Eagle_1
Active Member
You sound like my neighbor and his pickup trucks. Every time I see him he’s driving something different. Lol
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Old Speakers Rule - Tell Us Your Story
- Thread starter markleewebb
- Start date
You sound like my neighbor and his pickup trucks. Every time I see him he’s driving something different. Lol
BilboBaggins
Addicted Member
Yeah, I went through a lot of them for a while, but things have slowed down now. First, there isn't the awesome choices we had around for a while, and second, I have tried out a lot, and I've pretty well made my picks. Three systems, 4 sets of speakers. We just won't talk about my HTRs here!
Mine are just model 26 no letter but very similar woofers are black and tweeters are different
orsen
Jukebox Hero
lots of speaker stories here
i bought a pair of yamaha 1000m for $200, at a service station, when i got there he gave me yamaha ns 690 just to get rid of them. i sold the 690 for for $ 200.
favourite story tho was guy i met that was selling some kyocera gear. it was his deceased wifes stuff and had sat unused for yrs. there was gorgeous set of speakers. i asked and he wouldn't sell ..... yet.
well it took 5 yrs before he called me.
i could have them now for 500. on the agreement that i wouldn't just flip them.
they were kef 105/2 with the full hoods ( vs grills ) in pristine condition, i still have them
i bought a pair of yamaha 1000m for $200, at a service station, when i got there he gave me yamaha ns 690 just to get rid of them. i sold the 690 for for $ 200.
favourite story tho was guy i met that was selling some kyocera gear. it was his deceased wifes stuff and had sat unused for yrs. there was gorgeous set of speakers. i asked and he wouldn't sell ..... yet.
well it took 5 yrs before he called me.
i could have them now for 500. on the agreement that i wouldn't just flip them.
they were kef 105/2 with the full hoods ( vs grills ) in pristine condition, i still have them
I have had the pleasure of owning numerous brands and models over the years, but something about these make me smile?
My wife ran across a FB listing for old speakers at $40, only 20 minutes from work so I will check them out. My initial thoughts were nope, but popped the back off and they were EV's, after the time spent and gas the $40 price was negligible so I grabbed them.
Initial inspection of the cabinets showed more water damage then I thought. Once I wiped one side of the veneer down I saw the beautiful wood grain appear. Hooked them up to my Sansui 9090 and gave them a listen, now I had to decide whether or not to tackle the damaged cabinets. Needless to say I caved in and decided to do it. Many, many hours were spent on the cabinets, but i did learn a lot doing it.
They are not EV's best (LT-12), but something about them in these cabinets just sounds correct?
Took them to a local AK gathering and my opinion of them seemed to agree with other members so I was happy about that!
I attached a few photos for reference, but I can say this, something about their sound and the many hours spent to restore them results in an old pair that will always be with me or my son.
My wife ran across a FB listing for old speakers at $40, only 20 minutes from work so I will check them out. My initial thoughts were nope, but popped the back off and they were EV's, after the time spent and gas the $40 price was negligible so I grabbed them.
Initial inspection of the cabinets showed more water damage then I thought. Once I wiped one side of the veneer down I saw the beautiful wood grain appear. Hooked them up to my Sansui 9090 and gave them a listen, now I had to decide whether or not to tackle the damaged cabinets. Needless to say I caved in and decided to do it. Many, many hours were spent on the cabinets, but i did learn a lot doing it.
They are not EV's best (LT-12), but something about them in these cabinets just sounds correct?
Took them to a local AK gathering and my opinion of them seemed to agree with other members so I was happy about that!
I attached a few photos for reference, but I can say this, something about their sound and the many hours spent to restore them results in an old pair that will always be with me or my son.
Attachments
I got 2 sets of vintage speakers this year.
1st set are DQ-10's from my brother. They had been in storage for a while. Needed stands so I built them. The original cloth covers are showing their age, so that's next on the list to do. I'm not sure what is the best cloth to use. Still researching that. I do have the original badges, but they are not on the speakers. He did send them Regnar for updates just after he bought them used in the late 80's. They are mirrored and have rebuilt crossovers, etc. Pictures show the newly completed stands Everyone that hears them are really impressed. They do sound wonderful. They are still in the shop while I keep working on them and they might stay there longer as I really like listening to them when I'm out there.
2nd set are a pair of Infinity WTLC's. They were on Marketplace for cheap. The were missing the lower 'U' shaped bottoms. I built those too. Other than that, they were in good condition and all the drivers work. Again, everyone that hears them are impressed. While being smaller than the DQ's, they sound really good to me. I can't decide between the two which I like better.
