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Waxing nostalgic about those speakers that got away...

I've been looking all around - thought about SF Strads or Elispsa SE's, or go really out there and go back to the Quads....

I'm retiring soon and looking for that "final" (ha!) speaker and system to settle into.

I've been in the hi-end for 40 years and have some great memories, and then I asked: what speaker do your really miss?

For me, it's the ESP Concert Grand. I was a TAS reviewer back then for a short stint and had to sell them when I changed careers and moved to a smaller place.

But I had some great times with that speaker (50W SET amps, NOS tubes everywhere, Omega Mikro spkr cables with those battery boxes...crazy!), and I think it just might be that simple.

So, I'm going to set out and try and find a pair, if they all aren't hacked up or dusty in storage already.

It's like an old girlfriend...eh?

Anyone feel the same about a speaker way back there? Can you ever go home?

 

asa
jasonbourne52's avatar
jasonbourne52
2,863 posts
 

Back in the Days of Yore (sometime in the 90's?) my local audio dealer offered me a pair of Apogee Scintilla's that he had as a trade-in. The price was around $900! I didn't have enough scratch on hand so someone else got a real good deal. These had the two-way connectors on the back for either 1ohm or 4ohm operation. Not an easy speaker to drive with the low 81db sensitivity!

jasonbourne52's avatar
jasonbourne52
2,863 posts
 

Another time (1993) my deceased friend's brother had me sell a pair of Carver Amazing Platinum's. I found a buyer who paid $600. I wish I could have kept them myself!

soix
9,571 posts
 

So, I’m going to set out and try and find a pair

Out of due respect as being a fellow former reviewer myself, please don’t ever write these words ever again. No good can come from that. I’m gonna hate myself for even sharing this with you, but a couple years ago someone sucked up your dream speakers for like $1500…

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649605000-for-sale-make-offer-esp-concert-grand-series-ii-speakerstechnicians-special-please-read-carefully/

So, as a reviewer I’m sure you’ll appreciate these questions — what’s your budget, what’s your room size, what sound characteristics are most important to you in speaker performance, and what upfront electronics are you gonna be driving these with? I have some ideas FWIW, but I don’t like swinging blindly if u know what I mean. Congrats on retirement BTW!!! Color me jealous.

asa OP
662 posts
 

Hi, soix. Yes, I saw that $1500 pair; I watch all of the used sites. They were trashed, too much effort.

I have a Wanted Ad on another site, not sure what will come of it...its looks for a "well-cared for pair." I keep my gear in nice shape and like to deal with owners/sellers which approach stereo the same way. The ESPs are prone to holes in the fabric, and the fabric is very difficult to remove and reinstall, so this becomes important.

"No good can come of it." Well, maybe...we'll see. If it's meant to be...

Thanks for the kind offer, and no disrespect intended, but I put together my own systems. But since you asked, it would be a 2nd basement system: 17 X 25 ft, 10 ft celings, hardwood floors w/ Persian carpets....maybe some Jadis JA-80 MkII's...I have a 200 hr Koetsu RSP in a box, maybe that too...and have someone make me a room-matching stand...and I have Kondo spkr wire in the 1st system, but had Omega Mikro w/ those battery boxes on the ESPs way back then...maybe Graceline level 3...Hijiri PCs....it'll come to me.

First thing is the speakers....

Yeah, retiring...never thought it would get here. I'm ready.

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