[HsvHeelFan]

I had a pair of NS-1000's.  I liked them pretty well.  I ended up giving them away to a co-worker back in the 90's and replaced them with KEF Q-70s in '95.   The wife didn't like the footprint of the NS-1000.  The KEF's are narrow and tall.  I've got a Velodyne sub helping the KEF's on the bottom end.  The KEF's do have spectacular highs and mids, image like crazy and have a great soundstage.

HsvHeelFan

[Wind Chaser]

Don't agree here.  The Heresy's make my list, but it isn't my list of best vintage speakers.  To my ears the bass is boomy and the horn is unpleasant.  Just not a fan of the sound of big, empty boxes.

If it wasn't for the ability to play loud with very little power, nobody would buy them.

[orthobiz]

+1 on Dahlquist DQ-10. I have my pair from college and have never switched. There's a Dahlquist user group on Yahoo...

Paul

[gils]

 

my JBL 4311 B + bass 600 w TS 30 600pro




bass 35 Hz at 1000 Hz // 4311 B 800 Hz at 20 KHz

[*Scotty*]

The Infinity Monitor IIa really killed when I first heard them back in 1979 at a Lloyds catalogue store. These speakers used the Walsh tweeter, that the gold colored cone on the top of the speaker. Remarkable clarity across the entire frequency range, plus they pulled an amazing disappearing act as well.
Owners manual claimed 22Hz-28,000Hz +/-4dB

Owners manual. http://www.infinity-classics.de/technik/manuals/Monitor_IIA_technical_sheet.pdf
Scotty

[sunnydaze]

VG condition pair of Snell CV for $925

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/full-range-snell-type-cv-speakers-pair-cv-1260-2016-10-15-speakers-20853-rockville-md

Like I said, that guy asking $1800 is off his rocker.     

[OzarkTom]

Acoustat 2+2-$500

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/ele/5821965122.html

Acoustat 1+1-$880

http://saltlakecity.craigslist.org/ele/5787388821.html

Dahqluist DQ-20-$550

http://orlando.craigslist.org/ele/5830812360.html

Anybody here own the DQ-20's?

[7x57]

More recent "classic" speakers are the VMPS Ribbon Monitor series. There is a size to fit any room and budget. The magic was in the Neopanel midranges that used neodymium magnets for fairly high efficiency. Some models are 95 dB efficient and all are very dynamic sounding. High quality caps and coils mean no crossover issues except for maybe the L-pads, which are very inexpensive to replace.

Most users would be satisfied with the 626R, RM1 or RM2 models. The push-pull ribbon midrange was used by no other manufacturer of audiophile speakers. The company went out of business in 2012 due to the death of the owner, and it was a rather small company all its existence. You will have to hunt around a bit for a good pair. I am keeping my RM1 pair for as long as the midranges hold up, and they are known to be rugged and long lived. The clarity of electrostatics with the dynamic range and power handling and efficiency of good dynamic cone speakers. The passive radiator is tuneable, (except the 626R), and a wide range L-pad adjustment on the midrange and tweeter. They can be tuned to just about any room, as long as you do not get a model too big for your room which would overload the room with bass.

The RM40 or RM30 would be for those looking for rather pricey speakers. Would go past the $1500 max limit in most cases unless they had issues. The RM2 sold for around $3000 retail in later years. Should be able to find a good working set of the 626R for $500, as they were around $1200 retail in 2008. The CDWG waveguide on later models was really just a diffraction slot, and many people prefer to take them off, but they serve to protect the drivers very well when not in use.

The RM/X, RM50 and RMV60 were later models of such low production and high cost that they cannot be considered if your limit is $1500, and they would not be worth the extra cost as far as I am concerned. Adding more Neopanels increases the maximum loudness level, but one or two is enough for the average listener in the average sized room with most music. My RM1 will play considerably more loudly than my Vandersteen 2Ci speakers before distortion sets in, and they are 3 dB more efficient which cuts amp power requirements in half, saving you some money on an amp. All the way around better than the 2Ci, which was highly regarded at the price for its day.

[dB Cooper]

For that vintage sound, and not JBL or Walsh since you have those, I'd recommend anything Snell or Allison, great value for what you get.  Snells will have to have been refoamed.

Allisons used foam surrounds too so that would probably be true for them as well.

I had a pair of Allison Four bookshelves and later a pair of CD-8 towers. Great speakers. I once attended a presentation by Roy Allison at The Discerning Ear in Baltimore. He had kind of a "mad scientist" vibe. One of the attendees complimented him on how lifelike his speakers sounded, and his response was "Thank you; that's how they're supposed to sound."

[luckyguy]

Loved those Yamaha NS 1000s.  The higher the quality of your amps and ancillaries the higher the quality of the sound.  Celestion Ditton 66 monitors came in a close second but be sure to replace a cap or two with ensuing marvelous results.  Sold these much to my regret.

[Russell Dawkins]

Loved those Yamaha NS 1000s.  The higher the quality of your amps and ancillaries the higher the quality of the sound.  Celestion Ditton 66 monitors came in a close second but be sure to replace a cap or two with ensuing marvelous results.  Sold these much to my regret.

This enclosure mod is intriguing if you like the NS-1000s but would like a little more bass:
http://www.audionostalgia.co.uk/diy_yamaha_ns1000m_75l_bass_reflex.php

[saygrr]

+2 on the Dahlquist DQ-10. This is the speaker that got me into this hobby 40 years ago. Chances are if a used pair is bought it will need some attention. Crossover might need capacitors replaced and the woofer might need to be re foamed. Also it is amplifier sensitive. Back in the late 70s early 80s the Audio Research 110B, Mark Levinson ML 3, and Threshold Stasis 2 worked very well with the DQ-10 especially the ML-3.

I also agree with the Acoustat 2+2 with the Acoustat Trans-Nova amp I think it was called, it was a very nice combination. Very musical.

Both of those speakers are much better if done right than what most of the stuff made today, especially the way over priced massed produced stuff.

Wish I had not sold the DQ-10S.

[Folsom]

Apogee!

[Bemopti123]

Energy Connoiseur Reference 22s circa late 80s.  Two ways on a pedestal format, clear woofers, perhaps 8"? and that famous tweeter.  It can keep up against Infinity Kappa 9s.  They had pretty much almost the same sound!  How is that possible?  I do not know. 

[Phil A]

Always wanted a pair of DQ-10s but never had the proper room for them when they were a current model or several years after.  I did own the Dahlquist subwoofer and electronic crossover though (which I got used) but just couldn't fit the DQ-10s in my room.

[OzarkTom]

One year at the CES show back in the 80's,  Dahlquist showed a protoype speaker with a plasma tweeter, the best I have ever heard anywhere. I still wonder whatever became of those speakers. I would love to hear my Zellatpns with Plasma tweeters...

The patents for the Zellaton drivers dates clear back to 1932, a vintage speaker still being made today.

[Syrah]

Don't forget Martin Logan.  Some of their speaker designs that sound great (like the SL3) are good deals used.  You can take them apart and clean the panel which brings back dynamics of older ones.  You can biamp them now that efficient bass amps with DSP are aplenty, and the panels love tube amps - contrary to what many people say.

The only problem is, of course, shipping for used one.  Not exactly pocket sized.