Hi all! I'm new to this site, but during lockdown I have re-kindled my love of HiFi.
Back in 1975 (I was 17) I purchased a pair of KEF Kit 3's and filled my bedroom with 2 large home made cabinets. Marriage and kids came along and we could no longer accommodate the 'beasts'. I kept the drive units and crossovers and the boxes went!!!
45 years later the drive units were dusted off and tested (one B110) dead, the rest fine and the crossovers re-capped.
By chance, a pair of R50 cabinets appeared on the web and transported back to our home France. 2 Manocor AD 135's (to replace the B11's) purchased and everything soldered and screwed together. In total these speakers have cost me less than £150.00 and they blow my socks off! A lovely 'open' soundstage and soft rich bass. I'm hooked!
Back in 1975 (I was 17) I purchased a pair of KEF Kit 3's and filled my bedroom with 2 large home made cabinets. Marriage and kids came along and we could no longer accommodate the 'beasts'. I kept the drive units and crossovers and the boxes went!!!
45 years later the drive units were dusted off and tested (one B110) dead, the rest fine and the crossovers re-capped.
By chance, a pair of R50 cabinets appeared on the web and transported back to our home France. 2 Manocor AD 135's (to replace the B11's) purchased and everything soldered and screwed together. In total these speakers have cost me less than £150.00 and they blow my socks off! A lovely 'open' soundstage and soft rich bass. I'm hooked!
Bump
Any thoughts, comments? I would really like to hear your views as I have been away from the Hifi scene for so long.
Any thoughts, comments? I would really like to hear your views as I have been away from the Hifi scene for so long.
I appluad your rekindled interest and home brew speakers! I recently re used a pair of nice old Leak cabinets with new SB Acoustics drivers and Peerless tweeters.
I have had very little interest from my post about them. It would seem the majority of members are 'objective ' and like to see graphs of the response of the speakers you are talking about. I guess it gives some people a graphical representation of what the speakers you talk of may actually sound like.
I am more of the subjective camp, but admittedly i will get my projects measured to see what they are actually doing. Although they sound good to me....which like your soeakers to you....is all that matters!
I have had very little interest from my post about them. It would seem the majority of members are 'objective ' and like to see graphs of the response of the speakers you are talking about. I guess it gives some people a graphical representation of what the speakers you talk of may actually sound like.
I am more of the subjective camp, but admittedly i will get my projects measured to see what they are actually doing. Although they sound good to me....which like your soeakers to you....is all that matters!
I am in the what does it sound like camp as opposed to just measurements. Even Troels says you can't tell what a speaker sounds like from just looking at the FR graph, etc. I like SB drivers quite a bit. I think overall it is the best brand out there for us DIYers because the performance is very high for the money spent. This is true of the budget line all the way up through the Satori line. There are many other brands I like also. I applaud those that try to get an original system from the '70's or so back in original condition but with a few "improvements". In my case; I usually choose modern drivers rather than attempt a re-build but it is nice to have that vintage sound come back to life after decades!
Thank you for your comments. I am heavily involved in digital photography training and I think it suffers from the same problems as Audio, with so many looking for faults and not enjoying the images. I have a friend who is never happy with his 'high end' audio system and barely listens to a track all the way through. Enjoy the music!
Thank you for your comments, here are a couple of pics, no grills as yet.
Not sure if the links will work!
file:///Users/paul******/Desktop/Studio%20Pano.jpg
Not sure if the links will work!
Press Go Advanced in the reply area, then scroll down and press Manage Attachments. Upload relatively small picture files like 1600X1200 pixels.
Thank you.
The room they are in is large and the sound is very 'open' and balanced, with an extended bass that really catches you out with it's depth not bad for 45 year old B139's! I had to open the baffles slightly to accommodate the Manocor AD135's. A very easy speaker to listen to.
The room they are in is large and the sound is very 'open' and balanced, with an extended bass that really catches you out with it's depth not bad for 45 year old B139's! I had to open the baffles slightly to accommodate the Manocor AD135's. A very easy speaker to listen to.
Iconic early 70s properly big British speakers. Congrats for keeping them alive. Edge diffraction? What's that? Give us huge side protrusions to inset sturdy thermal sink like grills. The elegant Spitfire on your wall knew everything about smooth edges performance way before those speakers time though. 😉
Just some thoughts on the R50's, as I have now been using them for around 2 weeks.
2, albums that we all know well and use a reference, Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon and Christopher Hogwood's version of Vivaldi's 4 Seasons, recorded in St Martin-in-the-Fields, London.
Firstly, Pink Floyds, Us & Them, the bass is actually textured throughout, i've never heard this before!
Secondly, on the Vivaldi recording, you could often hear the rumble of the traffic in the quiet passages, now you hear it all the time. Not bad for 45 year old drivers!
Wonderful stuff!
2, albums that we all know well and use a reference, Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon and Christopher Hogwood's version of Vivaldi's 4 Seasons, recorded in St Martin-in-the-Fields, London.
Firstly, Pink Floyds, Us & Them, the bass is actually textured throughout, i've never heard this before!
Secondly, on the Vivaldi recording, you could often hear the rumble of the traffic in the quiet passages, now you hear it all the time. Not bad for 45 year old drivers!
Wonderful stuff!
