7R load about 2000.00 less

Down at these levels they go relatively quickly. SR7s that is.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/JBL-C50-OL...279522?hash=item41d5d375e2:g:ShoAAOSwXaRaJcO6

 

[byoungman1]

...and he has the matching C58 Delphi component cabinet, though the photos barely show it. That's easily a $1000 piece.

 

[richartistic]

S8R load worth 4500...S7R load about 2000.00 less

What did you use for support of your statement that they are "worth $4500" unless they are S7R, then "about $2000 less"? Is there a chart somewhere? I have a pair that I built in which I traded for the boxes, in fact I'm pretty darned sure that the original CL ad at the top of this posting was where I got my speakers. LOL! I bought them in Lafayette, CO which is near Denver. I had been searching for some for about a year, and I ended up trading work for the boxes and the seller and I became friends over the last 6 months. He sold all the components and realized a bit more than what he was asking for the package, so the statement indicating "they are worth X dollars" is kind of groundless. He was asking $690 for the cabinetry which was 1/10 the overall asking price. Part of the trade included me building him a reproduction pair of JBL C41 Angelus speakers to go with his JBL Hartsfield, and staining and finishing them to match the Hartsfield. I took possession of them about 1 month ago, and I installed D130s, 175 horns, 075 tweeters, and N2600 crossovers for the 075/D130 combo. I just need to get a pair of N1200 (3120s) crossovers and some passive radiators and I'll be all set. They sound absolutely spectacular right now, w/o the N1200 crossovers installed. I will never sell these. They are fantastic speakers, as well as a work of art IMO. To address your statement that they are "worth $2500 or $4500", I can tell you that if someone walked up and offered me $4500 for these I would not sell them.

I believe that I've created a modified combination of the 001 system and the 030 system for this cabinet setup. At least this is how I've arranged the system. In looking at Old JBL literature, the 001 setup consisted of a 130A driver as well as a 175 horn with lens. The Crossover for that combination was the N1200. The 030 system consisted of D130 driver 075 tweeter and N2600 crossover. As such I have a "hybrid" and to say it sounds great is understating it. I have other JBL systems, the L100 Century's, S99 Lancers, and I prefer this system. Much of the appeal for me is aesthetics.

Anything is "worth" what the seller is willing to let it go for, as well as an amount which the buyer is willing to spend. Luckily my total investment in these is about $764 (my costs for all the drivers and crossovers) including my time and energy in making the C41 Angelus cabinets as well as other labor. I think I made a very good deal so far. I expect to put another $300-$400 into them, and I'll be all set. In fact I'll be building a reproduction JBL C58 Delphi cabinet to go with the pair. That way I will have the "JBL C50 Ensemble", offered by JBL back in the '60s. Since I'm going for a `1960's mid century modern theme for the upstairs of my home, these work perfectly.

Also, I look at things this way. The odds of finding another pair of these in the near future which are accessible in transporting all the way to me in Colorado is almost non-existent. They are something I have been wanting since I first became aware of them. How many out there think nothing of spending $65K on a new truck or car, yet when something such a fairly rare sound system comes up, we hear "OMG, you spent HOW MUCH"??!! LOL

I always get a good chuckle out of the phrase "they are worth X dollars". What they are "worth" is always in the eye of the beholder.

 

[nolasally]

Great for you. I state factual, not about romance and love affairs with certain speakers. I owned a set of Soverigns that I sold about 1yr ago. for 4500.00. Mine had never been altered and had still stiff lansaloy surrounds Cabinets were 8/10 and I probably could have gotten another 500-700 by selling on ebay. But fees would have taken a good chunk out of that 5300.00 sale price. They were sold through AK and buyer payed for freight forwarder and all paypal fees! Totally painless has added value. If you check ebay sold sales. S7R load does not have 375 midrange compression driver & 075 tweeter which by themselves are more than 2000.00 hence deducting 2000.00 from S8R driver load. This is why I stand by my statement. You can feel you have a 15,000 speaker set but others with cash to spend might think differently.