1st set are DQ-10's from my brother. They had been in storage for a while. Needed stands so I built them. The original cloth covers are showing their age, so that's next on the list to do. I'm not sure what is the best cloth to use. Still researching that. I do have the original badges, but they are not on the speakers. He did send them Regnar for updates just after he bought them used in the late 80's. They are mirrored and have rebuilt crossovers, etc. Pictures show the newly completed stands Everyone that hears them are really impressed. They do sound wonderful. They are still in the shop while I keep working on them and they might stay there longer as I really like listening to them when I'm out there.
2nd set are a pair of Infinity WTLC's. They were on Marketplace for cheap. The were missing the lower 'U' shaped bottoms. I built those too. Other than that, they were in good condition and all the drivers work. Again, everyone that hears them are impressed. While being smaller than the DQ's, they sound really good to me. I can't decide between the two which I like better.
Attachments
bakes
Super Member
My KLH3s with the analog bass computer. Bought them used on 12/26/80 at Gordon Electronics in Vestal NY. They have survived several moves and finally had a full rebuild and recap last year. My ride or die speakers. Have a second pair I bought the following year, same place. First pair are my rears, second pair are my sides, and their big brother KLH1s anre my mains.
My AR2s were formerly my bosses speakers on Long Island. He was going to toss them to the curb. Nope.
My AR2s were formerly my bosses speakers on Long Island. He was going to toss them to the curb. Nope.
I forgot to mention my third pair of vintage speakers. HH Scott Model 17-L. I see them mentioned once in a while online, but there is no history about them that I can find (Year? etc). I replaced the foam surrounds about 7 years ago and they've been used in the shop since. They really sound good, better than most would expect - which is why I've kept them this long.
..and a Fisher 10" Sub model SW-6100, which there is not much about online either.
..and a Fisher 10" Sub model SW-6100, which there is not much about online either.
Attachments
NH-MAN
Addicted Member
Old speakers rule because they really aren't rocket science as the technology was perfected a long time ago. They only become rocket science as manufactures (of anything) are inclined to make new products in an effort to try and best themselves and public perception misguided from a lifetime of salesman and the resulting brainwashing effect need new and better which usually in most "not all" respects isn't; but new and different sells.
I have been obsessed with speakers my whole life I know what they should sound like (a particular set up) before I can even hear them. I do not have voices in my head telling me things like a price or a brand or it has a cheap plastic grill, I buy what should work and does. If it's expensive that's fine, if it looks and is cheap that's fine to it just needs to perform and you don't need to make excuses for cheap or expensive things that work, they prove themselves.
Case in point I do not remember why I got these, but I did know they were likely to sound good.
Polk S6, are they inexpensive yup, kind of ugly, yup don't care and the performance of them did not disappoint so no need to make excuses for them being cheap and not really nice looking.
I will keep these and have for a long time, the Polk tweeter is just fine, I have never seen anything in writing where someone bitched about these tweeters which was one buying factor. I do not need shimmering highs of something marginally better in overall performance but way more expensive as I can't hear it now anyway.
Polk knows how to make mid woofers and with a rubber surround another box checked off. They have a passive which Polk can do another possible plus in my decision. The tweeter is close to mid, and it all comes in a small package if that's all I could have at some point in the future these "should" deliver and keep me very happy despite any size restrictions I might get into.
I do not buy much of anything I have no real needs, but I do know what should be good and only then when I find it, I will purchase, if have a long-term use for it.
Most can't get over the fact of having something cheap, if you have gotten over such things in your life and want things that work and like me don't care what others think. I will say these are probably one of the best sounding smaller speakers ever (or I wouldn't keep them as I am very anal when it comes to "anything" doing what it should). I would say an 88% the missing 12 is not the lowest notes obviously but will get stupid loud enough to feel bass in your throat and the tweeter does no wrong, it's just not the Best, they don't claim it is. The rest of its performance its exceptional in every way and if one cannot deal with ugly in the house then get a pair for somewhere else either way you will never have the need to make excuses for them, they can take care themselves.
Most would pass on things like this, and they would miss out that's why I don't listen to most. I just sit back and wait, somethings just come out right.
I have been obsessed with speakers my whole life I know what they should sound like (a particular set up) before I can even hear them. I do not have voices in my head telling me things like a price or a brand or it has a cheap plastic grill, I buy what should work and does. If it's expensive that's fine, if it looks and is cheap that's fine to it just needs to perform and you don't need to make excuses for cheap or expensive things that work, they prove themselves.
Case in point I do not remember why I got these, but I did know they were likely to sound good.
