quote:

Originally posted by Beanhead:
Klipsch were a great brand nut as other indicated, they went mainstream and quality suffered, I’d look at Facebook marketplace or listing for Paradigm. My brother has B&W and he raves about those.

I purchased a pair of Klipsch KG-4's back in '86, and at that time, Klipsch wasn't putting out anything but the good stuff, as far as I was concerned. Some time later, they went "mainstream" and started putting out a lower line of products made overseas. However, hey still make the 'good stuff" they refer to as their "Heritage Premium Audio" line.

Yes, there are B&W, Harbeth, Triangle, Paradigm, etc, etc, etc, but Klipsh's consumer products are moe than enough for average listening and critical listening with a good system.

Don'e get me wrong, I'm not a Klipsch fanboy like it sounds. I'm just pointing out a company I have the most experience with and am a happy customer of.

Over the last couple of years I have bought several old school Wharfedales. They have all required minor repairs with replacing the capacitors in the crossovers. These speakers are all 1960s era and in my opinion sound way better than my old Klipsch. I found them in Craigslist which is where you can also find the old school speakers you are looking for. If you want to buy some older speaker just bring your reciever and cd player and listen to them before you buy them. I am sure you can get a great deal on them and save $100s. If they need work most stuff is easy to do yourself. I have restored several speakers over the years, and can help you put with advice on how to fix them up if you go that route.

Well, I got you beat there. I put my system together in 1978. I went to several different speaker stores that had all their speakers in a special room and I’d take music I was familiar with and chose a pair of LBJ speakers. They gave up the ghost years ago. I used some cheap speakers I inherited from my parents that also gave up the ghost years ago. I almost never listen to music these days, but did want to hook up my TV to my stereo, so I just looked around online and bought a pair of “bookshelf” speakers by JBL cause I liked my old JBL’s. (I still don’t know why they are called “bookshelf” speakers. They are too big to fit on any bookshelf I own). I While leaps and bounds better than the TV speakers, they leave a lot to be desired. I’d love to have some quality speakers again, but I don’t want to buy anything I can’t listen to first. Years ago I ran across a site that would rebuild my old JBL speakers to original specs. Maybe I can find it again. Anyway, top of the line JBL speakers are probably worth looking at.

Don’t know if you are a fan of auctions or if you need it “now!”, but last year I got a good deal at such a sale.

Home sale (including the house). Elderly parents moving south. Selling everything they didn’t want to take. Apparently down sizing.

Package deal - pair of Polk (12? Something?) speakers, NAD amp, Pioneer CD player and tape cassette deck. $ 100.

I tend to like music wherever I work, so these are in my pole barn/garage. They sound GREAT.

Never knew about Polk, but the old ones are really good. These tower speakers are about 3’ high. Good size, great sound.

I have the PSB Alpha P5 bookshelf speakers hooked up to a small Polk powered subwoofer and a NAD D3045 integrated amp....sounds great in my office which is roughly 12x20. I looked at/listened to tons of speakers in the process...too many LOL.


https://www.psbspeakers.com/pr...5-bookshelf-speaker/

Look at the Paradigm Monitor series. Wonderful speakers for the price(s).


Rick

Here is a site that can help you out. Your Kenwood is reviewed and other things as well.

https://www.vintage-speaker-re...receiver-review.html

Definitive Technology makes some great speakers. They offer everything from bookshelf to tower to full home theater setups.

I have a home theater setup using their speakers, on stereo using just the left / right towers with integrated subwoofers, the sound is exceptional.

Audio Asylum is a great resource. I've been a member there for over 20 years. You can do a search in the speakers page or the vintage page. I would def buy used and if needed you can re-foam the woofers or even have the crossovers re-capped.

https://www.audioasylum.com/

How much are you planning on spending? You can spend hundreds to literally 100's of thousands for a pair of speakers. I'm going to assume you want to spend less than 750.00 per pair.
As mentioned by multiple people Klipsch R series are very popular and reasonably priced. RP-600M bookshelf speakers about 475-500/pr. Klipsch is an American company that has been making speakers since 1946. But as for most less expensive stuff they are made in China.
Other highly regarded speakers- bookshelf unless otherwise specified

