A special pair of Missions.

I was given a set of Mission 710s in rough cosmetic condition. They have the fantastic Seas tweeters that I've enjoyed in other Missions, as well as Meraks, and the Boston A200s. The 8 inch woofers had been replaced with car stereo junk.

I happened to have a pair of woofers salvaged from a pair of 770 Freedom Fives, and as an experiment, installed them. I was apprehensive about how the 710 crossover would integrate the new woofer into the midrange, and curious about the bass, because unlike most Missions I've known, these are sealed enclosures.

Well, they sound great. I was listening critically for midrange roughness and boomy bass, but after a few minutes I was just enjoying the music, which tells me all I need to know.

So there is a unique opportunity here...I'd say these are three quarters of the 770 experience for two thirds of the cost.

The cabinets have been beautifully restored (they were VERY scratched up). Mission matches veneer grains all the way around each cabinet, and the result is striking.

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Midweek Update

The Infinity RS4000s left for provo, Utah today as planned. I can't wrap my head around paying more to ship a pair of speakers than they cost, but clearly some people can.

Using a Dremel tool for my first time, I was able to cut a new slot into the stripped faceplate screw on the Marantz 26 receiver, and remove it. I have cleaned it inside and out (the volume had been especially scratchy), and it may be the best sounding Marantz I've heard. It's definitely the cutest I've seen, and it sounds like way more than 14 watts per channel! I'll post pictures as soon as my camera batteries recharge.
Here we are:






I have a Lenco L62 turntable in house that I will tell you about as soon as I get a tracking force gauge and get it set up properly. It's a beautiful looking, well made swiss machine.

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Recommended site

I first saw hificollector a few weeks ago, and am impressed with the site, and jealous of Tom and his amazing finds. Do check it out, it's impressive.

Friday update (early)

I'm leaving town for the weekend, and may not have an opportunity to post, so I want to catch up.

The Marantz 2285B left Thursday afternoon for a very good home. The guy who bought it really knows his stuff. He changed the bulbs, set all specs to their factory settings, cleaned it inside and out. He tells me he spent four hours, and it looks like more! It absolutely gleams now.

I have a beautiful Harman/Kardon 430 twin powered receiver that sounds and looks gorgeous, nicer than the one in the picture. What the the photo doesn't show is how cool it looks when it's on, and the tuning dial glows behind the shiny smoked fascia. As I said about the HK-340 I had last August: if Mies Van Der Rohe designed receivers, they would look like this!

I have a Pioneer SX-3600 30 watt/channel receiver with the cool fluoroscan meters. It sound s great too.

The other Altec speakers I mentioned the day I told you about the Marantz 26 are 893A Coronas from 1971. Here are the picture (on the right) & specs from the '71 catalogue. They were in rough cosmetic shape, but are going to be beautiful. They sound MUCH better than the Altec Ones from 2 years later, and are impressing me with their effortless musicality. They will be ready to see and hear early next week.

I had no interest in the Infinity RS4000s here, so they are going to Provo, Utah to become part of an all Infinity, all EMIT tweeter home theatre system. I know I said I wouldn't ship again after the Mach One fiasco, but I will use a different carrier and assure myself that they are properly packed.

Have a great weekend enjoying music.

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Just arrived: Marantz Model Twenty Six

14 gorgeous watts per channel, almost 40 years old. WOW! this is amazing! It's in very good condition, one screw (out of 2 on the faceplate) is bad (turned to mush in one try with the correct screwdriver) and will have to be tapped out so I can clean the faceplate and pots. It sounds really good, driving the Corals, the Mirage 650s and a new (old) pair of Altecs from 1971, that I'll tell you about tomorrow.

Also arrived today: a beautiful and great sounding Pioneer SX-737. Pictures and discussion to follow.

I promised a design analysis of the Marantz 2285B and it is coming

Wharefedale Laser 90Bs

Nice sounding 2 way 8 inch acoustic suspension system.

