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"SPRING" Thrift Store Finds....

Stopped at local GW today........Not many deals there anymore :no:

Only electronics were a boatload of cheap TV's, stacks of VCR's and cheap crap speakers.

THey used to have decent deals on speakers ($2-3 for small size, $5-10 for larger) But that seems to have changed. Now small ones are $10.99:no:
and large ones $25+:no:

Pair of junky Sanyos for $49 EACH! :saywhat:



Did find a nice rolltop desk tho!!
So the trip wasn't a total loss!

:beerchug:
 
This weekend, one pair Utah HS-2A "3-way" (tweeter and woofer with whizzer cone.) 20 watts. $5. Couldn't resist. I hear they were the budget audiophile's choice in their day. Already ordered new caps for the tweeters and will probably seal them with some rope caulk. Can't complain at that price. :music:
 
Highping...those Yamy covers are nail gunned on....as I finally pryed mine off...finding a rip in one woofer cone and a dead tweeter..Looks like the rip was factory!! I glued up the rip..and swapped a Panasonic tweeter in, very similar! Seemed to work fine....but too low end of speakers!! I swapped the pair to a guy, for a single Koss M65 Dynamite silk dome tweeter..that I needed! A great swap....now I have a nice pair of Mini Koss M65's...similar to the Realistic Minimus 7's...of which I have 2 pair!...+ Minimus 3.5's,12's, + 210's.. Cheers...Jim
 
Ohhh....this thread is right up my alley! I've been hitting Thrift Stores lately (courtesy of unemployment) and have seen some good deals.

I saw a pair of Nivico RSS-963 speakers for $14.99. I did not know anything about them so I passed (I now have learned, courtesy of Google, that they are old JVC's).

I saw a pair of Mini Advent II Indoor/Outdoor speakers for $25.00. Price seemed high (?) so I passed. I also couldn't figure out how to remove the grill so it was a gamble I did not want to take (this particular Thrift Store has an "all sales final" policy).

One thrift store has a pair of Roger Charles speakers for $25.00 each. They only have one apparent full range speaker in each (and a nice indent on each dust cover) and they looked rather beat up. The grill covers snap on and I could not get them to easily snap back in place (they were already removed). They are definitely *vintage* but again, no returns. ;)

I have seen various old Sony and Fisher speakers in various states of repair -- I need to start carrying a digital camera and take some pics. This would also be useful if you could help me identify some "unbranded" speakers. There is a nice looking set at one store that has NO branding or model numbers at all. They're pretty big and are $14.99. One speaker's inside color (behind the grill) is white and the other is black -- does that ring a bell? I'm not sure if they are someone's science project or an actual official release of an old speaker.
 
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Van_Isle.....Last year I found a Pioneer 5.1 receiver, at a local SallyAnne for $12.00 CDN...taped facedown on top of the receiver, was what I though were a small pair of Pioneer Surround speakers. When I got out to my truck, and removed the 2 speakers off ...they turned out to be Black Paradigm Atoms!! Sold them for a quick $155.00 CDN on Ebay! I was shocked they got that much! I wasn't impressed with the foam surrounds...I like rubber!! I still have the Pioneer... it's a good tester!
 
I found a pair of Realistic Minimus 210's the other day at the Salley Anne...1/2 price at $7.50....Similar in size and looks as the Koss M85's! 5" woofer + dome tweet...
 
Teradacto58 said:
Van_Isle.....Last year I found a Pioneer 5.1 receiver, at a local SallyAnne for $12.00 CDN...taped facedown on top of the receiver, was what I though were a small pair of Pioneer Surround speakers. When I got out to my truck, and removed the 2 speakers off ...they turned out to be Black Paradigm Atoms!! Sold them for a quick $155.00 CDN on Ebay! I was shocked they got that much! I wasn't impressed with the foam surrounds...I like rubber!! I still have the Pioneer... it's a good tester!
Click to expand...

Well done! An excellent surprise.