 

[richartistic]

Great for you. I state factual, not about romance and love affairs with certain speakers. I owned a set of Soverigns that I sold about 1yr ago. for 4500.00. Mine had never been altered and had still stiff lansaloy surrounds Cabinets were 8/10 and I probably could have gotten another 500-700 by selling on ebay. But fees would have taken a good chunk out of that 5300.00 sale price. They were sold through AK and buyer payed for freight forwarder and all paypal fees! Totally painless has added value. If you check ebay sold sales. S7R load does not have 375 midrange compression driver & 075 tweeter which by themselves are more than 2000.00 hence deducting 2000.00 from S8R driver load. This is why I stand by my statement. You can feel you have a 15,000 speaker set but others with cash to spend might think differently.

Well, no, you stated your "opinion" not "factual" as you labeled it. Because you happened to sell a set for $4500 has zero bearing on what markets will bear. I was simply making a point that nobody knows what the value of any collectible is, unless there is some sort of chart that one looks upon to indicate what a Speaker system is worth.

As I stated I get a good chuckle when I hear some people make claims that they can only support through their 'anecdotal' evidence. Similarly, if a Paragon sells for $30,000 on Ebay that isn't any indicator of what the Paragon is "worth". It happened to be what a person was willing to let their item go for and what the buyer was willing to pay.

Nothing more than that, but your statement cannot be supported through your anecdotal story.

 

[richartistic]

Pretty sweet. No idea if price is good or not. Any thoughts?

https://denver.craigslist.org/ele/d/vintage-jbl-c50-olympus/6452471307.html

No affiliation, pretty sure I'd be keeping these.

I recently acquired a pair myself. I had to load them with drivers that I had on hand ready for this particular project. I searched fairly intensely for some time, and lucked into a pair of Cabinets only, with everything gutted, but had the beautiful grills with the set. I loaded them up and it cost under $800, but I had to put some labor into other projects for the person who traded me the speakers for my work.

My take on these type of questions, when someone asks "what are these worth", is to respond "whatever you feel you want to pay". My suggestion would be to tell you, don't listen to the others who think they are experts on such matters because many times you will either get burned or feel like you lost out on a good deal.

I don't have a great deal of disposable income however many in our current society do. For the guy who has half a million in the bank, $10K might not be out of the question. For the person who has 2 extra vehicles in the driveway, simply because he/she "likes" to have various cars to drive, $50k on their vehicles isn't a problem.

I'd tell you to do what your heart tells you to do and that amount which your pocketbook will allow.

Anything else is simply guessing.

 

[nolasally]

 

[richartistic]

Not sure why you even responded to this thread is almost 8 months old no doubt the speakers have sold by now, your version of what they are worth to you means nothing to the OP or anyone else but you the only way to get an idea of what to expect is to go to Ebay look at sold listings then take the average amount and that gives you a value to start with and reasonably expect to get of course there are many variables such as if your willing to ship especially overseas or if you want to sell locally etc


Regards Snow

The reason I responded is because I believe I purchased the actual speakers in the original CL ad that was mentioned in this thread.

As for your statement: your version of what they are worth to you means nothing to the OP or anyone else

I don't disagree with that however the OP ASKED what people thought of the price of the speakers in the original ad, so then is your version of what they are worth meaningful? He asked for opinions and I gave mine. Does that bother you for some reason, or my story behind it and my reasoning? I guess there are a few here whose egos bruise easily.

 

[tubed]

S8R?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Near-...80057.m570.l1313.TR2.TRC1.A0.H0.Xjbl+c50.TRS0

 

[richartistic]

I said what I said because your opinion is not an average of anything it is like me saying that I bought a paragon for 20 bucks at a yard sale obviously yard sale prices have no bearing on average retail prices nor does your tale of buying the parts and putting them in refurbed cabinets and trading labor and yes my version of looking up sold listings on Ebay and getting an average price is indeed meaningful whether or not you love or hate Ebay or buy or sell there they are the only source for reliable retail averages for vintage audio items.

No idea of what you are talking about with the bruised ego comment that was my first post here I have no dog in this fight other then you stating that Nosally's opinion was all but useless he said what he sold his speakers for locally and what to expect on Ebay if sold there you cant get any more helpful then this in regards to resale value, in fact I bet @nolasally used Ebay to decide what to try and sell his for.

