• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Modern Speakers vs Vintage?

ReactiveLoad said:
Then you should stop listening to the stuff at Best Buy. My Focals with 6.5" woofers stomp my ESS with 10 inch woofers. In fact, they stomp the JBL L100 for bass. And if you need more bass, Golden Ear makes speakers that reach down into the teens, and there are ZERO vintage speakers that do that.

Decent subs have phase controls that need to be adjusted depending on the placement. If they don't sound coherent, it's an issue with configuration, not the sub.
Click to expand...

I agree. I’ve got a 5.2 system comprising of three RBH 441SE reference up front with two Harmon Citation 7.4 subs. It took a bit of time to fine tune, but it’s the flattest system I’ve ever owned.
 

Attachments

  • 0482CF5E-A69C-4647-9C84-901BCB1939F3.jpeg
    0482CF5E-A69C-4647-9C84-901BCB1939F3.jpeg
    93.5 KB · Views: 17
I would say a good driver is a good driver many vintage drivers are sought after and enthusiastic audiophiles will pay top dollar for them there is no best speaker only best to your ears....I love modern gear but wouldn't hesitate enjoying a pair of a25s....my 2 cents.
 
I look at speakers like someone would enjoy a wine. Many different types and shapes. They all have strengths to enjoy. I restore JBL speakers for a hobby. I’ve also owned old KEF (C80), Mission(700,770,Argonauts) Hafler (200)Definitive Tech (bp5, BP8,BP10,BP20,350)infinity (RS5) RBH(MC.SE,SX,SV). All fun.
 
Just spent an hour and a half of my sunday morning going through the 17 pages and 6yrs of this thread, thanks to all who posted, was mostly interesting.

Just thought I would add my 2 cents worth:

Contemporary/Vintage, who cares, just ENJOY the music.

Do people with expensive modern equipment enjoy their music any more than I did in my used '73 Toyota with my friends while blasting Queen on whatever crappy sound system was in it at the time, I hope so.

But to get off the fence and answer the OP's question:

Vintage rules, Modern sucks.

So there!

Mic Drop!
 
Vintage vs modern is more about listener preference than inherent superiority. If you grew up in the vintage sound era, modern is unlikely to ever sound right to you. "West coasters" will find the sound thin and lacking in low end, "east coasters" will think the treble excessive and shrill. And listeners who cut their eye teeth on modern sound will have the exact opposite reaction to vintage.

This is probably a good thing in the long run. Imagine how much more expensive the holy grails of vintage audio would be if everyone liked them.
 
Last edited:
Kent Dance said:
Just spent an hour and a half of my sunday morning going through the 17 pages and 6yrs of this thread, thanks to all who posted, was mostly interesting.

Just thought I would add my 2 cents worth:

Contemporary/Vintage, who cares, just ENJOY the music.

Do people with expensive modern equipment enjoy their music any more than I did in my used '73 Toyota with my friends while blasting Queen on whatever crappy sound system was in it at the time, I hope so.

But to get off the fence and answer the OP's question:

Vintage rules, Modern sucks.

So there!

Mic Drop!
Click to expand...

Yeah. I really do enjoy my modern stuff a hell of a lot more than my antique stuff. That's why I moved the antique stuff to my bedroom and set aside my living room for getting the best out of my new stuff.
 
I don't know how some of the old speakers can sound half way decent.

Back then speakers were almost a black art as there was no software for modeling speaker design.
 
Hard to even know what vintage is any more. When did speakers evolve from vintage to modern?
 
One thing a lot of the new speaker designs have in common. They are based on a high excursion low frequency driver that must be able to "breath". As such, most incorporate a labyrinth+port design to accomplish this. My opinion is that this design does not handle fast transients as well and sound somewhat mushy when compared to a larger woofer in a sealed enclosure.
 
I have rarely purchased modern speakers, and I'm pretty much a vintage type gear owner. But that being said, the brand new Cornwall IV's I recently purchased are quite a bit better than the vintage earlier Cornwall's I have owned. Technology advancements should produce better speakers with better specs, but it comes down to what your ears can hear and what sounds you prefer.
 
botrytis said:
hmm - then people who own IMF speakers must have crappy sounding speakers, based on your opinion.

See, the problem in audio is there is always exceptions.
Click to expand...
I never said "crappy" and I very clearly labeled this as my opinion. Not my intention to offend anyone.
 
Poultrygeist said:
Back then speakers were almost a black art as there was no software for modeling speaker design.
Click to expand...

"Back then," the "modeling software" was the squishy grey matter in between the ears of the speaker designer. You just had to find the speaker whose designer/s had the same programming that you had.
 
Last edited:
infullview said:
You could say the same for the SR-71 blackbird. I think you take my point.
Click to expand...

Lockheed went through an ungodly amount of trial and error that would be completely unacceptable today to produce that plane. They had massive problems with just getting the engines to work right once it went operational because they lacked digital computers. That's why the JSF is light-years ahead of that thing.

infullview said:
One thing a lot of the new speaker designs have in common. They are based on a high excursion low frequency driver that must be able to "breath". As such, most incorporate a labyrinth+port design to accomplish this. My opinion is that this design does not handle fast transients as well and sound somewhat mushy when compared to a larger woofer in a sealed enclosure.
Click to expand...

I can't think of one modern speaker that uses some "labyrinth" and a port with small drivers. The only thing that slightly resembles what you describe is a transmission line, and those are extremely rare designs because the theory behind those things is problematic.
 
botrytis said:
There was a brand from Kalamazoo, MI that was knows for TL speakers, Buggtussel. Odd looking speakers but sound great. PMC also is a modern TL speaker designer.

MusicRoom.jpg


Buggtussel speakers

twenty5i.png


PMC loudspeakers
Click to expand...

Bose is probably the most prolific TL manufacturer. They put those things in all kinds of stuff. ESS made some too. TL's generally sound good. They're just expensive to build and difficult to design.
 
ReactiveLoad said:
Lockheed went through an ungodly amount of trial and error that would be completely unacceptable today to produce that plane. They had massive problems with just getting the engines to work right once it went operational because they lacked digital computers. That's why the JSF is light-years ahead of that thing.



I can't think of one modern speaker that uses some "labyrinth" and a port with small drivers. The only thing that slightly resembles what you describe is a transmission line, and those are extremely rare designs because the theory behind those things is problematic.
Click to expand...
FYI + meant to read as or sorry for the confusion
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom