Bought my JBL L-100’s in 1978 ($498.00 ea. in 1978!) and they have endured many moves and amp upgrades… they are still my favorite speakers of all time. The experience is priceless.
I bought the one pair sold as Radio Shack dumped them at their cost, $198 each. The JBL lawyer called the store as I was Wheeling them out!! "Don't you sell those below fair trade!!!" he threatened the Radio Shack employees. ME: BYE, NOW!!
In my younger days there was a group of us that got together and went to each other's homes to listen to music. I had Infinity Column 2s and 150 watt Nikko separates. Another friend had a high wattage Sansui and JBL L100s. Another friend had Large Advent speakers...that I now have in my garage. The best speaker I ever heard were JBL L300s. I have lusted for them since. I also loved the power hungry Ohm Fs. As much as speaker evaluating was fun...the BIG thing for me was the turntable cartridges...an ENTIRELY overlooked segment of audio discern. It was absolutely uncanny how a cartridge would make or break good audio. I settled on a Microacoustics 2002e and spent the ungodly amount of $120 on it in probably 1977. By far the best investment that is almost always overlooked..especially in the now mostly digital age of music. I say...DO A CARTRIDGE REVIEW...and wake people up. If you are listening to vinyl...its more important than ANY other variable...ie amp, speakers, etc.
They are wonderful bookshelf speakers. The cabinets were a woodworker dream...walnut. The iconic foam grilles are still prestigious. I loved them. I would have killed for the L300s...and a place big enough to put them. Lol
As a young service man stationed in Germany, 72-74, I went on trip to buy a nice pair speakers. Listened to the JBL 100, Bose901, AR 3a, and the winner was Altec Segovia. Fortunately a couple friends came, because when boxed they were huge and heavy to move them on a train.
Thanks for the memories! I've experienced many of these fine older speaker in my 81 years and had the pleasure of owning Carver AL-3's for many years before my hearing loss became significant enough to give them away to my son so he could appreciate them.
And also damage his hearing. I hav a pair of Infinity Hallsonic monitors , e-mit tweeters. Great sound I also had to give up listening to good music ears shot ! W
Don't want to pull you into a debate, but do you believe RSL, esp their 3300 and 3600 speakers were a copy of the L100? JBL took Fred to court over their designs.
I was a stereo tech in the 70's & 80's.. Saw all these speakers. Had most of them. AR made a great speaker I had a pair of Walnuts I loved those. Worked for a Authorized Bose Speaker Service Center. One day a Bose tech came by for a demo with the latest model of the 901. This was 1982 same year CD discs came out and laser discs came out. Hooked an ac cord across the speaker terminals which he had done many times already at other demo's and plugged it in to the wall outlet. We all stood back lol. It made a super loud 60 hz tone all the drivers pushed out as far as they could go and after about 7 seconds unplugged it and let it cool down. Hooked an amp to it and it played perfectly. Impressively tough speaker and we really never ever saw a blown speaker. We did Bar sound installs and I installed lots of 901's with big power amps and they rocked. Never had one fail and they got pounded. Loud as hell and sounded pretty good.
Yes, I agree. We had a disco locally that used 4 x 901's ceiling mounted and pointed at the dance floor, driven by HH V800 amplifiers. It's the only HiFi disco I have ever heard. Man it was loud, and those 901's never had an ounce of distortion.
@@analoglooney I hung a pair of 901s in our family room. We measured again and again using the specs from Bose. It took two guys on ladders to get it all done. Got them swinging during a party creating a 'wall of sound.'
Laserdisk, came out in the US, in 1978. Not 1982. My buddy got one of the first that year. Very expensive, but very high quality. It was a little rich for me at the time. Still I enjoyed it at his home over some beers.
@@raywhitehead730 We were authorized Pioneer service center I remeber the top guy coming by for a laser disc player demo where the laser bounced off 2 mirrors. Not sure of the year as it was 45 years ago. It was this demo that I remember it was 1982 so i thought that was when it launched. But your right it was 78.
When I bought a pair of L-100's for my bedroom in 1978,they sounded like crap.I proceeded to rip out the wall to wall carpeting ( new house) and I was in business! After 25 years in storage,they're back in my(retirement) bedroom with my high end Krell system in disrepair .Great video !
I have a pair of ADS L810's that i have had for 40 years w/ 2 ADS bookshelves' that used to be in the back window of my old Camero back in the 70's. They still sound awesome and yes, I have replaced the tweeter fuses many times...thank God for the fuses. Great video, will play for my wife who hates them. :)
You forgot one essential accessory for the JBL L100's: a Lava Lamp. In 1968, I took my Allied 935 amp (tubes, 12 wpc rms) to work and drove a pair of AR 3a's with it. In many ways, it was a perfect match with those speakers. Great list, Kevin!
Came in from WV for business and just had to stop by the store to check it out. You got great folks there. Des Moines is lucky to have a store like yours!
BIG A/D/S fan here! Still listening to my L1230’s, 44 years after I purchased them! 😊👍 Grew up listening to my Dad’s JBL Libra speakers driven by Dynaco 70 amp and CB preamp. Still have his Magnecord 1024 reel to reel.
Your description of the Klipsch speakers was spot on. Back in 1980 I had KLH speakers. I was not a Klipsch fan then. I would sometimes fill in as the disc jockey in a nightclub in Charleston. They had Klipsch speakers for the dance floor. That is when I found out that I absolutely did appreciate and like the Klipsch speakers. I also found out with my own experimentation that I did not like the Klipsch speakers much with my solid state amps. With el 34 tube amps they sing and they are fun. If I'm at home by myself wanting to listen to music critically, I use my Tannoy speakers. When I just want to have a group of friends over and have a nice loud party. I use my Klipsch Heresy IV,s. Probably one of the reasons is no matter where you are in the room they sound fun. Another reason why I like the Heresey's is because I probably had some high frequency hearing loss while working around jets in the Air Force. This was a very nice review that you did. Sometimes speakers just don't pair up very well with certain amplifiers. Currently I have my Klipsch Heresy IV's paired with a Black Ice Audio F-35 Integrated amp running el 34 tubes. And yes I love the sound.
The mid 70s AR-10pi and AR11 were much improved versions of the 3A, reducing coloration and increasing detail significantly while also vastly improving cosmetics. Yet they don't seem to figure on people's radar and never seem to get mentioned.
My Uncle Steve was in the USAF and was stationed in NH and I went up to visit him. He had 2 Bose 901s driven by a Sansui AU-717 and TU-717. That was my first ever listening to them. It was about 1979 or 80. He had a TEAC reel to reel with some Pink Floyd and he had it cranked in the barracks. I loved it of course. I have that Sansui duo in my system now and they are driving a pair of Tekton Lore speakers and it sounds like heaven. Thanks Uncle Steve! He still has the 901s.
Thanks for mentioning the Dahlquist DQ-10! I fell in love with these back in the 80s and always wanted a pair (but couldn’t afford them). Earlier this year I came across a nearly pristine pair and grabbed them - they sound fantastic! I was told I’d need a lot of power - I tried my Yamaha CR-600 but I could tell it just wasn’t enough, so I got a new Yamaha with 100Wpc.
An Audiophile friend of mine brought his father's Thorens TD-124 turntable and AR-3a Loudspeakers back to the 'States from Hong Kong. As a serious High-End enthusiast, he claims you haven't properly experienced AR-3a's until you drive them with 400 watts and real current. They now reside in his home gym, fully refurbished with a Krell FPB-400cx - the wife's favorite system in their home 🙂
My AR-3a speakers sound terrific powered by an Adcom GFA-545. I have tried other amps (including the GFA-585 that powers my AR9 speakers) but never a Krell... nice!
Kevin your love of audio shines! I love to watch the videos! You are not afraid to voice your opinion! Audio is so subjective! What one person hates another loves! As a Technition since the 1960’s and now pushing 80 years old my love of audio has never died! So much equipment from the 1970’s was so over engineered it’s no wonder they have stood the test of time ! I do believe older equipment should be serviced and get those 50+ year old capacitors and transistors out of there! The difference after doing this is most times remarkable! Well worth the time and money ! Best to you and your Father! Sam Maze in West Virginia
And at that time, the Maxell Ad I saw just once and never saw again is a guy getting home from work, looking tired/sad, and parking on a dark and scary urban street, walking into a dilapidated apt. building, up the dark stairs and unlocking the multiple locks walking into this dark and dank apt and cracking into a giant grin as he gazes upon his 20K audio system and inserting that Maxell cassette. Great ad.
I can't claim to know much about speakers, but I bought a pair of Wharfedale Linton speakers to go with my Hi-Fi set up in 1972, and I still use the speakers now. I think they cost £40. Thats what I call value for money. I love the sound they produce, and have not heard anything that makes me want to change.
I bought my 4 JBL 100s new back in the mid 70s and never looked back! You are right about the fact that they love power and I’ve always run them through my KR9600 with the V15 typeIII and they are “fun”!! Perfect party speaker.
My father-in-law was lucky enough to pick up 4 second hand at his local hifi shop back in the day. He sold one pair and eventually lent the other pair to my sister-in-law. He just got them back last week and is enjoying them loud again!
I was stationed on Okinawa, Japan in the mid 70's. One of our NCOs worked the Bose Demo Room down the highway and invited me to enjoy the set-up. Picture paying the electric bill for: 2 901s on each front channel, one on each rear channel, 2 Bose 800 power amps fed by the 4401 preamp. The source was a Marantz turntable. We could hold a normal conversation while this ode to the electric company vibrated my chest with Classical music.
I own a pair own Braun L810 with the Stands, bought them off a guy for 180 bucks, it came with a Braun CEV 510 and two Braun LTV. I refinished the 810 cabinets and recapped the Crossover and recapped the Receiver. Works flawlessly
A friend gave me a set of Magnepan MG2's, several years ago, in exchange for fixing a vintage receiver for him. Sadly, when I got them back to my home shop neither worked. In both speakers, the wires (one for the high freqs and one for the low freqs) had corroded in multiple places and actually crumbled away. I contacted the company and found out they offered a rebuild kit. Fast forward quite a bit, I rebuilt the MG2's and they are still in my home shop. I have them paired with a Yamaha M60 and the realism is amazing!
I sold many of the speakers and components you present when I worked in a mom and pop stereo shop during the 80s. I love what you do and never thought that the equipment I sold would become collector items. 8:539:11
I was disappointed that the Dynaco A-25 speaker was not on this list. Also, back in the 80's I purchased a pair of Bose 901's with the pedestals. They cost me $1,111.00. Those were the first speakers that gave me listening fatigue. I took them back for a refund. I think the problem is with all those little full range speakers in on cabinet, you end up with a lot of midrange, hence, the need for the active equalizer that comes with them. It seemed like every time I changed the music, I would have to keep messing with that equalizer. They just never sounded quite right to me. In case you are wondering, I was using a Carver M400 cube magnetic field amplifier with them.
