KEF's seven new R Meta Series loudspeakers incorporate some very interesting technology that will elevate your listening experience. A lot of thought went into the cabinet, from the curved front panel to the materials used in the speaker's construction. And the KLH Kendall does all of this perfectly. JBL L100 Classic Bookshelf Speaker. Care was required when positioning, but get it right and the huge soundstage, accuracy and speed of delivery on offer were superb. Top 10 Best Vintage Cerwin Vega Speakers Reviews (2023) The 12 Most Significant Loudspeakers of All Time I have also heard that there are many phony vintage scam models that exist with in the good stuff, such van scam speakers, etc. It is a good fit with jazz, classical, and female vocals. They feature a 10 woofer, decent volume size, and 100-watt power rating. But I love Marshall Emberton because of its sound so dark and rich, with amazing deep bass for its size, and that kind of palpable presence that made Marshall guitar amps so famous. The presence, the existence of music and musicians in time and space, is simply unbelievable or finally wholly believable. Please note that the above link is for a single speaker, and you will need to put two in your cart for a stereo pair unless, of course, you are super-vintage, and only listen to antique monaural 78s! I'll start, and my answer is easy: a pair of klipschorns playing Paul Simon's "Graceland" at Flip's Stereo in St. Louis, MO in 1986. So thats just what well look at in this article the very best vintage speaker systems made today, Speakers of all types wired and wireless, passive and amplified, portable, bookshelf and ridiculously monolithic floor-standers almost all from the same iconic companies that made the original classics, and all benefiting from the very latest technology, design, and manufacturing techniques. The Concept 20s deliver a satisfying sense of punch and attack, while also producing an articulate and subtle presentation. Original 80 watt THD speakers include one Longhorn, one Vintage. A new documentary will examine the success of Andrew Jones, who has designed loudspeakers for KEF, Pioneer, TAD, Elac and now MoFi. One other thing up front: This is an American-centric article. speakers and 3in. The antique vintage style outlook and a full-scale modern spec are what made it stood out of the crowd. Gordon Bruce . They may need refoaming of drivers but if ok they would battle with the top monitors of today. Ditto on the EPIs. See, back then BIC made a lot of audio gear, but it was not, uhm, well, especially well respected, or especially good. Vintage 1960's Realistic Electrostat-2a Stereo Speakers Made in Japan The Sansui QRX-9001 is one of the more dominate quadraphonic receivers ever made. Part 4 of 7 about vintage audio talks about the benefits and drawbacks of reel-to-reel tape decks. Yeah, I still dont know how they do it, but I absolutely love them! The newest incarnation of this legendary speaker is by far the most beautiful of them all, and has material quality, fit and finish far beyond what you would expect even at this quite pricey premium level. The tiny Iotas are unfussy about positioning - overall, the Neats are odd, but brilliantly so. SANYO JCX 2900, Onkyo 8500, Kenwood KR-9600, Sansui Eight Deluxe, Sansui G9000 Series, Sherwood 9910, Pioneer SX-1250, Marantz 2325,2330,2285, Luxman 1070,1120. I would place them against modern speakers several times what I spent. The soundstage the Duette produced was huge and the bass well-articulated, and the adjustable crossover allowed for a wide range of positions (including horizontally). Joey Roth. They're designed to be used on their sides, not standing up, and they emit a hefty sound that's got plenty of detail, weight and scale for their size. The original Wharfedale Diamonds were pint-sized efforts for those who needed a speaker to fit into a tight space. And the Imperial 6gs were one of the best models from that series of loudspeakers. 