Polk S6, are they inexpensive yup, kind of ugly, yup don't care and the performance of them did not disappoint so no need to make excuses for them being cheap and not really nice looking.
I will keep these and have for a long time, the Polk tweeter is just fine, I have never seen anything in writing where someone bitched about these tweeters which was one buying factor. I do not need shimmering highs of something marginally better in overall performance but way more expensive as I can't hear it now anyway.
Polk knows how to make mid woofers and with a rubber surround another box checked off. They have a passive which Polk can do another possible plus in my decision. The tweeter is close to mid, and it all comes in a small package if that's all I could have at some point in the future these "should" deliver and keep me very happy despite any size restrictions I might get into.
I do not buy much of anything I have no real needs, but I do know what should be good and only then when I find it, I will purchase, if have a long-term use for it.
Most can't get over the fact of having something cheap, if you have gotten over such things in your life and want things that work and like me don't care what others think. I will say these are probably one of the best sounding smaller speakers ever (or I wouldn't keep them as I am very anal when it comes to "anything" doing what it should). I would say an 88% the missing 12 is not the lowest notes obviously but will get stupid loud enough to feel bass in your throat and the tweeter does no wrong, it's just not the Best, they don't claim it is. The rest of its performance its exceptional in every way and if one cannot deal with ugly in the house then get a pair for somewhere else either way you will never have the need to make excuses for them, they can take care themselves.
Most would pass on things like this, and they would miss out that's why I don't listen to most. I just sit back and wait, somethings just come out right.
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NH-MAN
Addicted Member
Old speakers rule because they really aren't rocket science as the technology was perfected a long time ago. They only become rocket science as manufactures (of anything) are inclined to make new products in an effort to try and best themselves and public perception misguided from a lifetime of salesman and the resulting brainwashing effect need new and better which usually in most "not all" respects isn't; but new and different sells.
I have been obsessed with speakers my whole life I know what they should sound like (a particular set up) before I can even hear them. I do not have voices in my head telling me things like a price or a brand or it has a cheap plastic grill, I buy what should work and does. If it's expensive that's fine, if it looks and is cheap that's fine to it just needs to perform and you don't need to make excuses for cheap or expensive things that work, they prove themselves.
Case in point I do not remember why I got these, but I did know they were likely to sound good.
Polk S6, are they inexpensive yup, kind of ugly, yup don't care and the performance of them did not disappoint so no need to make excuses for them being cheap and not really nice looking.
I will keep these and have for a long time, the Polk tweeter is just fine, I have never seen anything in writing where someone bitched about these tweeters which was one buying factor. I do not need shimmering highs of something marginally better in overall performance but way more expensive as I can't hear it now anyway.
Polk knows how to make mid woofers and with a rubber surround another box checked off. They have a passive which Polk can do another possible plus in my decision. The tweeter is close to mid, and it all comes in a small package if that's all I could have at some point in the future these "should" deliver and keep me very happy despite any size restrictions I might get into.
I do not buy much of anything I have no real needs, but I do know what should be good and only then when I find it, I will purchase, if have a long-term use for it.
Most can't get over the fact of having something cheap, if you have gotten over such things in your life and want things that work and like me don't care what others think. I will say these are probably one of the best sounding smaller speakers ever (or I wouldn't keep them as I am very anal when it comes to "anything" doing what it should). I would say an 88% the missing 12 is not the lowest notes obviously but will get stupid loud enough to feel bass in your throat and the tweeter does no wrong, it's just not the Best, they don't claim it is. The rest of its performance its exceptional in every way and if one cannot deal with ugly in the house then get a pair for somewhere else either way you will never have the need to make excuses for them, they can take care themselves.
Most would pass on things like this, and they would miss out that's why I don't listen to most. I just sit back and wait, somethings just come out right.
Edit; I only have three pairs and don't buy speakers anymore as the ones I have were picked and ultimately kept because they do what they should. Smaller Allison LC-110 which is so good the reviewers didn't even see the need to talk much about how they sound they tested so well and to this day I do not believe anyone has bested the off-axis response of his tweeter. The Polks above I am confident you could put in a 1,000-dollar beautiful enclosure put a boutique name on them and charge two grand for them and no one would question the performance today. Larger my Sansui PM C100's which I picked for a few reasons not found in any other speaker but had to swap out the planer tweeters as they were fine, but too directional: they a play a narrow range of frequencies 8K up so swapping one you like is easy. At 120 Db they don't even break a sweat, and are wide, full, and articulate at sleepy time listening to music in bed volumes while chatting with a significant other.
drbranch
Super Member
What a great thread!