I've had my ADS L570/2s since the mid 80s in college. I've never grown tired of them. You've put the L810s on my radar once we relocate for my upcoming retirement, and I hopefully end up with a suitable man cave. 😉
I just got a pair of ADS 710s for $225 from a retiring doctor. Love them! I have a pair of ADS L10s that I bought a couple years ago and run those as speaker B with a subwoofer. Running them A+B through my Pioneer SX-650 sounds great! Selling re-foamed Cerwin Vega At-60s and Boston Acoustics A70s.
@@leighsayers2628 I have 4 Cerwin Vegas , AT-12’s Technics SA-500. Can’t even hit half volume. Technics and Vega since 1972. Sure wish I had saved my vinyl.
I picked up an ADS L400 complete with the original stand for $5 for the pair. I combined it with a Klipsch subwoofer. It's hard to believe how good they are.
That's amazing! I picked up some JBL 4410a monitors, with the original boxes, invoice, warranty cards, etc., for $25 for the pair. They needed new surrounds on the woofers but it's crazy how you can still find deals like these. Congratulations!
My first "real" pair of speakers was the AR-3a, picked up from a shop in Milwaukee much like yours... woulda been around 1984. $75 IIRC... Around the same time I found a Stereo 70 and PAS-2 at of all places a Salvation Army thrift store in excellent condition for the low low price of $15 for the pair. Fun days... I really wish I'd held onto those pieces especially, of all the gear that has come and gone. Thanks again and regards.
My Brother had a pair of Optimus 3 from Radio Shack. They sounded great playing DSOM or Moody Blues DOFP. I used to watch the woofers move when the music played. I could 'see' the bass. Thanks for the show. Realistic Amps from the 70's are under appreciated and good value.
A friend of mine had some Radio Shack Mach II speakers, and they were big. They had a 15" woofer, a 16" horn midrange, and a bullet tweeter. These speakers were great, but had some bugs because they weren't truly high-end quality.
The Radio Shack speakers were very under rated and could hold their own. Every one into Audio would thumb their noses at radio shack stuff but in reality the better stuff was good. I even had little Radio Shack speakers, forget the name, with the ribbon tweeter and would fool my friends with blind AB listening tests against my big SAE electrostatics and it was hard to tell the difference. Humm, I wounder if that the a bad review for SAE or positive for Radio Shack?
Polk Audio’s flagship SDA SRS is a must hear speaker. I bought mine in 1986 and they are still the heart of my stereo/home theater system. Good luck finding any tower speakers today that can come anywhere close to the bass output of those SRSs (10 HZ). The overwhelming majority of floorstanding speakers today require a subwoofer in order to hear the lowest notes of a 5-string base or an 88-key piano.
I don't know anything about the Polk Speakers you mention, however, I replaced my 1978, 30 year old 10"inch Bass Advent Loudspeakers in 2008, with the Polk Momo Speakers. They do a nice job. Not quite the thump of the Advent but they can certainly take a punch of volume through my Advent Amp and still sound great with a level amount of bass not overpowering the high end. I think the guy in this video should've covered the Advent Loudspeaker and not the Baby Advent.
@@stanley2004 honestly, I don't know that much about Polk speakers. But I'm pretty satisfied with them. Somehow I said "Advent" Amp, when I meant to say I'm powering the speakers through my Phase Linear 400 Series Two Amplifier. It was around two in the morning when I was commenting to you. 😄 Rock on!
Great speakers! I can remember 'lusting' for them, but my budget only allowed for a pair of Polk Monitor 10 speakers, which I still have in perfect condition, and they still sound great! One of my friends did have the budget though, so I convinced him to buy a pair of SDA SRS speakers, and we had immense joy listening to our favorite music for hours on end! He fed them with a McIntosh tubed amp (dual monoblocks) next to each speaker on floor stands! Those were the days!
I have a pair of Polk SDA 1's I bought in '98. For those who don't know, the SDA routes a 180 degree inverse signal to the other speaker to cancel out the opposite speaker which provides greater stereo separation without having the speakers a mile apart. Passive sub that really produces rich lows. I had paired with a carver Mag amp. Love those for jazz and classical. Unfortunately I lost the interconnect cable during one of my moves and haven't listened to them for over a decade. Don't know why - I just stopped listening to high end audio. Just discovered this channel and am right down the road in Cedar Rapids
Oh, the memories you stirred up with these speakers and powering units. My first power was the Sansui back in the '70's along with most of the speakers with exception to the Magnapan's and Dalquists (sp). Then, I got spoiled! My entry into esoterica started with a pair of Rogers LS35A's and sub-woofer. Powered by Optonica until I sprung for NAIM Audio. New Mark Levinson's needed a freakn' mortgage so that didn't happen, Today, it's Crimson Electronics, Naim Intros, Dennon Sub, Planar and Linn Tables. Nice video. Yeah, those 901's ......
Oh man. I've passed on baby Advents at least twice at the thrift shops. All of them needed refoaming though. Always loved the real wood accents. I've heard many say that the tweeter in them isn't all that great. Still a legend no matter what people think of them.
Ah, you got to my ADS speakers at the end. I bought them in the late 70s and still use them as my front left and right in my home theater system. They stood out in the audio store when I demo'd and bought them, and I've had no reason to replace them. The cones and surrounds have survived perfectly for all these years and the sound is very balanced as you said.
My dad built a 8’ wide stereo console with Altec speakers in the cabinets, a Fisher receiver and Dual turntable. Watching these videos brings back so many great memories of listening to that system for hours. Love the vibe of the channel… keep’em coming!
I recently inherited my dad's Rectilinear III Highboys. He bought them new in 1968 when I was 14, and they are still completely original and sound great. My ex has my AR-3a setup.
Thanks for the memories! I am thrilled you mentioned Audio Labs in Des Moines. Used to live in Ottumwa, Iowa and acted like some rich kid, going there many times and listening to Harold Beveridge speakers, until the sales man got tired of my antics. These speakers were considered the ultimate back then, expensive, and so rare to fiind. If I remember, there were no stereo stores in Chicago selling them. I had the JBL 100's, then Infinity RS 2.5. Then got married, and bye bye to the loud music.
You nailed it! I have a lot of speakers and those ads just do something those others just can't do. There's zero fatigue they are sugar to your ears. I rotate my listening speakers and when I get back around to the ads. Every time I'm amazed and then say why do even switch them out, maybe I'm thinking one of the others will sound as good. Hasn't happened yet. Every reviewer I have ever heard has always had nothing but rave reviews for the things, makes you wonder. If they were such a great speaker company why aren't they still around?
A truly balanced list. Excellent installment, as usual. I sold JBL L-100s. They were my "go-to" speaker when someone came in that wanted really good and balanced sound, and had the money to afford them. Still one of my favorites, and definitely on my Buy-List before I die. For a larger room, even deeper pocketed individual, I had to look to the L-200s -- bring your truck.
Back in about 1978 or 79 I went into a small audio shop and saw a pair of Klipsch for the first time, but they weren't hooked up to anything. I asked the sales rep why and he proceeded to hook them up, lock the front door of the store and cranked them up. I had goose bumps on my arms and tears running down my face, the sales guy was grinning big time. After a few minutes he turned them off and said now you know why we keep them unwired, we would never get anything done. I never bought a pair cuz life happened and I haven't even set up my stereo in the last 24 years (blasphemy I know)! But I have been living in a townhome for the last 14.5 years and my neighbors would complain HOA's so it's ok. Love your take on all these speakers and amps.
Back in 1978 I bought my 1st high end setup ( in my income bracket ) . I auditioned the DQ10s against some Maggie’s, I chose the DQ10s ( very close ) with the Citation 16 , also bought a Apt Holman preamp and a nice Kenwood turntable, Ortofon mc20 cartridge with a step up converter and a Tandberg cassette deck. I later added an Advert surround 500 converter ( early entry into surround sound) the name might be wrong? Then paired it with a Citation 19 amp and the large Advent speakers for surround. If not over done it sounded like a small supper club to a large arena. I was in heaven. Just 24 yrs old , those were the days!
I had 901's in my bedroom in my late teens. I hung the 901's from the ceiling hooked to SX1250 a foot or two from the wall behind them. They would start swinging when the volume was up. The ports acted like little jets.
I have a pair Just learning how to make them really Amaze. Not for everyone. No one does better what they attempt to do. I have five other sets But only the 901s have a true mystique
Same with mine before I added a cross over and 4 15inch subwoofers. The end of YES - Yours is no discrace was awesome. I could also feel cool air from them in the winter.
I have had my Bose 901 series 2 or 3 I believe since 1976 and they are hanging from my ceiling at this moment and I listen to them every day!! When I splurge to listen to a live phish or goose show they are awesome!! It's like your at the show, just like being at Winterland for a Grateful Dead show!
As someone that lived through the era when all of these where new...I have zero complaints with your list other than your glaring omission...Altec. The Altec Model 17 or 18 that used the 604 coax and the Altec Model 19, which embodied the components of the A7 commercial speaker but in a bass-reflex cabinet for home use. The Model 17 and 18 was, essentially, the reference monitor used on a LOT of records in the era of the Altec 604 driver (until the UREI supplanted it). If you want to hear what your favorite vintage records sounded like in the studio, the Model 17 is the closest to what you will get. The Model 19, conversely, if want that live sound, given how much Altec A7s were used as PA speakers in the 60s and early 70s, it is THE speaker that will give you that sound. Try something like Little Feat's "Waiting for Columbus" on a Model 19. It will take you right back to that time and place. I, totally, get not liking the "horn" sound and both of the Altecs above do use compression HF drivers with some form of horn (70s Model 18 would have the 604-8K so a constant-dispersion "Mantaray" horn, Model 17s would have a 6-cell multicell, the Model 19 used the Altec secortial horn). If you haven't heard them yourself, they are worth seeking out and giving a listen. I'd put the Model 18 (aka 604K) up against a lot of speakers. The coax driver is very tough to beat and remains sought after and is also still in production (for a very pretty penny)!
I agree with you regarding the Altecs. I worked in studios back in the day and everything was recorded and mixed on a 15 and a horn of some sort. Altec, JBL and Tannoy Ardens were the standard. I use an Altec 515-8LF with an Altec 511B horn and an Altec 802-8G tangerine compression driver. Studio sound in my living room, although I admit the cabinets are rather large at around 14 Cu Ft each.
Yeah. I'm also going by what were contemporaries to what I saw in HiFi stores of the day when his 9 were also there. I saw Altec Model 19s, for sure. Having worked with Altec Voice of the Theatre speakers for over 40 years now, I was familiar with their line up too. Personally, I always loved the 604/620 and own a pair with the 604-8G though I prefer the 604-8K. I must admit, however, I didn't see Model 17s or Model 18s (or Stonehenge family) in the stores as much as I saw them in various catalogs. But the Model 19, that was definitely present.
