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Life after ADS

When I first started this hobby a few years ago I was immediately drawn to vintage ADS speakers because of the performance/price ratio plus they are just flat out musical.

Many well regarded speakers have come and gone that offered an amazing hi-fi listening experience but I always kept at least one or two pair of ADS speakers around for background music and so forth.

It has taken me the better part of three years to find a mint pair of L1530's and wouldn't you know it a pair came up for sale to me locally and I grabbed them. However I am moving into a smaller house and will not be able to keep them. My first question is what would be a good modern monitor to replace them with.

I will say I listened to some Adam Audio's (not sure what model)and for the money they were very good. In fact I am thinking of getting a pair. The ribbon tweeter sounded very open and detailed without being harsh or aggressive. Before I get the Adams are there any other speakers with ribbon tweeters I should consider? Others I have been looking at are LSA Statements, Vapor, and Evolution Acoustics.

Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks.

Thanks.
chrshanl37
chrshanl37 OP
841 posts
 
I do not see the statements listed in the link for the price you quote. They are 1799.00 through Walter now but were almost $3000 when they first came out. Have any of you ADS owners heard anything from the sat or cm series? I have my eye on a pair of sat 6's but not sure if they will have the old magic like the older stuff. I have read conflicting opinions.
theduke
372 posts
 
I had the 3-way CM7 and found it not to my taste. Back then my system wasn't nearly as good as it is now so I may be being unfair with my criticism. I found it to be forward with an overly aggressive upper midrange and lower treble: steely and cold sounding. Looking back I don't know if it was my then imperfect system or this speaker. I was disappointed and moved on to Acoustat 1+1's. Really wanted to like the CM7 what with all its technology and good looks. My friend had the smaller 2-way CM6 and it was a more coherent speaker. Again, this is one opinion. Anyone else out there who has/had CM7's? I'd love to hear some comment. You never hear anything about this speaker.
phasecorrect's avatar
phasecorrect
2,013 posts
 
ADS fans...what is the best sounding most easily obtainable models to look for? L780\880s?
loomisjohnson
1,974 posts
 
haven't heard 'em all but the 70s x10 series (710, 810 etc.) are ubiquitous on ebay and sound surprisingly modern. the mid 80s xx90s (1290, 1590) are the real prizes, however, and hold up remarkably well.
chrshanl37 OP
841 posts
 
I have owned the following L710, 620, l8e, l9e, l980, l1530, s700 and have heard the 520, 570, l990, l1290, l780 & l880. I most regret selling the 710 and l9e. The 710 have a very well balanced sound with a very nice open and airy top end albeit the imaging wasn't as good as the l9e but they were startling at first listen. They are much easier to drive than the later 4 ohm bookshelves and are the ones that got me started on ADS.

For the money I think the L980 are the best I have heard but I don't think you could go wrong with anything in the L series. I was least impressed with the 780 and 990.
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