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New guy wanting to check his first purchases

I use an NHT M-00 & S-00 setup on my main Mac Desktop and they are Sweeeet to say the least but most good powered N.F. Monitors that are credible will be out of the range the O.P. was looking to.

On the other hand I have found M-Audio,Samson and many other little powered monitors on Craigslist in STL for under $100.00 too.
It is all about "Stalking" the list and pouncing when you find one.
 
I don't think the OP should be too worried about if the speakers are vintage or not. I just know that it is possible to find some great deals on used speakers at that price range. I know that new tech is wonderful, but 200 doesn't go very far in a retail store. It's kinda like getting a striped base model Kia for $14,000 new or buying a nicely equipped used BMW for the same price. I'm sure the BMW would need more TLC, but it will be a higher performance vehicle than the Kia could ever hope to be.
 
I'm going to go listen to boston acoustics and a luxman receiver.. If I like em, I'll try to buy them. The guy has several other sets of speakers I can try out too! We will see how it goes.

I know the space isn't great for them.. but, the space isn't great for most speakers and I honestly don't want my space to limit the bang I get for my buck.. My goal is to get out of this house, after all. Hopefully I can set them up a bit nicer later. If they are too bad in the space I'll move them to the living room, or something.
 
Didn't read the entire thread, but to the OP:

If you're considering little near field monitors (I love the sound of that style of system, BTW), check out the new Boston Acoustics A25 or even the slightly larger A26. I haven't heard these but I've been impressed with the reviews. The magazine What Hi-Fi gave the A26's an incredible review and Stereophile had some nice things to say about the A25's. I just wanted to throw out that option because I am also shopping for speakers.

A25's will run you under $150 and A26's, under $200.
 
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http://www.whathifi.com/review/boston-acoustics-a26

http://www.whathifi.com/review/boston-acoustics-a-25

http://www.stereophile.com/content/boston-acoustics-25-loudspeaker

And here's a review from an AKer that was posted in my thread about the BA's:

newworld said:
I bought a pair of Boston Acoustics A25 to fool around with, while shopping for a more permanent solution, at a ridiculous price. I had every intention of returning them if they weren't even remotely close to sounding like a decent pair of speakers.

Well, to my horror, they sound unbelievably good. I've come to a realization that there's enjoyment to be had at every level, and more expense does get you different sound, not better.

To summarize the characteristics of this speaker, they have a wide soundstage, good imaging, particularly open midrange, and less upper bass hump than many but just a little for a hint of warmth. They are true all-rounders, but falls short of head-banging.

The Monitor Audio BX speakers have more bass, so it might suit other musical tastes and bigger rooms. For that money, however, Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 is my pick with better refinement.

Hope this helps.
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Take it all with a grain of salt, of course. I know I'm trying to.
 
dumptruck said:
It's pretty much the opposite if we're comparing to the Pioneer. A bigger amp would be nice, but the A-150 are 91dB sensitivity, and the Pioneer are only 85dB. They are both ~6Ω. That's not entire story, but basically this means the Bostons require 1/4 as much power as the Pioneer to reach a given volume.
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Thanks for the info! I assume 50 wpc would be fine for both the pioneers and the BA's?

JohnVF said:
A-150s are fine speakers but if you're going to be listening from that chair, the Pioneers will sound better IMHO. You need to be some distance from A-150s for the drivers to integrate. If you want decent imaging from up close, the smaller speakers will actually sound better. As far as Pioneer not being known for their speakers as said above, they're plenty known for their speakers if you look up TAD.
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Hmm.. Well, damn. I kind of got myself really into the idea of the BA's, but I guess I will keep the Pioneer's in mind too.

I like the idea of vintage, but I like the Pioneer's too. I'm quite torn, really.

I guess the question I should be asking is how MUCH better will the pioneers sound for near field? and how much better will the A-150's sound than the pioneer's given some space?


JohnVF said:
Well, the problem was, it wasn't incredible! But this is very good advice. We're all talking from our experience and taste, which all varies and its given for what we each like and not necessarily what the OP will. Heck, I know a guy that has big Apogees nearfield as computer speakers.

Another option could be dedicated monitors. Even powered/active monitors.
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I have looked into some powered speakers too.. couldn't find anything that impressed me too much. But, I'm open to suggestions

cmmatt123 said:
I don't think the OP should be too worried about if the speakers are vintage or not. I just know that it is possible to find some great deals on used speakers at that price range. I know that new tech is wonderful, but 200 doesn't go very far in a retail store. It's kinda like getting a striped base model Kia for $14,000 new or buying a nicely equipped used BMW for the same price. I'm sure the BMW would need more TLC, but it will be a higher performance vehicle than the Kia could ever hope to be.
Click to expand...

If only speakers were cars and I was on a race track and capable of performing said TLC :D



I'm really torn guys.. Pioneers? BA-150? Something else? I think I'm pretty much set on getting the 50wpc luxman for 50 bucks, seems to be a terrific deal!
 
To be honest that late model Luxman is just in the okay range of receivers. Unless you want the FM facility, or a wider range of inputs, I'd stick with the small Tripath based amp like the Dayton DTA-100a and look for some sensitive used speakers.