I had my mission 760i speakers from early 90s I believe; you can't beat British. They were part of my first Hi-Fi setup, with Marantz CD Player (just gifted to a friend in the last week, after sat on my shelf for years, it didn't fire up immediately, but after leaving it for a few moments, got it working and even found a remote and put new batteries in it) and a NAD Amplifier (might have given that away too). I recently hooked up those 760i speakers after years on the shelf, in their original boxes with all the packing (yes, if you look after your gear, it will look after you) and they work brilliantly hooked up to a Denon CD / Bluetooth / Mini system, with space for Subwoofer output.
Great Rundown Sir!! Put Magnepan(preferably a true ribbon) speakers with a GAS Great American Sound high current amplifier(s) you will find musical perfection! Thank you for including Magnepan on this video!
Kudos to your recommendation ! I have a pair of MG-1 (aka SMG) with a GAS Grandson from my days in college working at a local audio shop. The imaging once set up is amazing although they'll never be blamed for future hearing loss due to excessive volumes!
Probably my first time watching your channel and thoroughly enjoyed this video. You've made me a new subscriber. I must admit, I was very pleasantly surprised to see the ADS L810s on the list. I was a huge fan of their speakers since my college days (late 1970s). Not having the cash back for 810s and something suitable to power them back then, I settled for some ADS 300s bi-amped with a GAS Grandson of Godzilla and... I think an SAE Integrated amp with a subwoofer of some sort carrying the lows. There was also some form of dynamic range expander in the mix, which, being a fan of crisp highs, was helpful in opening up the high end and appreciated. Thank you for this interesting and entertaining video! I'm going to cruise more of your videos next. Bob
I hated Klipsch Heresy...until I listened to them with acoustic jazz. Then...look out! Amazing! So...I listened to my movie soundtracks and Baroque music through my Mini Advents with their tiny accessory woofer. When I really wanted to jam to live jazz recordings...I went to my friend's apartment and listened to that on his Klipsch Heresy setup. Wow!
Yes, a Jazz quartet on Heresy speakers fed by a single-ended triode amp. Make sure you are sitting so that the beamiest part of the horn sound passes to either side of your head (maybe turn the boxes outward some). Close your eyes and experience the performance, along with ice cubes going into glasses in the case of Bill Evans at the Village Vanguard.
@@tomscott1159 Ah... Such a sonic picture! I enjoy near-field listening nowadays, and I'm certain that Klipsch Heresys would do that trick even more handsomely than the pair of Design Acoustics PS-55s I've been thrashing for almost 30 years.
Really enjoying your site. My father passed away just over a year ago and I've adopted his old stereo equipment. All one owner and bought new back in the day. As far as speakers I have a set of Klipsch Cornwall CD-BRs bought in 1976 and a set of KEF 107 series 1's. Then there's the amps ,tuner , preamp and turntables . I'm sure i'm gonna have lots of questions about servicing and restoring that stuff. Once again this is a great site and look forward to going through the videos and info.
I have two pairs and run them with a Marantz 2385 which puts out 240W RMS at 4 ohms, I've never heard more powerful or truer bass and I'm a lifelong bass player. They've very clear all the way up too. My favorites. I have had them for about twenty years. I refoamed them years ago from kits and they've been fine since.
@ I had to replace my woofers due to foam degradation and and years later it happened again. Sadly I let the speakers go but I think about them all the time. They were such a great looking and sounding speaker.
Amazing! After reading the title I thought, O.K. let me see if I've listened to ANY of your 9. Boy, was I surprised! I've heard and listened to 7 out of 9 and owned 4. What a list, even had 3 of the amps you listed, not paired with what you had them paired with but still. Great list of speakers!
When I sold audio at Sam Goodys in Livingston Mall IN NJ in the late 70's my favorites were what my fellow salesman ran in his bedroom in his parent's place AR 9's. Man, giant, cool with those side firing woofers especially in that tiny room (like a Porsche in a parking lot)
One of my son's has a pair of 9's based on my recommendation. I repped them when they were introduced. Interesting to see how it's tall slender design is how all the most expensive stuff is made these days! It was the start.
Loved that store in the Livingston Mall. I grew up in Chatham. I remember walking by one day and all the 8-tracks were on clearance and in racks in front of the store being cleared out. Who would have thought? 😁 I do remember them having some gear in the back. It was the only place I ever saw Teac cassette decks being sold. My dad bought me a Fisher component system from Hane’s of all places just across the mall. I have the original receipt. $720 for the system. Outrageous!
A pair of Teledyne AR9 speakers powered by an Adcom GFA-585 amplifier anchor my home theater and sound absolutely awesome (no subwoofer needed!), but I can't imagine them (or the AR90) in a small room (pressure management challenges)...
@@bjmsamrlm My son with the AR9s complained when he first got them based on my recommendation that they did not have the low end I claimed. But he had them in a small room and kept explaining that that room literally was not big enough for the low end he wanted. His house now has a nice large living room with cathedral ceilings, ... and he's more than happy!
@@glenncurry3041 I bet! Mine originally were owned by someone who threw tons of money at other components (but not at room treatment, natch) trying to get them to sound good in his small room before giving up. Indeed, they sounded terrible when I auditioned them there, but when I brought them home and set them up in my much larger room, they certainly lived up to their reputation! Perhaps some assume that the biggest, most expensive model in a lineup must sound best in any room rather than choosing the most appropriate model (I have a pair of AR94 powered by a GFA-535 in a guest bedroom that sound terrific, and I've heard the AR91 powered by a GFA-555 in a larger room that also sound terrific, but none of those three models would sound as good in the other rooms).
Thanks so much for the presentation. Former Klipschorn owner here, and decided to downsize a bit. Now have the Forte' 4's. I have high sensitivity to any harshness and was amazed how tame the Forte sounds in my livingroom. No ear fatigue. The main system are a wonderful pair of Martin Logan Classic 9's.
Have owned, sold, or competed against all of these. Your summaries are spot on. Surprised you didn't cover the Ohm F or Ohm A, especially the F which was more widely sold. THE best sound stage realism of all time, Uncanny.
My friend had Ohm speakers, the cones disintegrated in about 15 years... whereas I'm still enjoying my 1970 5 way Sonics I got back then for $50 each...
@@buzzwaldron6195 Hey, Buzz. If the Ohm's were bookshelves (Ohm made lots of models), they were pretty much thrown together. The A and the F didn't like low watt amps driving them, so anything under 150/ch would certainly degrade them. But, then, 15 years from an exotic with massive cones is probably not awful. And, you got 15 years of mind blowing sound.
@@thomamnotte4503 - As I recall, they were fairly large, like 4 8" speakers in each one... maybe some smaller ones as well in there... Most of the time I listen to my 1970 Sonics at about 0.1 Watt volume... bass notes might kick a little higher... they're very efficient... Left Vietnam with the new Pioneer 4 channel Quadrasonic receiver... $170 over there, $549 in USA...
Thiel SCS on BOSE 901 in front of me. I'm familiar with two unique sounding devices, one with coaxial driver and the other direct/reflecting design. Both good. As far as I experienced, I did not have to care about standing wave etc. with 901, while 901 is sensitive to asymmetry in reflectance of left and right side walls. Mono recording will sound like a simulated stereo when left and right side environments of the set are quite different. Sweep signal from low to high will sound as if ghost is wondering in front of you, left and right, and finally stand at center. So, I understand why some people hate 901.
As a newly married, still in college guy in 1980 my budget was limited. I listened to everything. I bought a pair of Klipsch Heresy, unfinished, Russian white birch and finished them myself. Just stain and varnish, no laminate. After many years I replaced the caps and upgraded the woofers. Eventually I added a sub. I listen to jazz, blues, classical, world and rock. I still love these babies. We've spent a lot more money on home theater and surround, but when I want to listen to music, which is most of the time, it's in my minimalist music room with no distractions and the Heresy.
Kevin, I think the Dahlquist DQ 10 is one of the best speakers of all time. Not really a rock and roll speaker, but for other types of music , it will leave you captivated.
I remember them well. They were beyond my price range back then but have always considered them among the top five I have ever heard. (The big 3 panel folding "room divider" Magnapans also being in that group as well as a pair of B&Ws from England & a very small pair from Rodgers of England, smaller than the baby Advents, made for studio use & a pair of Cantons from Germany that a friend had.) No particular ranking order for these. Not even as to which was #1. All pretty much equally impressive such that 35-45 yrs later I still remember them. The choice would probably come down to your listening environment & music preferences....
@@DejaView Rogers LS-10 I think you are thinking of. VERY highly rated "studio monitor" speakers in the 1980s. They were on my "consider buying" list before I got my Magnapans.
Apparently your idea of rock & roll isn't the same as most. When I was 18 I'd take my Christopher Cross album over to a friend/co-workers house and we'd crank up "Ride Like the Wind" and got blown away every single time.
@@Cartier_specialist I don't think I ever heard DQ-10s playing anything but jazz or heavy jazz-influenced stuff like "Crime of the Century" on a Mobile Fidelity pressing. I'm sure they're capable of playing other material, just haven't witnessed it. For most rock, their definition and "space" would be a total waste.
I repaired many AR3a etc where the tweeter was fried. They took power to play loud and many amps of the day would clip and and deliver a high output square-wave signal and the poor tweeter overheated. I remember hearing Bose at a HiFi show in a big hotel near LA airport back in the 70's. For the demo the Bose guys were powering them with a Phase Liner 700 amp. The output meters on the amp were pegged most of the time (PL meters not known for accuracy) showing the speakers needed and could take high power. Who knows what the freq response was but doing an A/B with other speakers there was no comparison as to which sounded better the Bose or other. When I got my own 901's I powered them with 2 Crown DC300 amps bridged to 600 W RMS. Only thing, I was living in an apartment at the time so wouldn't really crank em up. Great vid content and brings back many memories, thanks
Came across your channel by accident but I’m a subscriber now. I worked at a audio store in the 80s and have heard all the speakers you presented. Your comments and amp pairings were spot on! I own a pair of Magneplanar MG IIIa speakers and have them paired with a JBL B380 sub and bi amped with Adcom GFA555’s. Great sound.
I purchased the Magnepan MG 2A's in 1978. They are still working perfectly. Something very cool to me is that when I'm sitting down listening to music and get up, the balance of music sounds the same. I remember many of the speakers you have talked about . Thanks
@@PlymouthVT People told me it didn't have a very good bass response. It's not a box bass sound. It's a live bass sound. You know, the way a bass really sounds.
