Vintage approach

C

choqueiro

New Member
Hi,

My name is Juan. I´m from Spain (Europe). I am 42 years old. Father of three children of 3, 5 and 7 years old (I´m never bored.... hahaha). I work on a real estate company. We make buildings and sell the homes. Sorry for my horrible english. Let´s hope you understand me.

As long as I can remember, I have enjoyed music. I also liked machines and electronic components, so it´s not uncommon that I have finished here.

Many months searching webs, forums, shows, videos, "expert" opinions, "commercial" opinions, sellers with "interests", sellers "without any interest"... Hi-Fi world is a long trip, a difficult trip with "shine" products and (at least) a five digit price... A jungle for rich men?? A paradise for the new economies?? Another "economic bubble"??... If you are a person like me, with little knowledge, it´s easy to be scared...

I'm looking to set up an hi-fi system. I don’t want “marketing brands”, I don’t want “marketing” devices. I want the true sound experience. I want a system to die for. I want the best. And if I’m looking for the best, “Vintage devices” are a reference and an essential stop.

What I´m lookig for: dynamic sound, holographic and intimate experience (the speakers disappear and you are in the live concert), warm sound (I´m not closed to neutral fidelity but I don´t want fatigue and "in your face sound"), deep bass (but I don´t want independent subs) and good speakers at low level volumes (very high efficiency/sensitive speakers).

It is clear that it´s absolutely necessary to hear the speakers "in person". The problem: I live in a region with no specific audio commerces. Consequently, the comments and suggestions of people like you are really important to me (expert and trustful advices).

Let´s talk about my room. It´s a big space of 41 square meters. The speakers are at 4 meters between each other and they are at 0,5 meters from the wall. The sofa is at 3,5 meters from the speakers aprox. This is my actual room. No specific treatment. Is a rented home so I´m not going (I can´t) make any change. In two years I´ll go to a new home. The dimensions of the new "audio space" will be similar or even bigger.

Music preferences (right now I´m really eclectic and I like a lot of music genres): soul, jazz, classics and a lot of rock.

Devices: I will choose the Power Amp + Pre + DAC + turntable after choosing the speakers. All new. (In principle I prefer valves).

Horns seem to focus my interest especially lately. I’m not closed to any technology or possibility; I´m not an expert. In particular, my main interest are vintage horns. Those old speakers seem to have something that new ones can’t have.

Some questions.

1) I really like horn speakers. Is this technology/design the best?? (high efficiency, high sensitivity from a specific driver, gobs of dynamic range and controlled directivity of the system)

2) What is the general opinion about front loaded horns with dual woofer??

3) As I said before, I really like vintage speakers. What is the general opinion about them??

4) Altec, Electro Voice, Bozak, WE, KEF, Celestion, Tannoy… Which model/brand is the reference in vintage speakers. I want something special and magnificent. My budget is high.

5) What about Japanese brands?? Are the vintage JBL, Rey Audio Kinoshita, Pioneer Exclusive or Technics (models SB-9500 or SB-10000) real options or there are not at the level??

6) What is the general opinion about refurbished JBL from Kenrick Sound??

7) Any web, commerce to go if I want quality restorations of vintage speakers??

Thanks in advance for your interest. Stay healthy.


p.s. I know that many of these topics have been discussed on the forum. I read many of them but I would like to hear recent opinions if it’s possible, although I know there will be no consensus (hahaha).
 
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choqueiro said:
Hi,

My name is Juan. I´m from Spain (Europe). I am 42 years old. Father of three children of 3, 5 and 7 years old (I´m never bored.... hahaha). I work on a real estate company. We make buildings and sell the homes. Sorry for my horrible english. Let´s hope you understand me.

As long as I can remember, I have enjoyed music. I also liked machines and electronic components, so it´s not uncommon that I have finished here.

Many months searching webs, forums, shows, videos, "expert" opinions, "commercial" opinions, sellers with "interests", sellers "without any interest"... Hi-Fi world is a long trip, a difficult trip with "shine" products and (at least) a five digit price... A jungle for rich men?? A paradise for the new economies?? Another "economic bubble"??... If you are a person like me, with little knowledge, it´s easy to be scared...

I'm looking to set up an hi-fi system. I don’t want “marketing brands”, I don’t want “marketing” devices. I want the true sound experience. I want a system to die for. I want the best. And if I’m looking for the best, “Vintage devices” are a reference and an essential stop.

What I´m lookig for: dynamic sound, holographic and intimate experience (the speakers disappear and you are in the live concert), warm sound (I´m not closed to neutral fidelity but I don´t want fatigue and "in your face sound"), deep bass (but I don´t want independent subs) and good speakers at low level volumes (very high efficiency/sensitive speakers).

It is clear that it´s absolutely necessary to hear the speakers "in person". The problem: I live in a region with no specific audio commerces. Consequently, the comments and suggestions of people like you are really important to me (expert and trustful advices).

