Speaker recommendation please.

[ralphd]

Hi,

I am new to this forum and need some help. I am looking to buy a vintage speaker to use on my mono tube system. I will be playing 78 rpm records from the 1920's-50's mostly blues and jazz. The equipment I will use will probably be a Mcintosh c20 mono amp and a 240 amp. I was thing of just getting one speaker being that everything I am playing on this system in mono. Any speaker opinions will help.

Thanks
Ralph

[Chas]

A single Altec 601, 604 or 605 series might be nice. Or maybe a 755?

[ralphd]

Hi,

Other than looking on Ebay, Craigslist or Audiogon, can you recommend someone I can get speakers from? I want a speaker that is in great shape and does need any work or replaced parts as I can not do the work. I am located in NJ. Is there anyone in my tri-state area?? HELP!
Thanks
Ralph

[hmolwitz]

I could rapidly assemble an Altec 601c in a vintage cabinet if that is what you want.
The 601 would be a fresh GPA recone, and as such might be pricier than elsewhere, as he charges $120 or so for a recone..
There are tons of interesting speakers out there, but the 601 is a nice speaker.
Harry

[rs237]

78 eq curves might require a special preamp (multiple EQ settings) for
best listening, but you likely know more about that than I do. Hope you
find some help to make those 78's come alive.



Yes because I can only agree. You should also a turntable with variable speed and a real mono cartridge system with proper diamond.

If you have the space would be the JBL Hartsfield is a good choice.

regards
juergen

[ralphd]

I have the right turntable and cartridges and am familiar with all the EQ curves. I want to get one great speaker that would really make my BLues and Jazz 78's sound the best they can.

Ralph

[speakerdave]

I have a McIntosh C20, and it's a stereo preamp; the 240 is a stereo power amp.

There are some nice mono pre and power amps out there by Fisher and McIntosh. Even the Marantz Consolette appears every once in awhile. How about a restored Fisher or Radiocraftsmen preamp/tuner?

A speaker from the mono era would be the way to go. To me a single Tannoy is more palpably realistic than a single 604. The silver and black Tannoys are often sold single. A single Altec 820 type corner enclosure would be good as well. If you make your own, a cabinet similar to that with a Smith horn for treble plus a supertweeter would give you a nice spread of the sound.

The original Lowther TP-1 would be outstanding.

David

[Hoerninger]

As mentioned before the cartridge should be mono (or the two coils in series).

There can be used any quality speaker. For older blues and jazz I would look for a high efficient speaker system maybe a horn system, so why no Altec.
Yes, the Hartsfield would be my first choice. (A Paragon would be nice too, sorry you set no limitations :D .)
____________
Peter

[scott fitlin]

The NEW Klipsch La Scalas are also worth lookin into. VERY EFFICIENT, highly dynamic, works on a few watts, like 5 watts and plays very realistic levels. I find them quite suitable for jazz, and music of that era, and being new, the drivers are new, the cabinets tuned for the drivers, etc! IT WORKS.

OTOH, restoration projects like Altec 604,s or JBL,s vintage horn designs can be very rewarding, but require effort to source components, and cabinet restoration.

[UreiCollector]

If i may suggest....

With 78 rpm recordings, I recall excessive groove noise, and limited frequency response. It may be far more enjoyable to use a smaller, single full range driver. I wouldn't hesitate to use something that falls off above 7kc or perhaps much less, just to combat some of that groove noise. Just my opinion.

Best of luck, and I hope you find something that makes your ears happy.

[Steve Schell]

Hi Ralph,

I have always wanted to do something like this myself. Many 78s have wide dynamic range, having large groove area and high velocity. I would want to use a fully horn loaded system to reproduce this well, perhaps a Klipschorn bottom with 300Hz. theatre multicellular horn and compression driver on top.

[rs237]

hi steve,

i agree with you, but is the Hartsfield not the better Corner(Klipsch)horn ?:D

regards
juergen

[ralphd]

Does anyone have a Hartsfield for sale or know someone that deals in vintage speakers? I was also suggested an Altec VOTT speaker, would this e as good?
Ralph

[rs237]

hi
I believe member Woody Banks has Hardfields to sell.

http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=19317

regards
juergen

[Zilch]

I was also suggested an Altec VOTT speaker, would this be as good?
http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=10471#post10471

[ralphd]

What would the main differences be between a Hartsfield and a VOTT Speaker?

[johnaec]

Well, this isn't a BIG speaker like the others you're contemplating, and certainly not vintage, but for a single ,very high-fidelity speaker to get you by in the meantime, this lone 4410A would sound great for now, and low cost: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=180203485240&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=008

John

[Steve Schell]

Ralph, if you could make a run up to Stowe, VT for pickup the speaker referred to in this post by louped garouv might meet your needs very well:

http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=19669