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Need to thin the herd

eddantes

eddantes

Drone, Sector 7-G
Hi y'all!

Well I just put in my car trunk a pair of Dynaco A25s (in v-nice shape). That's where they need to stay, because I need to hide them from the wife. After I brought home the big Magnepans two weeks ago, I was told I wasn't allowed to add anything else unless I get rid of some stuff. So... the A25s will stay hidden until I move some stuff (Look I coudn't help it! The A25s were one-owner and $60; you'd have bought them too!).

So I'm here to ask what you all think should go. Here's the list of candidates:

  • StudioLab - big, heavy 3 ways with replacement mids - (Still have the original mids, but can't find 5" foams with small enough inner radius. A Canadian brand that was the best sounding speaker I had until the Maggies)
  • B&W DM 100s - (Eh... Not married to these)
  • Mirage DM290s - (Probably the most modern speakers I have)
  • PSB Avantes - (I'm likely keeping these, a special, historic Canadian speaker)
  • Mission 70s - (My second choice for the cull; I find them to be "shrill")
  • Avant A2s - (Nice 3 way, veneered cabinets; my first refoam job, excellent condition - my first choice for the cull)

No standouts in this group, either in sound or collect-ability, so I thought I'd bring it here for a discussion. I know it's unlikely anyone's heard the StudioLabs or the Avants, but, I don't I thought it'd be fun to hear your opinions - if anyone cared to opine.
 
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Moderators Note:

Word of warning folks. At the first sign of horse-trading, this thread will disappear.
 
Oh - I'm above the 49th parallel, I doubt there's anyone here that's local. I swear - I had no intention of "marketing". Mod - you're welcome to delete.

(Man... I keep putting my foot in it, in this forum.)

fotno said:
Moderators Note:

Word of warning folks. At the first sign of horse-trading, this thread will disappear.
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I'd (try to) keep the best sounding pair (or two pair) sell the rest and buy something even better with the proceeds.
I only know the Maggies (probably, depending on type), so no opinion on what you actually have..

I had a big pile of speakers botl/motl units until I got my Tannoy 609's, which is not Tannoys totl, but made what I had up to then sound like Piezo filled cigar boxes.

Oh yes, I collect cartridges now, my girlfriend doesn't notice that collection growing in such an obvious way as a speaker collection. :D
 
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Looks like you pretty much made up your mind on what to get rid of. I would consider A) what can you get the most money for and B) what will get you the most bonus points in the wife appreciation category. Rack up enough points and you may not have to resort to using your trunk for storage. :D
 
Before I started posting here, I lurked (maybe I should go back to lurking) for many a month - absorbing the conversations. I enjoy reading opinions and trying to consider things from many POV. I really haven't made up my mind. I like the suggestion of maximizing WAF points for example - that is something I never considered, but may actually be a primary factor to base the decision on!
 
eddantes said:
Oh - I'm above the 49th parallel, I doubt there's anyone here that's local. I swear - I had no intention of "marketing". Mod - you're welcome to delete.

(Man... I keep putting my foot in it, in this forum.)
Click to expand...

I don't want there to be any misunderstanding... My post wasn't designed to keep you from posting your question, questions like this are a large part of why AK is here. My post was a warning to anyone who might decide to make an offer on any of your pieces in the open forums, which is strictly against the rules.

Y'all carry on.
 
Do you have a picture of the StudioLabs? I have a pair of their Top of the line speakers and they are flat out amazing, I know its near impossible to find much info on them on the net so I would be interested in hearing more about yours.
 
They're nothing spectacular looking. Just a big, vinyl clad box with a 10", a 5", and a dome tweeter in a silver metal frame. The x-over is a single cap with both the mid and tweeter behind it - but for some reason - they just sound good. Not in the same league as the Magnepans, but they have that "full range", soft feel.

Here's pic of the exact speaker I found on the net!

664372_s.jpg


EDIT: Here's a pic of his big brother that I coveted for a while.

76548f8_20.jpeg
 
Better get those Dynacos out of the trunk while you're deciding, or otherwise they may not be worth anything by the time you decide !
 
They are nicely wrapped up in a pillowy soft blanket, with foam stuffed here-n-there :)

I'll leave them some magazines to read (some nice vintage Popular Mechanics) so they don't get too bored.
 
voltcontrol said:
Indeed. :thmbsp:
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You may want to test out the A-25's first to see if the Dynaco's will bump something else off that list. Otherwise, like someone else mentioned, keep the Magnapans and sell the rest...the A-25's will be moving in. And I'm pretty sure you will pick up a few more pairs of speakers in the near future. That happened to me, sold 1 pair, so happy for the space, and pick up two pairs instead.
 
Dynaco are really nice speakers, from that list I would pick off the Mission and the B&W, I've heard them locally, but it's based off memory. They're ok but didn't wow me, the dynaco was a pleasant surprise.
 
Without hesitation; keep the Maggie's and A-25's, selling one or two pairs is not thinning the herd.

LOL: I have Maggie's and Dynaco's stored and not being used. Disregared my advise.
 
eddantes said:
What is so good that will keep Maggies (2.5s in my case) in storage?
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Hey, I thought this was about "thinning" and not "spinning" the herd, lol. :D

As others have advised, keep the Maggies and the A25's and move the others on to their new happy home. If you aren't ready to evict a couple of pairs, figure out a better solution to remove them from the gaze of the-one-that-is-bothered-by-their-presence.

A guy bought some gear from me a while back and had a really creative turn on how to collect audio gear, I'll share: What he did was buy some of the better vintage stuff that he liked and parcelled it out to friends and relatives. He placed the caveat that it was not to be sold or given away without his knowledge. The folks that received the gear all agreed and were happy to have some quality equipment. The owner was happy because he didn't need to store most of it and everytime he visited his friends and relatives that had his stuff, he could listen to it.
Maybe the OP has some deserving friends or relatives that could use a pair of speakers? Good luck with whatever you decide.
 
eddantes said:
What is so good that will keep Maggies (2.5s in my case) in storage?
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My Maggies are an old pair of IIB:sigh: The replacements are a frankenized pair of Sansui’s (love the old latice grill) with Usher/ ViFi drivers, that just plain out work the aged Maggies:thmbsp:
 
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