Let´s talk about my room. It´s a big space of 41 square meters. The speakers are at 4 meters between each other and they are at 0,5 meters from the wall. The sofa is at 3,5 meters from the speakers aprox. This is my actual room. No specific treatment. Is a rented home so I´m not going (I can´t) make any change. In two years I´ll go to a new home. The dimensions of the new "audio space" will be similar or even bigger.

Music preferences (right now I´m really eclectic and I like a lot of music genres): soul, jazz, classics and a lot of rock.

Devices: I will choose the Power Amp + Pre + DAC + turntable after choosing the speakers. All new. (In principle I prefer valves).

Horns seem to focus my interest especially lately. I’m not closed to any technology or possibility; I´m not an expert. In particular, my main interest are vintage horns. Those old speakers seem to have something that new ones can’t have.

Some questions.

1) I really like horn speakers. Is this technology/design the best?? (high efficiency, high sensitivity from a specific driver, gobs of dynamic range and controlled directivity of the system)

2) What is the general opinion about front loaded horns with dual woofer??

3) As I said before, I really like vintage speakers. What is the general opinion about them??

4) Altec, Electro Voice, Bozak, WE, KEF, Celestion, Tannoy… Which model/brand is the reference in vintage speakers. I want something special and magnificent. My budget is high.

5) What about Japanese brands?? Are the vintage JBL, Rey Audio Kinoshita, Pioneer Exclusive or Technics (models SB-9500 or SB-10000) real options or there are not at the level??

6) What is the general opinion about refurbished JBL from Kenrick Sound??

7) Any web, commerce to go if I want quality restorations of vintage speakers??

Thanks in advance for your interest. Stay healthy.


p.s. I know that many of these topics have been discussed on the forum. I read many of them but I would like to hear recent opinions if it’s possible, although I know there will be no consensus (hahaha).
Click to expand...

Your English is fine. Good questions and high expectations, so many variables at play including what is ultimately practical without an unlimited budget. Qualifying questions will be asked and various options given by people having personal experience. If I had the room I'd still have my Altec 19s but realistic space considerations eliminated that option. Kenrick refurbished JBL has to be very good though I haven't heard them, they are also expensive. A big budget doesn't necessary make for an easier choice as it increases the number of good choices... kind of ironic. You're on a quest.
 
Hello to everyone. It’s a pleasure been here.

I don’t have a budget on mind but yes one of the bigs Kenrick’s is possible. But the question is what is the best option in terms of sound quality, not necessarily the most expensive.

Western Electric always seem to be at the top. South Korean manufacturer Silbatone, whose CEO is a renowned collector of vintage Western Electric audio gear, marks every High End show by bringing to Munich one or more loudspeakers. The general opinion always is that the sound exceed expectations. There is a man on France that restores original WE horns (https://13audio.com/). Models: 12A, 13A and 15A in solid wood!!. Problems: WE could be “intrusive” and what I really don’t want is a model that is hanging from the ceiling (the 15A is suspended if I’m not mistaken). Any opinion about WE?? Does anyone have heard any model?? Any recommendation??

Altec is other brand that catches the attention of any vintage audiophile. Gary Fischer seems to make great Altec replicas but from the one single woofer models A5 and A7. Great plains audio makes nice enclosures/replicas but they are of the famous model 19. But if we talk about dual woofer horns, in Altec (for example), we are talking about 817, 211 and 815 models, and it seems that is not easy to find decent restorations of these ones. Any opinion?? Apart from this, is the model 19 at the level of the others??

In the other hand we have the Japanese vintage speakers. Kenrick is really famous for his work. His restorations are, “apparently” good and the prices are really high….I don’t know how much of quality and magnificient sound and how much of marketing is on his work… Does anyone head any of his speakers?? Opinions?? Even though Kenrick restorations are vintage JBL’s in his vast majority, he also restore Pioneer’s Exclusive models (2401 twin; 2402; 2404…) and, eventually, Technics (SB 9500 or SB 10000) and Rey Audio Kinoshita models. What about these others Japanese brands??

I would appreciated any comment/suggestion of these or other brands. I want something special and with your help I know that I will be able to find it.

Thanks.
 
Western Electric will be as scarce as hen's teeth or snowballs in hades. Replicas will be extremely expensive in the 12a and 13A variety, then you need the drivers and throat adapters.
An A5, A7 or 210 will be considerably less expensive, excepting when you go to the multicell horns and drivers.
Good luck.
 
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If I could find a pair and afford a set of SB-10000's I would jump on them in a heartbeat. The time aligned SB series are very good.

I cannot say great as "great" to me is a personal preference.

Speakers are a very emotional connection one must hear to decide.
 
I have a huge bias for vintage Altec, they simply resolve the critical mid range in amazing fashion for me. It is intoxicating. They are fantastic for Jazz etc. Given your lack of availability to hear anything local and the risks of vintage equipment needing some repair you dont have resources for you could get "Vintage" Altec drivers new from GP (https://greatplainsaudio.com/products/) and have someone local build you some cabinets for them. This will allow you to have amazing vintage Altec sound but with new drivers that will last decades and in cabinets that are perfect for you as they are built to your needs / appearances. These will sound fantastic on 2-3 watts of tube power.


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