PSB Alpha P5, about 350-400/pr
Q Acoustics 3030i 399/pr (bookshelf), 3050 685/pr (tower speakers)
Pioneer SP-BS22-LR 179/pr
Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 350/pr (on sale, 280/pr) Elac makes many other models less than 750/pr.
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ 229/pr, Airmotiv T1+ 700/pr (tower speakers)
Tekton Mini Lore 575/pr (on sale) (100% made in USA)
JBL Stage A170 300/pr
Kef Q350 700/pr
Magnepan LRS 700/pr (tower speakers But very picky about amplifier specification, true audiophile speakers but need high quality amplifier able to drive low impedance speakers, might not work with your receiver) 100% made in USA
All of these have been well reviewed but are going to sound differently from one another and will sound different in your home than in an audio showroom.

I'm with JonW123 when he mentions Andrew Jones designed Elac bookshelf speakers.

Helped a good friend set up a stereo system recently and included these among my recommendations for him to check out. He ended up buying Elacs and continues to praise how good the sound is.



FWIW here I run modified and subwoofer augmented bi-amped Magneplanar MGIIIa speakers in our livingroom stereo system.
The 7+2 home theater system utilizes Definitive Technology BP8B mains, Definitive Technology C/L/R2002 center plus four Energy C-50 as side and rear surrounds and a dual powered subs (both Hsu designed) set up with an Outlaw Audio LFM-1EX corner loaded and an Outlaw Audio LFM-1c in nearfield position.
Master bedroom has a pair of Ed Frias designed DIY Peerless 2-way monitor speakers.

What is your budget? There are good speakers in the $250-each range, $500-each range, etc.
As mentioned above, Klipsch often uses a horn tweeter, which gives a "cupped hands around your mouth" type sound.

Lots of good recommendations on here. I would add NHT to the list of affordable yet high quality. Of those mentioned already, I like Paradigm, Definitive Tech, PSB, and Magnepan. I would add Goldenear to those I would audition.

And to me, that is critical. Listen to any that you intend to buy first.

I had intended to look around and buy something brand new. That didn't happen.

A few days ago I learned of a local store that recently opened up, I was told just before the covid crap hit. It's been a bit of a struggle for them. I hope they make it.

It's owned by a local guy who has a small business in another field who apparently has a huge amount of vintage stereo equipment and other stuff. I'm told he has a 2 story home with 4 bedrooms and it is crammed full of equipment. Closets, drawers, bathrooms, every room, garage, everywhere. There's a lot of other stuff too. Apparently he is/was some sort of collector of good stuff.

I checked it out a day ago and went back in today. We talked about what I wanted, super nice folks.

They kept dragging out a lot of pairs of speakers to let me listen. I listened to a lot, and honestly I had a difficult time deciding which ones to get. They had quite a few that were, in my opinion, really good sounding, all kinds of brand names.

I finally decided on a pair. Of all things, they're Kenwoods. They look nice too.

I spent quite a bit of time, and I'll say again this guy has a lot of famous name brand quality stuff.

I'm embarrassed to say how little I paid, but I will say that after a little while of looking at this inventory, I made the observation that this guy has some really good used vintage equipment.

Then I made the decision to buy from and support a local businessman instead of my money going to some conglomerate based in who knows where. It felt good to support local folks.

I'm happy. They sound great.

I'll be back in a few days. His prices are just amazing. I'm thinking vintage turntable to pair with it.


Guy even has a vintage Macintosh (spelling?) up and running that's just amazing. The price was not in my budget.

I don't need it, but I'm lusting about a 1968 Sansui 5000A that sounds great. It's supposedly made in 1968. It has a few issues, probably old dying capacitors. Caps don't last forever, they start gradually deteriorating right after manufacturing. I don't really need it, but if the price gets right I'd take a crack at it. I have a little electronics background and tinker, but I'm no expert. You'd be surprised what re-capping stereo receivers, along with a can of Caig Deoxit, will do. Price has to get a little lower for me to mess with it. But I am tempted. It plays, sounds good, just needs a little work. I don't go any farther into repairs than what I mentioned, anything more and it goes off to a real repair guy, lol.