11 Best Small Speakers That Are Also Gorgeous And Powerful - Elbow Room 5. tweeters. Location: Music City (Nashville, TN) I would be so surprised if there is someone on the forum with these beautiful JBL L-300 loudspeakers, and even more surprised if someone has purchased some completely refinished and refurbished L-300's. Klipsch ProMedia Heritage 2.1 Multimedia Mid Century Modern Desktop Computer Speaker Monitors with Klipsch Heritage Groove Portable Bluetooth Speaker, Marshall Stanmore II Wireless Bluetooth Speaker, Black - NEW, Klipsch The Sixes Powered Monitor Walnut Veneer (Pair), Bang & Olufsen Beolit 20 Powerful Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker, Grey Mist, Cerwin-Vega SL-12 12" 3-Way Big Cabinet Floor Tower Speaker w/Mid & Tweeter, BIC Acoustech PL-980L-PL-980R 3-Way Floor Speakers - ONE Pair, KLH Kendall Floorstanding Speakers - Pair (Walnut), Wharfedale - Linton with Stands - Black Oak (Pair), Bang & Olufsen Beoplay A9 4th Gen Wireless Multiroom Speaker, Black with Walnut Legs, Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn Speaker Pairs (Cherry), How To Pair Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 2 Speaker: A Guide, How To Pair Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 3 Speaker: A Guide, How To Pair Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 Speaker: A Guide, How To Pair Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6 Speaker: A Guide, How To Pair Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7 Speaker: A Simple Guide, Speaker Type: Powered Active Tabletop/Desktop Single Speaker System, Connectivity: Wired and Bluetooth Wireless. Most speakers are still wooden boxes, but technology has allowed some manufacturers to sculpt a speaker out of carbon fibre or aluminium. And the most powerful speakers ever produced by the JBL. Sign up below to get the latest from What Hi-Fi?, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox! Its a skill that comes in handy when dealing with vintage loudspeakers. The overall sound was cohesive and the sonic balance highly musical. what are the best vintage speakers ever made - Yoolinks.com And in spite of the speaker's small size, they had the sound of a larger, more expensive unit. The S1000MKII powered-speaker pair has best-in-class sound, a great design, and handy features like built-in Bluetooth, bass and treble adjustments, and a remote. This lengthy list is a celebration of the speakers that have a special place in our hearts and yours too, hopefully as we flick through What Hi-Fi? The Bic Acoustech PL-980 tower speakers are frankly awesome in every way their immense low frequency driver array with two 8 inch woofers and two 8 inch passive radiators per side moves incredible amounts of air, and the bass is deep, fast and well controlled. -3db @ 40 hz. The Meyer Sound X10 is one of the best audiophile loudspeakers that no audiophile has ever heard. NONE compare to anything made today so don't bother going down that road. They just sound beautiful and they just sound like the music. The original is a 15", 8 ohm, PM unit so matching should be no problem. The tweeter domes were fashioned out of the rigid substance Beryllium and the mid/bass motor system had a clever magnet arrangement, one that optimised magnetic power and minimised any losses. Affiliate Disclosure: When you buy a product via our links, we sometimes earn a referral fee. The Tivoli Model One is also a vintage classic in terms of functionality, with no Bluetooth wireless, no smart features or voice assistants, just a superb radio, amp, and speaker. This is reviewed as one of the best sounding 212 cabs ever made. With metal drivers on board, they delivered fast, deep bass, punchy overall sound and sweet treble. Go with this speaker if the above options fail to meet your musical needs; it's still the best, loudest. In their day, for their price, they were very good speakers. They were nicely constructed, with a solidly made cabinet (an enclosure of just over five litres) and a finish that traded real wood for a good quality plastic imitation veneer. The horn-loaded tweeter and midrange units help their performance in larger rooms, offering exceptional resolution and great insight. Current models are world-class loudspeakers used in systems in the $50,000-$100,000 range by some users. Its definitely worth mentioning that Wharfedale offers another magical vintage speaker in an ideal modern form the Wharfedale Denton 85th Anniversary, which are quite possibly the finest, most accurate and most musical bookshelf speakers on the market today under a thousand dollars (well, just barely under), and almost certainly the most musical. Bic is certainly on their way to completely redeeming themselves and rehabilitating their reputation among audiophiles, and these PL-980s are superbly made and superb sounding speakers. I dont think anyone disagrees with you that speakers made today are better. Best Vintage Speakers - Vintage Speakers Guide Peavey 5150. 3. 