View Full Version : Old and New Speaker Comparison
high.spirits
12-01-2016, 16:05
I have recently been thinking what some older speakers sound like - a scratch needing to be itched! I know, how long is a piece of string.....
I’m currently using some Heybrook HB200’s which sound excellent from my Jolida JD102B valve amp (about 18 watts) and Giro Dec. This in a small room roughly 9 foot square, playing all sorts of music from Paul Simon, Dire Straits, Dusty, Nina Simone, Eagles to Tchaikovsky.
Speakers I’m thinking of are: EPOS ES11, ES14, KEF 103.2 or Ruark Templar.
Plus how do these compare to modern speakers such as ATC SCM 11, SCM 19. Dali Rubicon 2, Proac Studio 118, Spendor SP3/1R2, Sonus Faber Veneere 1.5.
Any feedback on these and other worth considering would be appreciated. Thanks
To me that reads as a fairly small /confined space. Nearfield listening comes to mind.
Echoes/reverb etc could likely play large, regardless of speakers.
I use Wee.. claimed as 100mm (closer to 70mm :) Mark Audio brand Full Range drivers (yup! fabrique en Chine) in My bedroom. It's ~14 x 20'
https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/fullrange/
Sound is Surprisingly Good. IMO amazing, given their low prices.
Obviously not nearly as dynamic or sparkly as my Tannoys in my main room lashup. This Is real life after all.
In truth I spend as much listening time in my room as with the "main' gear.
I wouldn't, if there was substantial disadvantage.
high.spirits
12-01-2016, 19:09
Thanks Danilo
Yes its a small space however a garage conversion is on the way so the space will increase.
ive never heard new speakers except my first pair which were jbl control 1,i seem to be drawn to old speakers,i like the sound and also you can get good results from little out lay. i also like recapping them and hearing the results.
Floyddroid
13-01-2016, 19:18
I know nowt about the first three pairs but the Ruark Templar's especially if they are Mk1's are amazing little things. The nearest you'll get to an electrostatic sound from a box speaker. I owned a pair many years ago and to thi day wish i had never sold the. Ruark's are amongst the best speakers ever made in my opinion and i couldn't recommend them highly enough. They are music making speakers.
I know ES11s well, used ES14s myself for many years and aren't that keen on the Kef's - I can't comment on the Ruark's.
Certainly the 11s and 14s will stand direct comparison with anything 'new'.
I wouldn't class any of them as 'old' speakers. They all have a pretty 'modern' tone compared to a typical speaker from the 1970s.
high.spirits
14-01-2016, 09:37
Thanks for all the feedback. Its good to know some of the ones I mentioned are held in high esteem.
Back in the 1970's I used to have some KEF 104ab's and did not want to go down that route again as I found them a bit ponderous and lacked sparkle.
In that size of room i would suggest low power high sensitivity full range speakers. Something old like telefunken alnicos.. Some of those German alnicos are superb in a front ported box. Unless you crave bass of course.
high.spirits
14-01-2016, 09:49
In that size of room i would suggest low power high sensitivity full range speakers. Something old like telefunken alnicos.. Some of those German alnicos are superb in a front ported box. Unless you crave bass of course.
Not come across those Grant. I like tight bass but not too much of it, so it could work well.
Are they a DIY job as far as cabinets are concerned, or are there some complete speakers out there? Thanks
I made mine by getting the drivers then some suitible old cabs and adapted them to suit what i wanted..tidied them up etc and recovered the fronts etc... Worked very well... Ive 3 sets now and they all sound great .... Wont be going back to xovers etc.
Gonna make more when weather improves. Got some drivers sourced:eyebrows:
If you get cabs that have say the right main driver size then the conversion is not too hard and you wont need a degree in woodwork
high.spirits
14-01-2016, 10:23
I made mine by getting the drivers then some suitible old cabs and adapted them to suit what i wanted..tidied them up etc and recovered the fronts etc... Worked very well... Ive 3 sets now and they all sound great .... Wont be going back to xovers etc.
Gonna make more when weather improves. Got some drivers sourced:eyebrows:
If you get cabs that have say the right main driver size then the conversion is not too hard and you wont need a degree in woodwork
Thanks Grant
What size drivers are you using and what volume are the cabs? Gives me a starter for 10 when as you say, the weather improves.
cheers
My current favs are 12" celestions in 65 litre cabs .. The 10" telefunkens are in a bit smaller cabs.. But wouldnt be lost in something that size... For the celestions i am using a 5" port about 8" in length. These are not in any way hard n fast just what i had to hand martin
Plenty of that black sticky sheeting on walls and some wool filler too is a must. Especially the black sheets..use extra glue to make sure it sticks..i used carpet adhesive spray
high.spirits
14-01-2016, 10:47
My current favs are 12" celestions in 65 litre cabs .. The 10" telefunkens are in a bit smaller cabs.. But wouldnt be lost in something that size... For the celestions i am using a 5" port about 8" in length. These are not in any way hard n fast just what i had to hand martin
Plenty of that black sticky sheeting on walls and some wool filler too is a must. Especially the black sheets..use extra glue to make sure it sticks..i used carpet adhesive spray
Great stuff Grant. One more project for Spring.
I don't see the logic of small room equating to using high efficiency speakers.
Ah well we are all different i guess... But they work and his room is about to get bigger.
The teles
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160114/fec3202bf2ea299e6cf80ea516395e37.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160114/2e15b918e080dd79874fa817aa03561c.jpg
And the celestions under construction
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160114/6c7ed339dfb4ec3253b280bce1f5e8e0.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160114/03572ce5d6503acc3a7d7153f7d56097.jpg
The fane 8 inchers
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160114/38d9d183b76c4c9188d2044d8b6b6668.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160114/c6447091c122d9631fef09c506ab6eb5.jpg
high.spirits
14-01-2016, 11:59
Thanks for pics Grant. As they say a picture is worth a 1000 words...
Thanks for pics Grant. As they say a picture is worth a 1000 words...
Are they that bad..?? ;)
high.spirits
15-01-2016, 09:46
Are they that bad..?? ;)
Most impressive and a good guide of what I need to do .. :)
Still irks that i forgot to put the acousic foam in between covering and baffle board on the telefunkens. Had it all cut ready and got carried away..doh!
high.spirits
15-01-2016, 10:02
Still irks that i forgot to put the acoustic foam in between covering and baffle board on the telefunkens. Had it all cut ready and got carried away..doh!
That's life. Like putting on a 3 pin mains plug and forgetting to put the cover on the cable first!
On the teles cab, where does the port go to?
Its a square ...well rectangular wooden port covered in acoustic foam. Goes into box about 5 inches ..maybe 6....
The silent coat for cab walls is this stuff
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Silent-Coat-2mm-10-Sheets-Car-Deadening-Vibration-Sound-Proofing-Damping-Mat-/161282941044?hash=item258d366074
high.spirits
15-01-2016, 10:24
Its a square ...well rectangular wooden port covered in acoustic foam. Goes into box about 5 inches ..maybe 6....
The silent coat for cab walls is this stuff
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Silent-Coat-2mm-10-Sheets-Car-Deadening-Vibration-Sound-Proofing-Damping-Mat-/161282941044?hash=item258d366074
Thanks Grant
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