Need advice on quality towers.

[Spud123]

Hi all, this is my first time here.

I am using a 1977 NAD model 200 stereo amp, it is awesome. I am running old speakers which have no brand and I have replaced the 12"'s. they do the job pretty well but I know there is some good stuff out there. It would be ideal if I could get hold of some quality 70's speakers but pretty hard to find now.
Don't want a sub, just need good towers that can handle bottom end well and a clear nice overall sound. Big but good bottom end!

Thanks in advance.

 

[WmAx]

You can generally get much better results for the $$, if you combine high quality bookshelf speakers with stereo subwoofers, and use an active crossover to integrate them. So, considering this, are you still intent on only getting towers?

If so, okay. In either case, please specify the price range and other details, such as your room placement and room size and acoustics, so that people can accurately make suggestions.

-Chris

 

[Shadow_Ferret]

Ebay has tons of quality 70s equipment. Type in whatever namebrand you're fond of, me, I like the old Polk Audio monitors, and you should be able to find what you want. But I've seen classic Acoustic Research, JBL, Altec-Lansing, among others listed on there from time to time.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Hi all, this is my first time here.

I am using a 1977 NAD model 200 stereo amp, it is awesome. I am running old speakers which have no brand and I have replaced the 12"'s. they do the job pretty well but I know there is some good stuff out there. It would be ideal if I could get hold of some quality 70's speakers but pretty hard to find now.
Don't want a sub, just need good towers that can handle bottom end well and a clear nice overall sound. Big but good bottom end!

Thanks in advance.

I nominate the Definitive BP10Bs.

I bought a pair brand new from my local dealer for $700 a few months ago.

Julian Hirsch/Stereo Review: 20Hz-20kHz +/-6dB (25Hz-20kHz +/-3dB). The only caveat is that since they are bipolars, you need at least 2 ft distance from the back and at least 2 ft from the sides.

 

[mazersteven]

Hi all, this is my first time here.

I am using a 1977 NAD model 200 stereo amp, it is awesome. I am running old speakers which have no brand and I have replaced the 12"'s. they do the job pretty well but I know there is some good stuff out there. It would be ideal if I could get hold of some quality 70's speakers but pretty hard to find now.
Don't want a sub, just need good towers that can handle bottom end well and a clear nice overall sound. Big but good bottom end!

Thanks in advance.

A budget would be nice. Your listening (music type) preferences would also be helpful.

 

[GlocksRock]

I talked to Chet at Def Tech yesterday, and he confirmed they just raised their prices as of April 1. So if anyone is wanting some def tech's, I say get them now before the dealers raise their prices. But I agree the BP10s are very good.

 

[Tomorrow]

A PM has been sent to you.

 

[mazersteven]

A PM has been sent to you.

Look if you want to recommend Bose speakers, it's OK without having to PM the OP. Don't let peer pressure get to you.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Look if you want to recommend Bose speakers, it's OK without having to PM the OP. Don't let peer pressure get to you.

**hee**hee
That was a good laugh.

You are CRAZY, Steven!

 

[Shadow_Ferret]

A friend of mine had the original Series I. Great sounding midrange speakers. Don't expect any highs or lows though. And power hungry? He had a 500 watt 2 channel amp and he had to crank it half way just to get a peep out of them.

Look if you want to recommend Bose speakers, it's OK without having to PM the OP. Don't let peer pressure get to you.

 

[Spud123]

Ok, thanks for your input.

Budget wise I can't realy say lol, don't know.... maybe we start at between $0-$2000.
Btw I am in Australia so it may take a while for me to reply.
FYI, don't know if this is helpful or not but would like to know what all this means, here is a bit about the NAD 200.

