Proac Studio1 speakers with Target stands

[losepete]

Proac Studio1 Cherry finish speakers with dual pillar Target stands

Excellent sounding speakers but they are a little "tatty" with some finish fade to the top of the right speaker, some minor marks to the cabinets including a small chip missing from the veneer on the top of the left speaker and the grilles need recovering.
The stands could probably do with a fresh coat of paint.
I have tried to show these imperfections in the photos.

The bass/midrange drivers were replaced in 2010 after a child poked the centres and punctured them.

Some speaker specs:

Size : 8" (204mm) Width x 9.5" (240mm) Depth x 16" (408mm) Height
Impedance : 8 Ohms
Frequency Response : 40Hz - 30KHz
Maximum Input : 100Watts
Mode : Stand Mounting


The Target stands are 17" (432mm) tall excluding spikes, sand filled dual pillars and provide a good solid platform for the speakers to perform well.
Tuning Tip: I found these speakers perform best when "blutack" is used to "attach" them to the stands - 2 10mm diameter
blobs at the front corners and 1 centre rear - rather than using spikes in the stands top plate.

If you are looking for very good inexpensive stand mounted speakers, do not mind a few minor cabinet imperfections and are happy to re-cover the grilles these are probably the speakers and stands you want.

I am happy to include 2 pairs of "speaker binding post extensions" - shown fitted in photos - which make it easier to connect larger cables to these speakers.

I would accept £350 plus P&P if necessary - I much prefer cash on collection although delivery is possible within Greater Manchester/Nearby for fuel contribution.


Photos:

Tatty grille cloth
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f34/losepete/Proac/FrontG_02_zpsnihqiobk.jpg

Fronts without grilles
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f34/losepete/Proac/Front_01_zpsnpyxyvr4.jpg

Left sides of speakers - nearest has minor "dinks"
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f34/losepete/Proac/LHSide_02_zpsqyvkpbi1.jpg

Right sides of speakers generally good
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f34/losepete/Proac/RHSide_02_zpsepkvzlo4.jpg

Right speaker top - finish fade
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f34/losepete/Proac/RightTop_02_zpsg9fb9fbv.jpg

Left speaker top - veneer chipped near front left corner
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f34/losepete/Proac/LeftTop_02_zps5na1zjd2.jpg

Backs of speakers - 1 label faded, 1 damaged otherwise OK
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f34/losepete/Proac/Back_04_zps9thhmbel.jpg

Images of "speaker binding post extensions"
Left
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f34/losepete/Proac/LHExt_01_zpsqp38ok9e.jpg
Right
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f34/losepete/Proac/RHExt_01_zpsbkvmxjcf.jpg

[losepete]

These speakers seem to have had a few views but no responses.

Am I asking too much?

[losepete]

Bump

[Lawrence001]

These speakers seem to have had a few views but no responses.

Am I asking too much?

Probably more that they are early models and little known.

[losepete]

Yes, they are the Mk1 version from around mid 1988.

Still a very good small stand mounted speaker despite their age.

They sound similar to the Proac Tablettes but do not have to be driven as hard/loud to produce a solid detailed musical sound - with a better bass.

I remember reading a review about these speakers in a Brit HiFi mag circa 1987/1988 but Google has failed to turn up any reviews at all... Did find this thread where someone seems happy with the pair they repaired http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?14659-ProAc-studio-1-speakers

Obviously the asking price is open to discussion...

[Edward]

Why not contact Proac? Maybe they can send you a scan of the review(s) for the Studio 1.

[losepete]

Good idea, will give it a try.

[losepete]

I 'phoned Proac and had a brief chat with a lady in the sales office. She informed me that Proac do not have any reviews of older speakers, mainly all those prior to 2000.

She also suggested offering the speakers on "sales websites, especially ebay as Proac speakers sell well on that site".

She does seem to have missed the point about people not being familiar with these speakers and wanting to see any reviews to give them an idea how well they perform.

[Lawrence001]

If she didn't have any reviews available she was probably doing her best to help. I imagine they get plenty of calls from people with little knowledge about their speakers and the best ways of selling them.

[losepete]

These excellent speakers and stands are still available.

I have been trying to find a review of the speakers and failed miserably.

The few mentions of these speakers found via google seem to indicate that they work very well with valve amplification.
I cannot confirm this but would not be surprised as they are very good speakers.
I heard them demo'd using a Quad system. I cannot remember the model of cd preamp and power amp used - possibly 44 with 405 - but they were current Quad models in 1988.
I used them initially with Meridian 101/105's pre/power where they could only be described as a vast improvement to the Monitor Audio 252 speakers that I had been using.
Within a year I had upgraded to Meridian 201/205s pre/power which gave a little more detail.
In 2014 I changed the Meridian 201 pre for a Meridian G01 pre which opened up the sound yet more.

I did notice a little discussion about Proac speakers in this forum which has some relevance see the discussion Proac studio speakers ?? - https://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?57573-Proac-studio-speakers&highlight=proac

Yes, the Target speaker stands are a heavy stand well suited to these speakers.

