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Vintage Speakers - and Pioneer SX780

S

scutland

New Member
Hello all,

First post - patience.

I've been running a Pioneer SX780 for some time now, love Pioneer SX series. However, my speaker knowledge base often gets overrun with too many options.

I want to run an A/B setup to play both, or just A depending on situation. Budget isn't a huge issue, but I do believe in restoring good older stuff, and I enjoy it, rather than just dumping 1K into a pair of no work. That said, I am looking for a B pair. Right now I own a pair of Baby Advents (shallow) a pair of Onyo Radiant IIIs, toasty and don't particularly like them, A pair of White Van Acoustic Monitors, which actually have a decent low end. . . my A speakers at the moment are a pair of very nicely redone KLH 17s. I know KLH has it's lovers and haters, but I actually like these speakers. Could they have more body and more bass. . . sure. . . and they definintely are power houses, but playing records from some old Neil Young or The Band on this sounds great.

I'd like to get a good set of speakers with some body to the low end of them. . . even something that can handle more output at an outdoor party perhaps, but still vintage. Suggestions - throw it out there . . . budget is ideally low - but realistically 750 or under . . . I"ve never owned any ARs, KLH23s, Pioneer 60 or 100s, or any big ADS . . . thank you!
 
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So many to choose from! I think you're on the right track. Just for the hell of it, I would go 3-way to mix it up from what you have....ADS L810 or L880, Pioneer HPM-100, Yamaha NS-2000, JBL 4311. But, if you want more bass and oomph, look at something that has a bigger woofer than the 10" in KLH 17. Lastly, I think you should focus on 8 ohm speakers. If you hook up a pair of 4 ohms in a A+B set up AND you want to party, that will be too much for your amp to handle.
 
Hoytis said:
So many to choose from! I think you're on the right track. Just for the hell of it, I would go 3-way to mix it up from what you have....ADS L810 or L880, Pioneer HPM-100, Yamaha NS-2000, JBL 4311. But, if you want more bass and oomph, look at something that has a bigger woofer than the 10" in KLH 17. Lastly, I think you should focus on 8 ohm speakers. If you hook up a pair of 4 ohms in a A+B set up AND you want to party, that will be too much for your amp to handle.
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Thanks! 100% agree to 8ohm unless you like fireworks. HPM 100s would be awesome especially since my receiver is a pioneer, but they’re big $$. I’ve always wanted to give ADS a try but never seem
to come across them readily. Thanks for the input!

PS any experience with EPI or Kefs - those pop up at times.
 
EPI 100's are a solid all around speaker that was very popular back in their day which meant the sold a lot of them thus they seem to pop up a lot. If you can find a fully functional pair for a decent price I would say go for it. I always liked the ones I had and kinds regret letting them go
 
Agree with Hoytis on the ADS L810’s. I have a pair and absolutely love them. I’ve had HPM 100’s too but I did not care for them. That’s just my personal opinion because I know they have a huge following. I have KLH model 23’s and really like them too but for all around listening, I like the ADS. And I power them with SX-1010. Good luck on your search and if all possible listen to them.
 
scutland said:
Thanks! 100% agree to 8ohm unless you like fireworks. HPM 100s would be awesome especially since my receiver is a pioneer, but they’re big $$. I’ve always wanted to give ADS a try but never seem
to come across them readily. Thanks for the input!

PS any experience with EPI or Kefs - those pop up at times.
Click to expand...
I've haven't heard "vintage" KEFs, but I wouldn't hesitate putting money behind some...solid company. Don't know details about EPIs.
 
HPM 900's are less costly that HPM 100's, and I think they are a bit better. Will suit what you want -- no one as EVER complained a speaker of that series is lacking bass.

In fact, I can hear all sorts of stuff I'd rather not -- lip puffs on NPR (which is pretty bass heavy) and the sound of AC blowing on microphones in classical recordings. Turntable rumble is VERY annoying. Superb low end sound, down to 10Hz easy.
 
I think the SX-780 would run out of gas pretty quick with L-810s. 35 watts per channel?

I have 2 pairs of The older version of the ADS L-400s running on my 780 and they suit me just fine, though I'm not a major bass freak.
 
scutland said:
Hello all,

First post - patience.

I've been running a Pioneer SX780 for some time now, love Pioneer SX series. However, my speaker knowledge base often gets overrun with too many options.

I want to run an A/B setup to play both, or just A depending on situation. Budget isn't a huge issue, but I do believe in restoring good older stuff, and I enjoy it, rather than just dumping 1K into a pair of no work. That said, I am looking for a B pair. Right now I own a pair of Baby Advents (shallow) a pair of Onyo Radiant IIIs, toasty and don't particularly like them, A pair of White Van Acoustic Monitors, which actually have a decent low end. . . my A speakers at the moment are a pair of very nicely redone KLH 17s. I know KLH has it's lovers and haters, but I actually like these speakers. Could they have more body and more bass. . . sure. . . and they definintely are power houses, but playing records from some old Neil Young or The Band on this sounds great.

I'd like to get a good set of speakers with some body to the low end of them. . . even something that can handle more output at an outdoor party perhaps, but still vintage. Suggestions - throw it out there . . . budget is ideally low - but realistically 750 or under . . . I"ve never owned any ARs, KLH23s, Pioneer 60 or 100s, or any big ADS . . . thank you!
Click to expand...

I’ve been going through something similar. Aside from buying several 780’s on eBay to find a mint unicorn for a second setup in a vacation condo, I wanted to find a pair of vintage speakers I had as a kid that I ran with my Pioneer receivers. Advents was on the list but I got cold feet buying old used speakers so I ended up getting a pair of RP-600Ms. Heading to the condo to setup this weekend. If the right vintage speakers popped up I might jump on them. Here’s the 780 after replaced the fake veneer with real walnut veneer.

F9621A4D-F6A4-45CC-9CC1-E682EC9554E1.jpeg
 
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Be careful even running 2 pair of speakers even if they are 8 ohms. The STK modules can overheat and fail when running 4 ohm loads(2 8ohm pair).

There are no new/NOS modules available and the ChiFi ones that are available are spotty at best.

If you really love your 780 use one set of speakers at a time.
 
Has the OP recapped the 17s and sealed the woofer surrounds (with the proper AR stuff)? They are a fine speaker when operating properly. Obviously no really deep bass, but that might be said about many of the suggested recommendations. And while many of those other speakers have more prominent high ends, not everyone will regard that as a plus, especially with 70s/80s receivers. In the OP's situation, I'd be loath to spend the money to buy most of those other speakers, especially if I hadn't been able to listen to them for an extended period. The KLH 23s might be an exception, since the sound is similar, but the 23 resolves many of the minor issues of the 17, and looks better, too.
 
wmgwizard said:
@churchill127

How many have you bought ?

The last time I had a 780 that needed STK's it took 3 sets to get one pair that worked and measured out favorably.
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Just to be clear, when you say you purchased "three sets", are you referring to the off brand STKs, or the discrete modules that have been discussed extensively on this forum:

https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/stk-0050-replacement-for-sx-780-and-others.721181/

ebay listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/223396732371?hash=item34037b9dd3:g:4E0AAOSw0~pcQ34b

He posts the Mouser BOM on the AK forum post if you want to do to build it yourself.

I have yet to purchase a set because my 780 still functions well, but its on my project to-do list along with the normal recap, new transistors, fuses, etc. After looking through the above forum post, there are enough people I trust on this forum discussing the modules to feel ok giving it a try. Happy to listen to your experience if its different though.
 
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