Vintage Speakers £500?

[Orangepeel]

Hey everyone,

I hope you're all doing well!

I'm on the hunt for some vintage speakers and thought I'd reach out for some friendly advice.

I've been after some KEF reference 103/3's, but they're getting few and far between. Love their look, that bass driver, the fact they aren't rear ported and of course their sound quality. I know they sometimes need a little work but that's OK. Anyway if I can't find any of them, I need an alternative.

I've got a soft spot for makers with a rich heritage and a reputation for quality. Also, I'm into mid-century furniture, so love a hardwood box! As for my music taste, I'm into modern electronic music, not EDM stuff, but artists like Floating Points, Four Tet, Mount Kimbie, and some Calibre (Drum & Bass). Plus, I'm a big fan of hip hop like A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, and People Under The Stairs etc.

I've set my budget at around £500, and regarding the amp, I currently have a Marantz SR6300 surround sound amp, which I know isn't ideal but I do plan to swap that out in the future.

If any of you wonderful folks have any suggestions for speakers, I'd be incredibly grateful for your input.

Thanks so much in advance!

Cheers, O.

 

[Orangepeel]

I should say they need to be on stands. We may consider floors randers but the other half isn't so keen on having a couple of monoliths in the lounge!

Ta!

 

[Dswankey]

..I'm on the hunt for some vintage speakers

I've been after some KEF reference 103/3's, but they're getting few and far between. ... if I can't find any of them, I need an alternative.

I've got a soft spot for makers with a rich heritage and a reputation for quality. Also, I'm into mid-century furniture, so love a hardwood box!

I've set my budget at around £500

@Orangepeel

I see you joined AK today so welcome aboard and here's hoping you enjoy your time here.

One of the things that will help folks with suggestions is clarification on your end on where you plan on shopping and purchasing, my guess is in England as your budget is in Pounds.

This forum is US based so hopefully folks who read this will hone their advice to speakers that might be more readily available to you in England then here.

Some vintage brands that I would think would be available are B&W, Tannoy, Rodgers LS, Wharfedale, Spendor just to name a few, you might keep an eye out for German made Brauns too

Best of luck on your hunt!

 

[Coolhandjjl]

I was going to suggest Braun as well.

 

[Orangepeel]

Cheers guys.

I'll look into these!

 

[J English]

Not sure if ADS speakers are over there in large numbers, the early models used Braun drivers I believe. Even the lower range 2-way speakers are great, as others can attest. I use my 520s on stands in our living room to raise them up behind the modular sofa, and that works well.

I also love older KEF speakers which still play great and can often be found for little money. Q series, Coda, etc.

 

[gongli]

British audio made many good speakers, so you should be able to find quality pair for the money. I second the ones already mentioned, especially Braun / ADS. I simply adored mine, but was stupid to sell them to my cello student for peanuts, because she needed them but was not willing to spend the money...I am in the market to hunt one down as well - go slow and ask questions on sites like this, and your ears will thank you - me thinks. ...and you are absolutely right about SR6000 - few surround sound receivers do stereo well...

 

[Orangepeel]

Not sure if ADS speakers are over there in large numbers, the early models used Braun drivers I believe. Even the lower range 2-way speakers are great, as others can attest. I use my 520s on stands in our living room to raise them up behind the modular sofa, and that works well.

I also love older KEF speakers which still play great and can often be found for little money. Q series, Coda, etc.

Brill. I'll have a look at ADS. Not familiar with them.

Thanks!

 

[Orangepeel]

British audio made many good speakers, so you should be able to find quality pair for the money. I second the ones already mentioned, especially Braun / ADS. I simply adored mine, but was stupid to sell them to my cello student for peanuts, because she needed them but was not willing to spend the money...I am in the market to hunt one down as well - go slow and ask questions on sites like this, and your ears will thank you - me thinks. ...and you are absolutely right about SR6000 - few surround sound receivers do stereo well...

Thanks for the input. The thrill of the chase now!

 

[JoeESP9]

I should say they need to be on stands. We may consider floors randers but the other half isn't so keen on having a couple of monoliths in the lounge!

Ta!

Many tower speakers occupy the same amount of floor space as small bookshelf speakers on stands. They also generally have better bass and can play louder.

Regardless, I suggest exploring speakers with front ports or acoustic suspension (no port) type. A front port allows placement closer to the front wall as does an acoustic suspension type.

You expressed your budget amount in £'s. I have no knowledge of speaker prices in GB. Consequently, I can't recommend any specific speakers.

 

[rothwellaudio]

I should say they need to be on stands. We may consider floors randers but the other half isn't so keen on having a couple of monoliths in the lounge!

Ta!

Speakers on stands aren't really any less intrusive than floorstanders in my opinion.

Many tower speakers occupy the same amount of floor space as small bookshelf speakers on stands. They also generally have better bass and can play louder.

I agree.

 

[Orangepeel]

Just to wrap this up.

Well I feel extremely lucky - got an alert on ebay a few days ago for pair on ebay that have recently been refurbished - New ferro fluid in the tweeters, voice coil and magnet gap all cleaned out. New donuts on the internal bass drivers (correct density and weight), rubber mounting grommets for the bass drivers, grill cloth and in lovely condition with stands and kube.

Missus is happy as we can now get rid of the wharfedale sub she absolutely detests!

Just need to start thinking about an amp now

V. Excited to receive these!

Thanks for all the input, everyone!

 

[Dswankey]

Just to wrap this up.

Well I feel extremely lucky - got an alert on ebay a few days ago for pair on ebay that have recently been refurbished -

V. Excited to receive these!

Thanks for all the input, everyone!

So what brand & model are they?

 

[Orangepeel]

So what brand & model are they?

The Kef Reference 103/3.

The model I was originally after.

The only thing I'm trying to work out now is if it is possible to run the kef kube through my marantz receiver until I find a replacement stereo amp.