I really do need to move these speakers on so I've reduced my asking price to £300

[Hydie]

Try "HiFi Heretic #9, June 1988"

I've tried to upload the scans but gave up!

Kev

[Edward]

So Kev sent me a copy of the review which is pictured below.

Based on this review I would say that what Pete (losepete) is asking for is way below what they are worth and someone will be getting a stunning bargain.

Here is a link (http://imapnet.com/aos/proacstudio/ProAcStudio1.pdf) to the PDF file (may be easier to read than the JPGs below).

http://imapnet.com/aos/proacstudio/ProAcStudio1-1_small.jpg

http://imapnet.com/aos/proacstudio/ProAcStudio1-2_small.jpg

[Hydie]

Well done:cheers:

[losepete]

Thanks for posting the review.

I know that the magazine The Absolute Sound had a review of these speakers in the July 1987 issue and did contact theabsolutesound.com to try and get a copy of the review. However, it seems that they may not have a copy as 8 weeks and several exchanges of email later no review is forthcoming. I guess it is a case of their older magazines have not yet been digitized.


The reasons that I have underpriced these speakers (and stands):-

1] that they are not in 1st class cosmetic condition

2] I want to give someone else the chance to own and use these great speakers

3] they are currently not connected to any system and are just occupying space at home - waste of a great pair of speakers

If the speakers were in better cosmetic condition I would have asked £600 for speakers and stands.

If memory serves correctly these speakers cost just under £800 (Cherry finish was more expensive than standard finishes) with the stands costing around £160 - in 1988. I do remember that I did not have much change from £1000...

Why am I selling these speakers and stands? - after many years of enjoying the Studio1's I recently upgraded to a pair of Proac D20R's which, being a reasonable size floorstanding speaker, do outperform the Studio1's - but at 4 times the cost (£3200) as the Wife insisted on the Rosewood finish.

I doubt that anyone who purchases these speakers will be disappointed with the sound they produce - as long as they do not expect earth-shattering bass from such small speakers.

[twotone]

Thanks for posting the review.

I know that the magazine The Absolute Sound had a review of these speakers in the July 1987 issue and did contact theabsolutesound.com to try and get a copy of the review. However, it seems that they may not have a copy as 8 weeks and several exchanges of email later no review is forthcoming. I guess it is a case of their older magazines have not yet been digitized.



The reasons that I have underpriced these speakers (and stands):-

1] that they are not in 1st class cosmetic condition

2] I want to give someone else the chance to own and use these great speakers

3] they are currently not connected to any system and are just occupying space at home - waste of a great pair of speakers

If the speakers were in better cosmetic condition I would have asked £600 for speakers and stands.

If memory serves correctly these speakers cost just under £800 (Cherry finish was more expensive than standard finishes) with the stands costing around £160 - in 1988. I do remember that I did not have much change from £1000...

Why am I selling these speakers and stands? - after many years of enjoying the Studio1's I recently upgraded to a pair of Proac D20R's which, being a reasonable size floorstanding speaker, do outperform the Studio1's - but at 4 times the cost (£3200) as the Wife insisted on the Rosewood finish.

I doubt that anyone who purchases these speakers will be disappointed with the sound they produce - as long as they do not expect earth-shattering bass from such small speakers.

Hi Pete, a mate of mine has asked me to ask you if you'll post these to Glasgow without the stands and how much?

Tony

[losepete]

Hi Tony

I currently have a potential purchaser who I expect to see Thursday afternoon.

If that does not work out I will get back to you but, Sorry, I really would not want to let the speakers go without the stands.

Reason: When originally purchasing these speakers I also spent a little time listening to the speakers on several different stands. These stands enabled the speakers to perform better than any of the other stands tried.

Courier to Glasgow could be expensive as the speakers (and stands) are fairly heavy - will have to try to weigh them and get a price from the courier.


Pete

[twotone]

Hi Tony

I currently have a potential purchaser who I expect to see Thursday afternoon.

If that does not work out I will get back to you but, Sorry, I really would not want to let the speakers go without the stands.

Reason: When originally purchasing these speakers I also spent a little time listening to the speakers on several different stands. These stands enabled the speakers to perform better than any of the other stands tried.

Courier to Glasgow could be expensive as the speakers (and stands) are fairly heavy - will have to try to weigh them and get a price from the courier.


Pete

Thanks Pete, I'll pass your comments on:thumbsup:

[losepete]

These speakers and stands now SOLD - to a trucker, Tibor, from Hungary who likes purchasing classic/vintage HiFi, especially speakers, during his visits to the UK. I also gave him the url of this forum :-)

Thanks to all for their interest.

[Idlewithnodrive]

Well done on the sale but a real shame they couldn't have stayed in the UK.

[losepete]

I agree - but it is much better to have them in use somewhere in the world rather than sitting in a corner of my dining room doing nothing but occupying space.

[Idlewithnodrive]

I agree - but it is much better to have them in use somewhere in the world rather than sitting in a corner of my dining room doing nothing but occupying space.

Can't disagree with that.