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Right Speakers for Restored SX-1250

Jim Lyons

Jim Lyons

New Member
I have been trying to find a match for my restored Pioneer SX-1250. My memories of the original Large Advent Speakers is what I am looking for. I remember listening to "The Band" second abum on these, and the bass response and overall clarity was amazing. I used to also have Bose 901's around the same time.

Sorry if this has been covered in these forums, but if anyone has recommendations for speakers to match the SX-1250, I would really appreciate hearing your thoughts.

BTW, my receiver was restored by John Wargo - http://wargoselectronics.com/ - Vintage Audio Repair & Restorations.
 
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So you want speakers that sound like Advents, but aren't Advents? Why don't you want to buy Advents?
 
Jim Lyons said:
I have been trying to find a match for my restored Pioneer SX-1250. My memories of the original Large Advent Speakers is what I am looking for. I remember listening to "The Band" second abum on these, and the bass response and overall clarity was amazing. I used to also have Bose 901's around the same time.

Sorry if this has been covered in these forums, but if anyone has recommendations for speakers to match the SX-1250, I would really appreciate hearing your thoughts.
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Why not try and find a pair of OLA's?

As for recommendations you're just opening up yourself and this thread for a lot of biased opinions that may not meet your criteria.

There are a LOT of variables criteria wise.

Some examples, new/used? what size small/bookshelf/floorstanders?, what genre/kinds of music will you be listening to? how loud or not loud? what is the room size? what is your budget? will you be purchasing online or via local CL or FB marketplace?.

Your ears are ALL that matters so if you can demo any potential pair of speakers do that and be your own judge.
 
I running Cerwin Vega Model U-351 which is 8 ohms ---------a match made in heaven.
 
I really Like old Snells when they are kept correct. Some are 4 ohm, but I have no problem with a Marantz receiver I use. IMHO
 
If you liked Advents, then.....Advents?? :D

I have a pair of the 5012s (IIRC, one of the final versions of the Large model before Advent went under). They sound nice w/my SX-950.
 
There are so many different speakers. Anyone could make speakers back then. Didn't take anything to gear up and make a line of speakers. Be helpful if you could narrow it down a bit as the SX will drive most speakers to a decent volume. What are you looking for? a bookshelf size (1'x1'x2') or smaller or something that is actually a good match performance wise to the SX? Does it need to be good at a certain kind of music...venue reproduction? Bose 901s are like an arena rock concert, or orchestra performance. Magneplanars (4 or 5Ω don't think the SX will like them) are like listening to the jazz musicians without amps.

I'd get DCM Time Windows and never look back. They are bad ass at everything and can handle power to play loud. They ain't boxes and don't sound like boxes.
 
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teal'c said:
So you want speakers that sound like Advents, but aren't Advents? Why don't you want to buy Advents?
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I guess becuase all the Advents need to be restored or have been restored. I am leaning more towards a later model of the Bose 901's - last manufactured in 2016. A well maintained 901 only four years old probably needs no restoration.
 
Jim Lyons said:
I guess becuase all the Advents need to be restored or have been restored. I am leaning more towards a later model of the Bose 901's - last manufactured in 2016. A well maintained 901 only four years old probably needs no restoration.
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901's are very picky with placement, and must have the specific EQ. Before you take the plunge, really try to audition a set in a fellow AKers setup if at all possible. I had a set of 901s, and liked them, they go very loud, but my space didn't work so I sold them.
 
The 901 Series VI have different surround material and should be in great shape ready to play. I picked up some 901 V and their surrounds were also very nice and are still working well. You can get concert type sound from them. Setting them up right makes a difference. Chip has the pair I got set up, hanging in a large out building. There is a sweet spot right where you would expect there to be based on following the reflection of the back panel drivers. He put solid plywood on the walls in those reflection points instead of having the speaker fire into the insulation and studs. Sounds amazing on some music and with the power he has concert like when he wants. Nice rig, that one for what it does.
 
Having owned and enjoyed it, I'd find some of the better Cerwin offerings, such as the venerable D-9 or DX-9, which I owned.

As for Large Advents, you could subscribe and hit Bartertown, I seem to see tons of Large Advents, already recapped and refoamed, all the time.
 
Jim Lyons said:
I guess becuase all the Advents need to be restored or have been restored. I am leaning more towards a later model of the Bose 901's - last manufactured in 2016. A well maintained 901 only four years old probably needs no restoration.
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Why is it a problem that they have been restored? So has your receiver.

Curious as to what work was done to your SX1250?
 