Well I'm rambling again, sorry about that. I need to learn to be briefer, lol. Thanks!

quote:

Originally posted by OKCGene:
I finally decided on a pair. Of all things, they're Kenwoods. They look nice too.

Great that you decided to support a local business. And yes indeed some vintage equipment can be absolutely fantastic. I'm assuming the Kenwoods are of the very large bookshelf design and all the drivers were in great shape.

When you can please share a picture!

I remember hearing the big Kenwood, Yamaha, Pioneer, Sansui, and Technics speakers back in the day at the big audio section of the military exchange in Yokosuka, Japan. :thumbsup:


About a decade later than that Sansui receiver you mentioned were the outstanding Sansui high end separates:
TU-X1 tuner
CA-3000 preamp
BA-5000 power amp

Back in the mid-late '60s, if memory serves, I was running a pair of KLH 6 speakers.

If you’re considering a bookshelf type speaker with front firing port, consider the Elac.

Klipsch is based on the north side of Indianapolis. They moved all production to China a while ago.

I like Paradigm. The Reference series V1 and V2 were fantastic sounding at a very good price. They have moved upmarket quite a bit over the years though. Their lower priced lines are still great. Made in Canada.

quote:

Originally posted by OKCGene:
They kept dragging out a lot of pairs of speakers to let me listen. I listened to a lot, and honestly I had a difficult time deciding which ones to get. They had quite a few that were, in my opinion, really good sounding, all kinds of brand names.

Glad you found a place like that to do your shopping/listening. Speaker-shopping is fun, in the right kind of store!

quote:

Originally posted by Lefty Sig:
Klipsch is based on the north side of Indianapolis. They moved all production to China a while ago.

I like Paradigm. The Reference series V1 and V2 were fantastic sounding at a very good price. They have moved upmarket quite a bit over the years though. Their lower priced lines are still great. Made in Canada.

The Heritage line of speakers like the Cornwalls, Klipshorn, Heresey, etc are still made in Hope, Arkansas. I wouldn't doubt all of their other stuff is made over there in China.

OP, good for you. I hope you have many years of beautifully sounding music.

Magnepan LRS 700/pr (tower speakers But very picky about amplifier specification, true audiophile speakers but need high quality amplifier able to drive low impedance speakers, might not work with your receiver) 100% made in USA

The LRS at $700 per pair are truly unbelievable!!
Add a sub-woofer and they compare favorably with speakers costing over $50,000 per pair! As said originally, they require excellent amplifier power to play their best.

quote:

I finally decided on a pair. Of all things, they're Kenwoods .

They look nice too.I spent quite a bit of time, and I'll say again this guy has a lot of famous name brand quality stuff.
I'm embarrassed to say how little I paid, but I will say that after a little while of looking at this inventory, I made the observation that this guy has some really good used vintage equipment.
Then I made the decision to buy from and support a local businessman instead of my money going to some conglomerate based in who knows where.
It felt good to support local folks.

I'm happy. They sound great.

I'll be back in a few days.
His prices are just amazing.
I'm thinking vintage turntable to pair with it.

^^^ That's all that counts, congrats ^^^

Kenwood wouldn't be my first choice but sound is individual and get what you like.
Just note the more you listen the more your ear is trained and your tastes may change with it.
A good thing.

Looking over your specs on your Kenwood (receiver) ~ I think you could do better.
Not old school much ~ in that era where surround sound was emerging.

Turntables, however have more technology that one needs to pay attention to.
Specifically, the tonearm and cartridge combo.
Technics ~ a very popular and well made turntable was more durable that anything.
More of a disco TT.
The "S" tonearm is inferior to the straight dynamically balanced TT's like DUAL, etc.
You also want to match the cartridge to the tone arm and the cheap ones don't do you any favor.
Don't skimp on the cartridge ~ maybe buy a new one for whatever TT you decide.
Lightweight straight dynamically balanced tonearms need a high compliant cartridge.
"S" static balanced tonearms are less so.
Also Elliptical stylus and no conical stylus ~ better sound and better record wear.
The cartridge is the second most component of old school audio and speakers are the first.

No doubt if you find someone with vintage equipment you could find some great deals on some gems.