Currently I am using a pair of original KLH model 5s that I bought from the original owner in Indiana who had just recapped them. The cabinets were beat up and just this year I was able to finally find the time to refinish them using a technique posts, I believe, first on Audiokarma and then placed on an independent website.
Anyway, here is one with the grille off as it had been cleaned and covered with a heavy weight to straighten back out.
Currently I am using a pair of original KLH model 5s that I bought from the original owner in Indiana who had just recapped them. The cabinets were beat up and just this year I was able to finally find the time to refinish them using a technique posts, I believe, first on Audiokarma and then placed on an independent website.
Anyway, here is one with the grille off as it had been cleaned and covered with a heavy weight to straighten back out.
bakes
Super Member
Hooboy, where do I start?
My KLHs with the Analog Bass Computer: Saw the ad for the KLH3s in a speaker review magazine back in '79. Desperately wanted them. Gordon Electronics in Vestal had a set for sale in their annual used equipment sale in 1980. Get up early the day after Christmas, head down there, spot them, listen to them and they hit my sweet spot. One of them kept cutting out though. Open them up, the nut that made contact between the screw terminals and the crossover was loose (something I repeatedly needed to fix for years). Reached down to get a dropped screw and one of the cabinets conked me on the noggin. That was a good sign. Put them back together, the salesman put a screwdriver through the surround. Took them anyway. LOVED them. Picked up a second pair the following year. My amp HATED that parallel load - these things were made when Infinity owned KLH, and had that same superreactive low impedance as their corporate brothers. Over the net few years had all kinds of fun switching tweeter in and out of the second pair (at one point had some German 30 mm midtweeters installed and JVC ribbons on top). Those old speakers have followed me around for 40+ years. 10 years ago I finally found a super clean set of their KLH1 big brothers. Using them as the 7.1 setup in my living room after finding a rogue KLH4 (same as the KLH3, just no ABC) a few years back for the center channel. Treated them all to a full resurround, recap and restore and replaced those Godawful screw terminals with proper 5 way terminals last year. I'll never sell them.
I've posted about my Mariahs and Shahinian barn finds before. These noisy old boxes have a way of getting under your skin...
My KLHs with the Analog Bass Computer: Saw the ad for the KLH3s in a speaker review magazine back in '79. Desperately wanted them. Gordon Electronics in Vestal had a set for sale in their annual used equipment sale in 1980. Get up early the day after Christmas, head down there, spot them, listen to them and they hit my sweet spot. One of them kept cutting out though. Open them up, the nut that made contact between the screw terminals and the crossover was loose (something I repeatedly needed to fix for years). Reached down to get a dropped screw and one of the cabinets conked me on the noggin. That was a good sign. Put them back together, the salesman put a screwdriver through the surround. Took them anyway. LOVED them. Picked up a second pair the following year. My amp HATED that parallel load - these things were made when Infinity owned KLH, and had that same superreactive low impedance as their corporate brothers. Over the net few years had all kinds of fun switching tweeter in and out of the second pair (at one point had some German 30 mm midtweeters installed and JVC ribbons on top). Those old speakers have followed me around for 40+ years. 10 years ago I finally found a super clean set of their KLH1 big brothers. Using them as the 7.1 setup in my living room after finding a rogue KLH4 (same as the KLH3, just no ABC) a few years back for the center channel. Treated them all to a full resurround, recap and restore and replaced those Godawful screw terminals with proper 5 way terminals last year. I'll never sell them.
I've posted about my Mariahs and Shahinian barn finds before. These noisy old boxes have a way of getting under your skin...
Few years ago I found a pair of EPI 100Ws for not much, ($50?). Three of four drivers were original and working and @onwardjames 
gave me an EPI woofer he had for the cost of shipping. I bleached the daylights out of the water stains on top of the cabinets with barkeepers friend and alcohol and knocked the stains back a good bit. Re-capped, re-foamed, and added new speaker terminals and really love the speakers. Just needed a little more bass. So I bought some Dahlquist M905s put the EPIs on top, and played ‘em all while I looked for a pair of EPI 200s with the passive radiator.