Output power vs harmonic
distortion (1khz) at 8-ohms
at 0.3% both channel 110 w, 100 w
harmonic distortion
(1khz) at 8-ohms 80 watts 0.04%, 0.1%
Output power vs frequency
at 0.3% THD
20hz to 20khz dual channel 100 w, 90 w
Intermodulation distortion
at 2 v at 4-ohms 0.06%, 0.15%
Pre-amp output vs harmonic
distortion (20hz-20khz)
at 50k loadat 3 v
(aux input level 600 mv) 0.02%, 0.1%
Main amp input sensitivity
at 28.3 volts/8-ohms at 1 khz 1 +0.02 v

It goes on more about Bass and treble etc.
I also use a seperate marantz eq.
The room is small, about 19 feet by 12 feet (speakers facing shortways)
I maybe moving house soon anyway and hope to have a bigger room so this is not super important to me right now.

I listen to mainly rock, I love 70 hard rock. Although I like lots of types of music from Jazz to Metal, Kiss to Tool. Basicaly 70's, 80's, 90's Bands and a selected few new bands. Don't listen to Dance or Techno or Rap, nothing with a repetative beat really.

Hope all this helps.

Cheers.

 

[Spud123]

You can generally get much better results for the $$, if you combine high quality bookshelf speakers with stereo subwoofers, and use an active crossover to integrate them. So, considering this, are you still intent on only getting towers?

If so, okay. In either case, please specify the price range and other details, such as your room placement and room size and acoustics, so that people can accurately make suggestions.

-Chris

Thanks Chris.

My ears are open to all this stuff.
I love vintage amps and as long as it sounds good I don't care whether it's towers or what you mentioned, all I'm after is stereo sound.
IMO I can tell the difference between two bassy fronts compared with two fronts and a sub, I much prefer the two on their own.
I've never heard of what you mentioned so I'm listening.
Also am I wrong in thinking that the bigger the woofer in a tower the better the bass? All the new towers seem to have small woofers.
I have a pair of newish ones and they can't handle bass at all, admittedly they are cheap.

Thanks again....

 

[Spud123]

A PM has been sent to you.

I would reply but can't at this stage.
I prob would be interested but as I'm in Australia might cost a mint to get them here

 

[3db]

PSB Image series towers, T45, T5, T65 work very well with NAD. I've heard the T45s and theNAD paired up (unfortunately I don't own a NAD) and they sound dam good. I own the T45s myself and really like them. ALOT

 

[bandphan]

Thanks Chris.

My ears are open to all this stuff.
I love vintage amps and as long as it sounds good I don't care whether it's towers or what you mentioned, all I'm after is stereo sound.
IMO I can tell the difference between two bassy fronts compared with two fronts and a sub, I much prefer the two on their own.
I've never heard of what you mentioned so I'm listening.
Also am I wrong in thinking that the bigger the woofer in a tower the better the bass? All the new towers seem to have small woofers.
I have a pair of newish ones and they can't handle bass at all, admittedly they are cheap.

Thanks again....

properly eqd subs will be unoticeable. Woofer size doesnt equate to extension in the way your thinking. Accuracy, detail, and imaging can be acheived with smaller woofers. The cabniet design plays a tremendous factor on the "bass" output. Think of the whole speaker as creating the sound, not just the driver. What speakers do you currently own that tour refering to?

 

[Spud123]

properly eqd subs will be unoticeable. Woofer size doesnt equate to extension in the way your thinking. Accuracy, detail, and imaging can be acheived with smaller woofers. The cabniet design plays a tremendous factor on the "bass" output. Think of the whole speaker as creating the sound, not just the driver. What speakers do you currently own that tour refering to?

I actually can't remember the brand, I got them about 5 years ago from a generic retail store in a cheap 5 channel system, Haven't used them for a few years now, I couldn't tell you anything about the ones I use atm, they have no brand or specs, found them. I know they have a 12" that I stole out of pa speakers lol (the young boy blew the originals), a mid and a high. they seem to do pretty well considering but I know I'm not using the full power of this amp.

 

[bandphan]

check out this page and see if the reading gives you some thoughts...

http://www.ids25.com/

 

[Midcow2]

Okay there are better than Bose 901s now, but ...

A friend of mine had the original Series I. Great sounding midrange speakers. Don't expect any highs or lows though. And power hungry? He had a 500 watt 2 channel amp and he had to crank it half way just to get a peep out of them.

