Speakers to pair with vintage Onkyo TX-4500?

[ohio]

I'm trying to find a gift for my brother who lives 2000 miles away (in Ann Arbor), and is into vinyl and vintage audio equipment.

His current setup is an Onkyo TX-4500 pushing a pair of KLH Model 5 speakers. The speakers need several repairs and have since he bought them and he is now realizing he isn't motivated to do the work himself as planned.

I'd like to buy him a pair of fully functioning speakers to replace those, but I don't have his ears with me to audition speakers and even if I did, they wouldn't be hooked up to his old Onkyo. I'm thinking I can buy him a repair for his speakers at a local repair shop, try and find a functioning pair of KLH 5s or similar vintage speakers (Advent?) on eBay, or buy him something modern that will pair well with the receiver. My budget is maybe $300 max, but if needed I can pull in the rest of the family to chip in with me for something pricier.

Any ideas?

 

[zieglj01]

Buy 2 pair of Boston, in case one does not work
4 Boston Acoustics CR75 Black Bookshelf Speakers 690283314965 | eBay

Brand new for $200 - Boston A26
http://www.onecall.com/product/Boston-Acoustics/A26-White-Ea/Speaker/_/R-115578

Infinity Primus 163 - on sale
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_108P163BK/Infinity-Primus-P163.html

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

You said vintage, right?
Before our vintage expert chime in I suggest these:
Acoustic Research AR M5 Holographic Speakers | Full range | Livingston Manor, New York 12758 | AudiogoN - The High-end Audio Community

AudioKarma.org Home Audio Stereo Discussion Forums - Powered by vBulletin would probably you have more expert help - they know vintage speakers and might probably help find better deal

 

[ohio]

Buy 2 pair of Boston, in case one does not work
4 Boston Acoustics CR75 Black Bookshelf Speakers 690283314965 | eBay

Any specific reason you're recommending those for his system? It's a good enough deal I may pick them up for my little apartment, but I wouldn't expect them to fill a room like his KLHs. Am I underestimating them?

And though I know it shouldn't matter, they aren't really an aesthetic match for his system. I feel like more natural wood, turned aluminum, and/or beige mesh is necessary to match the 70s feel of the Onkyo.

You said vintage, right?
Before our vintage expert chime in I suggest these:
Acoustic Research AR M5 Holographic Speakers | Full range | Livingston Manor, New York 12758 | AudiogoN - The High-end Audio Community

AudioKarma.org Home Audio Stereo Discussion Forums - Powered by vBulletin would probably you have more expert help - they know vintage speakers and might probably help find better deal

Ah, thanks for the heads up on AudioKarma. That looks like the right place to ask the question!

The AR's look like a screaming deal. Good god, they are ugly, but maybe my brother is into that. I may bounce those off of him. I wish this could be a surprise, but it's too personal decision. I'd rather have his input up front and get the right thing for him. I think he already appreciates that I know him well enough to think of replacing those speakers for him...

 

[zieglj01]

Any specific reason you're recommending those for his system? It's a good enough deal I may pick them up for my little apartment, but I wouldn't expect them to fill a room like his KLHs. Am I underestimating them?

And though I know it shouldn't matter, they aren't really an aesthetic match for his system. I feel like more natural wood, turned aluminum, and/or beige mesh is necessary to match the 70s feel of the Onkyo.

This is the info that you gave >
"The speakers need several repairs and have since he bought them and he is now realizing he isn't motivated to do the work himself as planned."

"try and find a functioning pair of KLH 5s or similar vintage speakers (Advent?) on eBay, or buy him something modern that will pair well with the receiver."

You did not give the size of the room or the looks requirement.
I gave the reccomendation based on something more modern, that
can work with that receiver. The KLH may have more bass, however
the Boston, will stand on its on from there. I will search some more
on Ebay.

Be careful about the working conditions, of older vintage speakers.

Some KLH speakers here
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-PAIR-KLH-MODEL-5-FIVE-SPEAKERS-ESTATE-FIND-VINTAGE-STEREO-HENRY-KLOSS-/190687724820?_trksid=m7&_trkparms=algo=LVI&itu=UCI&otn=3&po=LVI&ps=63&clkid=9000161478611950443&_qi=RTM1084479
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_sacat=0&_nkw=klh speakers&LH_PrefLoc=1&rt=nc&_pppn=r1&_mPrRngCbx=1&_udlo=100&_udhi=250

For exploration, JBL here
http://www.ebay.com/itm/320919693114?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

For exploration, Teledyne AR speakers
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pair-Teledyne-Acoustics-Research-AR38S-Speakers-Speaker-/200695634668?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2eba645aec

 

[ohio]

You did not give the size of the room or the looks requirement.

Fair enough, I did not!

They're currently set up in a living room in a fairly open floor plan condo. Something like 15L x 12W x 8H and open at the two narrow ends. He DOES have some shared walls, so earth shattering bass is not a requirement or even possibility, and the NHTs will only go to maybe 60Hz themselves... just want to make sure the sound that IS produced fills the space for pleasurable listening.

On aesthetics, yes, I should have said that it should look reasonably coordinated next to the other equipment. Although those CR 75s probably could look fine if I find them in a cherry or mahogany finish.

 

[zieglj01]

On aesthetics, yes, I should have said that it should look reasonably coordinated next to the other equipment. Although those CR 75s probably could look fine if I find them in a cherry or mahogany finish.

For explorationn - here are some cool and fancy looking
Advent speakers here. I do not know how they sound.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/A-vintage-ADVENT-Bookshelf-Floor-Speakers-Ported-Glass-Top-Classic-/130709853199?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item1e6eea140f

 

[ifsixwasnin9]

The first step in finding a speaker is to know what your brother listens to or else your purchase might be money thrown down the drain. Classical, jazz, rock? You want a speaker that's laid back, punchy in the bass, good with acoustic music or good with electronic music? That's the first place to start. ie. If you buy ARs or Advents for someone who's into Electric/RnR you made the wrong purchase.

 

[ohio]

The first step in finding a speaker is to know what your brother listens to or else your purchase might be money thrown down the drain. Classical, jazz, rock? You want a speaker that's laid back, punchy in the bass, good with acoustic music or good with electronic music? That's the first place to start. ie. If you buy ARs or Advents for someone who's into Electric/RnR you made the wrong purchase.

He is, like me, and 70s and 80s child so his collection is a lot of classic rock (think Zeppelin) and punk (think Ramones) with a bit of blues, jazz, and (more modern) indy thrown in. Not a lot of classical or complex sounds but definitely stuff like errors and imperfections in original garage and studio recordings that you want revealed.

Having done a bit of research but no listening, I'd love to find him a pair of Vandersteen 2s, but am trying to heed the advice from above that vintage stuff is rarely in perfect condition and I may be trading one set of problems (his model 5s) for another. The 80s are probably a safer bet for reliability than the 70s.