Great review had not thought about some of those models in a while. In early 1980"s I built some prototype boxes for Klipsch, and prototypes for Becker Electronics in the Hudson Valley of New York. I had a pair of Klipsch in the woodshop shop and was such a great sound. My VW mechanic had very large Klipsch in his shop, I used to stop by just to hear the music, something about hearing the great music in the shop environment. I had a pair of Realistic MC-1000 in my VW bug, they fit in the back compartment and when we got some where to hang out, we would pull them out and have them just sitting on the ground for great sound wherever we were. Miss my Harman Karman tubed amp, great power and sound.
I have heard the 'honkin horns' comments about klipsch speakers before, but in my opinion, they _are_ designed for large spaces, and when used as such (I would go with a mcintosh tube amp myself) they perform admirably
There's a great story about the first meeting between Paul Klipsch and Amar Bose. Supposedly Mr. Bose cupped his hands around his mouth like a horn and said "I'm pleased to meet you Dr. Klipsch" whereupon Mr. Klipsch walked over to the nearest corner of the room, faced into the corner, and said something like "The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Bose."
I picked up a pair of ADS L470 bookshelf based on your past videos that I run with a 70 s Sherwood and Pioneer receiver. Cannot thank you enough for the Advice!!
I agree with your choices, and I've heard all your suggestions. I would only own the Magnepans or the ADS now. Maybe my ears are bent but I really think any Polk from around that time at or above the Monitor 7 should be considered a necessity too. Nice to hear you mention Audio Labs. I'm sure they were absolutely sick of seeing me walk in the door. Great video as usual!
@@j.patrickmoore9137 I bought a pair of SDA SRS 1.2 speakers about 10 years ago for $500. I wish I could turn them up all the way and listen to them for a while in a really, really big room.. I can't imagine that they'd ever distort.
I own a pair of L100s that an acquaintance was getting rid of because he was "upgrading" his system. He had no idea what he had. He just told me he was hoping he could sell them, he thought they were too old to have value. I offered him 200 bucks for the pair and he was glad to take it! That was 25 or 30 years ago, and they still sit in my living room. Unfortunately the foam grills are long gone, with simple cloth over the faces now. My FIRST exposure to these was a set owned by a college roommate in the 70s. He was a true audiophile, taught me so much about listening and hearing. This was the days of west-coast/east-coast sound types, pretty much boiling down in our group to JBL versus Altec-Lansing, with all the arguments and A/B-ing that entailed! For myself, listening to these in any setting, versus anything else, I always felt that my ears just "relaxed" when the Centuries came on. I also grew up with a pair of ARs, either the 3 or 3a, I don't really know which, that my dad owned. I think those reached farther into the low end of things than my JBLs, and they took more power to drive, but my early classical music education (meaning during high school) was on those.
My dad (RIP) collected Advents, AR's and Pioneer receivers until his passing in 2002. I still have several pairs of each speakers (in various conditions) and one each SX-950 & 1080 remaining. I have always loved their sound and the Pioneers have a special place in my heart. When I started getting into hifi in the mid 90's, I went with Thiel CS .5s and leveled up to CS 2.3s not long after as they reminded me of Advents that I'd heard growing up. Still have my 2.3's running off of the 1080 to this day. Cheers!
My Dad had the JBL paragon when I was about 10. Loved sitting right in the middle of it and ummmmm, maybe excessive volume?! He drove it with the big McIntosh tube amp.
Bought a pair of Jensen OPC24 in 1977. Rebuilt but still in use. Compares favorably to the AR speaker you mentioned. Sounds really good with tubes. Also really liked Genesis II speakers. Really smooth budget bookshelf from the 70's, but never owned them. A lot if my friends did.
The Magnepans... I may be wrong, but it seems older (pre-2000) units begin to make buzzing sounds as they break down from age. It's not like a regular speaker that can be easily repaired by popping in a replacement driver. Rebuilding Magnepan is a labor and time intensive job. Just a heads up. I'd love to own Magnepans, but I'd source a newer set if it were me. They sound awesome! Thanks for the video Kevin!
It was the glue they used on the older Maggies that was the problem. They use a different glue now. I have a pair of MG12 from 2001 and the bottom wires became detached from the mylar. It was an easy fix, but removing the sock was a pain (staples on the bottom and wood side trim to be removed). You can purchase the LRS for $995. My current Maggies are the 1.7i powered by the Orchard Audio Starkrimson Ultra with two SVS Micro 3000 subs. Another speaker that I started my audiophile journey with was the Polk 10s 😎
@@tonyvaldiconza3914 Right on. You did your own repair and that's greatness! I've seen folks that had to do a total reglue and after watching that I decided not for me unless fairly new. I got to pick and choose my battles. They sure have a nice sound.
THANKYOU for shouting out some Advents. I have wildly varying feelings on some speakers you mentioned, including loving the look/and just hating the sound of the L100… on the flip side, just about all the 80s Advents however- they are lovely, present, non fatiguing and forgiving speakers. Some of my all time favorites and so good for the price. I’ve even given sets as gifts to new hobbyists to stoke their interest in hifi!
Really enjoyed this. Most of your choices I remember seeing and hearing in the many local stereo stores years ago. A worthy inclusion might be Ohm. I remember the chain Tweeter sold them. I'm fortunate to have a contemporary pair of Ohm speakers built in Brooklyn, NY. Not sensitive to placement and amazing imaging. Keep up the great work.
My friend worked at Maxell when that add came out, she had that poster on the wall in her living room and it was so cool, I was jealous. 😊 I loved my Bose, "Power towers," They'd take 250 watts and had overload indicating lights that glowed yellow/orange when you started maxing them out. Klipch Corner horns rounded out the package, driven by either my Sanusi amp, Marantz turntable and/or a Pioneer 1250 receiver. 😊 (I loved my Pioneer setup and the old Sansui stuff is great, still have my promo-hanger on the wall... "Sansui We're first the second you hear us." 😀
I have 2 in a Row the JBLs and the New KLH 5s Running through a Pioneer SX1280 and Advance Paris A12, The Whole Video was Great Memories too, owned almost all of them Starting back in the late 70s "GOOD TIMES"
Thank you for this excellent video. I was bequeathed a pair of ADS L-810s in 2003 and they sat idle for 15 years. Shame on me. I had no idea what I had, until the day I endeavored to sell them. To test their functionality, I connected them to a vintage Onkyo receiver and CD player and threw in the closest CD. The speakers were ear-level on a table in my garage. The song was "Lost in Love" by Air Supply of all things. Long story short, I kept the speakers. Suffice to say, I had absolutely no problem spending $400 for custom stands to get them off the floor and angled properly. These speakers are worth it. I love them, and they're part of my 'vintage' system. It was so great to watch and listen to you validate these speakers...which I will never sell.
I have cats. I love the metal grills on the ADS speakers. My SVS subwoofer has a metal grill. A lot of owners don't like the metal grill. They must not have cats 😂. I'm thinking about checking the ADS for that reason 😂.
Really great video👍🏼 Just wonder if a better choice from Klipsch would have been a set of Cornwalls or even the LaScala speakers. And yes, I did subscribe to your channel👍🏼🙏
Good ears. A bunch of the recording engineers using or hanging around The Mastering Lab during the direct-to-disk days including myself nabbed 810s (and some remnants of their predecessor German Brauns) when they came out and we tested them. All music with the least audible crossovers and independent drivers I could want. I put three across the front of my theater at home with Anthem and Bryston driving them. So rich. I have 710s in my living room with another vinyl system. I've used them to set up my music editing and mixing suites for feature films. Mixed a Leo Kottke album back in the day recorded by a guy who used them as his primary studio monitors and his work was pristine. Pleasure is definitely the right word for with these. So satisfying.
Lots of good choices on your list! I had Advents for years. Always considered them an upgrade from the AR "family." ADS is another awesome choice. L100s are legendary. 901s are unique in their own way; I use an "Acoustimass 5" system in my office every day. But when I heard Fleetwood Mac's "Rhiannon" played over DQ-10s, that was IT. Had two different pairs over the years AND the DQ-LP1 with their subwoofer -- SO sweet ! Eventually heard Maggies and ended up with MG3s. They need space and power, but if you give them both, it's sonic heaven !
Bought my JBL L-100’s in 1978 ($498.00 ea. in 1978!) and they have endured many moves and amp upgrades… they are still my favorite speakers of all time. The experience is priceless.
I bought the one pair sold as Radio Shack dumped them at their cost, $198 each. The JBL lawyer called the store as I was Wheeling them out!! "Don't you sell those below fair trade!!!" he threatened the Radio Shack employees. ME: BYE, NOW!!
In my younger days there was a group of us that got together and went to each other's homes to listen to music. I had Infinity Column 2s and 150 watt Nikko separates. Another friend had a high wattage Sansui and JBL L100s. Another friend had Large Advent speakers...that I now have in my garage. The best speaker I ever heard were JBL L300s. I have lusted for them since. I also loved the power hungry Ohm Fs. As much as speaker evaluating was fun...the BIG thing for me was the turntable cartridges...an ENTIRELY overlooked segment of audio discern. It was absolutely uncanny how a cartridge would make or break good audio. I settled on a Microacoustics 2002e and spent the ungodly amount of $120 on it in probably 1977. By far the best investment that is almost always overlooked..especially in the now mostly digital age of music. I say...DO A CARTRIDGE REVIEW...and wake people up. If you are listening to vinyl...its more important than ANY other variable...ie amp, speakers, etc.
They are wonderful bookshelf speakers. The cabinets were a woodworker dream...walnut. The iconic foam grilles are still prestigious. I loved them. I would have killed for the L300s...and a place big enough to put them. Lol
My parents had a pair. I used to take them to outdoor bonfire parties and power them off a high powered car stereo. They really rocked the outdoors!
I got mine in 1976- I was in a band with a bass player that worked at Sam Goody. He gave me a price of $333 each.
This guy is PERFECT.... his commentary is what brings me to this place....
As a young service man stationed in Germany, 72-74, I went on trip to buy a nice pair speakers. Listened to the JBL 100, Bose901, AR 3a, and the winner was Altec Segovia.
Fortunately a couple friends came, because when boxed they were huge and heavy to move them on a train.
Happy Veterans Day. I was in Germany (Berlin) in the same time frame. Where were you at
@@robertbynon7189 sorry for slow reply, but I was at a Nike Hercules missile site about 40 minutes east of Cologne.
Thanks for the memories! I've experienced many of these fine older speaker in my 81 years and had the pleasure of owning Carver AL-3's for many years before my hearing loss became significant enough to give them away to my son so he could appreciate them.
And also damage his hearing. I hav a pair of Infinity Hallsonic monitors , e-mit tweeters. Great sound I also had to give up listening to good music ears shot ! W
My Father was at JBL. He designed the Aquarius speakers.
I enjoy the Aquarious. Tell your dad thanks for me! I also have a set of JBL L7's for my main system.
Did you grow up with audio equipment galore?
Don't want to pull you into a debate, but do you believe RSL, esp their 3300 and 3600 speakers were a copy of the L100? JBL took Fred to court over their designs.
