RSL speakers, am I alone?

Thank you so much, I'll try it over the weekend when the De-Oxit arrives.

stickman said:
You need to pull the adjustment knobs off and then unscrew the thin nut that screws onto the threaded shaft so that the entire potentiometer will pull back freely. Spray De-Oxit in every opening you can find on the potentiometer body and turn the shaft back and forth vigorously many times to disperse the De-Oxit on the contact surfaces.

If you still need to remove a "faceplate" then prying it out very gently at multiple points around the perimeter would be the way to proceed but it could do permanent damage to the edges where you are prying.
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rsl CG-82 I have an opportunity to acquire a pair but can't find much about them. These are the 2 way towers with 2 8" and a 1" in a compression guide cabinet. Anyone own them presently or in the past? What do they do well? I am looking for something to use in a 2 channel rig in my large master bedroom, something with good imaging, clarity, good midrange for voices and neutral to a bit laid back. I did see the brochure. Also posted in dollars and cents to try and get an idea on value. Any input is appreciated.
 
I have a pair of RSL-512 speakers in Walnut. Big speakers. I bought these around 1973 while still a student at UCLA. Loved them. When I moved in 1988 to San Francisco Bay Area, no room, so they have sat in storage for 30 years.

Now, I'm downsizing and I first want to see if there is any interest in them. If so, then I'll get out the receiver, plug them in, and make sure they still work.

Steve
 
I just bought a pair of RSL Elans, got them in a package deal with a Proton D1200 amp, an Adcom GPT-500ii preamp, Adcom GFA-5300 amp, Audiosource Amp One and a pair of Polk bookshelf speakers for $480.00. It was all or nothing. I think I got a pretty good deal although the Proton amp laves me in a quandary, do I use it or my Nikko Alpha II to power the Elans as my main house system? The Nikko has been the house systems power, both are the same power output and have big meters. The Elans sound great through both the Nikko and the Proton.
 
What a great long lived thread! A number of years ago I got a pair of dead mint later RSL3600s for $15 (it was the thrift's half price day). I absolutely love the sound of these having heard and owned many other vintage speakers over the years.

Howard, if you are still subscribed to this thread, thanks for the gift of great sound and extraordinary build quality you put into these speakers.
 
I've owned a pair of the CG-6a for a few years. By far my favorite speaker out of my collection of mid-fi gear. I managed to pick them up for $50 at an estate sale, I knew it was a deal, but these things are impeccable. I see them pop up on eBay and FB marketplace at $200+ and they are worth that or more. I'd really love to own a set of early Elan, but I moved to the midwest from Cali, and I doubt I'll see any RSL stuff out here.
 
Bigears said:
I don't read much here about RSL speakers, but I'm an avid collector and having A/B's these with almost every other speaker I can get my hands on, I keep coming back. The clean and powerful sound that these speakers produce combined with the beautiful cabinet work (many were solid oak) and solid build quality have me almost obsessed with these. Plus, how can you not love speakers made in Canoga Park, CA? So how many of us are there on AK?
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I have a pair of RSL Titans that still sound fantastic; but, they won't go in our "new" house. Do you have any interest in them?
 
hifitommy said:
i mostly remember them trying to emulate JBLs in appearance and sound. there were some that were pretty good and i remember what was called SPEED SCREENS that had a narrow front to back aspect. RSL realized that money was to be made on existing products like Dahlquist DQ10s that were sold nearly across Van Nuys Blvd at Paris Audio.

the store on Canoga Ave had a department in the store called Upscale run by Kevin Deal now of Upscale Audio in Laverne CA. they sold a higher level of equipment in that room and a friend of mine worked for Kevin back then in that room.

RSL is back selling a value oriented sub/sat system that is actually very good at ~ $1200 delivered. the sub is wireless and remotely controlled for ease of set up. i beliee Howard's son is a major part of the company now.
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Yes, he told me via an email response that his son has taken the reigns in the production side. After stumbling on the pair of CG-8A's and posting on AK for guidance in learning more about them, it was suggested that I email Howard directly and get information from him. I almost didn't bother, but I did. I expected to receive an instantaneous automated squeeze page reply if anything. About 18 hours later, I got a reply from Howard. It included a copy of the marketing information for the compression guide speaker line, including mine, as well as the specs and a little bit more insight into the overall sale and subsequent react position of the company after the corporate buyers went under.
Apparently the compression guide speakers were the last real design breakthrough before the company was sold
 
