-
Please note that there are a few updates and clarifications made in the Audiokarma Rules, mostly relating to advertising and the addition of the new "Paying it Forward" & "Giving back" forums in the AudioKarma Audio Marketplace section.
What's your favorite smelling vintage speaker?
- Thread starter Rex81
- Start date
Zonker92
All shiny and chrome
mars_volta
Super Member
Not much smell until you remove a driver. Then you get that wooden box thats been sealed for 30 years smell. 
Oh yes, hot electronics smell is another good one. The amps here give off a distinct bit of whiff.
mars_volta
Super Member
Hot dusty electronics. Whenever I fire up the Collins 75A, I stick around to make sure nothing happens. 
i dont think that i have ever thought any of my speakers smelled good or bad, i have had a couple of receivers that reeked and when i first got them.
frommerstop
Super Member
I've had quite a few new speakers over the years, but the only ones I remember smelling good were Ohm Walshes. I had 1s,2s,3s,and 4s, and they all came with a little packet of lemon grass oil, and had a wonderfull lemon oil smell right out of the box. I remember that as a really nice touch when I first unpacked them. I've had more expensive speakers for shure, but I've always remembered that about Ohms.
Nightwisher
Farer In The Goldilocks Zone
I'll never forget when I opened the boxes (the original boxes) to my Boston Acoustics VR40s and they came out smelling strongly of lavender. It took a couple months for the smell to disappear, so they must have been by one of those spray air fresheners (or were sprayed before packaging). I debated buying a lavender air freshener to keep my system smelling that way; I still might at some point.
On the flip side, my Eosone RSF 600s started out smelling like cat pee (because they were, well, peed on), but they're better now.
I haven't really smelled any of my wood speakers. Maybe I should after reading this thread...
On the flip side, my Eosone RSF 600s started out smelling like cat pee (because they were, well, peed on), but they're better now.
I haven't really smelled any of my wood speakers. Maybe I should after reading this thread...
bakes
Super Member
Yep - every time I open up and play around with my KLH3s my college years come flooding back to me. That "wood and foam and a hint of solder" aroma.
bambam428
Active Member
I gotta stay loyal to my AR-3a. They're my favorite sounding, looking, feeling (heavy!), so they gotta be my favorite smelling too. I haven't gotten the fifth sense involved yet, but if I ever lick them, I'll let you know.
When I pulled my Jensen H222 coaxial drivers out of the shipping container, I got a strong whiff of cigarette smoke. They had been wrapped in plastic bags so the smell probably built up on the trip. Strangely, after the smell faded for a few days, I found the faint remnant somewhat pleasing. Gives them a sort of Rat Pack vibe, appropriate to the era they were made.
When I pulled my Jensen H222 coaxial drivers out of the shipping container, I got a strong whiff of cigarette smoke. They had been wrapped in plastic bags so the smell probably built up on the trip. Strangely, after the smell faded for a few days, I found the faint remnant somewhat pleasing. Gives them a sort of Rat Pack vibe, appropriate to the era they were made.
Ozone?
tanker 200
Super Member
I have a pair of AR-5's that have been in custom cabinets since new (1970?), They still have a fresh cut wood and new speaker smell when I open them up.
I thought this was a strange thread as well, but the AR-5's do have a certain odor to them to them.
audiomagnate
Addicted Member
I'm glad someone's paying attention!
camerakid
Active Member
Hold on, let me go smell all the speakers in the house...
Ok, results are in!
DLK 1's- smell like a mixture of dust, cat feces and particle board.
DB Plus 440s- better, but they smell a bit more like those disgusting Febreeze things that you put in your car.
Knight KN-3009's- oh, where do I start... a mixture of fiberglass, some type of animal & human feces, particle board, dust, thrift store, and Howard Restore-A-Finish and Feed-n-Wax.
Tannoy PBM 6.5's- much better! I think the mixture of sound dampening material, particle board (and Canada, of course!) make for a lovely scent.
But wait- There's still the freshly spray painted Minimus 7's! Mmmmmm, I LOVE the smell of spray paint!
So, Minimus 7's it is
Ok, results are in!
DLK 1's- smell like a mixture of dust, cat feces and particle board.
DB Plus 440s- better, but they smell a bit more like those disgusting Febreeze things that you put in your car.
Knight KN-3009's- oh, where do I start... a mixture of fiberglass, some type of animal & human feces, particle board, dust, thrift store, and Howard Restore-A-Finish and Feed-n-Wax.
Tannoy PBM 6.5's- much better! I think the mixture of sound dampening material, particle board (and Canada, of course!) make for a lovely scent.
But wait- There's still the freshly spray painted Minimus 7's! Mmmmmm, I LOVE the smell of spray paint!
So, Minimus 7's it is
Lol another reason to love AK !!! Definetly an interesting thread with a topic that I've thought of myself too. I would have to say most of my vintage speakers have their own "distinct" smell but none so more than my HPM 500s . Even with a fresh refoam , when they get to rockin I get a strong smell of wood, glue, an dampening material coming out of the ports.Kinda has that old electrical smell to it !!
