Running 25 to 40watts of potential power and working with almost exclusively "lesser" brands, I don't feel sufficiently "schooled" where the more prominent name brands are concerned but like everyone else I do have an opinion.
I do recall back in the day(early-mid 70's) listening to Klipsch, some Altec end tables, of course Bose and I distinctly remember my first experience hearing electrostats. I have been trying to remember the brand for weeks now but it was one of those nights where everything just kind of "melted" together.:yes: They were set up between the living room and the dining room as room dividers and the grilles were the light-colored cloth typical of that time. The guy a/b'ed them with a pair of Heresays and we couldn't believe that something so thin could produce such clean an full sound at very high levels.
Timewarp to the present.
Over the last 6 months of so I have purchased (imo) quite a few sets of speakers, mostly "bookshelf" size in a wide variety of brands. Some were bought based on past experience(Bose), others were bought based on reviews found here and still others were picked up based on "cabinet thump" test and a few snagged because they were too cheap to say no. Most if not all are badged by manufacturers that at 1 time were fairly reputable and some still are.
Short list: (Pair prices)
Advent 1104 front surrounds ($12.50) not into surround systems per say but figured at least the drivers would be decent project material.
Cerwin Vega V 6F front surrounds? ($5) West Coast thump doesn't do anything forme but again drivers for future projects.
DCM Timepiece ($4) Name recognition, price and physical appearance. I love them
DCM FullTime Bass System ($6.50) same as other DCMs. Not as thrilled with the actual sound of those. A bit too subdued for my taste. May need re-working
Bose 301 Series III ($100) Name, past experience, physical condition. Part of a package deal ($200 for them and a pair of 901 Series VI w/ EQ and stands)
Bose 901 Series VI ($100) See above. On reflection, these may have been my only mis-guided speaker purchase but I haven't got anything running right now to give them the power they so seem to need to sound decent so that remeins to be determined.
Bose 301 Series II ($60) same seller as other Bose and I really like the 301's.
RtR Series IV C ($30) same seller as Bose. They sat there for months. Cabinet thump and overall physical appearance(binding posts, driver appearance,etc.) I had no clue that they were in fact quite a decent speaker.
Altec Lansing 103 (Sparkolansings) ($21) Name and curiousity after not finding any credible info on model #. Also got me access to another pair of Real Altecs.
Altec Lansing Model 8 ($20) Name, reviews here, price. IMO a steal at that price even though they need surrounds on woofs.
Sansui AS 200 ($32.50) Appearance and correct vintage for my Sansui Woody set up. Paired with a working Sansui 2000A($65) for both Origional owner.
Kenwood KL 2080 ($40) Name, vintage, origional owner.
JBL G40 $(20) Name, price, physical size.
Scott S11 ($25) Name, vintage, appearance, reviews of other Scotts here. Part of a $100 package deal
Johnzer K IV ($25) Vintage, curiousity, part of package with Scotts
KLH 32 2 pairs ($25 a pair) Name, vintage, origional owner, part of package deal with KLH 55 rx also ($25) all were being used when purchased.
Packard Bell Model??? ($20) Physical appearance (so retro looking) curiousity, price which they were worth to me just to discover the otential of the old Utah drivers in them. The mystery speaker thread was fun too.(Small minds are easily amused)
Hmmm, now that I look at it all listed out, it's no wonder it is crowded in here.
All told just over $500 in speakers, sheesh, it adds up after awhile.
It has given me an opportunity to audition some not so prominent speakers and I am finding at this point, the Scotts, DCM Timepieces, and definitely the KLH's seem to suit my ears very well. I am sure, once I get the surrounds done on the Model 8's, they will serve to provide that extra oomph for those times when I really want to "feel" the music that most of my smaller cabinets are not really made to provide. Of course more power couldn't hurt.
Hopefully over the next few months, I will be able to go thru each set, make necessary repairs and/or mods, refinish cabinets where needed and then give each set a fairly lenghty listen to gauge my take on each and post my observations. Hopefully in the long run, it will help others to find alternate brands of quality vintage speakers that tend to fall thru the cracks of vintage equipment. I am finding that there are quite a few decent speaker systems out there that are just looking for a new home and a little TLC.
This may have been a little off topic but sometimes the train of thought gets sidetracked.
I've heard a few people criticize them, but I seriously wonder how many people who do so have ever actually heard them properly powered and set up in an appropriate space(?). Hard to find anything to say about them other than that it is a near-religious experience to have heard them, in another league from other speakers (including high-end ADS, ESL, Magnaplanar, Klipsch, Altecs, JBL Everests, Advents, ARs, Genesis, Watt/Puppies, those rare Seimens, various horn configurations, and a bunch of other Esoteric high-end boutique speakers I've heard that sounded great... I won't even include HPM-100s, as they aren't even close to the ones just listed). The others "make good and realistic-sounding music"; the IRS Vs immerse you in another acoustic space, where the actual musicians are in front of you, but sometimes even more clearly distinguishable than in a real concert hall (because of mike placements). The detailing of locations within the soundscape has to be heard to be believed... yet it all sounds natural/real. Best audio sound I've ever heard, by some margin.
