Speaker types- your preference and your journey?

As the owner of a ’vintage’ (1960s - 1970s) system I have tried many from that era; including the more well-known such as JBL L-100s, Pioneer HM-100s, as well several from University, Altec, Dahlquist, Vandersteen and Bertaghni brands...

Ended up with a couple of surprise picks from, of all manufacturers, Sansui.

SP-5500 and SP-5000.  

The 5500s are the truest ’diamond in the rough’ and are both extremely rare and massively underappreciated. 110 pound monsters with a 15" woofer, 9.7 pound AlNiCo magnet and solid brass bobbin; a 17" aluminum tig-welded midrange horn, and a pair of JBL-sourced tweeters... the ’presence’ and detail of that midrange is something I have not yet heard on even modern high end speaker systems. Bass is more than adequate; strong down to 32 Hz -  yet subtle and not boomy at all. Upper end response is crisp and clear up to 22,000kHz... cabinets are true 1" MDF around a plywood frame, with real maple veneer outers and a hand- carved rosewood grille. Absolutely beautiful pieces of furniture.

The 5000s are a somewhat close second with many of the same features as the 5500s - although cabinets are 3/4" MDF vs. the full 1" on the 5500s; and the 5000s make due with midrange cones vs. that magnificent horn on the 5500s.

Absolutely flies in the face of the generalization that "...all Sansui speakers suck" and are tailored more for Japanese classical music  (or American jazz) than for other musical genres. 

My friends in the audio world that have experienced my system in person are at least somewhat impressed by things like the Dynaco tube preamp and the mono blocked pair of MacIntosh MC2100 SS amplifiers... They appreciate the pristine Reel to Reel equipment; the decent linear drive turntable, etc. but often look at the speakers with some disdain. Until they hear them, that is...

Then the questions fly:

"Where have you hidden the subwoofer(s)?" there are none

"How much EQ are you using?" none

"Are those the original drivers in those Sansui’s?" Yep, 100% original

Then they exchange that look of disdain for a look ranging from pleasant surprise to outright shock.

That’s when I know that I have made the right choice.

 

 

As a teen I bought one of those Sony receiver bundles with the 8-in sub and 5.1 surround. I love that little system so much I used to think why would anybody care to have anything bigger or more expensive. 

Then in my mid-20s I got into music production and bought some  Focal CMS65 monitors. These things absolutely blew me away. I never knew music playback could sound this good.  These were my reference for about 11 years during which I also got the focal CMS sub.

Then a few years back a local guy was selling Tekton Double impacts and let me demo them in my space.  At the time I was using emotiva's the T1s with basic cabling hooked up into a Onkyo receiver. As soon as I let the tektons rip I was incredibly impressed.  So much realism was pouring out of my system I kept listening for days to all kinds of music to see what these things could do.  

Then when it came to build my studio I chose tekton impact monitors with two rhythmik subs.  I've gone through about a dozen amplifiers and a ton of different cabling and power conditioning to see what provides the most realistic audio experience.  I am about plus or minus 3 DBS from 20 HZ to 20 kilohertz measured at my listening position.  If anyone's around Richmond VA and wants to hear a world-class system DM me!

I've heard magnapans and I've heard the Martin Logan motions and although I love their treble their mids have a lot to be desired compared to the tektons.  I may not buy another tecton speaker again after hearing some things about the owner but that's been my journey.  Very grateful

During my earliest days in gaining knowledge in producing an Audio System, I was a believer that Transducer used at either end of the audio chain were critical. Compromises at the Source, and compromises for the produced end sound were to be where a Analogue Sourced system was at high risk of failing.

Not many young men have disposable income to spend big on Cartridges and Speakers, so as a customer your hands are tied to complete a purchase on something quite desirable. 

Being Short in funds does not mean a shortness of experiences are being dictated, unless fares and entry fees are also not affordable. 

Across a few years a huge amount of experiences were had of systems assembled that did get my interest any others not thought of as being interesting.

The outcome being certain assemblies of Audio Devices that were to aspire to, proved themselves to be worth aspiring to, while other assemblies was not so up there, regarding impression being made.

The shock being systems unknown had the potential to captivate, compel an individual into just wanting more. 

A Google search may reveal the exact time my first compelling experience occurred. I took part at the London Heathrow - Ramadan Hotel Audio Show, in a Room exhibiting Tim De Paravicini designs, not sure if EAR existed back then. 

Pink Floyd 'Pulse' Master tapes in use, where ESL 57's were direct coupled to Valve Power Amp's. 

There have not been many exhibit rooms to cause my intention to have extensive experiences to cease, but this room did. 

After a few months of this experience I threw caution to the wind and bought 57's that were one year young after full Quad Service. 

Custom Design Commission Built Power Amp's were to follow, as Valve Power to drive the 57's.

Wind the clock forwards, 57's became Stacked 57's.

The Quads were for me such a attractive end sound experience. 

I even become friends with other 57 advocates and experienced them in other systems driven by a variety of Power Amp's both SS and Valve. One Stacked Array was built by a 57 guru, who was informing that all drivers were 0.5dB matched. 

Today I have local friends using Stacked Array and Single Array 57's. I can experience the end sound produced by them driven with a selection of Amp's regularly. 

Additionally, I am able to experience in use regularly Quad ESL's that were TOTL models prior to the 'X' range launch. 

In late 2025, Speakers were offered that I was extremely interested in, and I was extremely keen to learn more, which I did. 

Today the Quad 57's are in storage since early 2026. 

They are superseded in use by Towering Cabinet Speakers. 

Everything I have become to admire about 57's is easy to detect, plus much, much more. I am stupidly happy. 

What's more my Quad ESL owning friends are introduced and are so keen to encourage my hosting new get togethers.

Now and again, the saying " Need to Pinch Myself" really does have meaning. 

 

 

 

 

I haven't switched speakers that many times.  But I have learned that I have a strong preference for "cabinet-less" loudspeakers.  My first real speaker purchase was a pair of Vandersteen 1Cs, in which there is little in the way of a baffle.  I now run Ohm Walsh 2000s, in which the drivers sit proud of the cabinets, so no baffle at all.  Now, whenever I hear a "monkey coffin" speaker, I can usually hear box resonance.  There are exceptions, but those are very well designed, and expensive, loudspeakers, like Magico or YG Acoustics designs.

My present speakers are the Clarisys Minutes, they are Planar speakers. I don't think I could ever go back to box speakers of any kind.

ozzy