Road Trip Recommendations

[thought91]

I'm incredibly new to Audio Karma, (and I must say I'm loving the atmosphere) and I'm going to be going on a road trip tomorrow. On my trip, I'd like to pick up a nice pair of vintage speakers, but my experience in this field is sorely limited. I'm gravitating towards vintage, but am open to looking into some newer stuff. I'm looking to spend not much more than 300 bucks, and am asking for recommendations in that range for me to look out for. Detail, clarity, and decay are most important to me, and I tend to stay away from warm sounding stuff, but it's not a deal breaker. Thanks in advance!

 

[Alobar]

I'd have to say vintage will likely get you better bang for the buck at this price range but I have heard that the new JBL home series sound very good for their price. I'd maybe look at something along these (a little bit over 300 but probably worth it), speakers are the last thing you want to skimp on.
http://www.jbl.com/loudspeakers/ARENA+170.html?dwvar_ARENA 170_color=Dark Black#start=1
Buying used it all depends on what you find. Just have to try them out to see if their sound agree with you.
Welcome to AK by the way!

 

[Lo-Fidelity]

Where are you traveling? There are many AK members with excess speakers in the basement or garage.

 

[sqlsavior]

Perhaps used, but not necessarily vintage. If you can find a pair of Magneplanars in good shape (make sure you can inspect and listen to them) you will be hitting a sonic home run. Many models are priced out of your budget, even used, but MMGs or MG1s should be doable. You will want them four feet out from the wall behind them for the best sound.

 

[HTWillie]

Modern speakers can be had more or less anywhere. Vintage needs to be sought out.

Everyone has their own favorites, and my focus and interest is limited to JBL and NHT.

Interesting JBLs in your budget range might include L19, L26, L36, L3, L5, and L7 if you're really lucky. In that saMe budget, NHT models I'd buy myself at any opportunity are SuperZero, SuperOne, 2.5, 2.5i, and again if you're lucky, the 2.9.

 

[mojoe]

jbl L80t & t3 should fit in your budget and performance specs.

 

[thought91]

I saw some Yamaha NS 10's, which I was inclined to buy, but the seller was unavailable at the time I was passing by. In the end, I bought 13 pairs of speakers.. most in pretty bad condition, but I'm fixing them up. Anyway, I now own:
Infinity RS 6001 (I've fixed)
KLH Model 10 (still imperfect)
KLH Model 17 (still imperfect)
AR18 (I've fixed)
Baby Advent II (I've fixed)
Mini Advent (still imperfect)
Technics SB A35 (bought functional)
Marantz Imperial 5G (bought functional)
JBL P40 (bought functional)
JBL LX 44 (still imperfect)
BIC Venturi V52 (still very much imperfect)
Yamaha S110H II Oak (still imperfect)
Fisher XP 2A (still imperfect)
All in all, I spent 350 bucks. I'm currently using the infinity's, and I'm loving them.

 

[thought91]

I wasn't able to find much of what you guys suggested, even less for a reasonable price, but I really appreciate all of the help. I'll keep my eye out for your recommendations again on my next trip.

 

[BilboBaggins]

Congrats! You will be busy for a while! I hope you aren't planning on flipping them. Unless totl, speakers are a hard sell. Btw, what are you using for amplification?

I have a pair of klh 17s too. I have to do a recap on them. I should get to them soon so I can catch the students going back to school. I'll be happy if I can get $150 for them once recapped.

 

[thought91]

Congrats! You will be busy for a while! I hope you aren't planning on flipping them. Unless totl, speakers are a hard sell. Btw, what are you using for amplification?

I have a pair of klh 17s too. I have to do a recap on them. I should get to them soon so I can catch the students going back to school. I'll be happy if I can get $150 for them once recapped.

Well, I actually happen to be a student. I'm 15, so I'm surrounded by kids. Because of this, selling stuff is pretty easy.

 

[thought91]

Congrats! You will be busy for a while! I hope you aren't planning on flipping them. Unless totl, speakers are a hard sell. Btw, what are you using for amplification?

I have a pair of klh 17s too. I have to do a recap on them. I should get to them soon so I can catch the students going back to school. I'll be happy if I can get $150 for them once recapped.

I plan on keeping most of them anyway, but some will go.

 

[Macdaddy]

I bought some JBL P40s a few months ago for $75 as part of bundle. Not a bad speaker pretty open and clean, nice imaging and vocals punch through nicely. Not like my Pro line JBL's but something for the collection. Had one tear in surround from a cat, the jbl guy in town repaired for cheap with epoxy. I sold off the kenwood receiver and cassette deck that came with it from original owner so made my money back.