KLH Model 32s

UPDATE: the KLH 32s are very nice. Very funky/primitive/organic looking cloth surround woofers that really kick in this well designed acoustic suspension (i.e. sealed box) cabinet. The tweeter is covered by what looks a pink round facial scrub pad, held in place by a circle of metal screen, but is impressing me. I'm listening to The British Blues part of the excellent Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues documentary soundtrack (Tom Jones & Lulu are incredible here, as is Jeff Beck), and these little speakers are really working. Those of you who recently admired the Wharfedale Super Linton W30Ds will love these. Update: they are sold.

The Mirage 650s are wonderful.

These sound as great as I thought they could, and are very close to the 750s in most areas. They are a real taste of the late seventies high end.

(ONLY) 2 new pairs of speakers today!

I just brought home a pair of Mirage 650 floorstanders (2 way 10 inch with 10 inch passive radiators). I loved the 750s and expect great sound from these after I build new passive radiators.

I also have a cute pair of KLH 32s, like miniature 17s with 8 inch woofers. The cabinets need sanding, but these will be beautiful when I am finished with them! I will listen and report later.

UPDATE: the KLH 32s are very nice. Very funky/primitive/organic looking cloth surround woofers that really kick in this well designed acoustic suspension (i.e. sealed box) cabinet. The tweeter is covered by what looks a pink round facial scrub pad, held in place by a circle of metal screen, but is impressing me. I'm listening to The British Blues part of the excellent Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues documentary soundtrack (Tom Jones & Lulu are incredible here, as is Jeff Beck), and these little speakers are really working. Those of you who recently admired the Wharfedale Super Linton W30Ds will love these.

UPDATE 2:
I'm working on the Mirages now. The woofers are excellent quality rubber surround units, the cabinet bracing is extensive, and the tweeters are in excellent shape and are the same as the ones on the 750s that I liked so much. Great promise here!

Just arrived: Marantz 2285B!

Update: The look is really starting to grow on me...in depth design analysis tomorrow.

In the realm of collectible Marantz pieces, the silver face (as opposed to black) models aren't as prized. This machine rocks, though! It sounds like way more than 100 watts per channel, with the warmth and clarity one expects from Marantz. I have cleaned all the pots switches and detailed it, and it is beautiful. I will post pictures as soon as my camera batteries are recharged. In the meantime, click here for pictures and specs.

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PENTRON Vs

Update; Tonight I showed these to a guy who freaked when he saw them. He bought a pair from Brack's in 1969 (with a Kenwood receiver) and owned them until recently. He was amazed at the shape this pair is in.

I think it's fascinating that someone wanted to make a speaker that looked like a BOSE 901. It is still an iconic visual, industrial design and aural landmark, albeit a very controversial one. It's detractors say that it intentionally produces distortions that are very pleasing, and make some people very happy. I don't know any supporters.




Made for Richard Brack Stereo, an excellent Toronto store, in the Colonnade on Bloor Street when it was a very trendy landmark building in the city. It is a striking piece of architecture.



The tweeters, I can't tell you much about, except that they sound surprisingly good, and there are four. I'm Listening to Duke Ellington & John Coltrane, and it sounds amazing (I'm using the Marantz 2230 from the sink)

I'm told that these are Alnico tweeters, which I take to mean they use Alnico magnets. Whatever, they sound great, and based on the one I took out, are in great condition. This kind of non removable front baffle protects drivers well.

The cabinets are full of 4 thick layers of acoustic foam. The craftsmanship is excellent. These would have been made in very small quantities.

The ten inch woofers are very heavy and well made...they look a lot like Altecs, but I'm sure they aren't. The surrounds are rubber and look great.

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THESE ARE NOT WHAT THEY APPEAR TO BE.

Not at all. These are rare, locally made and sound fabulous! I will tell more soon. These are very cool. No equalizer needed.
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The Technics SB-2200s are way better than expected!

And they are sold.