Speakers from last century that you love

[Brent71]

My first speaker mowed a lot of lawns still have today and sound great

Your speakers mowed a lot of lawns!?

 

[DudeAnon]

ADS L1290.

I greatly enjoyed them for over 25 years.

I owned ADS L1290s for 30+ years. A great speaker. Finally replaced them with Revel f226bes.

 

[al2002]

Quad 57 & 63, Spendor BC-1, Alliaon1, 2, 3, 4,5, 6, etc, Mackie 824 MK 1, Yamaha NS-1000.

 

[Frank Dernie]

I still have my Yamaha NS1000Ms and still think they sound great.

 

[Kblade]

Your speakers mowed a lot of lawns!?

Comedian

 

[MattHooper]

Sound like MA3, Focal tweeter, oval bass driver (EMI iirc) and the famous Peerless K040 mid driver used in several speaker I liked.
I owned a pair and they were great!

Turns out you were right, Frank!

Here’s a later threat of mine with photos,asking about them. And I’ve currently got them up for sale (for my father-in-law who is selling his home):

Monitor Audio MA3 Series II - Old School - ANYONE KNOW THESE SPEAKERS?

Monitor Audio MA3 Series II My father in law, an engineer and sort of old school audiophile, is emptying his home and so we'll be selling these speakers (probably!). He listens only to classical music, and bought these Monitor Audio speakers apparently in the 70's. Also uses a Harman Kardon...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[MattHooper]

One of the best things about reference-grade speakers from the previous century is they're way more affordable today.
I've always wanted to own a pair of Thiel towers and last year I was searching pretty hard for a pair of 3.5s to buy.
In December eBay sent me a notice that a pair of CS7 speakers had just been listed. They were a few hundred beyond what I was looking to spend, and several hundred miles away but SO worth it!

View attachment 453466

Amazing! Lucky you!

I remember listening to the Thiel 7.2s in a New York audio store and it has stuck with me ever since. I listen to some Miles Davis and Dave Brubeck cuts, and the sensation of solid, corporeal instruments being played in front of me blew me away.

I’m a long time Thiel fan. I started with their old model 2 (standard two way box speaker before they went time coherent, and I still own and love that speaker) and in my place I’ve had Thiel CS6…Thiel 3.7 and I still own Thiel 2.7 speakers.

 

[GEORGIADISE]

Thiel CS.5

 

[mglobe]

Epicure 20’s. Not sure how good they actually were but I loved them as did my friends. Pushed them with a Hafler 220 that I built. EPI/Epicure pushed the idea of a linear frequency response. I wonder how true to that they were.

 

[JohnnyNG]

I never owned a pair but boy did I lust after the big Polk SDA References every time I'd visit a particular NYC dealer in the Village during the late 80's/early 90's. To be honest I was so taken with the imaging I have no idea how they'd stack up in terms of things I value now.

I did own a pair of the OG NHT SuperZeroes (with NHT sub) and enjoyed the heck out of them.

 

[Waxx]

Today after work i went looking at some old speakers (i did not buy them), but the owner, a lawyer that lives in a 17th century castle, uses a pair of big JBL 4350's as main setup, amped with 2 NAD M23 amps and a minidsp. The space is a big hall with plaster walls with wood paneling on the lower section, and wood floors and ceiling and it sounded wondefull good. But these things are huge, and only work in big spaces i think. They probally also cost a fortune, then (new) and now (second hand).

(picture from internet as illustration)

 

[amper42]

Today after work i went looking at some old speakers (i did not buy them), but the owner, a lawyer that lives in a 17th century castle, uses a pair of big JBL 4350's as main setup, amped with 2 NAD M23 amps and a minidsp. The space is a big hall with plaster walls with wood paneling on the lower section, and wood floors and ceiling and it sounded wondefull good. But these things are huge, and only work in big spaces i think. They probally also cost a fortune, then (new) and now (second hand).

View attachment 470922
(picture from internet as illustration)

That JBL speaker box is setup for the tweeter array to be on the left or right side. I'm guessing this is the right side speaker. Nice.

JBL 4350A/4350WXA Specifications

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649886877-kbl-4350b/

 

[JaMmy]

Your speakers mowed a lot of lawns!?

 

[Jim Creek]

I don’t own these Large Advent speakers from the 1970s. I wish I did. But these are my all time favorite vintage speakers. The bullnose cabinets look awesome.

 

[Laika2]

Boston Acoustics A400s. Lower on the line was hit and miss but these were close your eyes and you are there. Putt all new factory drivers in 10 years ago before the company was gutted.This was the ones I had, most were all black https://audio-heritage.jp/BOSTONACOUSTICS/speaker/a-400.jp

Boston Acoustics A400 For Sale | Audiogon

Boston Acoustics A400 Full-Range for sale. Pair of sequentially numbered A400's in light oak cabinets. These are in excellent condition with no mar...

www.audiogon.com

 

[OldHvyMec]

VMPS RMx Elixirs.

One of my favorite speakers to look at and listen too.

 

[dlaloum]

Boston Acoustics A400s. Lower on the line was hit and miss but these were close your eyes and you are there. Putt all new factory drivers in 10 years ago before the company was gutted.This was the ones I had, most were all black https://audio-heritage.jp/BOSTONACOUSTICS/speaker/a-400.jp

Boston Acoustics A400 For Sale | Audiogon

Boston Acoustics A400 Full-Range for sale. Pair of sequentially numbered A400's in light oak cabinets. These are in excellent condition with no mar...

www.audiogon.com

Lovely - one of my favourites.... I don't recall any being sold in Australia in "all black"...

 

[Palmer]

Today after work i went looking at some old speakers (i did not buy them), but the owner, a lawyer that lives in a 17th century castle, uses a pair of big JBL 4350's as main setup, amped with 2 NAD M23 amps and a minidsp. The space is a big hall with plaster walls with wood paneling on the lower section, and wood floors and ceiling and it sounded wondefull good. But these things are huge, and only work in big spaces i think. They probally also cost a fortune, then (new) and now (second hand).

View attachment 470922
(picture from internet as illustration)

Great monitors, I am using the L91 lenses on my Edgarhorn Slimlines- am almost never in the sweet spot, so ...

 

[Laika2]

Lovely - one of my favourites.... I don't recall any being sold in Australia in "all black"...

Thanks, Should have said black grills, I had the tan grills. Not many of those in the US. Pics are not mine, gave them to a buddy 6 years ago. Mine were mint plus new drivers, I see at least one dome dented in the sellers Pic. Miss those.

 

[olds1959special]

Vandersteen 2Ce