Rectilinear III speakers - price in 1973

[Snade]

One of my favorite vintage speakers is the Rectilinear III sold from the late 60's into the mid-70's.

I own the "highboy" version, but Rectilinear in the early 70's came out with a "lowboy" version with a higher WAF.

I recently came upon a print ad from 1973 for a stereo store in Champaign, Illinois (where I went to college at the University of Illinois).

The ad shows that Rectilinear III for sale for $299 for one speaker - 600 bucks for two. They sold for more than the JBL L100.

That is a higher price than I expected. I always thought these speakers compare well with higher end speaker of that era.

Cheers,

Snade

 

[johnjhazel]

One of my favorite vintage speakers is the Rectilinear III sold from the late 60's into the mid-70's.

I own the "highboy" version, but Rectilinear in the early 70's came out with a "lowboy" version with a higher WAF.

I recently came upon a print ad from 1973 for a stereo store in Champaign, Illinois (where I went to college at the University of Illinois).

The ad shows that Rectilinear III for sale for $299 for one speaker - 600 bucks for two. They sold for more than the JBL L100.

That is a higher price than I expected. I always thought these speakers compare well with higher end speaker of that era.

Cheers,

Snade

View attachment 2102692

I know there are reviews of the III in the old audio magazines contained herein:

https://worldradiohistory.com

 

[johnjhazel]

One of my favorite vintage speakers is the Rectilinear III sold from the late 60's into the mid-70's.

I own the "highboy" version, but Rectilinear in the early 70's came out with a "lowboy" version with a higher WAF.

I recently came upon a print ad from 1973 for a stereo store in Champaign, Illinois (where I went to college at the University of Illinois).

The ad shows that Rectilinear III for sale for $299 for one speaker - 600 bucks for two. They sold for more than the JBL L100.

That is a higher price than I expected. I always thought these speakers compare well with higher end speaker of that era.

Cheers,

Snade

View attachment 2102692

**
Review of the III Lowboy:
https://worldradiohistory.com/Archi...iFI-Stereo/70s/HiFi-Stereo-Review-1972-02.pdf
Page 34.

 

[kirk57]

I have a set of Lowboys that are waiting restoration. Those grilles can’t help things and I plan to replace them with something less ‘diffractive’. Some stands to get them off the floor are also in order.

Highboys may just be my favorite vintage speaker (of those I’ve heard)

 

[RTally]

I have a set of Lowboys that are waiting restoration. Those grilles can’t help things and I plan to replace them with something less ‘diffractive’. Some stands to get them off the floor are also in order.

Highboys may just be my favorite vintage speaker (of those I’ve heard)

Same here as for putting them on stands and redoing the grill. I have recapped my Lowboys and I listen to them without the grills. They sound much better without the grills. They also need to be raised. I have not decided on a height or what to use for a stand. They are in my office and I listen at both sit-down and standing work stations.

 

[tubed]

These were sitting on a low rise coffee table, out into the room and sounded great.
They kind of disappeared as the music found its way nicely to reflection points

 

[Snade]

My highboys. I believe they are a later version (mid-70's) after some crossover changes from the earliest versions.

I replaced those original, black caps. The woofer I believe is a very nice CTS driver.

Cheers, Snade

 

[Ruben Acosta]

What is the number on your woofer's diaphragm? I just replaced the woofers and I'm not happy with them. I want find out what the original woofer frequency response is. I know originally they aren't very efficient, 87 db.
I'm hoping to find more info on them through AK forum.

 

[johnjhazel]

What is the number on your woofer's diaphragm? I just replaced the woofers and I'm not happy with them. I want find out what the original woofer frequency response is. I know originally they aren't very efficient, 87 db.
I'm hoping to find more info on them through AK forum.

Try here:
https://community.classicspeakerpages.net/forum/29-rectilinear/

 

[Moon_Man]

I am surprised at that $299 price tag too. I wonder what the highboys were going for.

Mine, completely restored:

 

[RTally]

According to the 1973 September issue of the Audio Equipment Directory (page 98), the Rectilinear III MSRP was $279 each and the Lowboy was $299 each.

https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Audio/Audio-Magazine.htm
This is a great resource and it is easy to find retail prices for vintage equipment. I downloaded copies of all the Equipment Directories for easy reference without relying on the web page.

 

[johnjhazel]

I am surprised at that $299 price tag too. I wonder what the highboys were going for.

Mine, completely restored:

View attachment 2105829 View attachment 2105832

Check eBay listed and sold. I was surprised at the low prices. They were in the same class as AR 3a's but restored AR 3a's sell for much more. I think at current prices, the Rectilinears' are a bargain.

 

[Moon_Man]

I think at current prices, the Rectilinears' are a bargain.

Indeed. I have put mine up for sale at around $300, which is a reasonable price (I think, at least) for the restoration work, the grill and the Clarity Cap capacitors I put in, but no takers.

 

[johnjhazel]

Indeed. I have put mine up for sale at around $300, which is a reasonable price (I think, at least) for the restoration work, the grill and the Clarity Cap capacitors I put in, but no takers.

On eBay ? I will look.

 

[Moon_Man]

No, not on Ebay. I'm not interested in shipping, and if I put them on Ebay the price would be more like $350-$375. I put them here and CList for local pickup.

PM me if you'd like to discuss.

 

[RTally]

I paid $100 for my Lowboys. They had been for sale for a while. Big speakers don't sell well. Very few want big speakers.

 

[johnjhazel]

I paid $100 for my Lowboys. They had been for sale for a while. Big speakers don't sell well. Very few want big speakers.

That's a shame because nothing sounds like big speakers. You cannot change the laws of physics. AR 3a's were considered bookshelf speakers back in the day. Now they are considered big.

 

[RTally]

That's a shame because nothing sounds like big speakers. You cannot change the laws of physics. AR 3a's were considered bookshelf speakers back in the day. Now they are considered big.

Big woofers in big boxes. Love 'em.

I have a pair of Optimus 7 (12" woofer) next to my Lowboys. The Optimus cabinet is even bigger than the Lowboy. I got the Optimus 7 for $50 from the original owner and they are pristine. They retailed for $199 each in 1973 and are a step down from the Lowboys, though, not by much.

 

[johnjhazel]

Big woofers in big boxes. Love 'em.

I have a pair of Optimus 7 (12" woofer) next to my Lowboys. The Optimus cabinet is even bigger than the Lowboy. I got the Optimus 7 for $50 from the original owner and they are pristine. They retailed for $199 each in 1973 and are a step down from the Lowboys, though, not by much.

My brother bought a pair of Sansui SP-2000 speakers when his Navy stint was over. I had picked out a pair of AR 2ax for his best friend. My brother took the Sansui's to his best friend's home to compare the sound. My brother said that he wanted to throw the Sansui's in the trash after hearing the 2ax's.

 

[kirk57]

I

Check eBay listed and sold. I was surprised at the low prices. They were in the same class as AR 3a's but restored AR 3a's sell for much more. I think at current prices, the Rectilinears' are a bargain.

I had restored AR3a’s, at the same time as the Highboys. I prefer the Highboys.