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Similar to Minimus 7's What have I got?

shelly_d

shelly_d

Not An Audiophool
All:

At the city wide garage sale in Richmond CA yesterday, I picked up a pair of speakers that looked an awful lot like a pair of Minimus 7's from Radio Shack. They are labeled as Vanco Compac-50's. I pulled some pics off that auction site. Pretty much the same speakers except that ours are black, not silver. When I offered the seller the $10 they cost me, I was thinking that they may have been the same speakers as the Minimus 7's except not sold by Radio Shack. (I hope we all know that Like the Sears Kenmore brand of appliances, Radio Shack does not manufacture the items sold under its brand names.) Does anyone know anything about these? Any info is appreciated. (They are certainly worth what I paid).

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Thanks

Shelly_D
 

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Very interesting! I found this about Vanco-Chicago, Inc in Lake Bluff, Illinois:

http://www.trademarkia.com/v-vanco-73326821.html

Word Mark: V VANCO
Status/
Status Date:
CANCELLED - SECTION 8
7/10/1989
Serial Number: 73326821
Filing Date: 9/4/1981
Registration Number: 1227183
Registration Date: 2/15/1983
Goods and Services: Liquid Phonograph Record and Tape Head Cleaning Kits Consisting Primarily of Anti-Static Solution and Brushes, Non-Metallic Resin Core Solder
Click to expand...

That's about all I can find. Apparently an electronic importer that came and went.

I do not know what relationship, if any, these speakers have with the Radio Shack Minimus-7 speakers.
 
Seem to be aimed at the car stereo market, based on the 4 Ohm rating.
What would you put the "sound quality value" at (i.e. as good as a Minimus 7 at full price, at Buy-One-Get-One, etc.)?

There were quite a few companies that made little speakers similar to the Minimus 7 line, but few sounded as good since they were often knock-offs.

I remember buying a set from that supplier of hi-end audio known as J.C. Whitney.
They lived up to their price...
 
Can't compare to the Minimus as I don't have them.

Sound quality is really quite good. Good transients on the bass when driven by sufficient power (10 to 15 watts seems to be enough at moderate listening levels). Treble is clear and well imaged. Need to listen more to get more detailed impressions.

Shelly_D
 
Vanco was an importer, similar to Philmore, Calrad or Midland. Not known for anything really spectacular, but adequate. Old enough that they're Japan-made. I doubt they share anything with a Minimus 7 except general configuration.

If they sound good to you, then they're certainly worth 10 bucks.:thmbsp:
 
Neat find! There are a host of Minimus-7 styled mini-speakers out there. It's always fun to discover yet another.

When the tiny Visonik David caused an award-winning sensation in '77, the rest of the industry was quick to jump on this new market. Japanese factories must have been working overtime to keep up with demand for products resembling Visonik's and Braun's refined minis, but at more accessible prices.

Radio Shack wasted no time -- production for Minimus-7 was already underway in '77 to make its '78 catalog debut. Others weren't far behind.

I tend to categorize clones I encounter into two general camps: those whose cabinet construction suggests they were Minimus-7 (or later Optimus) factory siblings, and those who do not.

Those that look to be cast from the same molds differ only in machined auxiliary features. Examples include Lafayette's PIP-SPEAK and AudioSource's LS ONE/WT. GENEXXA PRO 7 is just a re-badged Optimus PRO 7, even sharing same cat. no's., so almost doesn't count.

Examples from the other camp include RTR Model 4.1, SoundBarrier Concord and your VANCO Compac-50. Even Radio Shack's own tepid attempt to resurrect Minimus-7, the little Centrios, is suspect ('til I've had a closer look at one!).

There are several others populating both camps.

As mentioned, your VANCO's bear a striking resemblance to the SoundBarrier Concord, and might be the same item under a different badge. Design inspiration seems to come directly from the Braun/ADS model, rather than cloning another clone. That's gotta be a good thing, and likely accounts for the impressive performance you're hearing.
 
I have a pair of KEF outdoor speakers that from a cursory examination look Identical to the Vaunted Minimus 7.

However, they are a 3 way design, and sound completely different. They look very similar to your Compac 50s

I believe there's a number of 'fake' clones out there, along with 'true' clones.

Sure do wish I still had a pair of my Minimus 7s and Minimus 20(something) that got stolen back in the nineties. They were stonking good speakers. they played the disappearing act better then just about anything else I've ever found.

Every pair I find at goodwill have toasted tweets and/or Woofers.

jaz
 
I have a similar pair down to the small metallic dustcap, some type of off brand too. I used them as testing speakers in the garage. I think they were originally mounted in my Porsche 914/6 when I got it in 1992.
 
I have a pair of Staub that seem almost identical until you pick them up. They weigh about 2 pounds more than a regular metal cased pair of 7s. They sound better too.

Eric
 
If it is any indication, these come in at about 5.24 lbs or so on my kitchen scale. These do seem to be heavy little suckers.

Shelly_D
 
Check this out:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Rec...pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item27d1db1e76

Looks like Recoton also imported those exact same speakers you have.

** Vintage Recoton Japan Power Drive SM-200 black metal bookshelf speakers w/ box **

These vintage solid metal book shelf speakers have been tested & work 100%. They show some wear from age & use, so please look closely at all pictures to determine condition for yourself. They come with their original box & styrofoam, but the box show some wear. The top half of the box is missing. One of the speakers contains a small chip out of the metal on the back at the top. Each measure 7.25" x 4.50" x 4.25". Check out my other items!

Speaker Specifications :

Power - NOM. 30W Max. 50W

Impedance - 8 OHMS

Gross Weight - 11.5 lbs. ( 5.2 Kg. )
Click to expand...

Not mine, no affiliation, etc. Posting the link ONLY for purposes of showing that these are like the OP's.
 
Wigwam Jones said:
Check this out:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Rec...pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item27d1db1e76

Looks like Recoton also imported those exact same speakers you have.



Not mine, no affiliation, etc. Posting the link ONLY for purposes of showing that these are like the OP's.
Click to expand...

You are right - they do look like mine. Only differences I can spy is labels and emblems.

I guess the weighing I did rules out being Minimus 7's. I didn't know that there were as many different models of these type of speakers as I am now finding.

Still like them though.

Thanks

Shelly_D
 
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jazzmans said:
I have a pair of KEF outdoor speakers that from a cursory examination look Identical to the Vaunted Minimus 7.

However, they are a 3 way design, and sound completely different. They look very similar to your Compac 50s

I believe there's a number of 'fake' clones out there, along with 'true' clones.

Sure do wish I still had a pair of my Minimus 7s and Minimus 20(something) that got stolen back in the nineties. They were stonking good speakers. they played the disappearing act better then just about anything else I've ever found.

Every pair I find at goodwill have toasted tweets and/or Woofers.

jaz
Click to expand...

Don't you mean KLH and not KEF? I remember seeing these around in many stores (K-mart, Sears, Radio Shack, etc.) as outdoor speakers usually sold at fairly low prices. Recoton also offered the same units as Wigwam points out above.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/KLH-970A-Sm...01?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item5656d841fd

Are the cabs plastic or metal. I would expect ABS?

cnh2
 
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