I almost got 2 pairs of those for my quadraphonic but I went with infinity RSII instead
@@kevinfestner6126 They probably were, but man, those 3600s smoked the JBLs.
I was a stereo tech in the 70's & 80's.. Saw all these speakers. Had most of them. AR made a great speaker I had a pair of Walnuts I loved those. Worked for a Authorized Bose Speaker Service Center. One day a Bose tech came by for a demo with the latest model of the 901. This was 1982 same year CD discs came out and laser discs came out. Hooked an ac cord across the speaker terminals which he had done many times already at other demo's and plugged it in to the wall outlet. We all stood back lol. It made a super loud 60 hz tone all the drivers pushed out as far as they could go and after about 7 seconds unplugged it and let it cool down. Hooked an amp to it and it played perfectly. Impressively tough speaker and we really never ever saw a blown speaker. We did Bar sound installs and I installed lots of 901's with big power amps and they rocked. Never had one fail and they got pounded. Loud as hell and sounded pretty good.
Yes, I agree. We had a disco locally that used 4 x 901's ceiling mounted and pointed at the dance floor, driven by HH V800 amplifiers. It's the only HiFi disco I have ever heard. Man it was loud, and those 901's never had an ounce of distortion.
@@analoglooney I hung a pair of 901s in our family room. We measured again and again using the specs from Bose. It took two guys on ladders to get it all done. Got them swinging during a party creating a 'wall of sound.'
Laserdisk, came out in the US, in 1978. Not 1982. My buddy got one of the first that year. Very expensive, but very high quality. It was a little rich for me at the time. Still I enjoyed it at his home over some beers.
I think you could make money with an audio museum offering demo tours! I'd go and i hate museums ❤
@@raywhitehead730 We were authorized Pioneer service center I remeber the top guy coming by for a laser disc player demo where the laser bounced off 2 mirrors. Not sure of the year as it was 45 years ago.
It was this demo that I remember it was 1982 so i thought that was when it launched. But your right it was 78.
When I bought a pair of L-100's for my bedroom in 1978,they sounded like crap.I proceeded to rip out the wall to wall carpeting ( new house) and I was in business! After 25 years in storage,they're back in my(retirement) bedroom with my high end Krell system in disrepair .Great video !
I have a pair of ADS L810's that i have had for 40 years w/ 2 ADS bookshelves' that used to be in the back window of my old Camero back in the 70's. They still sound awesome and yes, I have replaced the tweeter fuses many times...thank God for the fuses. Great video, will play for my wife who hates them. :)
You forgot one essential accessory for the JBL L100's: a Lava Lamp. In 1968, I took my Allied 935 amp (tubes, 12 wpc rms) to work and drove a pair of AR 3a's with it. In many ways, it was a perfect match with those speakers. Great list, Kevin!
Beat me to the post! I have 2 pairs of L100's bought in the 70's. Properly accessorized with Lava Lamps.
Came in from WV for business and just had to stop by the store to check it out. You got great folks there. Des Moines is lucky to have a store like yours!
BIG A/D/S fan here! Still listening to my L1230’s, 44 years after I purchased them! 😊👍
Grew up listening to my Dad’s JBL Libra speakers driven by Dynaco 70 amp and CB preamp. Still have his Magnecord 1024 reel to reel.
Finally a normal, honest and knowledgable guy to listen to. Enjoyed this presentaton alot!
Fond memories of my college days and hanging out in Hi-Fi shops. Thanks!
Your description of the Klipsch speakers was spot on. Back in 1980 I had KLH speakers. I was not a Klipsch fan then. I would sometimes fill in as the disc jockey in a nightclub in Charleston. They had Klipsch speakers for the dance floor. That is when I found out that I absolutely did appreciate and like the Klipsch speakers. I also found out with my own experimentation that I did not like the Klipsch speakers much with my solid state amps. With el 34
tube amps they sing and they are fun. If
I'm at home by myself wanting to listen to music critically, I use my Tannoy speakers. When I
just want to have a group of friends over and have a nice loud party. I use my Klipsch Heresy IV,s. Probably one of the reasons is no matter where you are in the room they sound fun. Another reason why I like the Heresey's is because I probably had some high frequency hearing loss while working around jets in the Air Force. This was a very nice review that you did. Sometimes speakers just don't pair up very well with certain amplifiers. Currently I have my Klipsch Heresy IV's paired with a Black Ice Audio F-35 Integrated amp running el 34 tubes. And yes I love the sound.
AR3-a : "Every one of them looks like a prototype". I laughed out loud because it's so true. What an amazing sounding speaker! Love this channel.
The mid 70s AR-10pi and AR11 were much improved versions of the 3A, reducing coloration and increasing detail significantly while also vastly improving cosmetics. Yet they don't seem to figure on people's radar and never seem to get mentioned.
My Uncle Steve was in the USAF and was stationed in NH and I went up to visit him. He had 2 Bose 901s driven by a Sansui AU-717 and TU-717. That was my first ever listening to them. It was about 1979 or 80. He had a TEAC reel to reel with some Pink Floyd and he had it cranked in the barracks. I loved it of course. I have that Sansui duo in my system now and they are driving a pair of Tekton Lore speakers and it sounds like heaven. Thanks Uncle Steve!
He still has the 901s.
Pease Airbase, so glad they are gone and not wasting our money, threatening the peace and annoying our ears anymore
@@johnsmith1474 No WAY, I was at Pease around that time... 1916th Comm Squadron
Another super fun one, thanks Kevin! And shout out to the editor, they've really been stepping up their game these past couple months!
Thanks for mentioning the Dahlquist DQ-10! I fell in love with these back in the 80s and always wanted a pair (but couldn’t afford them). Earlier this year I came across a nearly pristine pair and grabbed them - they sound fantastic! I was told I’d need a lot of power - I tried my Yamaha CR-600 but I could tell it just wasn’t enough, so I got a new Yamaha with 100Wpc.
I have 2 pairs of 10's and two of the DQ subs too. Look for either a Hafler DH500 or Adcom 555
An Audiophile friend of mine brought his father's Thorens TD-124 turntable and AR-3a Loudspeakers back to the 'States from Hong Kong. As a serious High-End enthusiast, he claims you haven't properly experienced AR-3a's until you drive them with 400 watts and real current. They now reside in his home gym, fully refurbished with a Krell FPB-400cx - the wife's favorite system in their home 🙂
My AR-3a speakers sound terrific powered by an Adcom GFA-545. I have tried other amps (including the GFA-585 that powers my AR9 speakers) but never a Krell... nice!
Kevin your love of audio shines! I love to watch the videos! You are not afraid to voice your opinion! Audio is so subjective! What one person hates another loves!
As a Technition since the 1960’s and now pushing 80 years old my love of audio has never died! So much equipment from the 1970’s was so over engineered it’s no wonder they have stood the test of time ! I do believe older equipment should be serviced and get those 50+ year old capacitors and transistors out of there! The difference after doing this is most times remarkable! Well worth the time and money ! Best to you and your Father! Sam Maze in West Virginia
And at that time, the Maxell Ad I saw just once and never saw again is a guy getting home from work, looking tired/sad, and parking on a dark and scary
urban street, walking into a dilapidated apt. building, up the dark stairs and unlocking the multiple locks walking into this dark and dank apt and cracking into a giant grin as he gazes upon his 20K audio system and inserting that Maxell cassette. Great ad.
how'd you come up with 20K? L100s were $666 pair.
The man in the seat is actually Peter Murphy from Bauhaus at the time.
I can't claim to know much about speakers, but I bought a pair of Wharfedale Linton speakers to go with my Hi-Fi set up in 1972, and I still use the speakers now. I think they cost £40. Thats what I call value for money. I love the sound they produce, and have not heard anything that makes me want to change.
I Also Don't Know Much About Speakers But I've Only Ever Owned Wharfedale And Goodmans, Still Have The Good Old Faithful Wharfedales from 1977..
I bought my 4 JBL 100s new back in the mid 70s and never looked back! You are right about the fact that they love power and I’ve always run them through my KR9600 with the V15 typeIII and they are “fun”!! Perfect party speaker.
My father-in-law was lucky enough to pick up 4 second hand at his local hifi shop back in the day. He sold one pair and eventually lent the other pair to my sister-in-law. He just got them back last week and is enjoying them loud again!
I was stationed on Okinawa, Japan in the mid 70's. One of our NCOs worked the Bose Demo Room down the highway and invited me to enjoy the set-up. Picture paying the electric bill for: 2 901s on each front channel, one on each rear channel, 2 Bose 800 power amps fed by the 4401 preamp. The source was a Marantz turntable. We could hold a normal conversation while this ode to the electric company vibrated my chest with Classical music.
Got majority of my stuff at the BX at Lakenheath in the UK in 83/84
I own a pair own Braun L810 with the Stands, bought them off a guy for 180 bucks, it came with a Braun CEV 510 and two Braun LTV.
I refinished the 810 cabinets and recapped the Crossover and recapped the Receiver. Works flawlessly
A friend gave me a set of Magnepan MG2's, several years ago, in exchange for fixing a vintage receiver for him. Sadly, when I got them back to my home shop neither worked. In both speakers, the wires (one for the high freqs and one for the low freqs) had corroded in multiple places and actually crumbled away. I contacted the company and found out they offered a rebuild kit. Fast forward quite a bit, I rebuilt the MG2's and they are still in my home shop. I have them paired with a Yamaha M60 and the realism is amazing!
I sold many of the speakers and components you present when I worked in a mom and pop stereo shop during the 80s. I love what you do and never thought that the equipment I sold would become collector items. 8:53 9:11
I was disappointed that the Dynaco A-25 speaker was not on this list. Also, back in the 80's I purchased a pair of Bose 901's with the pedestals. They cost me $1,111.00. Those were the first speakers that gave me listening fatigue. I took them back for a refund. I think the problem is with all those little full range speakers in on cabinet, you end up with a lot of midrange, hence, the need for the active equalizer that comes with them. It seemed like every time I changed the music, I would have to keep messing with that equalizer. They just never sounded quite right to me. In case you are wondering, I was using a Carver M400 cube magnetic field amplifier with them.
I've had my ADS L570/2s since the mid 80s in college. I've never grown tired of them. You've put the L810s on my radar once we relocate for my upcoming retirement, and I hopefully end up with a suitable man cave. 😉
Had a pair of Maggies that I lost in a house fire. Simply the cleanest speakers I have ever owned. Really need to get another pair.
Maggies? ....GAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Maggies" indeed. They are sweet and clean! How old were they when you lost them?
I just got a pair of ADS 710s for $225 from a retiring doctor. Love them! I have a pair of ADS L10s that I bought a couple years ago and run those as speaker B with a subwoofer. Running them A+B through my Pioneer SX-650 sounds great! Selling re-foamed Cerwin Vega At-60s and Boston Acoustics A70s.