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Jim Lyons said:
I have been trying to find a match for my restored Pioneer SX-1250. My memories of the original Large Advent Speakers is what I am looking for...
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Apologies for ending the thread with just one post :), but with all that power, I would go with something that can use it and yield rewards, like the Dalquist DQ-20. Not very efficient but should sound amazing (sadly have not had a chance to try them myself):

http://www.hifi-classic.net/review/dahlquist-dq-20-243.html


dahlquist-dq-20.jpg
 
Assuming the OP does not push the SX1250 into clipping, the Advents can easily handle the associated power.

The Dahlquist's are obscure speakers....but you recommend that the OP goes to the trouble to source them, upon your assumption that they sound good?

Hey OP...just find a pair of speakers that you like. Your amp has to power to drive just about anything to fairly loud levels. But do be careful about impedance...I would stay away from speakers that drop much below 4 ohms.
 
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spark1 said:
Assuming the OP does not push the SX1250 into clipping, the Advents can easily handle the associated power.

The Dahlquist's are obscure speakers....but you recommend that the OP goes to the trouble to source them, upon your assumption that they sound good?

Hey OP...just find a pair of speakers that you like. Your amp has to power to drive just about anything to fairly loud levels. But do be careful about impedance...I would stay away from speakers that drop much below 4 ohms.
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????????? Dahlquist is not even a little bit obscure. It's a high end speaker brand that is pretty universally praised for sound quality and imaging. All speakers dip down into lower impedances at various frequencies, the average impedance over the audio range for the DQ-20 is 9 ohms. The DQ-20's will beat the living crap out of Advents (which I love) and the 901s (which I don't love or even like a little bit (but maybe I've never heard them set up properly)). Advents can handle the power, but they don't need anywhere near 160 watts/channel to get to volumes too loud to listen to (at least in a normal room).

The only thing negative I've seen about Dahlquist is that they use power -- not crazy inefficient -- but 86db (vs 90db for Advent). They aren't that expensive to buy used if you look for opportunities and they are very durable speakers that typically don't need a lot of work despite their age and number of drivers per speaker. I can't drive the DQ-10's or DQ-20's with my tube amp, which is the only reason I haven't owned or evaluated a pair personally. I've seen several listed locally over the years and it has taken all my will power to not go out and get them -- but I know they would not work with my 13 wpc tube amp.
 
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peterp1 said:
????????? Dahlquist is not even a little bit obscure. It's a high end speaker brand that is pretty universally praised for sound quality and imaging. All speakers dip down into lower impedances at various frequencies, the average impedance over the audio range for the DQ-20 is 9 ohms. The DQ-20 will beat the living crap out of the Advents (which I love) and the 901s (which I don't love or even like a little bit (but maybe I've never heard them set up properly)).

The only thing negative I've seen about Dahlquist is that they use power -- not crazy inefficient -- but 86db. They aren't that expensive to buy used if you look for opportunities and they are very durable speakers that typically don't need a lot of work despite their age. I can't drive the DQ-10's or DQ-20's with my tube amp, which is the only reason I haven't owned or evaluated a pair personally.
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peterp1 said:
????????? Dahlquist is not even a little bit obscure. It's a high end speaker brand that is pretty universally praised for sound quality and imaging. All speakers dip down into lower impedances at various frequencies, the average impedance over the audio range for the DQ-20 is 9 ohms. The DQ-20's will beat the living crap out of Advents (which I love) and the 901s (which I don't love or even like a little bit (but maybe I've never heard them set up properly)).

The only thing negative I've seen about Dahlquist is that they use power -- not crazy inefficient -- but 86db. They aren't that expensive to buy used if you look for opportunities and they are very durable speakers that typically don't need a lot of work despite their age. I can't drive the DQ-10's or DQ-20's with my tube amp, which is the only reason I haven't owned or evaluated a pair personally.
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Obscure = hard to find.

I am not an Advent fan, but the OP stated that he is.
 
spark1 said:
Obscure = hard to find.
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An SX-1250 (these days) is also very hard to find -- and very expensive.

spark1 said:
I am not an Advent fan, but the OP stated that he is.
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I am an Advent fan, have owned three pairs. They were an amazing value at their price point in period, but there were many speakers that were far better but far more expensive at the time. Those much better speakers aren't that expensive to buy today. The unique asset of the SX-1250 is its power, so it makes sense to take advantage of its ability to easily drive inefficient speakers (which is worthwhile if the inefficient speakers selected sound great).

I drove my Advents with my SuperScope 10wpc receiver (all I could afford in grade school) and, later my MCS 33wpc receiver and they went plenty loud. He could use Advents with the 160wpc receiver, but he isn't going to be taking advantage of the SX-1250's biggest asset.
 
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