dragondad said:
rsl CG-82 I have an opportunity to acquire a pair but can't find much about them. These are the 2 way towers with 2 8" and a 1" in a compression guide cabinet. Anyone own them presently or in the past? What do they do well? I am looking for something to use in a 2 channel rig in my large master bedroom, something with good imaging, clarity, good midrange for voices and neutral to a bit laid back. I did see the brochure. Also posted in dollars and cents to try and get an idea on value. Any input is appreciated.
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Sounds like a tower version of the cg8a bookshelf speakers I have, coming at a time when RSL was marketing the concept that fewer crossovers led to better sound quality. I don't remember the specifics of the pitch, but I believe it's centered on the idea that fewer crossovers compensated by speakers capable of a broader frequency range lessened the possibility of a lack of balance between low mid and high range.
For what it's worth, the acquisition of my cg-8s was completely random; I was going to pick up a turntable and cassette deck locally listed for a really good price and the picture that was taken just showed the speakers but in a very unflattering position leading me to believe that they might be tossed in the dumpster on my way out of the condo I was going to pick up from. In hindsight, none of the other items really would matter to me, except for those speakers because they are time and again my go-to's. I really really love the sound of these speakers no fatigue, no no excessive coloring and, especially for my place which is not too large, perfectly suited for the application. Are you all on the west coast most everyone who is finding these speakers? I've never run into any RSL products here on the East coast and, the only reason these speakers were here was because the woman I got them from was from California here taking care of her mother. Can't help but say that I hope these remain somewhat under the radar as I would be very pleased to acquire a floor standing pair of the older, less traditional floor standing speakers
 
I am glad to see this thread is still alive. Just listening to my pair of Elans at low volume and they still sound great. I have them paired with a Pioneer SX525 and a Realistic Lab 400 turntable.
 
jim249 said:
I am glad to see this thread is still alive. Just listening to my pair of Elans at low volume and they still sound great. I have them paired with a Pioneer SX525 and a Realistic Lab 400 turntable.
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Do you mind me asking what kind of cartridge and stylus you’re running on your Lab 400. My needle just broke and I’m try to find a replacement.
 
CoryF said:
Do you mind me asking what kind of cartridge and stylus you’re running on your Lab 400. My needle just broke and I’m try to find a replacement.
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It is a newer shure mx97ed I think. It is at my other house so can't look at it right now.
 
Great thread and I want to thank everyone for sharing.

I first learned about RSL back in 2005 when I picked up some RSL bookshelf speakers for $15. They reminded me of the old JBL sound which I loved. I kept them but put them in storage around 2011.

Fast forward to 2021 and I bought a Depth Charge for $50. Hooked it up to my RSL VS-8a's and was impressed with the resulting sound. The imaging and overall synergy are top notch. A week later, I picked up some non-mirrored Black RSL Elans for $400.00, mainly based off the reviews I read here . The Elans sound amazing and are well worth the price I paid. Makes me regret passing up on a set I saw at a GW for $50 many years ago.

Anyways... Thank you to everyone here who has contributed and shared in this thread.
 
Does anyone here know what the name of this RSL speaker is? It's definitely an older model and, big surprise, it sounds amazing....

PXL-20210225-172045246.jpg
 
Braunbear66 said:
Picked up some vintage RSL Ranger Series 10" 3-way. Just service @ Speaker City Burbank with some new tweeters. Very clean sounding and cabinets and speaker cover is really nice.


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I am stoked you found these speakers, thanks for the post- I have the same speakers and have been trying to find their story since I rescued them at a garage sale 10 years ago in La Quinta, Ca for $10. They were mainly my garage/studio speakers, powered by a Technics SU-V9. I was using Kenwood Kabuki KL-777’s for inside the house, mainly because wifey preferred their mid-century appeal. After seeing your post, and comparing the Kenwoods to the RSL’s (connected to a Mac1900/Carver M1.0t set up to that really woke up the RSL’s) I lovingly applied some beeswax to the blonde/patina cabinets and left the RSL’s where the Kenwoods had been. Wifey will adjust. Now that I know what series speakers I have, I can say that the almost 50 year old RSL Ranger speakers sound freakin’ superb whether I am pushing them, or grooving at a lower volume. The adjustable tweeter and midrange feature is like a built-in-bi-amp that is too cool. I am amazed when certain amps and speakers “click”. Cheers
 
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