I have cervin Vegas ..had them over 20. Years I think ..awesome speakers ...
@@leighsayers2628 I have 4 Cerwin Vegas , AT-12’s Technics SA-500. Can’t even hit half volume.
Technics and Vega since 1972. Sure wish I had saved my vinyl.
I picked up an ADS L400 complete with the original stand for $5 for the pair. I combined it with a Klipsch subwoofer. It's hard to believe how good they are.
That's amazing! I picked up some JBL 4410a monitors, with the original boxes, invoice, warranty cards, etc., for $25 for the pair. They needed new surrounds on the woofers but it's crazy how you can still find deals like these. Congratulations!
Super fun video. I recently came upon some Wharfedale Dovedale 3 and paired them with a Kenwood KA-6000. I couldn’t be happier.
My first "real" pair of speakers was the AR-3a, picked up from a shop in Milwaukee much like yours... woulda been around 1984. $75 IIRC... Around the same time I found a Stereo 70 and PAS-2 at of all places a Salvation Army thrift store in excellent condition for the low low price of $15 for the pair. Fun days... I really wish I'd held onto those pieces especially, of all the gear that has come and gone.
Thanks again and regards.
My Brother had a pair of Optimus 3 from Radio Shack. They sounded great playing DSOM or Moody Blues DOFP. I used to watch the woofers move when the music played. I could 'see' the bass. Thanks for the show. Realistic Amps from the 70's are under appreciated and good value.
A friend of mine had some Radio Shack Mach II speakers, and they were big.
They had a 15" woofer, a 16" horn midrange, and a bullet tweeter.
These speakers were great, but had some bugs because they weren't truly high-end quality.
The Radio Shack speakers were very under rated and could hold their own. Every one into Audio would thumb their noses at radio shack stuff but in reality the better stuff was good. I even had little Radio Shack speakers, forget the name, with the ribbon tweeter and would fool my friends with blind AB listening tests against my big SAE electrostatics and it was hard to tell the difference. Humm, I wounder if that the a bad review for SAE or positive for Radio Shack?
Polk Audio’s flagship SDA SRS is a must hear speaker. I bought mine in 1986 and they are still the heart of my stereo/home theater system. Good luck finding any tower speakers today that can come anywhere close to the bass output of those SRSs (10 HZ). The overwhelming majority of floorstanding speakers today require a subwoofer in order to hear the lowest notes of a 5-string base or an 88-key piano.
I don't know anything about the Polk Speakers you mention, however, I replaced my 1978, 30 year old 10"inch Bass Advent Loudspeakers in 2008, with the Polk Momo Speakers. They do a nice job. Not quite the thump of the Advent but they can certainly take a punch of volume through my Advent Amp and still sound great with a level amount of bass not overpowering the high end. I think the guy in this video should've covered the Advent Loudspeaker and not the Baby Advent.
Those Polks are monsters. A dream of mine.
@@stanley2004 honestly, I don't know that much about Polk speakers. But I'm pretty satisfied with them. Somehow I said "Advent" Amp, when I meant to say I'm powering the speakers through my Phase Linear 400 Series Two Amplifier. It was around two in the morning when I was commenting to you. 😄 Rock on!
Great speakers! I can remember 'lusting' for them, but my budget only allowed for a pair of Polk Monitor 10 speakers, which I still have in perfect condition, and they still sound great! One of my friends did have the budget though, so I convinced him to buy a pair of SDA SRS speakers, and we had immense joy listening to our favorite music for hours on end! He fed them with a McIntosh tubed amp (dual monoblocks) next to each speaker on floor stands! Those were the days!
I have a pair of Polk SDA 1's I bought in '98. For those who don't know, the SDA routes a 180 degree inverse signal to the other speaker to cancel out the opposite speaker which provides greater stereo separation without having the speakers a mile apart. Passive sub that really produces rich lows. I had paired with a carver Mag amp. Love those for jazz and classical. Unfortunately I lost the interconnect cable during one of my moves and haven't listened to them for over a decade. Don't know why - I just stopped listening to high end audio. Just discovered this channel and am right down the road in Cedar Rapids
Oh, the memories you stirred up with these speakers and powering units. My first power was the Sansui back in the '70's along with most of the speakers with exception to the Magnapan's and Dalquists (sp). Then, I got spoiled! My entry into esoterica started with a pair of Rogers LS35A's and sub-woofer. Powered by Optonica until I sprung for NAIM Audio. New Mark Levinson's needed a freakn' mortgage so that didn't happen, Today, it's Crimson Electronics, Naim Intros, Dennon Sub, Planar and Linn Tables. Nice video. Yeah, those 901's ......
Your videos are just pure entertainment. The information is just a plus. I can see the time you put in and it's appreciated.
Oh man. I've passed on baby Advents at least twice at the thrift shops. All of them needed refoaming though. Always loved the real wood accents. I've heard many say that the tweeter in them isn't all that great. Still a legend no matter what people think of them.
Ah, you got to my ADS speakers at the end. I bought them in the late 70s and still use them as my front left and right in my home theater system. They stood out in the audio store when I demo'd and bought them, and I've had no reason to replace them. The cones and surrounds have survived perfectly for all these years and the sound is very balanced as you said.
I too am blessed to own a pair of 810s. They still sound great.
My dad built a 8’ wide stereo console with Altec speakers in the cabinets, a Fisher receiver and Dual turntable. Watching these videos brings back so many great memories of listening to that system for hours. Love the vibe of the channel… keep’em coming!
I recently inherited my dad's Rectilinear III Highboys. He bought them new in 1968 when I was 14, and they are still completely original and sound great. My ex has my AR-3a setup.
AR 3a and similar speakers of that era, the manufacturers never intended the grills be removed, focusing on the sound and outward appearance.
Thanks for the memories! I am thrilled you mentioned Audio Labs in Des Moines. Used to live in Ottumwa, Iowa and acted like some rich kid, going there many times and listening to Harold Beveridge speakers, until the sales man got tired of my antics. These speakers were considered the ultimate back then, expensive, and so rare to fiind. If I remember, there were no stereo stores in Chicago selling them. I had the JBL 100's, then Infinity RS 2.5. Then got married, and bye bye to the loud music.
Just stumbled on this channel. I still have my l100’s . Got them as a kid and my parents were sorry they did. I think my tinnitus started with these.
You nailed it! I have a lot of speakers and those ads just do something those others just can't do. There's zero fatigue they are sugar to your ears. I rotate my listening speakers and when I get back around to the ads. Every time I'm amazed and then say why do even switch them out, maybe I'm thinking one of the others will sound as good. Hasn't happened yet. Every reviewer I have ever heard has always had nothing but rave reviews for the things, makes you wonder. If they were such a great speaker company why aren't they still around?
A truly balanced list. Excellent installment, as usual. I sold JBL L-100s. They were my "go-to" speaker when someone came in that wanted really good and balanced sound, and had the money to afford them. Still one of my favorites, and definitely on my Buy-List before I die. For a larger room, even deeper pocketed individual, I had to look to the L-200s -- bring your truck.
Back in about 1978 or 79 I went into a small audio shop and saw a pair of Klipsch for the first time, but they weren't hooked up to anything. I asked the sales rep why and he proceeded to hook them up, lock the front door of the store and cranked them up. I had goose bumps on my arms and tears running down my face, the sales guy was grinning big time. After a few minutes he turned them off and said now you know why we keep them unwired, we would never get anything done. I never bought a pair cuz life happened and I haven't even set up my stereo in the last 24 years (blasphemy I know)! But I have been living in a townhome for the last 14.5 years and my neighbors would complain HOA's so it's ok. Love your take on all these speakers and amps.
Which set of Klipsch? Heresy, Cornwall, jubilee/la scala or klipschorn?
Great content, Kevin! Keep it coming!!
Fun review - my basement (with a pool table) has four 901s cranking - the Advent bookshelf speakers were amazing in a small room - thanks!
Back in 1978 I bought my 1st high end setup ( in my income bracket ) . I auditioned the DQ10s against some Maggie’s, I chose the DQ10s ( very close ) with the Citation 16 , also bought a Apt Holman preamp and a nice Kenwood turntable, Ortofon mc20 cartridge with a step up converter and a Tandberg cassette deck. I later added an Advert surround 500 converter ( early entry into surround sound) the name might be wrong? Then paired it with a Citation 19 amp and the large Advent speakers for surround. If not over done it sounded like a small supper club to a large arena. I was in heaven. Just 24 yrs old , those were the days!
Bought my Klipsh Forte in 1986, never abused them, they sound as good now as when I brought them home, absolutely love them!🎶🎶🎵🎸🎸
I had 901's in my bedroom in my late teens. I hung the 901's from the ceiling hooked to SX1250 a foot or two from the wall behind them. They would start swinging when the volume was up. The ports acted like little jets.
I have a pair
Just learning how to make them really
Amaze. Not for everyone. No one does better what they attempt to do.
I have five other sets
But only the 901s have a true mystique
I still have my 901's that I bought in 1985 hanging in my living room.
@@fredflintstone505 I still have mine from 1978 including tulip stands. Unfortunately they need new surrounds.
@
I still have the stands in storage
Same with mine before I added a cross over and 4 15inch subwoofers. The end of YES - Yours is no discrace was awesome. I could also feel cool air from them in the winter.
I have had my Bose 901 series 2 or 3 I believe since 1976 and they are hanging from my ceiling at this moment and I listen to them every day!! When I splurge to listen to a live phish or goose show they are awesome!! It's like your at the show, just like being at Winterland for a Grateful Dead show!
As someone that lived through the era when all of these where new...I have zero complaints with your list other than your glaring omission...Altec. The Altec Model 17 or 18 that used the 604 coax and the Altec Model 19, which embodied the components of the A7 commercial speaker but in a bass-reflex cabinet for home use.
The Model 17 and 18 was, essentially, the reference monitor used on a LOT of records in the era of the Altec 604 driver (until the UREI supplanted it). If you want to hear what your favorite vintage records sounded like in the studio, the Model 17 is the closest to what you will get.
The Model 19, conversely, if want that live sound, given how much Altec A7s were used as PA speakers in the 60s and early 70s, it is THE speaker that will give you that sound. Try something like Little Feat's "Waiting for Columbus" on a Model 19. It will take you right back to that time and place.
I, totally, get not liking the "horn" sound and both of the Altecs above do use compression HF drivers with some form of horn (70s Model 18 would have the 604-8K so a constant-dispersion "Mantaray" horn, Model 17s would have a 6-cell multicell, the Model 19 used the Altec secortial horn).
If you haven't heard them yourself, they are worth seeking out and giving a listen. I'd put the Model 18 (aka 604K) up against a lot of speakers. The coax driver is very tough to beat and remains sought after and is also still in production (for a very pretty penny)!
