Vintage Speakers are back in style

[Ropeburn]

i was worried about that too at first (with the crescendo's) , but they turned out to be easy to drive, they're something like 90 db sensitive and are 8 ohm.. so some of the good infinity's defy the reputation...

Apparently they aren't anywhere near as bad as the 9 or 8 in terms of minimum impedance. Gladly a lot more amp-friendly. Not nearly as current hungry as I assumed at first.

 

[MattHooper]

Oh these are really cool man. Look a bit like the AMT's just not the ribbon tweets? And this vid is using a proton amp not far off from my hitachi? Nice. Kef 100's
View attachment 446308

Those are the speakers that I grew up, listening to (105.2s). Benefits of a dad who is an audiophile.

 

[MattHooper]

When it comes to vintage gear, I’d love to have space in my home for a separate system with some Quad 57s or perhaps Klipsch La Scala speakers.

 

[617]

When it comes to vintage gear, I’d love to have space in my home for a separate system with some Quad 57s or perhaps Klipsch La Scala speakers.

63 for me. Or the ones from the 2000s

 

[MattHooper]

63 for me. Or the ones from the 2000s

I had the 63s. They were my first “ audiophile” speaker. (I added the gradient, dipole subs with them too.).

But when my buddy got 57s I found a liked them a bit more at least tonally.

 

[dlaloum]

63 for me. Or the ones from the 2000s

I have a set of 57's in storage and ran a set of 63's and later 989's... really fantastic speakers - but you need the room / space - especially if you want to run a surround setup with at least 5 speakers... as base layer

 

[DanielT]

Here is a video that covers Quality Unit Amplifier Domestic's electrostatic speakers. Starting at 3:16 with the ESL 57 model.

If you want to get a taste of the history of QUAD watch from the beginning of the video. QUAD classic tube amps are addressed. Peter Walker, QUAD, did NOT have as a design principle that the tube amplifiers would "color" the sound. Quite the opposite in fact.

 

[Sokel]

If we're talking vintage why not go all the way:

...they are nice, big and powered too!

 

[DanielT]

It's not enough to be old for it to be attractively vintage. I mean the Kef Coda 7 speakers are around 30 years old and can therefore be considered vintage. At least regarding the age itself, but beyond that, do you think these look like vintage speakers?:

KEF Coda 7 | hifi-wiki.com

hifi-wiki.com

Looks apply regarding price and vintage. Take these examples:
Both receivers have 65 watts. I suspect that the Denon (it's around 35 years old and therefore vintage), on the bench, would perform better than the Pioneer receiver, but that doesn't stop the Pioneer receiver from costing between 5-10 times as much on the used market. Check Hifishark and you'll see.

https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/pioneer/sx-850.shtml

Vs

In addition, the Denon even has a remote.

https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/denon/dra-625.shtml

 

[JiiPee]

Telefunken O85 active studio monitors with 2 12" woofers, 16 tweeters, built-in V69 power amps and adjustable cross-overs.

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[BigVU's]

Telefunken O85 active studio monitors with 2 12" woofers, 16 tweeters, built-in V69 power amps and adjustable cross-overs.

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I want a pair of those! WoW!

 

[BigVU's]

It's not enough to be old for it to be attractively vintage. I mean the Kef Coda 7 speakers are around 30 years old and can therefore be considered vintage. At least regarding the age itself, but beyond that, do you think these look like vintage speakers?:

Totally get your point. Maybe there needs to be a ranges in vintage. Wow didn't think I'd age my self. In my thrifty quest I suppose the style dollars are a factor. Hmmm.. but imo the 70's and early 80's stuff just looks cooler.

 

[BigVU's]

Here is a video that covers Quality Unit Amplifier Domestic's electrostatic speakers. Starting at 3:16 with the ESL 57 model.

If you want to get a taste of the history of QUAD watch from the beginning of the video. QUAD classic tube amps are addressed. Peter Walker, QUAD, did NOT have as a design principle that the tube amplifiers would "color" the sound. Quite the opposite in fact.

I really need to listen to these in person. I might get my mind around these if I did.

 

[BigVU's]

Saw these in a listing. McIntosh MC2's. Didn't sound bad at all in the vid which gives them hope in person. Drive Thru Mc's

I am assuming for 600.00 bucks they are fair thrift value. Tempting! Anyone had these?