Quality vintage speakers do not get 'worn out.' For a while, I ran a T-Amp between a computer and some very old but sensitive German Grundig loudspeakers and the sound quality was amazing. This is the kind of thing: http://www.german-vintage-loudspeakers.com/navid.235/grundig-175-x-125-full-range-driver-3.htm

There are guys who part out consoles for the tube amps. They might be able to sell you a pair of amazing vintage speakers cheaply via Bartertown. You could mount fullrange speakers open baffle either side of you. E.g. http://diyparadise.com/forum/index.php?topic=1090.0
 
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Dandy said:
Quality vintage speakers do not get 'worn out.'
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Really?

The Foam Surround supporting the Cone wears out or deteriorates and leaves the cone only suspended from behind,this is exactly how the ones wear out that I was referencing in the previous post which you may be speaking too?

It can be tricky when looking at someone's speaker for sale to determine if this is happening or not,they may look fine but once you even touch the foam lightly it crumbles in your presence.

This can and will happen eventually with almost every vintage foam surround I have seen from Advent to JBL,just the nature of the foam.

The other thing is that many speakers will still play this way and appear to be ok but I would not use them until the foam is repaired,just know going in that this is a possibility.

Ed
 
Currently my favorite setup is a pair of EPI 70's powered by a Nak SR3A receiver with a Toshiba DVD player as a source all on the Dining Room table. The EPI's use a 6 inch woofer and are a vintage speaker. Note that they have been refoamed and the capacitors replaced. This would be the case with most vintage speakers more than 20 years old. Even if they use rubber surrounds, you typically have to replace the capacitors to get them back to spec.

Frankly the A150's seem a little big, no wait a minute, HUGE for your setup. From your pics, it's unclear where you'll put any speakers, even your Pioneers. Wall mounting speakers might be a possibility, especially with a subwoofer on the floor. The Pioneers have a rear port so wall mounting won't work for them.
 
AVService said:
Really?

The Foam Surround supporting the Cone wears out or deteriorates and leaves the cone only suspended from behind,this is exactly how the ones wear out that I was referencing in the previous post which you may be speaking too?

Ed
Click to expand...

Yes, you can always refoam. And I'm sorry I didn't know this when I passed on a cheap pair of Acoustic Research AR3as some years ago, which did have rotted foam surrounds.

But, I have have about 20 pairs of vintage speakers: from KEF, Mordaunt Short and B&W right through to full frequency Wharfedale drivers from the 1950s and none have had any issues with this. Sometimes you should replace crossover caps, but nothing else.
 
nickrobotron said:
Didn't read the entire thread, but to the OP:

If you're considering little near field monitors (I love the sound of that style of system, BTW), check out the new Boston Acoustics A25 or even the slightly larger A26. I haven't heard these but I've been impressed with the reviews. The magazine What Hi-Fi gave the A26's an incredible review and Stereophile had some nice things to say about the A25's. I just wanted to throw out that option because I am also shopping for speakers.

A25's will run you under $150 and A26's, under $200.
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*adds it to the list*

Dandy said:
To be honest that late model Luxman is just in the okay range of receivers. Unless you want the FM facility, or a wider range of inputs, I'd stick with the small Tripath based amp like the Dayton DTA-100a and look for some sensitive used speakers.

Quality vintage speakers do not get 'worn out.' For a while, I ran a T-Amp between a computer and some very old but sensitive German Grundig loudspeakers and the sound quality was amazing. This is the kind of thing: http://www.german-vintage-loudspeakers.com/navid.235/grundig-175-x-125-full-range-driver-3.htm

There are guys who part out consoles for the tube amps. They might be able to sell you a pair of amazing vintage speakers cheaply via Bartertown. You could mount fullrange speakers open baffle either side of you. E.g. http://diyparadise.com/forum/index.php?topic=1090.0
Click to expand...

Great, now I have no idea what I'm doing! :P

Putterman said:
Currently my favorite setup is a pair of EPI 70's powered by a Nak SR3A receiver with a Toshiba DVD player as a source all on the Dining Room table. The EPI's use a 6 inch woofer and are a vintage speaker. Note that they have been refoamed and the capacitors replaced. This would be the case with most vintage speakers more than 20 years old. Even if they use rubber surrounds, you typically have to replace the capacitors to get them back to spec.

Frankly the A150's seem a little big, no wait a minute, HUGE for your setup. From your pics, it's unclear where you'll put any speakers, even your Pioneers. Wall mounting speakers might be a possibility, especially with a subwoofer on the floor. The Pioneers have a rear port so wall mounting won't work for them.
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on either side of my desk? I agree on the area being troubling.. Maybe I should just get the cheap pioneers for 50 bucks and call it the best I can do within this area, without getting into expensive near field monitors

all the pioneers are on sale, except the pair I actually wanted.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882117403&Tpk=N82E16882117403

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882117404&Tpk=N82E16882117404

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882117405&Tpk=N82E16882117405

Perhaps, I could pick up two of the center channels for 50 bucks a piece?
 
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