Fired up the micros today - quite astounding sound for such a small package. As I think I mentioned, they will go into my surround system as rears, to replace "The Soucre" Centrios speakers (oh - what WAS I thinking!) that are there now. Actually the Centrios were purchased on sale a number of years ago to just put sound downstairs for the kids - powered by my wife's old mid-80's 20wpc Technics receiver. At that time the electronics section at the SA was mixed in with toasters and curling irons. Now the BPC has a section all to its own :D. But at least the Centrios speakers were good testers to see if my cat was inclined to try to balance on top of the speaker stands.

So with my acquisition today (non thrift store) of a 2nd set of Paradigm Titans (early V1 in light cherry - and very good shape - for $40) I have a plethora of Paradigm to choose from:

1 set micros
1 set 3SE Mini
2 sets Titans (one set is a work in sloooowww progress)
1 CC-200 center channel

Perhaps I'll assemble the 2nd pair of stands I have (2 pairs of metal API stands for $20) and put either the Titans or the 3SE Minis as fronts to replace the Sound Acoustics (A&B Sound house brand - stood in line at the Boxing Day sale years ago) towers there now. Then the only non-thrift store or "usedeverywhere / craigslist" purchase not in my surround system will be the Sony 6.1 receiver (stood in line at Futureshop for that one). But darn .... I need a Paradigm subwoofer then ... my current is a Sound Acoustics as well ($25).
 
Saw a pair of Jensen JHS63 bookshelf speakers for $14. Each had one broken prong for their grill but otherwise appeared fine.

Did Jensen *ever* make good speakers? I can't find much on the net about these at all (one page lists the specs as 3-ways. 8Ohms, 40-18,000hz Freq. Range). The labels looked old, but they may have been "retro" styled but made within the past 10 years...

Edit - found some pics from a craigslist listing:http://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/ele/1131507214.html

I get the feeling they aren't that old, so probably not that good.
 
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atrac said:
Saw a pair of Jensen JHS63 bookshelf speakers for $14. Each had one broken prong for their grill but otherwise appeared fine.

Did Jensen *ever* make good speakers?

I get the feeling they aren't that old, so probably not that good.
Click to expand...

They used to make some good drivers back in the day, but their modern stuff is just your garden variety consumer electronics. You could always use those for computer speakers with an old receiver. How do they sound?

Here are some of their older products: http://www.oaktreeent.com/Jensen_Speaker_Parts.htm
 
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We were shopping in Bellingham,WA today.....My wife said "NO Speakers!" First stop at Value Village....a very nice Infinity CC2 center channel , only $9.99 I showed my son ...and he scored it!! I picked up 4x Sanus adjustable speaker stands. Nice black heavy cast bases...and sort of "S" shaped silver metalic adjustable round tubular stands....all 4 for $19.00! Lots of small imported bookshelf crap...an early pair of Cerwin Vega 2 way 8" woofer + horn for $19.95, a pair of Pioneer towers 3way dual 6 1/2" woofers...$24.95 each... We later stopped at Goodwill...found an identical pair of CV's there too! Also a few assorted 12" 3 way..cheapies + a decent looking FOAMY 15" powered sub..for $49.95.....I forgot the name...Acoustic?? something! The only thing that went out with me from Goodwill...was another nice 6" Henckel Pro Knife!!!...for $ .99 cents... Post pics later..
 
thrifts are excellent for good deals on speakers sometimes.

I picked up a pair of Realistic MC-1000s for $5.00!!! That's a phenominal deal, considering a rye and coke at the bar is about that much!

And my friend picked up a pair of early '80s Aurex speakers, also for $5.00 at the same store. HELL YERRR!!! One of them didn't work, but hey, at least they were cheap! lol

I'm gonna hit up the thrift pretty soon here, I need some respectable speakers for my Kenny.
 
E-V 11's & KLH 17's

A pair of Electro-Voice Elevens about 1 month ago for $8.99 in very good shape, cabs, driver, grills, badges and all.

Yesterday, a pair of KLH 17 in very reasonable condition. Cabs are good, no gouges, dents, chips or scratches. Only needs to be oiled up. One grill is destroyed and no badges. Drivers look good. Haven't listened to them yet but will before I re-cap and re-dope the woofer. These were only $3.99 for the pair! (CDN!) Man these are heavy for their size. Where can I get badges?