9 Best Vintage Turntable of All Time for that Classic - Gadgets Bass is absolutely thundering when it needs to be, but always perfectly balanced, and as fast and controlled as Ive ever heard, and the highs and mids are the most open, clear and detailed Ive ever experienced. The TimeWindow is a classic and every bit the quality performer. Easy USB-C charging, Stay fully charged with Qi-wireless charging: Power compatible phones and devices by laying them on top of Beolit 20, thanks to built-in Music to travel with: Robust, light and with a soft and strong leather carrying strap, Beolit 20 is built to fit into your travel plans. It from 0 to 10 are automatically scored by our AI tool based upon the data collected. The Top Ten Most Influential Speakers of the Last 50 Years All of this sound was delivered with speed and punch. Now for a slight twist, name the best sounding loudspeakers you have ever heard, period. So lets look more closely at the best of the best of these contemporary vintage classics, in this in-depth buyers guide to some of the very best retro speaker systems made today. That question does not have a "correct" answer. Usually weight is a good indication. This is a very competitive price level and a very popular type of product, and so there are many different choices the Marshall Woburn II, for example, is a superb wireless active speaker, and maybe a better choice for rock and rollers. Parts can be found readily online and the woofers are easily refoamed or swapped out. If you know where to look and you dont mind getting your hands dirty there are quite a few worth searching for. Both were the last Marantz direct competitors to McIntosh. This is more of a sound check than for everyday use. The Teesside-based loudspeaker company employed an unusual design for its compact speaker. LuguLake Handheld Multi-work Bluetooth Speaker. Affordable Vintage Loudspeakers: The Budget Audiophiler Apropos which, I attached a video below of the Omegas in action . Nobody buying gear in the 80s would have expected this, but I am awarding my recommendation for best vintage speakers overall to these superb Bic Acoustech PL-980 floor-standing loudspeakers, which are powerful yet intimate, detailed yet sweet and smooth, and simply stunning with any and every type of music. Are Vintage JBL Speakers Good? (How to Tell and Why They Matter) It supports speakers, turntables, and many more. 10 Best Vintage Speakers Ever Made {Expert Reviews} Affordable vintage loudspeakers come in many shapes and sizes. 10 Incredible Classic Audio Components That Still Sound Awesome Are they vintage sounding? That trend will not be changing. All of this sound was delivered with speed and punch. And thats what were here for vintage charm so the Klipsch, with their lovely 50s-60s style wooden cabinet, old-fashioned logo and lovely speaker cloth, are already clear winners and an easy recommendation. Best Vintage Speakers of All Time Review in February 2023 If you want a pair of audiophile bookshelf speakers designed to provide the highest level performance at an extremely reasonable price, Bowers & Wilkins' 606 S2 is the clear winner. Almost dont need a subwoofer. This huge power rating didn't come without it's downfalls. But they needed breathing space to perform at their best. Below are the top vintage receivers of all time. This is another model that has been discontinued, but you can easily find them on Amazon. KEF LS50 (2012) Best Vintage Bookshelf Speakers Of All Time - BoomSpeaker My perspective is that I admired 70s speakers, receivers, turntables, etc. Still have them. And it turns out that the celebrated Marshall sound, which is so beautifully captured in the Stanmore, is fantastic for all kinds of music well, all kinds of rock music, for sure. Vintage Bluetooth Speaker. The A25 can be found for around $200, but people are now attempting to sell for a lot more. But to me the Woburn, or indeed any other wireless speaker, doesnt come close to the Bang and Olufsen Beolit 20, which is the most beautiful, magical and musically disarming speaker of its type. This is due to the way sound travels through the air and reflects off of surfaces. Roy Allison's company once marketed the Allison 3, a speaker meant to be placed in a corner, but it was not a horn at all. The most powerful vintage receivers ever made. They too are, at least for most of us, staggeringly expensive, but they will truly change your life. The quantity of bass didn't affect detail or insight, as the Contours benefitted from a great sense of timing. The ribbons on this type of loudspeaker degrade over time and you can hear a buzz from the panel if there is a problem.