What Vintage Speakers to go for!?!

vintagehenley · 12th January 2011, 10:37 AM

First of all let me say hello, this is my first post as I'm about to enter into the World of vintage HiFi and even more so into the World of DIY Audio!

I'm looking for a nice pair of vintage speakers with a nice wooden cabinet that will produce a nice rich sound and are suited to classical music.

Below is a list of speakers I've short listed and found available to buy, so am hoping some of you "experts" can give me some recommendations? I'd also be keen based on those recommendations if there are any fairly simple/worthy upgrades I could make as well, as the thought of DIY improvements seems very interesting.

Harbeth HL Monitors
Tannoy Stratford
B&W DM4
Celestion Ditton 15XR
Sansui SP-1200
Goodman Magnums

I'm also intersted in what vintage amps you would recommend to go with these speakers? I've seen Armstrong and Sansui amps mentioned on a few forums but no nothing about vintage amps. I currently have a Pioneer A400 which I was hoping to use and also upgrade.

Mustang Man · 12th January 2011, 03:26 PM

Hello Vin and welcome to the forum,
I am using a vintage system. A 40 year old McIntosh MC 240 tube amp with a McIntosh MX110 tuner preamp. I play my music, mostly instrumentals, through my vintage Altec 846B Valencias. A better experience in music I haven't found. This set up isn't cheap but I assure you your money will be well spent.

If you have the money you may want to consider a vintage system such as this. Don't worry about the tubes, they are readily available.
Good luck,
MM

Charles Darwin · 12th January 2011, 03:56 PM

I'd save up a bit and go for Tannoy DualConcentrics.

But then I would say that…

vintagehenley · 12th January 2011, 06:42 PM

thanks for the points so far but how about the speakers ive actually listed???

Lynn Olson · 12th January 2011, 08:16 PM

Easy choice - the Harbeths. But that's just me - I'm a big fan of the "BBC monitor" sound. Other folks like JBLs or Klipsch, which are radically different.

If heavy metal or rap are important to you, then any "BBC monitor" style speaker is the wrong choice. If classical, jazz, or Pink Floyd style rock are your choice, then the Harbeths are the way to go.

12th January 2011, 10:37 AM	#1
vintagehenley diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2011	What Vintage Speakers to go for!?! First of all let me say hello, this is my first post as I'm about to enter into the World of vintage HiFi and even more so into the World of DIY Audio! I'm looking for a nice pair of vintage speakers with a nice wooden cabinet that will produce a nice rich sound and are suited to classical music. Below is a list of speakers I've short listed and found available to buy, so am hoping some of you "experts" can give me some recommendations? I'd also be keen based on those recommendations if there are any fairly simple/worthy upgrades I could make as well, as the thought of DIY improvements seems very interesting. Harbeth HL Monitors Tannoy Stratford B&W DM4 Celestion Ditton 15XR Sansui SP-1200 Goodman Magnums I'm also intersted in what vintage amps you would recommend to go with these speakers? I've seen Armstrong and Sansui amps mentioned on a few forums but no nothing about vintage amps. I currently have a Pioneer A400 which I was hoping to use and also upgrade.

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12th January 2011, 03:26 PM	#2
Mustang Man diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Alabama	Hello Vin and welcome to the forum, I am using a vintage system. A 40 year old McIntosh MC 240 tube amp with a McIntosh MX110 tuner preamp. I play my music, mostly instrumentals, through my vintage Altec 846B Valencias. A better experience in music I haven't found. This set up isn't cheap but I assure you your money will be well spent. If you have the money you may want to consider a vintage system such as this. Don't worry about the tubes, they are readily available. Good luck, MM

12th January 2011, 03:56 PM	#3
Charles Darwin diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Birmingham, UK	I'd save up a bit and go for Tannoy DualConcentrics. But then I would say that…

12th January 2011, 06:42 PM	#4
vintagehenley diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2011	thanks for the points so far but how about the speakers ive actually listed???

12th January 2011, 08:16 PM	#5
Lynn Olson diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Northern Colorado	Easy choice - the Harbeths. But that's just me - I'm a big fan of the "BBC monitor" sound. Other folks like JBLs or Klipsch, which are radically different. If heavy metal or rap are important to you, then any "BBC monitor" style speaker is the wrong choice. If classical, jazz, or Pink Floyd style rock are your choice, then the Harbeths are the way to go.

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