How do Dahlquist DQ10 stack up against current speakers?
I ran across a reference to the DQ10s that made me reminisce and think. These were the speakers I drooled over in the 70s/80s. But never had the money or a large enough room in my younger years to purchase a pair.
it did make me wonder how their sound held up over time. Compared to current floor standing models in their price range (let’s say under 5k - but this is just a guess) how do they stack up? Are they still pretty darn good, or has nostalgia colored my thinking? “Great condition” used pairs are available for under 2k these days.
Has anyone listened to a pair of these recently and can comment? Prefer first hand experience.
thanks, Bill
@jallan +1 Not a fair fight as driver research and improvements march on. I've four pairs of ATC, active and passive, so understand the house sound. Spent plenty of time with the DQ 10s and it was for its time something. Just not now. Definitely a decent wall of sound. Any upgrades will bring them forward, never reaching the destination. Five drivers are difficult to bring together into a cohesive sound field. Can be done, just not with that design from that era. |
Some great information here, I know that companies exist that can help Jon Dahlquist’s design sound at its best. I made improvements in the crossover and know that individual speakers can be upgraded successfully. A very important milestone in my development as an audiophile was the day in late December 1974, at the Dahlquist booth at a now defunct Washington DC hifi show, I met Jon Dahlquist, Saul Marantz, and James Bongiorno (whose new Ampzilla was driving the DQ10’s). All were very kind to me in an extensive conversation. I was recognized by them in future hifi shows as well. I subsequently replaced my Advents/Sansui receiver with a Marantz7c, Ampzilla, and Dq10’s while still a student! |
The shop I worked for had a Soundcraftsmen 2217 pre, and an Ampzilla driving DQ10s as our “audiophile” system in 1975. It was sounding pretty good, but a friend had a pair set up in his apartment, elevated to ear level, driven by a Son of Ampzilla and an early C-J (?) preamp that was a stunningly transparent reproducer. I’m sure the piezo tweeter was a flaw, but that wasn’t apparent. |
Funny the timing of my post. I could not afford them, and had too small a listening room when I was younger. So I went with Roger’s LS3/5a, (and never regretted them). Years passed and then I had a good sized listening room owned Maggie’s, but could have purchased a pair of DQ10s just to play with. But last year we moved into a condo. And I am back to a small room and monitors….. timing is everything |
