Just arrived. Rogers Studio 1s.

Updated: These are fantastic!

Looking very much like the Monitor 2s, but with a centered port, and a KEF T-27 as super tweeter instead of a Coles. On first listen, more open and natural sounding....very nice.

I didn't say much about the Monitor 2s, because at their price, I didn't have anything good to say. They were beaten hands down by the Mission 770 Freedoms Vs. These Studio 1s are a different story, so far. Here's a Gramophone Review.

COMING SOON: Pioneer HPM 100s.

Pioneer HPM-60 new photo.

Almost 4 years and untold numbers of speakers later, with better sources & amplification than last time,these are still sweet, musical, satisfying speakers.

Just arrived. Pioneer HPM-60s.

Since I started this blog, the most viewed post has been this one, from September 14, 2008 about my first pair of HPM-60s. It's been almost 4 years since I last heard a pair, and a lot of excellent speakers have come and gone since then. I'm excited to have them again, and to see how they sound to me now.

Makes Me Wanna Holler.

In the 70s, Sansui was the japanese distributor of JBL speakers, and made some very JBL like products (as opposed to the speakers with 16 inch woofers, every inch of the baffle filled with horns and cones). Think JBL L150, with JBL studio monitor quality cast horn tweeters.

Friday speaker update.

Last weekend I told you about 3 new pairs of speakers. These are my impressions so far.

The Mission 707s sound really good. As with many speakers from this manufacturer, the construction quality is very good (Mission invested profits aggressively into R&D, and state of the art woodworking machinery), the cabinets are light but rigid, and the thick, molded plastic front baffle is a cool looking and elegant design solution. For me, these provide about 87% of the enjoyment, performance and musicallity of Mission 770s (Mk 1 or 2). I could be happy with these for a long time.

The BOSE 800s are fun, especially for rock 'n' roll. They face the listener with 8 full range drivers for each channel, and generate a mighty wall of full range sound. They lack the spaciousness of 901s, which reflect all that output off the rear and side walls (and add one extra driver aiming forward for a small direct sound component). With a big amp, like a Bryston 4B (they can soak up gobs of power), they'd make a small PA from heaven for an old school DJ or band. The 800s aren't what's needed for home listening, but as I said at the top, lots of fun, especially when my upstairs neighbors are out!

I'm listening to Archie Shepp on the Celestion SL6s as I write this, and they're really, really nice. I don't have their full measure yet. I'm going to enjoy getting a better handle on their capabilities.

Vinyl.

Magic.

Just arrived. Three pairs of speakers.

Yesterday, when I wrote:
Lots of speaker madness coming soon, especially if you like Mission, I was expecting the ones I have, and another pair, that arrived with dead tweeters and went immediately back the way they came. I wasn't expecting the other new arrivals so soon, and I'm very excited.

I have a pair of Mission 707s, for the first time in 3 years. They're made in England, 2 way 8 inch systems. The new pair are black, were refoamed last year by Frank at The Speaker Shop, and sound great. This is one of my favorite Missions, and I'll have more to say soon.

I've wanted to a pair of Celestion SL-6s into my space for a very long time, and it's happened! This is an original pair, with copper tweeters and black stained veneer cabinets. The SL6 has drivers developed with Celestions laser-based vibration analysis measurement system, revolutionary when they were introduced in 1981. Here's a recent reassessment from HiFI News. I'm excited to check them out, and am expecting the Marantz 1152DC to drive them with authority.

I also have a pair of Bose 800s, pro speaker systems built into old school rock and roll tour roadcases. Remove the tops and you're faced with 8 of the same cloth surround 5 inch, full range drivers as in the 901s I had last year. In fact they look just like that, but there isn't a single driver on the other side. I know all 16 drivers are working, and expect they'll need an equalizer, or to have equalization applied. I have to solder some cables for them, because they only accept 1/4 inck mono jacks, but I think they're going to be fun.

Lots of speaker madness coming soon, especially if you like Mission.

Paul Rogers...

and half the hot guitar players in England.

Images propagate.

I have no idea, but I'd bet that the artist who created the amazing turntable piece that I posted last week either never saw, or can't remember ever seeing, the inside cover of Jethro Tulls 'Songs from The Wood' album from 1977.

On Thursday Seventies Stereo reached 500,000 hits.