I found 200s… in MPLS, San Diego, TN, but not in the PNW, I’m in Portland. What I did find, and bring home, was a pair of Genesis ll+. Mr. Burhoe sold EPI, started Genesis and made pretty much the same speakers there. The Genesis ll+s are pretty much EPI 200s. Refinished the cabinets, replaced the caps and speaker terminals, and am happily rockin’ out with them hooked up to a 2275 in a nice coat by @Asaalah and a mint Dual 721 with the Realistic version of a Shure M97 I found at shopgoodwill.com
gave me an EPI woofer he had for the cost of shipping. I bleached the daylights out of the water stains on top of the cabinets with barkeepers friend and alcohol and knocked the stains back a good bit. Re-capped, re-foamed, and added new speaker terminals and really love the speakers. Just needed a little more bass. So I bought some Dahlquist M905s put the EPIs on top, and played ‘em all while I looked for a pair of EPI 200s with the passive radiator.I found 200s… in MPLS, San Diego, TN, but not in the PNW, I’m in Portland. What I did find, and bring home, was a pair of Genesis ll+. Mr. Burhoe sold EPI, started Genesis and made pretty much the same speakers there. The Genesis ll+s are pretty much EPI 200s. Refinished the cabinets, replaced the caps and speaker terminals, and am happily rockin’ out with them hooked up to a 2275 in a nice coat by @Asaalah and a mint Dual 721 with the Realistic version of a Shure M97 I found at shopgoodwill.com
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drbranch
Super Member
That’s a great story. Thanks for posting it.Few years ago I found a pair of EPI 100Ws for not much, ($50?). Three of four drivers were original and working and @onwardjames
I found 200s… in MPLS, San Diego, TN, but not in the PNW, I’m in Portland. What I did find, and bring home, was a pair of Genesis ll+. Mr. Burhoe sold EPI, started Genesis and made pretty much the same speakers there. The Genesis ll+s are pretty much EPI 200s. Refinished the cabinets, replaced the caps and speaker terminals, and am happily rockin’ out with them hooked up to a 2275 in a nice coat by @Asaalah and a mint Dual 721 with the Realistic version of a Shure M97 I found at shopgoodwill.com
BTW, love German Shepherds.
Great dogs, ours was named Tallulah Belle and we lost her this spring. We'd just got her a little pal golden retriever named Mabel, and about 6 weeks later had to put T Belle down. My wife lost her shadow. Fortunately, Mabel is a ball of energy and very sweet, though we'll be glad when she chills a bit.
Photos of one of the Genesis ll+
drbranch
Super Member
Those are beautiful and well maintained (great shape).
I’m sorry about your GSD; it must certainly be a great loss. My mother passed last year and we took her old golden retriever who has formed a great bond with our shepherd.
drbranch
Super Member
And thank you the idea of shopgoodwill.com.Few years ago I found a pair of EPI 100Ws for not much, ($50?). Three of four drivers were original and working and @onwardjames
I found 200s… in MPLS, San Diego, TN, but not in the PNW, I’m in Portland. What I did find, and bring home, was a pair of Genesis ll+. Mr. Burhoe sold EPI, started Genesis and made pretty much the same speakers there. The Genesis ll+s are pretty much EPI 200s. Refinished the cabinets, replaced the caps and speaker terminals, and am happily rockin’ out with them hooked up to a 2275 in a nice coat by @Asaalah and a mint Dual 721 with the Realistic version of a Shure M97 I found at shopgoodwill.com
I’m taking advantage of it.
Re: Goodwill. I got the Dual 721 mint, but you should expect the gear you buy to need work. Turntable dust covers often don’t survive the shipping, though some locations do much better than others packing things.
Snow in Duluth yet? Wife and I spent a year in the MPLS area (Edina) before the agency I was working for face-planted and we moved back east.
Also, we got our first GSDs when we were living in MPLS. From a farm in MN, they were cousins. Small male we named Sampson for the irony, and a female named Maddie as “Moonlighting” was popular on TV and it was the name of Cybill Shepherd’s character. I pushed for “Delilah” for the long-haired female for the set, but was overruled.
Snow in Duluth yet? Wife and I spent a year in the MPLS area (Edina) before the agency I was working for face-planted and we moved back east.
Also, we got our first GSDs when we were living in MPLS. From a farm in MN, they were cousins. Small male we named Sampson for the irony, and a female named Maddie as “Moonlighting” was popular on TV and it was the name of Cybill Shepherd’s character. I pushed for “Delilah” for the long-haired female for the set, but was overruled.
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WattNot
Glazed Over
I had to stop going to that site.
My wife made me join shopgoodwillaholics anonymous.
I have a garage full of stuff that came from there, and some real bargains too, like the 2003 Pioneer MOSFET receiver that I’m listening to right now. It retailed for $1900, I paid $100. Mostly I bought speakers, my best scores were, big Advents and Dynaco A35s and A25s. Lately I’ve been pairing one new quality bookshelf pair with one vintage pair of speakers on a couple different systems.
There are worse addictions.
