Let’s talk about legendary vintage speakers

[Analogous]

I have been enjoying listening to my music on a pair of AR2. They were made in 1962.
While they may not have the extreme performance of “Audiophile” speakers I find them very enjoyable, musical and great for long non fatiguing listening sessions.

Do you know if other vintage speakers that do this?

 

[reignofchaos]

Altecs, Tannoys, JBLs are the usual suspects.

Kloss left AR and founded KLH - so those might have a similar signature.

 

[chander]

We could name many, but if it is about what I have personally owned - the list is perhaps 1 or maybe 2.

One of my personal favourite from the late 80s - Acoustic Energy AE1. I bought them used from a gentleman in Gurgaon in the early 2000s - I had them paired with a preamp+poweramp+subwoofer combo that I can't remember, but they were incredible for their size.

I believe they are pretty much the reason I still love the sound of Subwoofer + BS combo.

 

[rwnano]

Irving M bud fried speakers (separate from). IMF speakers. TDL speakers. All having transmission lines.
Vandersteens.
Old tannoys.

 

[Analogous]

Specific model name/numbers and a brief description of what makes them special (even if it’s the memory of) would be nice

 

[rwnano]

Fried R3, Q, Beta, signature A-3,4,5,6. What made them special is the transmission line base and serial crossovers which gave them a different flavour to regular speakers.

 

[prem]

https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-12-most-significant-loudspeakers-of-all-time/

Analogous, you may find above interesting.

IMO, if there’s one speaker that deserves a legendary status, it would be the Quad 57.

No speaker, vintage or modern, irrespective of price, can match the midrange of Quad 57.

 

[prem]

This Stereophile list too has some interesting vintage speakers

https://www.stereophile.com/content/40-years-istereophilei-hot-100-products-page-7

 

[muralimmreddy]

Owned Falcon acoustics gold badge a faithful reproduction of original BBC design published in October 1976. Arguably best of Ls3/5a in production. Superb for intimate near field listening.

Currently own 60+ year old design, but in production Klipsch la scala's. Like the scale, life-like presentation and euphonic mid-range.

 

[Analogous]

https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-12-most-significant-loudspeakers-of-all-time/

Analogous, you may find above interesting.

IMO, if there’s one speaker that deserves a legendary status, it would be the Quad 57.

No speaker, vintage or modern, irrespective of price, can match the midrange of Quad 57.

Thanks Prem. Hopefully someday I will find a Quad 57 owner who will allow me to experience this legendary midrange.
Any FM ?

 

[heliumflight]

I've owned almost 20 speakers and nothing beats B&W DM4 and its super tweeter is phenomenal.

 

[arj]

Do many many to think of but availability, space and price arw the issues

Klangfilm range of speakers of which europa or europa jr would be something i would love to get my hands on (cost being the object)
Excluding the klipsch/jbl/tannoy ranges as there are too many
Vitavox CN192 corner horn is based on the klipsch horn but superior drivers is another absolute classic
The Technics sb10000 ,
Onkyo grand scepter
And the more modern Jadis Eurythmie
Not to mention pioneer exclusive 2401/2402

Many of these are original ground up thinking although the Altec Lansings of the old have spawned so many other models across the world through their authentic design

 

[Passive_audio_enthusiast]

Do many many to think of but availability, space and price arw the issues

Klangfilm range of speakers of which europa or europa jr would be something i would love to get my hands on (cost being the object)
Excluding the klipsch/jbl/tannoy ranges as there are too many
Vitavox CN192 corner horn is bases on the klipsch horn but superior drivers is another absolute classic
The technics sb10000 , only grand scepter
And the more modern Jadis Eurythmie
Not to mention pioneer exclusive 2401/2402

Many of these are original ground up thinking although thr Altec Lansings of the old have spawned so many other models across the world through their authentic desugn

1947 Western Electric 757-A. Some years back I visited the Munich hi end audio show and these were on demo there. I was shocked to hear something that old sounding so huge and realistic. Probably that had something to do with the demo vinyl they played. At the sweet spot I felt like sitting infront of a real choir in a hall/church. May be I had very low expectations about them when I saw them. If I have he space and money at some point, that’s something I would hunt.