 

[kmanusa]

The MK III version ('Improved' or not) were a bit sloppy in the bass, which stepped up 5dB below 90Hz or so and went down measurably to 17Hz or so, which set doors rattling even if the fundamental couldn't be 'heard,' the mid-bass cancellation level above, being the level the midrange and top was basically pulled down to. The MK IV had stands as pictured, the bass was re-tuned to roll off a little higher (30Hz or so from memory) and there was extra lf filtering and response tilt controls available behind the bottom trim plates. In a UK room, these speakers weren't at all 'unassuming' I can tell you, but they did so much 'right' back then, the character exhibiting a hint of 'sparkle' up top (the HF1300 had a natural slight peak at 13khz or so. I'd love to hear these again on a modern digital and even modern vinyl source, as I feel they'd come into their own these days. A few years in, the bass and mid-drivers were changed to TDL made ones (there's a lengthy story as to how TDL made drivers, then speakers when IMF went under, the running of both companies basically by the same man eventually, John Wright, who'd designed the 1960s Goldring cartridges - G800 era) I gather.

I should stop reminiscing like this - it's painful how long ago it all was and these were genuinely fun times, with all this new music coming along that really was 'new' and audio gear coming on in many small but varies leaps and bounds...

I may have included the JBL L200s in my list as I have such good memories of their scale and general dynamics (nothing like as coloured as the 4310s we also had), but we only had these huge (for UK rooms) speakers for a short while…

One final make before I shuffle off and shut the memory floodgates - and it's another US design although made in the UK - the AR LST which was awesome as I recall and less response-coloured than the AR3a Improved we had. The AR3-descended 10Pi was an odd looking thing, with the wooden trim/flap covering the controls on top rather than underneath. rare as hens teeth, but a seriously good 'tone' as I remember, which again should do justice to modern sources.

I had two pair of the IMF RSPM Mark IV and one thing I remember vividly about them was they went down way below 30 Hz; in my rooms there was useful output to near 20 Hz.

 

[DSJR]

I had two pair of the IMF RSPM Mark IV and one thing I remember vividly about them was they went down way below 30 Hz; in my rooms there was useful output to near 20 Hz.

Compared directly with the mk III versions, low bass was very much more controlled. No doubt they'd go down easily the way you describe, but on suitable material (master grade), the IVs didn't create quite the same seasick-inducing 'pressure waves' the previous ones could. Loved 'em loads

 

[kmanusa]

Compared directly with the mk III versions, low bass was very much more controlled. No doubt they'd go down easily the way you describe, but on suitable material (master grade), the IVs didn't create quite the same seasick-inducing 'pressure waves' the previous ones could. Loved 'em loads

I would agree, I had a friend who had the Mark III and they indeed were seismic in the deep bass. Probably exaggerated low bass but very enjoyable!

 

[Mart68]

I would agree, I had a friend who had the Mark III and they indeed were seismic in the deep bass. Probably exaggerated low bass but very enjoyable!

I had some IMF TLS50 which were on the small side for IMF but still close to refrigerator size. Gave them away a few weeks back as they needed a crossover rebuild I was never going to get round to and I have enough big speakers that it's become a space problem.

I remember the first thing I played on them was The Pretenders 'Don't Get Me Wrong' which is fairly lightweight pop/rock, and it was 'Where the f--k is all that bottom end coming from!?' Even given the reputation it still my exceeded expectations by a margin.

 

[DSJR]

I had some IMF TLS50 which were on the small side for IMF but still close to refrigerator size. Gave them away a few weeks back as they needed a crossover rebuild I was never going to get round to and I have enough big speakers that it's become a space problem.

I remember the first thing I played on them was The Pretenders 'Don't Get Me Wrong' which is fairly lightweight pop/rock, and it was 'Where the f--k is all that bottom end coming from!?' Even given the reputation it still my exceeded expectations by a margin.

GAVE THEM AWAY??????? Oh bloody hell sir!!!

Having said that, the 50s were never quite the same as their larger brethren, the mid bass being quite full-balanced and not seemingly as well integrated into the mids as the larger ones were in my now ancient experience.

One golden oldie from KEF I have always held something of a torch for, is the 1970s Concerto model. B139 bass, B110 mid and T27 tweeter. On low stands, the whole was always better than the sum of the parts, although I doubt they'd 'Klippel' very well. Didn't matter as they 'communicated' the music beautifully and seemed popular with the Quad 33/303 amp of the period. I believe Cheshire based Wilmslow Audio did a superior crossover for them, but no hands-on knowledge of that sadly. By the late 70's, the R104ab and the then groundbreaking R105 put the Concerto out to grass, but we bought a final batch of them (brown grilles rather than the silvery ones of old) to sell off and they were really good, if a little 'wide' for developing UK tastes.

 

[kmanusa]

GAVE THEM AWAY??????? Oh bloody hell sir!!!