I agree with you regarding the Altecs. I worked in studios back in the day and everything was recorded and mixed on a 15 and a horn of some sort. Altec, JBL and Tannoy Ardens were the standard. I use an Altec 515-8LF with an Altec 511B horn and an Altec 802-8G tangerine compression driver. Studio sound in my living room, although I admit the cabinets are rather large at around 14 Cu Ft each.
Yeah. I'm also going by what were contemporaries to what I saw in HiFi stores of the day when his 9 were also there. I saw Altec Model 19s, for sure. Having worked with Altec Voice of the Theatre speakers for over 40 years now, I was familiar with their line up too. Personally, I always loved the 604/620 and own a pair with the 604-8G though I prefer the 604-8K. I must admit, however, I didn't see Model 17s or Model 18s (or Stonehenge family) in the stores as much as I saw them in various catalogs. But the Model 19, that was definitely present.
I had my mission 760i speakers from early 90s I believe; you can't beat British. They were part of my first Hi-Fi setup, with Marantz CD Player (just gifted to a friend in the last week, after sat on my shelf for years, it didn't fire up immediately, but after leaving it for a few moments, got it working and even found a remote and put new batteries in it) and a NAD Amplifier (might have given that away too).
I recently hooked up those 760i speakers after years on the shelf, in their original boxes with all the packing (yes, if you look after your gear, it will look after you) and they work brilliantly hooked up to a Denon CD / Bluetooth / Mini system, with space for Subwoofer output.
Great Rundown Sir!! Put Magnepan(preferably a true ribbon) speakers with a GAS Great American Sound high current amplifier(s) you will find musical perfection! Thank you for including Magnepan on this video!
paired mine with B&K power amp. ❤
Kudos to your recommendation ! I have a pair of MG-1 (aka SMG) with a GAS Grandson from my days in college working at a local audio shop. The imaging once set up is amazing although they'll never be blamed for future hearing loss due to excessive volumes!
@@markgroves5592 lol, as I listen to my continual tinnitus buzz.
Probably my first time watching your channel and thoroughly enjoyed this video. You've made me a new subscriber.
I must admit, I was very pleasantly surprised to see the ADS L810s on the list. I was a huge fan of their speakers since my college days (late 1970s). Not having the cash back for 810s and something suitable to power them back then, I settled for some ADS 300s bi-amped with a GAS Grandson of Godzilla and... I think an SAE Integrated amp with a subwoofer of some sort carrying the lows. There was also some form of dynamic range expander in the mix, which, being a fan of crisp highs, was helpful in opening up the high end and appreciated.
Thank you for this interesting and entertaining video! I'm going to cruise more of your videos next.
Bob
I hated Klipsch Heresy...until I listened to them with acoustic jazz. Then...look out! Amazing!
So...I listened to my movie soundtracks and Baroque music through my Mini Advents with their tiny accessory woofer.
When I really wanted to jam to live jazz recordings...I went to my friend's apartment and listened to that on his Klipsch Heresy setup. Wow!
Yes, a Jazz quartet on Heresy speakers fed by a single-ended triode amp. Make sure you are sitting so that the beamiest part of the horn sound passes to either side of your head (maybe turn the boxes outward some). Close your eyes and experience the performance, along with ice cubes going into glasses in the case of Bill Evans at the Village Vanguard.
@@tomscott1159 Ah... Such a sonic picture! I enjoy near-field listening nowadays, and I'm certain that Klipsch Heresys would do that trick even more handsomely than the pair of Design Acoustics PS-55s I've been thrashing for almost 30 years.
I have a pair of Klipsch KG4s that I bought while in the Army in 1988. They are still my main speakers and I love them.
Fantastic video! Very much a walk down memory lane. Great advice. Thx Bro.
Really enjoying your site. My father passed away just over a year ago and I've adopted his old stereo equipment. All one owner and bought new back in the day.
As far as speakers I have a set of Klipsch Cornwall CD-BRs bought in 1976 and a set of KEF 107 series 1's. Then there's the amps ,tuner , preamp and turntables . I'm sure i'm gonna have lots of questions about servicing and restoring that stuff.
Once again this is a great site and look forward to going through the videos and info.
I had the large Advents. Fantastic speaker.
I have two pairs and run them with a Marantz 2385 which puts out 240W RMS at 4 ohms, I've never heard more powerful or truer bass and I'm a lifelong bass player. They've very clear all the way up too. My favorites. I have had them for about twenty years. I refoamed them years ago from kits and they've been fine since.
@ I had to replace my woofers due to foam degradation and and years later it happened again. Sadly I let the speakers go but I think about them all the time. They were such a great looking and sounding speaker.
Amazing! After reading the title I thought, O.K. let me see if I've listened to ANY of your 9. Boy, was I surprised! I've heard and listened to 7 out of 9 and owned 4. What a list, even had 3 of the amps you listed, not paired with what you had them paired with but still. Great list of speakers!
When I sold audio at Sam Goodys in Livingston Mall IN NJ in the late 70's my favorites were what my fellow salesman ran in his bedroom in his parent's place AR 9's. Man, giant, cool with those side firing woofers especially in that tiny room (like a Porsche in a parking lot)
One of my son's has a pair of 9's based on my recommendation. I repped them when they were introduced. Interesting to see how it's tall slender design is how all the most expensive stuff is made these days! It was the start.
Loved that store in the Livingston Mall. I grew up in Chatham. I remember walking by one day and all the 8-tracks were on clearance and in racks in front of the store being cleared out. Who would have thought? 😁
I do remember them having some gear in the back. It was the only place I ever saw Teac cassette decks being sold. My dad bought me a Fisher component system from Hane’s of all places just across the mall. I have the original receipt. $720 for the system. Outrageous!
A pair of Teledyne AR9 speakers powered by an Adcom GFA-585 amplifier anchor my home theater and sound absolutely awesome (no subwoofer needed!), but I can't imagine them (or the AR90) in a small room (pressure management challenges)...
@@bjmsamrlm My son with the AR9s complained when he first got them based on my recommendation that they did not have the low end I claimed. But he had them in a small room and kept explaining that that room literally was not big enough for the low end he wanted. His house now has a nice large living room with cathedral ceilings, ... and he's more than happy!
@@glenncurry3041 I bet! Mine originally were owned by someone who threw tons of money at other components (but not at room treatment, natch) trying to get them to sound good in his small room before giving up. Indeed, they sounded terrible when I auditioned them there, but when I brought them home and set them up in my much larger room, they certainly lived up to their reputation! Perhaps some assume that the biggest, most expensive model in a lineup must sound best in any room rather than choosing the most appropriate model (I have a pair of AR94 powered by a GFA-535 in a guest bedroom that sound terrific, and I've heard the AR91 powered by a GFA-555 in a larger room that also sound terrific, but none of those three models would sound as good in the other rooms).
Thanks so much for the presentation. Former Klipschorn owner here, and decided to downsize a bit. Now have the Forte' 4's. I have high sensitivity to any harshness and was amazed how tame the Forte sounds in my livingroom. No ear fatigue. The main system are a wonderful pair of Martin Logan Classic 9's.
Have owned, sold, or competed against all of these. Your summaries are spot on. Surprised you didn't cover the Ohm F or Ohm A, especially the F which was more widely sold. THE best sound stage realism of all time, Uncanny.
My friend had Ohm speakers, the cones disintegrated in about 15 years... whereas I'm still enjoying my 1970 5 way Sonics I got back then for $50 each...
@@buzzwaldron6195 Hey, Buzz. If the Ohm's were bookshelves (Ohm made lots of models), they were pretty much thrown together. The A and the F didn't like low watt amps driving them, so anything under 150/ch would certainly degrade them. But, then, 15 years from an exotic with massive cones is probably not awful. And, you got 15 years of mind blowing sound.
@@thomamnotte4503 - As I recall, they were fairly large, like 4 8" speakers in each one... maybe some smaller ones as well in there...
Most of the time I listen to my 1970 Sonics at about 0.1 Watt volume... bass notes might kick a little higher... they're very efficient...
Left Vietnam with the new Pioneer 4 channel Quadrasonic receiver... $170 over there, $549 in USA...
Thanks for the info. I have a pair of baby Advents (bought new in 80’s) and now I like them even more.
Thiel SCS on BOSE 901 in front of me. I'm familiar with two unique sounding devices, one with coaxial driver and the other direct/reflecting design. Both good.
As far as I experienced, I did not have to care about standing wave etc. with 901, while 901 is sensitive to asymmetry in reflectance of left and right side walls. Mono recording will sound like a simulated stereo when left and right side environments of the set are quite different. Sweep signal from low to high will sound as if ghost is wondering in front of you, left and right, and finally stand at center. So, I understand why some people hate 901.
As a newly married, still in college guy in 1980 my budget was limited. I listened to everything. I bought a pair of Klipsch Heresy, unfinished, Russian white birch and finished them myself. Just stain and varnish, no laminate.
After many years I replaced the caps and upgraded the woofers. Eventually I added a sub.
I listen to jazz, blues, classical, world and rock. I still love these babies.
We've spent a lot more money on home theater and surround, but when I want to listen to music, which is most of the time, it's in my minimalist music room with no distractions and the Heresy.
My favorite vintage speakers in the 70's were the Rectilinear 5s.....I currently LOVE the Definitive 7060 Towers with Definitive bookshelf surrounds.
Kevin, I think the Dahlquist DQ 10 is one of the best speakers of all time. Not really a rock and roll speaker, but for other types of music , it will leave you captivated.
I remember them well. They were beyond my price range back then but have always considered them among the top five I have ever heard. (The big 3 panel folding "room divider" Magnapans also being in that group as well as a pair of B&Ws from England & a very small pair from Rodgers of England, smaller than the baby Advents, made for studio use & a pair of Cantons from Germany that a friend had.)
No particular ranking order for these. Not even as to which was #1. All pretty much equally impressive such that 35-45 yrs later I still remember them. The choice would probably come down to your listening environment & music preferences....
For classical music and opera are excellent, I did a crossover upgrade on a pair
@@DejaView Rogers LS-10 I think you are thinking of.
VERY highly rated "studio monitor" speakers in the 1980s.
They were on my "consider buying" list before I got my Magnapans.
Apparently your idea of rock & roll isn't the same as most. When I was 18 I'd take my Christopher Cross album over to a friend/co-workers house and we'd crank up "Ride Like the Wind" and got blown away every single time.
@@Cartier_specialist I don't think I ever heard DQ-10s playing anything but jazz or heavy jazz-influenced stuff like "Crime of the Century" on a Mobile Fidelity pressing.
I'm sure they're capable of playing other material, just haven't witnessed it.
For most rock, their definition and "space" would be a total waste.
Still have my 810's with the factory stands that I purchased new in 1979. Had one of the tweeters rebuilt a few years ago. Fantastic imaging!
