ADS ad on craigslist

[TorrentFox]

Hi everybody,

My name is Tony and I'm a student at Penn State. I love music and quality sound, but until recently (as far as my wallet was concerned), that only extended to headphones- my Grado SR60's. My current system is an old Technics SA-103 receiver running into a pair of Technics A30 3-ways, one of which has this annoying buzz on certain frequencies in the woofer but otherwise sounds fairly nice.

I saw an ad today for a pair of ADS (Analog & Digital Systems) 700 speakers. He has them priced at $125 and says he dropped 1k on them when he bought them in the 80s. Apparently they've been reconed recently.

Does anyone here have personal experience with this brand? Do you think they'd be worth putting money on?

I'll probably ask to try them out and bring along an mp3 player and an rca adapter just to feel them out before I jump on them.

I tried to link the ad, but the forum software wouldn't let me, so I'll just quote the ad until I'm able to or someone wants to see it in a pm.

Real walnut wood cabinets. VERY high end. ADS (Analog & Digital Systems) brand --they got bought years ago by someone else. I paid $1000 for the pair when new in the 1980's, and that was a LOT of money back then. Many audiophiles would argue that analog stereo speakers still sound better than digital speakers and having listened to my new surround sound system I have to agree. Digital sounds more fake and tinny. If you send me your email address, you can read the specs on the speakers that I scanned to a document if you have Adobe Reader software. If not, download it free at (removed) Asking $125 for the pair. The only time they've ever been in for service was 2 years ago when the paper cones of the woofers finally disintegrated over time and I spent a couple hundred dollars to have Electronics Unlimited here replace them so they sound like new and should be good for another 20 years! Measure 20 inches tall by 12 inches wide by 10 inches deep. Weigh about 25 pounds each. (ie nice big magnets!) I no longer need them because my surround sound system came with speakers. You just need to make sure your receiver/amp can play 4 ohm speakers. Even though my receiver on the back says minimum 8 ohm, it has played these for years just fine. Many receivers can and if you aren't sure check the owners manual or call your manufacturer.

 

[Adam]

I have no experience with that brand, but I'll say that the advertisement seems strange to me. Mainly because the person claims that his new speakers sound worse than the ones that he's selling, but yet he's still selling them. Also, he spent about $200 two years ago to have them reconed, but he's selling them for $125 now? I'd just be a little suspicious.

 

[TorrentFox]

Yeah, I agree, it does raise a little flag in my head, but he doesn't say that they're better than the ones he just got- just that he got some new speakers with his surround system and a sort of blanket statement about audiophiles that he thinks will help sway potential customers

I guess the proof is in the pudding. I'm hoping for some feedback, but either way I think I'm going to ask to go and listen to them, and judge them with my eyes closed and a familiar track on.

 

[Haoleb]

Many audiophiles would argue that analog stereo speakers still sound better than digital speakers and having listened to my new surround sound system I have to agree. Digital sounds more fake and tinny.

I have to agree that analog speakers certainly do sound better than digital ones. I really have never heard a digital speaker that I liked! So it obviously makes sense that he would want to sell his old analog speakers which he admits sound better and would rather keep his new digital fake and tinny speakers.

Personally, I would pass on them. I have heard a few vintage speakers that are supposed to be very highly regarged and I wasnt very impressed with any of them. Im not saying that older speakers are worse than new one because thats certainly not the case, but for that kind of money you probably can get something better.