Are These Finds Good Deals?

[Eppie]

Focal Aria 936 towers for $3300. Not cheap, but an actual pretty good deal. I think I'd even be willing to trade my towers for these bad boys. I've been on a big Focal kick lately.

Focal Aria 936 speakers - electronics - by owner - sale

Focal Aria 936 3 way speakers Like New Condition and very light use No marks or blemishes at all Walnut finish with black grills and black glass tops Speakers sell for over $2700 each Sound is...

phoenix.craigslist.org

Now you know why I am so tempted by these. Aria 948 for $5000 Cdn $7800 retail ($4000 US $6000 retail) for demo units in new condition. The one thing holding me back (besides the price ) is the reports on tweeter failures. Not that wide spread, but those that disassembled them found particles around the magnets that looked like a manufacturing issue to me. That's also in the price range of Paradigm Founders towers so I would prefer to audition both at that price range. Problem is the province is on lock down and case counts are on the rise so I don't see the lock down ending this month.
https://www.audio-connexion.com/FOCAL-948NW.html

 

[Pogre]

The description sounds similar to the new SVS 3000 Micro.

There are similarities, but I'll bet the Sunfire digs deeper than those SVS Micros.

 

[Pogre]

Now you know why I am so tempted by these. Aria 948 for $5000 Cdn $7800 retail ($4000 US $6000 retail) for demo units in new condition. The one thing holding me back (besides the price ) is the reports on tweeter failures. Not that wide spread, but those that disassembled them found particles around the magnets that looked like a manufacturing issue to me. That's also in the price range of Paradigm Founders towers so I would prefer to audition both at that price range. Problem is the province is on lock down and case counts are on the rise so I don't see the lock down ending this month.
https://www.audio-connexion.com/FOCAL-948NW.html

That's right, you were looking at the 948s and I stumbled across the tweeter thing after a little digging.

Hmm... that's just about a deal breaker too. Especially as hard as it appears to try and find replacements. If I had a guaranteed buyer for my Sierras I'd still be tempted tho.

Oof. That is a dilemma and yes I'm totally feeling ya on the 948s you found.

 

[Kvn_Walker]

Those Tobys, are those 6 x 9 woofers? Interesting. @Kvn_Walker those old Cantons look old! Lol. I guess Canton has been around a long time.

Yeah it's nuts that I never heard of Canton until 2017 or 2018. They don't seem to advertise at all in North America.

 

[Pogre]

Yeah it's nuts that I never heard of Canton until 2017 or 2018. They don't seem to advertise at all in North America.

Right? That's exactly what I was thinking. "Canton's been around that long?".

 

[Eppie]

There's definitely a segment in the audio community who'll pay big bucks for those old speakers. There's a shop out here that specializes in those vintage speakers. "Only" $850 for these.

ALTEC MODEL 14 SPEAKERS - electronics - by owner - sale

Your search is over for the right speaker upgrade. These audiophile grade speakers are the ticket to get your toe tapping and music nirvana. They play all genres with ease; jazz, classic rock,...

phoenix.craigslist.org

Altec Lansing made great speakers in the 80's. We got a hold of some of their car audio speakers as well and they were some of the best 6x9 speakers that I heard with incredible bass performance. Didn't sell very many because they did not have the brand recognition in that market.

 

[Eppie]

That's right, you were looking at the 948s and I stumbled across the tweeter thing after a little digging.

Hmm... that's just about a deal breaker too. Especially as hard as it appears to try and find replacements. If I had a guaranteed buyer for my Sierras I'd still be tempted tho.

Oof. That is a dilemma and yes I'm totally feeling ya on the 948s you found.

@shadyJ, have you or @gene come across any rumblings in the industry about Focal Aria tweeters? I've only come across 2 or 3 posts with photos of the defective tweeter so I'm curious whether this is a rare occurrence in the Aria and Chorus line or possibly a bad batch of tweeters that hit the American market. There don't appear to be any issues with the beryllium tweeters but those are in another price category.

 

[NINaudio]

I'll bet those are the 305P MKIIs. Looks like they go for $300/pr new.

JBL 305P MkII

2-way powered studio monitor with 5" woofer and 1" tweeter

www.crutchfield.com

Yeah, if they're the 305's, that's a helluva steal for essentially new ones.

 

[Pogre]

Yeah, if they're the 305's, that's a helluva steal for essentially new ones.

I shot him a text asking for clarification on the model. I think they're the 305s, but I s'pose could be the 308s, which would be even a better deal.

 

[Pogre]

Yeah, if they're the 305's, that's a helluva steal for essentially new ones.

They are definitely the 305Ps. When you zoom in and squint you can see it in the lower left corner.

 

[cbecker33]

That's right, you were looking at the 948s and I stumbled across the tweeter thing after a little digging.

Hmm... that's just about a deal breaker too. Especially as hard as it appears to try and find replacements. If I had a guaranteed buyer for my Sierras I'd still be tempted tho.

Oof. That is a dilemma and yes I'm totally feeling ya on the 948s you found.

Remind me again what you have

 

[Pogre]

Remind me again what you have

Ha. Sierra ribbon towers for mains and a Sierra 2 pulling center channel duty right now.

 

[Eppie]

Ha. Sierra ribbon towers for mains and a Sierra 2 pulling center channel duty right now.

And those ribbons probably sound very nice. I don't know if the Focal Aria would beat it. The beryllium tweeter in the Kanta maybe.

 

[Pogre]

And those ribbons probably sound very nice. I don't know if the Focal Aria would beat it. The beryllium tweeter in the Kanta maybe.

Agreed. It's gonna be really hard to beat the RAAL ribbons for tweetage. I am a bit spoiled on those.

 

[Kvn_Walker]

Somebody on the left coast is gonna make out like a bandit:

Vmps Tower II Super Towers Speakers. Oak. Mint | Reverb

For sale is my second pair of VMPS Tower 2 speakers. They are all original and were new old stock until I removed them from the boxes 8 months ago. They do not have the carbon fiber upgrade or original boxes. Price to sell. I can meet from Modesto to Los Angeles for delivery charge. Possible trad...

reverb.com

 

[Kvn_Walker]

I don't know where else to put this, but...

Today on facebook marketplace: "Hey Grandma, can you send me a picture of that TV you're selling?"

 

[zieglj01]

I will be awaiting your impressions. I'm not at all familiar with Energy speakers but do see them pop up from time to time.

Well they have arrived and are new ... they look cool

 

[zieglj01]

Old school Canton Ergo's for $650 near DC:

Canton Ergo Passiv 3 way floorstanding speakers - electronics - by...

For sale is a pair of Canton Ergo Passiv floorstanding speakers, in oak. Manufactured in the mid-80's, made in Germany. The original bases are included. I added spikes to the bases, which I have...

washingtondc.craigslist.org

That's a great price and not a bad drive at all... but I have nowhere for them. Trying really hard not to buy any gear for the time being.

Yes a good price

 

[lp85253]

Ha. Sierra ribbon towers for mains and a Sierra 2 pulling center channel duty right now.

Big league stuff.. Do you have a pair of sierra books.. Maybe we might a / b them against the b1's sometime..

 

[Pedro Alvarado]

anyone in the austin area? i'm visiting my friend and decided to see what was on cl. it seems like a great deal at more than half off of the hsu site.

HSU Research Home Theater Speakers with 10" Subwoofer - electronics...

A complete 5.1 surround sound speaker system, featuring: Qty 4 - Hsu Research Rosewood Speakers Qty 1 - Hsu Research Rosewood Center Channel Speaker Qty 1 - Hsu Research 10" powered Subwoofer...

austin.craigslist.org