Great video. I still have my Advent prodigy towers and Pioneer CT-F1000.
I repaired many AR3a etc where the tweeter was fried. They took power to play loud and many amps of the day would clip and and deliver a high output square-wave signal and the poor tweeter overheated. I remember hearing Bose at a HiFi show in a big hotel near LA airport back in the 70's. For the demo the Bose guys were powering them with a Phase Liner 700 amp. The output meters on the amp were pegged most of the time (PL meters not known for accuracy) showing the speakers needed and could take high power. Who knows what the freq response was but doing an A/B with other speakers there was no comparison as to which sounded better the Bose or other. When I got my own 901's I powered them with 2 Crown DC300 amps bridged to 600 W RMS. Only thing, I was living in an apartment at the time so wouldn't really crank em up.
Great vid content and brings back many memories, thanks
I still have my Maggies and NAD 3020 I bought in 1982
Came across your channel by accident but I’m a subscriber now. I worked at a audio store in the 80s and have heard all the speakers you presented. Your comments and amp pairings were spot on! I own a pair of Magneplanar MG IIIa speakers and have them paired with a JBL B380 sub and bi amped with Adcom GFA555’s. Great sound.
I purchased the Magnepan MG 2A's in 1978. They are still working perfectly. Something very cool to me is that when I'm sitting down listening to music and get up, the balance of music sounds the same. I remember many of the speakers you have talked about . Thanks
I remember those were really cool. Very bright sound stage.
@@PlymouthVT People told me it didn't have a very good bass response. It's not a box bass sound. It's a live bass sound. You know, the way a bass really sounds.
Great review had not thought about some of those models in a while. In early 1980"s I built some prototype boxes for Klipsch, and prototypes for Becker Electronics in the Hudson Valley of New York. I had a pair of Klipsch in the woodshop shop and was such a great sound. My VW mechanic had very large Klipsch in his shop, I used to stop by just to hear the music, something about hearing the great music in the shop environment. I had a pair of Realistic MC-1000 in my VW bug, they fit in the back compartment and when we got some where to hang out, we would pull them out and have them just sitting on the ground for great sound wherever we were. Miss my Harman Karman tubed amp, great power and sound.
I have heard the 'honkin horns' comments about klipsch speakers before, but in my opinion, they _are_ designed for large spaces, and when used as such (I would go with a mcintosh tube amp myself) they perform admirably
There's a great story about the first meeting between Paul Klipsch and Amar Bose. Supposedly Mr. Bose cupped his hands around his mouth like a horn and said "I'm pleased to meet you Dr. Klipsch" whereupon Mr. Klipsch walked over to the nearest corner of the room, faced into the corner, and said something like "The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Bose."
Mr. Bose?!... I hope Dr. Bose didn't have his doctorate degrees yet; otherwise that would have been very disrespectful.
I picked up a pair of ADS L470 bookshelf based on your past videos that I run with a 70 s Sherwood and Pioneer receiver. Cannot thank you enough for the
Advice!!
I agree with your choices, and I've heard all your suggestions. I would only own the Magnepans or the ADS now. Maybe my ears are bent but I really think any Polk from around that time at or above the Monitor 7 should be considered a necessity too. Nice to hear you mention Audio Labs. I'm sure they were absolutely sick of seeing me walk in the door. Great video as usual!
Magnepan for the win!
@@NextLevelCarCareUS They are still amazing speakers and new Magnepans are an excellent value.. if you've got the space.
Everyone should have a chance to hear a pair of Polk SDA speakers at some point in their life.
@@j.patrickmoore9137 I bought a pair of SDA SRS 1.2 speakers about 10 years ago for $500. I wish I could turn them up all the way and listen to them for a while in a really, really big room.. I can't imagine that they'd ever distort.
I own a pair of L100s that an acquaintance was getting rid of because he was "upgrading" his system. He had no idea what he had. He just told me he was hoping he could sell them, he thought they were too old to have value. I offered him 200 bucks for the pair and he was glad to take it! That was 25 or 30 years ago, and they still sit in my living room. Unfortunately the foam grills are long gone, with simple cloth over the faces now.
My FIRST exposure to these was a set owned by a college roommate in the 70s. He was a true audiophile, taught me so much about listening and hearing. This was the days of west-coast/east-coast sound types, pretty much boiling down in our group to JBL versus Altec-Lansing, with all the arguments and A/B-ing that entailed! For myself, listening to these in any setting, versus anything else, I always felt that my ears just "relaxed" when the Centuries came on.
I also grew up with a pair of ARs, either the 3 or 3a, I don't really know which, that my dad owned. I think those reached farther into the low end of things than my JBLs, and they took more power to drive, but my early classical music education (meaning during high school) was on those.
I could watch this stuff all day
My dad (RIP) collected Advents, AR's and Pioneer receivers until his passing in 2002. I still have several pairs of each speakers (in various conditions) and one each SX-950 & 1080 remaining. I have always loved their sound and the Pioneers have a special place in my heart. When I started getting into hifi in the mid 90's, I went with Thiel CS .5s and leveled up to CS 2.3s not long after as they reminded me of Advents that I'd heard growing up. Still have my 2.3's running off of the 1080 to this day. Cheers!
My Dad had the JBL paragon when I was about 10. Loved sitting right in the middle of it and ummmmm, maybe excessive volume?! He drove it with the big McIntosh tube amp.
Lucky you !
Bought a pair of Jensen OPC24 in 1977. Rebuilt but still in use. Compares favorably to the AR speaker you mentioned. Sounds really good with tubes.
Also really liked Genesis II speakers. Really smooth budget bookshelf from the 70's, but never owned them. A lot if my friends did.
The Magnepans... I may be wrong, but it seems older (pre-2000) units begin to make buzzing sounds as they break down from age. It's not like a regular speaker that can be easily repaired by popping in a replacement driver. Rebuilding Magnepan is a labor and time intensive job. Just a heads up. I'd love to own Magnepans, but I'd source a newer set if it were me. They sound awesome! Thanks for the video Kevin!
It was the glue they used on the older Maggies that was the problem. They use a different glue now. I have a pair of MG12 from 2001 and the bottom wires became detached from the mylar. It was an easy fix, but removing the sock was a pain (staples on the bottom and wood side trim to be removed). You can purchase the LRS for $995. My current Maggies are the 1.7i powered by the Orchard Audio Starkrimson Ultra with two SVS Micro 3000 subs. Another speaker that I started my audiophile journey with was the Polk 10s 😎
@@tonyvaldiconza3914 Right on. You did your own repair and that's greatness! I've seen folks that had to do a total reglue and after watching that I decided not for me unless fairly new. I got to pick and choose my battles. They sure have a nice sound.
@@tonyvaldiconza3914 I have repaired Magnepans in the past. The glue caused the wire to corrode.
THANKYOU for shouting out some Advents. I have wildly varying feelings on some speakers you mentioned, including loving the look/and just hating the sound of the L100… on the flip side, just about all the 80s Advents however- they are lovely, present, non fatiguing and forgiving speakers. Some of my all time favorites and so good for the price. I’ve even given sets as gifts to new hobbyists to stoke their interest in hifi!
Actually have a pair of DQ-10s hooked up to my Yamaha CR-3020!
My first system in 1968 was a Dyna SCA 35, AR 4x speakers, and an AR turntable. Pure perfection in my small bedroom.
Surprised to not have Polk SDA's on the list. The C1's are incredible.
@m-m- dude really.
Really enjoyed this. Most of your choices I remember seeing and hearing in the many local stereo stores years ago. A worthy inclusion might be Ohm. I remember the chain Tweeter sold them. I'm fortunate to have a contemporary pair of Ohm speakers built in Brooklyn, NY. Not sensitive to placement and amazing imaging. Keep up the great work.
You need to have the ohm Walsh 2 speakers on this list.
My brother has a set of those, great sounding
My friend worked at Maxell when that add came out, she had that poster on the wall in her living room and it was so cool, I was jealous. 😊
I loved my Bose, "Power towers," They'd take 250 watts and had overload indicating lights that glowed yellow/orange when you started maxing them out. Klipch Corner horns rounded out the package, driven by either my Sanusi amp, Marantz turntable and/or a Pioneer 1250 receiver. 😊 (I loved my Pioneer setup and the old Sansui stuff is great, still have my promo-hanger on the wall... "Sansui
We're first the second
you hear us." 😀
The Sansui AU8080 was a kick ass little amp back in the 70's. My best friend had his stolen. The culprit ended up being his own brother.
I have 2 in a Row the JBLs and the New KLH 5s Running through a Pioneer SX1280 and Advance Paris A12, The Whole Video was Great Memories too, owned almost all of them Starting back in the late 70s "GOOD TIMES"
Yeah, you've got some heavy hitters there! I'd be happy with any of those pieces.
Thank you for this excellent video. I was bequeathed a pair of ADS L-810s in 2003 and they sat idle for 15 years. Shame on me. I had no idea what I had, until the day I endeavored to sell them. To test their functionality, I connected them to a vintage Onkyo receiver and CD player and threw in the closest CD. The speakers were ear-level on a table in my garage. The song was "Lost in Love" by Air Supply of all things. Long story short, I kept the speakers. Suffice to say, I had absolutely no problem spending $400 for custom stands to get them off the floor and angled properly. These speakers are worth it. I love them, and they're part of my 'vintage' system. It was so great to watch and listen to you validate these speakers...which I will never sell.
I have cats. I love the metal grills on the ADS speakers. My SVS subwoofer has a metal grill. A lot of owners don't like the metal grill. They must not have cats 😂. I'm thinking about checking the ADS for that reason 😂.
Really great video👍🏼 Just wonder if a better choice from Klipsch would have been a set of Cornwalls or even the LaScala speakers. And yes, I did subscribe to your channel👍🏼🙏
Good ears. A bunch of the recording engineers using or hanging around The Mastering Lab during the direct-to-disk days including myself nabbed 810s (and some remnants of their predecessor German Brauns) when they came out and we tested them. All music with the least audible crossovers and independent drivers I could want. I put three across the front of my theater at home with Anthem and Bryston driving them. So rich. I have 710s in my living room with another vinyl system. I've used them to set up my music editing and mixing suites for feature films. Mixed a Leo Kottke album back in the day recorded by a guy who used them as his primary studio monitors and his work was pristine. Pleasure is definitely the right word for with these. So satisfying.
Lots of good choices on your list! I had Advents for years. Always considered them an upgrade from the AR "family." ADS is another awesome choice. L100s are legendary. 901s are unique in their own way; I use an "Acoustimass 5" system in my office every day. But when I heard Fleetwood Mac's "Rhiannon" played over DQ-10s, that was IT. Had two different pairs over the years AND the DQ-LP1 with their subwoofer -- SO sweet ! Eventually heard Maggies and ended up with MG3s. They need space and power, but if you give them both, it's sonic heaven !