I'd been looking for a pair of these for AGES, but as they're pretty rare (plenty of later versions around in various condition, including the XRs I've currently got), so not had much opportunity to pull the trigger on an original pair with the 'picture frame' grilles... Then these popped up today on ebay, at a very good price and in rather nice condition:













Details here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Early-Pic...72.m2749.l2649

There's a little bit of the veneer missing on one of them and a few scuffs here and there (as shown in the pics), which I'll be getting a cabinet maker to fix and also fully restore the wood on both, so they should look superb! And for £89.00 I can hardly complain. They'll be going in the lounge in the downstairs system, *if* they manage to usurp the modified XRs!

It'll certainly be interesting comparing them, as they use totally different drivers... The earliest versions like these were much better quality. Full report to follow when they arrive, hopefully before the weekend!

Marco.