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Vintage Cerwin-Vega - Any Good Ones?
- Thread starter Turnergande
- Start date
rudawg06
Member
I have a pair of 316R as well. Got them from a guy that served in the USAF. He was the original owner and they are mint!
rudawg06
Member
I
Own a pair and they are very special! Great sounding speaker!
rudawg06
Member
Yeah it's the CH 504 that was built over seas. Same build as the U351 HED but with a rear firing mid. A great speaker!
rudawg06
Member
I have several pairs of Cerwin-Vegas. Too many to name but I thought I'd look at what people we're saying about S2 since I hooked them up to lay tonight.
I've heard CV bashers for years; they're too bassy, not quality, party speakers, etc. For every speaker made I could match it with a CV speaker. See, it's a Loudspeaker Company but the engineers didn't exclude quality engineering just to put a speaker on the market. They created a quality Loudspeaker that is Efficient let's not forget that.
CV can do what most speakers can and for some, better. Simple. They are able to reproduce All genre' of music with Clarity and Definition, play at high volumes with no destorton, and efficient.
I'll stay with the brand!
I've heard CV bashers for years; they're too bassy, not quality, party speakers, etc. For every speaker made I could match it with a CV speaker. See, it's a Loudspeaker Company but the engineers didn't exclude quality engineering just to put a speaker on the market. They created a quality Loudspeaker that is Efficient let's not forget that.
CV can do what most speakers can and for some, better. Simple. They are able to reproduce All genre' of music with Clarity and Definition, play at high volumes with no destorton, and efficient.
I'll stay with the brand!
Nice Vega collection! I’ve got a soft spot for my own restored and slightly modded VS-120’s.
The Rebel
Active Member
I'll chime in, since I feel I qualify as a disciple of Cerwin Vega. It all started in the late '70s when I heard my first set at a friends house. I knew I would own CV from that point on. Bought my first pair of HED U-321s in '83 after my older brother got his in '81. They were demoing the D series at that time. I wasn't impressed. I liked the old school sound of the HEDs much better. Fast forward 36 years, I still have my U-321s, along with 8 more pair of CVs. All of them are from the '70s, except for the 3 pair of DX-9s I have. From the first time I listened to the HEDs, I was in heaven, but I always wanted the old school beautiful walnut veneer that the early CVs had. I finally got a pair of 313s, which are the closest 12' 3 way to the 321, with nearly identical drivers and crossovers, but with beautiful walnut cabinets. I finally made it! Now for the rest of them.
1 pair of 15T
2 pair of 12TR
1 pair of S-1
1 pair of 313
1 pair of HED U-321
3 pairs of DX-9
All are walnut except for the HEDs, and the DX-9s.
I have 2 pair of DX-9s in my den hooked to two Carver PM 2.0t amps, with a Soundcraftsmen PE-2217-R pre amp. Floyd never sounded so good.
All the others go in and out of rotation through the bedroom, or den played on either an SX-1250, SA-9500II, or an SX-780.
Rudawg06, you scored on the 316Rs. My next pair.
1 pair of 15T
2 pair of 12TR
1 pair of S-1
1 pair of 313
1 pair of HED U-321
3 pairs of DX-9
All are walnut except for the HEDs, and the DX-9s.
I have 2 pair of DX-9s in my den hooked to two Carver PM 2.0t amps, with a Soundcraftsmen PE-2217-R pre amp. Floyd never sounded so good.
All the others go in and out of rotation through the bedroom, or den played on either an SX-1250, SA-9500II, or an SX-780.
Rudawg06, you scored on the 316Rs. My next pair.
Do you run both PAIRS of DX9’s at the same time? Good Lord I’d love to hear that setup!
The Rebel
Active Member
Yessir, that's a nice collection, dawg. Love the S-2, and 316R. I never was impressed with the D-series as much as I was with all the other CVs I've heard. They definitely have a place, but i concentrated on vintage, then went straight to the DX-9. I hear good things about the AT15s, although I've never heard a set.
Nice cabinet work, lokerola.
Well, that’s a hell of a collection you’ve got. I’ve never heard older CV’s, but I keep an eye out for them in case I get a chance to pick up a pair. They’re getting harder to find.
Thanks. The restore was adventure for sure.
The Rebel
Active Member
Yes. I run all four with two identical amps. It's not necessary but I like them all running as close to the same as possible.
Either of these two:
2 x Carver PM 2.0ts
2 x B&K ST-202+
2 x Soundcraftsmen PCR 800s
2 x QSC GX-5s
Any of these amps will shake the house with all 4 rocking.
Yes. I run all four with two identical amps. It's not necessary but I like them all running as close to the same as possible.
Either of these two:
2 x Carver PM 2.0ts
2 x B&K ST-202+
2 x Soundcraftsmen PCR 800s
2 x QSC GX-5s
Any of these amps will shake the house with all 4 rocking.
Holy cow - bring the thunder!!
Thanks @The Rebel - they're excellent sounding speakers. They didn't work great in my big living room, but in smaller spaces they're something special. I have them in my son's room now hooked up to a little monoprice hybrid tube amp and Dayton 8" sub and they're fantastic. Good luck finding a pair!
rebelliondog
Active Member
Slightly modded???
I have never owned a pair of Cerwin Vegas......till Thursday. I picked up some VS-120's at a sale.....original owner passed and the family and friends were selling off the houseful of stuff to benefit a charity. I paid $75......absolutely perfect condition, not a scratch.
And.....the original paperwork and warranty card still sealed in the plastic they came in.
Of course.....deteriorated surrounds. Looneytoon (Rick Cobb) has shipped them already......I will rock them out for a while before giving someone else a chance at them.
I definitely can power them to their potential.....I use Crown PS-400's in the living room (each bridged makes about 600 watts). I will see how it goes.
Probably reviews from non audiophiles or people who do not like high fi audio and prefer those dumb little cube speakers.
Possibly they were not using a good receiver, vintage cv were some of best speakers but I do not have a pair yet .
madmallard
Quacked up cracker
I had some d9s that i gave away to a fabricator in a trade. Their foam was finally giving up, and I knew he could take care of em where I couldnt. really peculiar speaker; a 2-way 10". One time I powered them off a 3 piece boom box that moved about 8 watts into 6 ohms, and they still absolutely melted the walls.
I would own some more in a heartbeat if i had the space.
I would own some more in a heartbeat if i had the space.
rebelliondog
Active Member
Life is too short to listen to those 'dumb little cube speakers'.......time to rock out while I still have time (and my hearing) left.
The Rebel
Active Member
madmallard, you quacked up cracker... if you had 10" 2-way CVs in the D series, you just described D-2s. They do rock for their size.
D-9s are 15" 3 way speakers with twin mids and a horn tweeter. Either way, you were bitten with the Vega sound and won't ever be the same.
D-9s are 15" 3 way speakers with twin mids and a horn tweeter. Either way, you were bitten with the Vega sound and won't ever be the same.