Stereo Speakers I have known. Part Four

Gentle reader,

Yes, I just posted part three yesterday. BTW, the page views yesterday was 172! A record for my humble, "Why are you laughing?" blog. Well, thanks to the spread of digital cameras and phones that take pictures and video, the Internet has become FULL of "look-at-me" stuff. 

Anyway, last photo in part three was of the front wall of the listening room just over a year ago. Much has changed since then, but that will have to wait as I want to finish this series on speakers I once owned and enjoyed.

Today, we start with some pics of RCA branded versions of Radio Shack's Minimus 7 speakers:

 

Remember, RCA bought into Radio Shack so all stereo and other audio equipment was either rebadged as RCA or was made by or for RCA. Below, on another pair are some nice wall brackets that are very adjustable and strong:

Here are a couple of photos of that very old Realistic (AKA Radio Shack) speaker with the electrostatic tweeter. I'm surprised I didn't save more photos of it.

You can just see the metal plates on each side of the tweeter through the grille cloth. And look at the shine in the finish below!

At a time, some of the companies, mostly Japanese, seemed to think, "more is better, bigger is too" in designing and building speakers. When I found these, I asked my wife to literally sit on them. She did so that I could go get a shopping cart.

Sansui SP-X9. Seven drivers including one with what I think was called an "acoustic lens" over the central tweeter. I think they were four-way speakers. 15" woofers, but as you can see, very shallow cabinets and short reflex tubes.

The next speakers are from the "mystery house" two doors down. We NEVER saw a human in or outside the house. It had curtains and shades and a garage. Someone was mowing the grass and trimming the hedges. Then finally, more than three years ago, a group of Asian people came and emptied the house and left a pile of mid-1980's electronics piled by the curb. Somehow, a few of them appeared here. Well, these SONY speakers below, of which I could find NO information were a part of. They are "direct-reflecting" which is BOSE's thing. They served us well until something else came along. Oh, Laser Discs while cool at the time, didn't really look much better than VHS. Just saying...

It appears the one on the left was closer to a window and faded. Below shows the front and side. They are set up similar to BOSE 301s with woofer and one tweeter on the front and a second tweeter and reflex port on the side.

 Despite the "RIGHT" label, this was the left. If I'd followed their directions, they just would not have worked.

As you can see, no model number. Below, some 1960's vintage SONY speakers. I never did try and pry off the glued on grilles.

Besides the looks, the "10W (maximum) is a giveaway to their era, when 25 watts-per-channel was the norm for a good receiver or amplifier. Speakers tended to be much more efficient then.

Next, some descendants of the above SONY speakers.

 

Now, what you all have been waiting for the thrift store find of the century, SPENDOR LS3/5A that I bought for TEN DOLLARS!

I will not explain the history of these speakers that were built under license from the BBC. You can google them. I was asked recently, "Why didn't you keep them?" Frankly, they didn't sound that great. They were designed for a very small area.

Finally, a picture I dated 1-27-12:

Just a FEW speakers! My wife, she sure does love me! And I adore her! Thanks for looking!

Scott

Stereo Speakers I have known. Part Three

Gentle reader,

I was surprised to see such a large number of you are looking at my blog today! The charts do not indicate which particular post you are reading, but it's quite a spike. Thank you.

Since I last wrote on the 9th, I have passed my 59th birthday and find it odd to now be in my 60th year. When did that happen? As they say, you're only as old as you feel, and I don't feel anywhere near that old!

Anyway, let us continue with what I hope has sparked the sudden increase in interest, my former speakers. Starting with closer views of some of the Paradigm speakers. I think their semi-transparent woofer cones are a nice touch. You can see, and I now remember why I cut the old tweeters out of their faces, the replacements needed those faces for support.

As you can see below, they were Mini Monitors. Paradigm still makes excellent speakers in many price ranges.

Next, some more Paradigms, these I found in their original boxes:

They are older and not as high quality as the newer ones above. Note the cardboard tubes and spring terminals.

Next, a closer look at the Philips speakers that have ribbon tweeters. 

Quite pretty, aren't they? Note the matching wood grain above. Built without a grille cloth and frame. 

They have the nice reflex tubes and three-way binding/banana posts that I prefer. I never researched them to see if they were part of a small system. Philips is of course known for their audio inventions (along with SONY in some cases), CDs, SACDs, such like that.

Next, some old Pioneers that you saw in a group shot earlier:

They have foam grilles rather than frames with cloth. This was popular some decades ago. I had to carefully attempt to pop out the silver dust caps on the midranges. Why kids are wont to push them in mystifies me.

Rubber surrounds rather than the cheaper foam. Front reflex port.

As you can see below, they are CS-R500 models. I do not like those wire terminals.

Now, some much newer and smaller Pioneer speakers:

Very clean presentation. 

Not quite easy to see, but they are S-HF21-LR models. I often see manufacturers place rear-firing reflex ports in line with the back of the tweeter. Many do it. Why?

Next a single Pioneer, circa 1970's that I bought to try mono. Later on was able to pass it on to another audio fan. I've encountered a number of this type: walnut veneer, lattice wooden frame over the grille cloth. In most cases, they are held on with small phillips-head screws, on in each corner. Sometimes, someone not able to see that, has pried off the grille and broken it. Savages!

As you can see, I made no attempt to restore the wooden veneer. Didn't bother me or the new owner. I can't quite make out the model number.

Next, and last for this posting, Polk speakers. I've had a few and the front and center speakers of the surround sound system are late model Polks.

Note, the bottom drivers are in fact "passive radiators". What they are is woofers with no magnet or voice coil. They radiate forward when the woofers move rearward. Acting like a reflex port but with no air/music leaving the inside of the cabinets.

At first, I thought the "5A" on the label referred to the fuses amperage, but it is the model name.

As you can see, they have their own fuse that is easy to access! Also, the three-way binding/banana posts at the correct 3/4" spacing.

The Polk models above and below, were/are what I was using. I had a third of the taller/darker/older ones standing vertically as the center speaker. All these photos were used in an earlier post.

I found a late model Polk Center channel speaker, liked it so much, I bought the matching front speakers and still enjoy them to this day.

Turns out the old Polk in the center, had a frozen woofer. When that occurred, I do not know!

As you can see above and below, the newer speakers are set up to be bi-amplified and are obviously much higher quality than the older models. By the way, mounting a speaker, flat on the wall as they are set up to be is a BAD idea audibly!

Below is how the front of the listening room looked back then. Note the Axiom speakers I once enjoyed.

Thanks for looking!

Scott