And I know the reviews, now say they are terrible, especailly Joe Schmoe of this forum, but at one time in the 70s, I bought some new 901s and drove them very lound with a marantz 1060 which was (is, I still have) rated at only 30 RMS per channel.

A 500watt RMS is a very,very high rating in even today's market, a 100-125 RMS 7 channel is a pretty high output AVR. Yes,yes i Inow there are higher level dedicated Crown and McIntoish maps, but a 500RMS that couldn't drive 901s something is wrong.

Anyway, look at the Speaker review on this forum there are a lot of good recommendations. It also depends on how much you want to spend. There are good speakers in a lot of price ranges. A lot of people hear like Defintive Technology which range from mid-price to pretty pricey. AV123 rockets is another brand; they are not the best but sound good for the price and have a very nice wood finish. If possible read the professional reviews on this and other sites, read audiophiles opions abeit with a grain of salt, then go and audition several of your top speaker choices.

I currently have some older Defintive Tech towers BP2006TL and they sound very good. I am planning on replacing them with AV123 Rockets next year ( against the recommentations of the Defnitive Tech followers). I put some bookshelf speakers in my garage system and put in one of the recommended low cost choices at $99 per pair delivered, Sony SB3000. They might not meet the true Audiophiles recommendations, but they sound very nice when working in the garage. I also have center and surrounds in garage. Another user has Cambridge Audio and they make a good medium speaker for about $300 /pair plus shipping. Towers if you really need towers have avery wide range in price from a couple of hundred per pair to tens of thousands of dollars. Again decide what you need to drive your specific size room and if you are going to have a subwoofer and surround speakers.

Good luck.

 

[WmAx]

IMO I can tell the difference between two bassy fronts compared with two fronts and a sub, I much prefer the two on their own.
I've never heard of what you mentioned so I'm listening.
Also am I wrong in thinking that the bigger the woofer in a tower the better the bass? All the new towers seem to have small woofers.
I have a pair of newish ones and they can't handle bass at all, admittedly they are cheap.

Thanks again....

A high quality DSP crossover combined with stereo subwoofers allows for seamless integration, as well as the ability to control the subjective 'tightness' of the bass response to your preference by use of the powerful DSP unit. In this capacity, the subwoofer becomes an extension of the speakers, not simply an addition.

As for specific speakers - that depends on price range. The best bookshelf to use is the Ascend CBM-170 for the <$500 range, and the Ascend Seirra 1 for the <$1000 range, and the B&W 705 for the <$2000 range. I base these speaker choices on credible 3rd party measurements that demonstrate critical measured behaviors that are most suited for a speaker of the highest fidelity in the price range that is effectively adjusted with the DSP to your ideal preference.

You might not even like the sound of these speakers I have suggested when listened to straight. But, this is hardly a handicap. These speakers are the most over-all neutral in their respective price ranges. The neutrality is critical, as it allows you to most effectively add ANY sound signature that you find ideal and fine tune it using the very powerful DSP device I suggested. With a pre-existing coloration in a non-neutral speaker, it will not be able to be adjusted as effectively, because this coloration will interfere and always exist.

-Chris

 

[Shadow_Ferret]

And I know the reviews, now say they are terrible, especailly Joe Schmoe of this forum, but at one time in the 70s, I bought some new 901s and drove them very lound with a marantz 1060 which was (is, I still have) rated at only 30 RMS per channel.

A 500watt RMS is a very,very high rating in even today's market, a 100-125 RMS 7 channel is a pretty high output AVR. Yes,yes i Inow there are higher level dedicated Crown and McIntoish maps, but a 500RMS that couldn't drive 901s something is wrong.

Maybe he did have something wrong with his amp, I don't know. Maybe you had the 901 series II or III and they were making them more efficient by then. *shrugs*

I do think they were great party speakers, filled the room with sound and like I said, great midrange.

I see those things and I get nostalgic for a time when Bose actually had an R&D department and were trying to make unique quality speakers. After I blew up my Polk Audios, I had a pair of 601s and they weren't half bad, until I blew them up, too.