It sounds like you did very well on the cost of the parts and have a very nice set of speakers Congrats

I'm not sure what you are talking about with 'averages'. These items, speakers, receivers, etc... vary all over the place from yard sales to thrift stores, to retail outlets selling vintage goods etc... I can only surmise that you didn't read my previous and initial postings. My submission is that there is no 'average' price when it comes to collectibles like these because they aren't being offered at auction houses the way vases, collectible jewelry and such are offered. I.E. there is no blue sheet or inventory aside from what I posted in the way of anecdotal sales and purchases, which is unreliable at best. There is no set upon value aside from what a few people on different forums say they are worth. As I stated, the value is in the eye of the beholder, therefore the statements made such as "JBL C45s are worth X dollars" are meaningless assertions IMO.

And to address you statement about me saying that Nosally's opinion was worthless, I never stated that. He claimed that his "opinion" on the price point he gave of $4500 was "factual", whereby I challenged that assertion, making the point that his sale was anecdotal and in fact had no bearing on sales of Other systems, especialy systems different than his. For one thing he wasn't selling the same thing. The OP was looking to purchase the OLYMPUS. What Nosally sold was the SOVEREIGN. Two different cabinet styles for one thing. Personally I wouldn't give 20 dollars for the SOVEREIGN system. IMO it is butt ugly. I'm sure that a good number of people would disagree with my assertion. It hasn't the same designed wooden grills that the OLYMPUS series has. I would pay upwards of $750 - $1000 for the C58 Delphi cabinet, but I wouldn't give you 50 bucks for the comparable SOVEREIGN series cabinetry. That is just MY opinion. It isn't grounded in fact.

The reason I made my comment to you about the "bruised ego" is that you came on here in all sorts of indignation, and essentially attacked my posting, saying this: "Not sure why you even responded to this thread is almost 8 months old"

To which I would respond "I didn't realize that I needed to check with you to see if it was appropriate for me to respond to any thread on AudioKarma".

Further you went on to say "what they are worth to you means nothing to the OP or anyone else"

To which I would once again respond to your snarky comment above, and say "since when did you receive authorization from the OP to speak for him or Anyone else"? That strikes me as a rather smug comment.

Furthermore I'd simply add "How do you know that what they are worth to me means nothing to him (the OP), or that my opinion means nothing to anyone else"? That remark strikes me as rather pompous, I must say.

I didn't realize you were the spokesman for the OP or "anyone else" to know that what these speakers are worth to me means nothing to anyone else. He asked for opinions on the value. Was there a form I missed, whereby I needed to contact you to get permission to respond to this thread after 8 months? I don't care if I'm responding to a thread that is 8 months or 8 years old, I don't need snide remarks from the likes of yourself.

As far as I'm concerned, vintage audio systems are worth what the buyer is willing to pay and what the seller is willing to sell them for.

That is my opinion and I'll stick with it. Good day.

 

[nolasally]

^^^. We can lead a horse to water.....damn this thread Is making me wanna drink. On the other hand I should do some editing to my posts. New post should state, “ If BUYING either sovereign or Olympus with either s7 or S8 load the market value is less than 1,000.00 do to there size and the limited people wanting fridges on there sides in their living spaces. If SELLING these rare beauties that exude opulence like no other then the market value is 10,000.00.

 

[richartistic]

Oh for crying out loud get your meds checked there not working as designed.

Get my meds checked? I don't meds to deal with pompous asses.

 

[richartistic]

^^^. We can lead a horse to water.....damn this thread Is making me wanna drink. On the other hand I should do some editing to my posts. New post should state, “ If BUYING either sovereign or Olympus with either s7 or S8 load the market value is less than 1,000.00 do to there size and the limited people wanting fridges on there sides in their living spaces. If SELLING these rare beauties that exude opulence like no other then the market value is 10,000.00.

Just a suggestion, it is "their" not "there"..

 

[jberger]

OK, it's 5:00 somewhere, let's all take a breath. It's only speakers.

 

[nolasally]

What jBerger said. I’m partaking in spirits listening to my new speaker restoration of infinity R.S. 2.5. Don’t care to continue any further tonight. Enjoy the music folks.

 

[tubed]

What jBerger said. I’m partaking in spirits listening to my new speaker restoration of infinity R.S. 2.5. Don’t care to continue any further tonight. Enjoy the music folks.

Excellent speakers.