Vintage Mcintosh Speakers - your thoughts?


I am thinking of puting a vintage system together - possibly atound a Fisher 500 series receiver or other classic gear and am quite enamored of the look/style of vintage McIntosh speakers like the ML-1C. Does anyone have any thoughts/experience with this model or others in the vintage McIntosh lineup? .. and yes I do want to stick with vintage speakers - to my ears they still measure up to many of today's crop .... measurements aside!

Many thanks,

John
jpstereo
Elvick,

I think that I sold you a pair of Heresys on teh Klipsch Forums. Heresys are great speakers atthat price point.

Chris
Chris,
I bought my Heresys from a friend 20 years ago and sold them to another friend. Then, I moved into Cornwalls for a long time. Sorry, but it definitely wasn't you. However, it's amazing that this friend that sold me the Heresy's has been a friend for 35-40 years, moved to Georgia and I ran into him again a few years ago on audiogon! Small world.
Jaybo, I listened to the Mac speakers using very high-quality (and powerful) amplification. The KEFs, ADSs, and Spendors walked all over them, it was no contest. BTW, this listening was done while I was a salesman for a hi-end audio salon. I had lots of time on my hands during weekdays and I did a LOT of listening...

-RW-

Original Large Advent.  In walnut, they’re rather handsome if you can find a well-cared for pair.  However, the woofers will most surely need a refoam (as any vintage speaker from the 70’s will - including the Mac’s) and at least new caps in the crossover.  The Mac’s, too!  My Advents sing happily in my den driven by 12 watt EL84 Heathkit UA-2 monoblocks. Another handsome vintage speaker in walnut veneer with high efficiency is the overlooked Wharfdale W60D from 1967 or so.  I remember when I was a kid my Dad making A-B comparisons between the W60D and the AR3A’s at a dealership and our whole family agreed it was a superior sounding speaker at half the price, $129 each at the time.  A 3-way design using a 12” rubberized cloth surround woofer, they are of the last Gilbert Briggs designs before he sold the company. The 48 lb Wharfdales have a highly inert cabinet using sand-filled enclosure panels and an isolated midrange driver.  I really regret I sold off my Dad’s pair that I grew up with when he passed.