So . . . was that a score?
 
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Today I saw a pair of Acoustic Profiles PSL-7.5 speakers. The size was right between a large bookshelf and a floor speaker. I got excited when I saw them from a distance, but was turned off by the $35 price for the pair. That's probably a good eBay price for them, but hardly a thrift store price. :(

I also mentioned earlier that I had seen a pair of "unknown" speakers with Roger Charles mid-ranges in them. I looked at them more carefully today and saw mention of the brand "Auratone." So I'm pretty sure that's what they are (although someone possibly switched out the drivers with the RC's). I am tempted to get them but once again, $50 is not a good thrift store price. ;)

Saw a set of Kenwood Floor Standing Speakers that looked old. $25.00 each. From what I've read, I was wise to have passed on them.

Is it just me or are thrift shops raising their prices!??!

As an aside, someone PLEASE stop people from putting their fingers into the dust caps!!! I've seen so many speakers that are fine but when I check them again a few days later they've been pushed in. Is the need to do that based on a nipple fetish, a pimple fetish, or a doorbell fetish!?!? :(
 
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Stopped at local GW today, saw a large shiny speaker in the corner....

"DiVinchi" (Read White Van)
Looked to be a non-powered woofer module. Picked it up to look at back, it was REAL LIGHT, felt the cones/surrounds a bit and put it back in the corner!

THey wanted $80 fot the thing!!! :nono::thumbsdn::puke:
 
wilkes85 said:
thrifts are excellent for good deals on speakers sometimes.

And my friend picked up a pair of early '80s Aurex speakers, also for $5.00 at the same store. HELL YERRR!!! One of them didn't work, but hey, at least they were cheap! lol
Click to expand...

The mystery is half the fun. You never know what to expect when you pull 'em apart! Dirt... fried caps... giant wasps that attack you and lay eggs in your brain...
 
atrac said:
Is it just me or are thrift shops raising their prices!??!
Click to expand...

I know someone that works at Goodwill, and they do go online to check item values, and mark up accordingly.

I saw a pair of Pioneer CS99a's for $60 at one time... they looked fairly nice but that seemed expensive. But then I bought a pair of AR-2ax's for $15 and all was right with the world.

atrac said:
Is the need to do that based on a nipple fetish, a pimple fetish, or a doorbell fetish!?!? :(
Click to expand...

:lmao::lmao::lmao: Kids these days... what with their white vans and their doorbell fetishes!
 
atrac said:
Today I saw a pair of Acoustic Profiles PSL-7.5 speakers. The size was right between a large bookshelf and a floor speaker. I got excited when I saw them from a distance, but was turned off by the $35 price for the pair. That's probably a good eBay price for them, but hardly a thrift store price. :(<<

Dunno anything about those speakers, but if they were worth that on E-bay, why NOT get them?? Just think..no high dollar shipping costs!! :thmbsp:

>>Is it just me or are thrift shops raising their prices!??!<<

They probably watch E-bay.....the profit that they make goes to a good cause :thmbsp:

>>As an aside, someone PLEASE stop people from putting their fingers into the dust caps!!! I've seen so many speakers that are fine but when I check them again a few days later they've been pushed in. Is the need to do that based on a nipple fetish, a pimple fetish, or a doorbell fetish!?!? :(
Click to expand...

Usually a piece of cake to suck them out with the gentle application of a vacuum cleaner hose. :thmbsp:
 
Harvey/ Ga said:
Usually a piece of cake to suck them out with the gentle application of a vacuum cleaner hose. :thmbsp:
Click to expand...

Agreed! And that was my first thought when I saw the Kenwood's. Unfortunately, it was the 1 inch tweeter that was pushed in -- and I could see that it was also torn in the process. :(
 
I've seen several sets of White Van speakers for sale now (Acoustic Series 3311's, for example). Usually the stores are asking about $50 - $60 a pair.

My first inclination is to run and tell them "Hey, these are out of a van..they should be cheaper!!!" But then, I realize it's all for charity (at least at the stores I go to) and secretly wish them the best of luck in getting the most that they can for them. :)
 
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