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Seeking Advice on Vintage Speakers

M

Magicbug

New Member
Hi all,
Hoping to get input from some folks on some speakers I’m hoping to add to my little collection. I’m newer to Vintage Audio collecting/listening enjoyment, so the vast wealth of knowledge here is greatly appreciated and valued. I have searched the threads and have a general sense of what I would like to add next to my collection. My plans are to add a Pioneer SX-850/950/1050 depending on when I can find the right receiver, so that’s what the speakers will be paired to in the future. Currently a Sansui G4500 will be powering the speakers I hope to add. Currently it is paired with a set of Sansui SP-3500 and Dynaco A-25’s. Upon adding the A-25’s, I found the Sp-3500’s too bright for my liking. The warmth and smoothness of the Dynaco’s are appealing to my ears. This would be for my main listening setup and the room is fairly large with 11’ ceilings. So to the question at hand. I’ve narrowed it down to Accoustic Research, Advent and KLH for brands I’m considering, but am open to others for sure. In the AR line up I’d love to add the AR3A’s if I can find a good pair at a fair price, but what I’m finding is north of $1500 and while not out of question, is near the upper limit of what I’d like to spend. I can find AR2ax and AR4x at more reasonable prices, and would like to know how they differ sonically, and which would be more suited to the room. Additionally I found a wonderful set of AR11 on eBay and would like to hear how they compare to the others.
In the Advents, I’ve found plenty examples of OLAs, Utility cabs, A3 and A4 Bullnose. From my searching here on AK, seems like many prefer the NLA A3/A4’s. How would the OLAs differ from the A3/A4? And is there any appreciable difference in the A3 and A4?
In the KLH line up, if I could find them, based on AK threads I think Models 6’s would be quite the ticket, but I’ve not located any. There are a set of Model 5’s on eBay, are those worth consideration? Also, would seem the Model 23 might fit the bill too, if I could find them, but not sure if those would a good match to the room.
Many thanks in advance!
Brandon
 
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Models Five and Twenty Three are the pinnacle of the so-called "bookshelf" KLH speakers, the Model Six is a great one too on a slightly smaller scale.

AR4x are really good ARs at an affordable cost, the other vintage ARs get out of my range pretty quickly.

Advents are also really good, although I've never owned or researched them, just heard the testimonials.

I have lots of KLHs and love all of them. I miss my long gone AR4x.
 
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alteclipsch said:
Models Five and Twenty Three are the pinnacle of the so called "bookshelf" KLH speakers, the Model Six is a great one too on a slightly smaller scale.

AR4x are really good ARs at an affordable cost, the other vintage ARs get out of my range pretty quickly.

Advents are also really good, although I've never owned or researched them, just heard the testimonials.

I have lots of KLHs and love all of them. I miss my long gone AR4x.
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Thanks for your input. Have you ever had an opportunity to put the AR4x next to AR3a for comparison?
 
Don’t neglect looking at the Snell Speakers. E II’s, Type D, Type C, and if you can find a set of the later A II or A III’s.
Just make sure the surrounds are good and have been done with the correct surrounds.
Just my 2 cents.
 
Magicbug said:
Thanks for your input. Have you ever had an opportunity to put the AR4x next to AR3a for comparison?
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No comparison. I have AR 6's and AR 3a's. The 3a's are majestic powerful speakers. If you get 3a's be sure to have an amp that can drive low impedance speakers. AR 11's would be a great choice.
 
Magicbug said:
Thanks! I’ve not heard of the Snell’s. How would you describe their voicing?
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To me rich and warm. There is lots of detail, and for me the bass is tight and accurate, providing the surrounds are good or the correct ones used when replaced. Lots of people on here love the Snell sound.
 
I think the absolute best bang for the buck in the vintage acoustic suspension world are the KLH 17/20. They can be had in good condition for $80 all day, spend another $20 doing a quick mechanical refurb, and you've got yourself an singing set of speakers. While they don't stack up against the upper tier of KLH/AR/Advent/EPI catalog, they absolutely sound great.

I have an old super beat up pair of 20's that are refurbed mechanically that I could never sell because of the cabs, I use them as my guinea pig speakers for old amps/receivers that pass through, and every time I pull them out I'm surprised just how great they are to listen to.
 
Penn42 said:
I think the absolute best bang for the buck in the vintage acoustic suspension world are the KLH 17/20. They can be had in good condition for $80 all day, spend another $20 doing a quick mechanical refurb, and you've got yourself an singing set of speakers. While they don't stack up against the upper tier of KLH/AR/Advent/EPI catalog, they absolutely sound great.

I have an old super beat up pair of 20's that are refurbed mechanically that I could never sell because of the cabs, I use them as my guinea pig speakers for old amps/receivers that pass through, and every time I pull them out I'm surprised just how great they are to listen to.
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Yes. Often overlooked, wonderful speakers!
 
The KLH 23s are lovely sounding and handsome speakers, and recapping improves them, and it is easy and cheap since there is only one capacitor. They aren't my main speakers, but if they were, I'd be fine with them. But do not think that that the regular KLH tweeter is an adequate replacement - you need the correct one.
 
Based on my experiences with (many) vintage bookshelf speakers....
Late 60' to early 70's classic AR's/KLH's/OLA's are terrific choices but are more laid back in the treble than vintage speakers from the mid/later 70's.
AR3a's are awesome, but are very expense restored and are a difficult load for a receiver. AR2ax and AR4x are great if fully restored. Other great choices are AR11's and AR12's (12's are rare), as well as AR303's and AR302's (both are somewhat rare).
KLH 5's/6's/23's/17's are all great sounding but usually need crossovers recapped.

I tend to prefer the brighter bookshelf models from the mid-70's namely:
ADS (many models with the 3-ways being the best)
Polk Monitor 10, 7, 5
Boston Acoustics A150, A100, A70
New Large (Bullnose) Advents
EPI 100, A140
Marantz Imperial 6, 5
Pioneer HPM 100, 60

Many other brands worth looking into such as Bozak, Canton, Celestion, IMF, Fried, B&W, Cizek, Genesis Physics, Grafyx, Infinity, KEF, Norman Labs, Ohm Acoustics, RTR, Snell Acoustics to name a few.
 
I would give serious consideration to NHT speakers. In particular the 3.3 and it's smaller brother the 2.9. The 3.3 and 2.9 are members of a small group of speakers that have true bass response to the 20Hz area (21Hz for the 3.3 and 26Hz for the 2.9). Then again, I don't know how "vintage" they're considered to be.
 
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