All Pre 1970 Vintage speakers suck! Prove me wrong


Have tried many vintage speakers.

My conclusion: All pre-1970 vintage speakers suck. Well-made but crappy  sound.

Used with both vintage amps and modern.

I do like many vintage amps such as Radio Craftsmen RC-500, Marantz tube, Scott tube, Heath W5, Lafayette and Pilot tube.

But back to pre-1970 speakers:

No bass, harsh, or honky mids and no highs. Not musical or listenable to me.

Tried many including Acoustic Research AR-3a, 2Ax, etc. The entire AR product line. Also Klipsch Horn, Large EVs. Altec VOTT. Pioneer CS-88 and 99.

Nothing pre 1970 is even close to the better modern speakers.

I challenge you: Prove me wrong.

lion

The vast majority of pre-1970 speakers were quite poor compared to modern speakers.  But, as I and others above have mentioned, not all vintage speakers are inferior.  Many of the best are not particularly practical, but, if you heard them, I am sure the sound would please you.  Like modern speakers, there is a VAST array of sound of vintage speakers and not all sound thin or nasal or harsh or rough; but the best are not that easy to find and hear these days.   Have you heard a real Western Electric 757 or 753 system for example?

7 years ago we strolled into a gift shop in Fairhope, AL. We were immediately greeted with a smooth, balanced, engaging sound quite unique in the "gift shop" world of "musical wallpaper". The sound revealed the complexity of the music. Not too bright. Not too boomy. Just right.

I got a glimpse of boxes hanging on the wall, my curiosity got the best of me and moved in closer for inspection. You just can’t blame a compass for pointing north? And, there they were, grilles removed -- AR3as. I noticed a large silver-faced something behind the counter driving them but couldn’t make out the model#. The person on duty that day mentioned the owner was an "audiophile".

We visit the area about once per year now. I always stop in for a "wellness check" on the old ARs. In the world of musical wallpaper, they are a Rembrandt hanging on the wall.

“Good grief!  People are actually touting Radio Shack speakers?  Please escort them out of the building - through the back door - with extreme prejudice.  ”

My dream RS speakers actually popped up on eBay last week and they sold quick- Optimus T-300, finest speaker ever offered by RS.

Offered only one year ( ‘83?) , at $259 each was more $ than the the Mach 2.

Real oak veneer heavy cabinet, passive 10” woofer design, friend got them closed out 50% off - very nice speakers.

Well, you seem to have made your mind up on the subject.  Are you trying to assemble a pre 70 audio system or just or just arguing your point of view for the sake of arguing with the Audiogon collective?  I'm curious why it matters to you?