Celestion Ditton 15

[Michael loves music]

a kind gentleman on here has told me about these classic speakers I've read loads about them and my goodness very cheap on eBay are they the best speakers ever made ? Do they sound as good as present day speakers I wonder ?

[Reffc]

No, imho (added in case there are those sensitive to criticism of 15's ;) )

Very average at best and nothing like their larger siblings (66's and 88's).

There's better for similar outlay.

Bass is woolly and top end quite rolled off.

[struth]

Cheap they are and cheap they sound.....well maybe not that bad but as Paul says, you can do better.

[walpurgis]

I like the Ditton 15, It doesn't pretend to be marvellous, but it is enjoyably musical if you're not too critical. Of the same era (seventies), a pair of Mordaunt Short Pageant II speakers will wipe the floor with them though. For the same sort of money, so would a pair of the little B&W D5s (I won't include the DM4, as I find them unrefined and coloured). An eighties speaker well worth tracking down for similar cost is the original Mission 780SE, they are great fun.

[Michael loves music]

is there a newer speaker worth tracking down ?

[The Barbarian]

If you are prepared to re foam the Bass unit from an original pair of Heybrook 'HB-1' they were a great speaker.

Pair here already done

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Heybrook-HB1-original-Speakers-Refoamed-VG-/161649471103?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item25a30f2e7f

[Michael loves music]

My goodness they are a bargain

[The Barbarian]

Sound even better on the original 'HBS-1' stands they also fetch small money.

[Michael loves music]

Dittons went for £56 lots more On there

[The Barbarian]

Out of all the original Dittons' the 15's & 22's are the ones i dislike..

[high.spirits]

I had the 15's back in the 1970s. Moved to KEF104ABs which were in a different league.

OK for small speakers and as always, it's down to personal taste and music you listen to.

I have just picked up some Heybrook HB200s and they sound pretty good for late 80s speaker. Not much info on the web about them though.

[Michael loves music]

i listen to electronic music omd kraftwerk alphaville etc and pop music

[The Barbarian]

HB1's would be great for that Michael

[karma67]

Of the same era (seventies), a pair of Mordaunt Short Pageant II speakers will wipe the floor with them though.

yes thats what i found,i went from ditton 15xr's to pageants and they did although my klh 23's are now my main speakers. for the money pageants are hard to beat.

[walpurgis]

Still enjoying the 23s then Jamie? :)

[karma67]

yes mate,although they are a bit big for my living room!placing them is a nightmare. got my eyes on a pair of AR 5's next .
if im being totally honest the pageants suit my room size best but i just love the bass the 23's deliver.

[walpurgis]

The AR5 is about the same size as the 23 if I'm not mistaken. I've heard them (years ago), nice.

If you're a bit short of space, but don't want to compromise on bass, take a look at PMC speakers. They do hold their price though.

[Gordon Steadman]

Funny how ears differ. Both Ronnie and I owned 15s in the past and we still remember them being terrific, especially for the price and the size. Considering that, before I attended to her musical education (:eyebrows:), she listened to heavy metal and Rod Stewart and I have always listened to jazz, chamber, classical guitar and baroque music, it can't have been down to musical tastes.

Much of it is down the HF1300 I reckon.

[Michael loves music]

CD player arrived sounds nice but a lot of bass and treble would like speakers that highlight the vocals more ?

[Gordon Steadman]

CD player arrived sounds nice but a lot of bass and treble would like speakers that highlight the vocals more ?

Every pair of Missions I have heard seems too bright to me but that seems to be the sound that people like these days. How does the Pioneer sound through the headphone socket on the NAD?

[Michael loves music]

just tried it through headphones sennheiser HD201 not as bright as through speakers

[Gordon Steadman]

just tried it through headphones sennheiser HD201 not as bright as through speakers

Well, that sort of points to the Missions doesn't it, as from memory, that Sennheiser model is not exactly mellow (my wife has a pair on the computer). However, as it's 'growing on you', I'd give it a week or two and enjoy the music for a while before deciding to change the speakers.

[Desmo]

Well, that sort of points to the Missions doesn't it, as from memory, that Sennheiser model is not exactly mellow (my wife has a pair on the computer). However, as it's 'growing on you', I'd give it a week or two and enjoy the music for a while before deciding to change the speakers.

+1 give your current set up a week or two before making any more changes.

[Michael loves music]

thankyou for the replies I've turned down treble half way on the amps tone controls that has made a difference certainly this stable platter 801 is more musicial than my nad 520 more instruments and sounds I hadn't heard before ! Yes will give it a week before maybe change speakers