2. misc-audio
  3. 123225-40

Is it all worth it?

So this week I re-foamed a pair of Boston Acoustics a40 series ii speakers I bought 30 years ago for not very much at all by audiophile standards. Put them in my 12x12 sunroom running of my main system which has very good source and amplification and these things are blowing me away. You could find a pair online or at your local thrift shop for around $50. Why bother spending the big bucks?   Really makes one think.
128x128mapman
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,257 posts
 
Mapman, it would be very difficult for a 6'1" 190 lb quarterback to get a serious shot at starting in today's NFL.
almarg's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
almarg
9,670 posts
 
Mapman, it would be very difficult for a 6’1" 190 lb quarterback to get a serious shot at starting in today’s NFL.
Well, let’s not forget about Russell Wilson, who led his team to a 43 to 8 victory in the Superbowl a couple of years ago, while being 5’11" and 206 pounds. And who came within one stupid play call by his coaches of repeating that victory a year later.

Regarding vintage speakers, I’ll just say that there is a reason why vintage drivers made by Tannoy, Western Electric (dating back to the 1930s!!) and others sell for small (and in some cases not so small) fortunes these days. And it is not because they are purchased to sit on a shelf as collectibles.

And my experience with a couple of pairs of large 1960s Tannoys I have owned in recent decades convinced me that in the case of those speakers, at least, their performance was limited by the design of the cabinets, and the design and/or parts quality and condition of the crossover networks, not the drivers. Despite the ballyhooed advances in driver technology that have allegedly occurred in the 50 or so years since those drivers were produced.

FWIW. Regards,
-- Al

reubent
7,054 posts
 

mapman,

It makes me happy that you are enjoying your "free" speakers.

I've had a somewhat similar experience. I was in a resale shop a year or so ago and the owner was playing FM radio through a pair of Infinity Qa speakers that he had priced at $79. It sounded GREAT! I didn't buy them that day but keep thinking about them. Went back a few weeks later and they were long gone, but it started me on the hunt for a pair of classic Infinitys. I ended up buying a pair of Infinity Qbs for $117 and they got me back into quality sound after taking about 7 years off from the hobby. They do a lot of things right and it makes me smile knowing they cost a fraction of my last 5-10 pair of speakers.

Since then I found a pair of nicely rehab'd Infinity RS 1.5's for $250 and they are even better with incredible bottom end for a large bookshelf speaker and , of course, that wonderfully smooth and extended EMIT tweeter.

I've stopped looking at expensive speakers, but I do keep my eyes open for vintage Infinity speaker up the line from my RS 1.5s.

Enjoy the music brother, in your sunroom and everywhere else.

uncledemp
785 posts
 
I read an article awhile back stating at some point technology will be so powerful and change so rapidly that a human will be forced to enhance it’s body in order to take full advantage and compete.Meaning become part machine, or a cyborg.

Wonder if music will advance to a point that an imperfect wooden instrument will be replaced with a machine? Or a human voice will be deemed imperfect in it’s natural form?

As much as I love the useful advancements in medicine and technology making our lives easier, I hope we don’t think our way into extinction.

I’m off to microwave some dinner...

gary

coli
291 posts
 
Yeah, I'm in the process of selling all my "high-end" equipment.
More to discover