A Cosy chat about #1 - Speakers. Some favourites from the past

[@danielbrown2715]

Love this idea, refreshing to just chat about the golden era than just latest reviews, Mordant short ms10's got me into hifi! I was a 12 year old boy and walked into this hifi shop which I found fascinating asked the salesman if I could listen to there cheapest speakers and 10 mins later I was in there demo room listening to Brothers in arms cd (it was 1985 and it was riding high in the charts) via a marantz cd65mk2 se and a mission Cyprus 2 amp and i was completely blown away amazing, ms15 were even better £89/110 . On the subject of budget speakers I'd have to add my first speaker the Celestion 3 mk1 which was a truly phenomenal little speaker lovely metal tweeter from the company that first used metal tweeters, also, going back to about 1983 I'd say the kef coda 3 deserves a special place in history truly captivating sound and even the bare bones wharafdale delta 30 which showed what great engineering could achieve for just 80quid, look forward to more of these great chats.

[@andrewpodmore2440]

My first speaker purchase was also the celestion 3. 1989 from a local hifi shop, Made in Ipswich ! Titanium tweeter. Delightful

[@stevethesweep6962]

I am still using my HB 2 speakers along with my Dunlop Systemdek and my newly required Rega Elex mk4 amp. Still sounds great to my ears. In fact I have recently took my HB 2’s into a high end Hi fi establishment and did an a,b test with a pair of PMC Twenty5 21i and the owner of the shop ended up telling me to save my money and keep the HB 2’S until they die.

[@timbre7999]

Another phenomenal mini-mini monitor was the Monitor Audio Monitor One; well driven, they could make you forget about upgrading speakers beyond them altogether.

[@mickgrundy4615]

Love the cozy chat video, keep them coming. Rave on,

[@pixelpidgeon4450]

Brilliant. Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge.

[@Flatearther620]

Great video Phil, always enjoy everything you do. I’m running Linn Kan MK1 but with re capped crossover’s and new Scanspeak tweeters. I have them on the MK2 stands in a very small listening room with a Linn Sondek and Naim Olive pre and power amps. I love them, have tried a few modern small stand mounts but they just didn’t do it for me. In my small room I get very transparent sound, great detail, speed and openness. A very dynamic little speaker that defies its tiny size. Perfect for my small room as they go hard up against the wall. I agree that they are difficult to set up, I spent literally months fine tuning them to my room and getting very frustrated. I now have them dialled in to my satisfaction. A very marmite speaker indeed, loved and hated in equal measure.

[@MikeK6046]

I really like your open/ pragmatic approach regarding various Speakers, well done!!!!. IMO (just flapping my lips) at 72 years old, I've learned that there's really no one "perfect" Speaker, and what may sound good in the showroom/ or from a reviewer, may not be so when you get it set up at home (I've been down that road). As for "Speaker Reviewers" in general, I feel some need to also discuss how hard/ easy a Speaker is to place/ position, how is it off-axis performance, does it sound good at low listening levels, or only higher levels, which I feel would help a lot for people deciding on what to get

[@petertate8366]

Really enjoyed this Phil, great relaxed knowledgeable natter. Loved your take on the older model speakers.Looking forward to the amps and turntables.Well done mate.

[@papabear1417]

Fabulous, fascinating, entertaining.

[@MartinLloyd-w1u]

Just upgraded to AE 509s they compliment my Aethos fantastically

[@Chimpsfingers]

How are you getting on with them?

[@MartinLloyd-w1u]

@@Chimpsfingers they’re excellent I’m delighted

[@markorchard2272]

I love your demeanour Phil. My first speakers were MS35Tis. Great..... progressed to Mission 753s (bi-amped with 8000Ms).... but gone back (due to space) to DALI. Superb!

[@ac81017]

My first vintage speaker were Tandberg studio monitors, and then i went on to Bose 901 series 5, Mission 753 and then I found the world of highend. I've had Infinity IRS Beta, Tannoy FSM and Apogee grand studio's just to name a few. I really enjoyed your cosy chat, brought back a few memories. Well done Phil 🙂

[@jupitermoongauge4055]

I'm pretty new to this and I'm finding it hard to believe how anything could sound better than the Mission 753's I picked up very cheep. So it's interesting to me how you upgraded from them.

[@CheekyFest]

I've got some Focal Aria 926s from 2014 (with a naim amp & CD player + rega turntable)

[@vinylrulesok8470]

Your channel and Steve Guttenburgs are the only 2 hifi channels i regularly watch 😊 great video. And you're spot on about the Townshend Podiums

[@elkartian]

My first speakers were Wharfedale Glendale's,then Rogers studio one's, then KEF 104 2's , I'm now settled with Ruark Accolades .in my kitchen I have Wharfedale Active Diamonds and in my bedroom system I have Mission 772's

[@slowpawstevet3676]

i am still using my HB2s, great speakers. Back in 1981 the word was they were only good for Jazz and acoustic music and not for Rock - nonsense they sounded great on everything for me. Lucky for you your shop isn't near me, i would be coming in and pestering you for demos every week!

[@keithneal5369]

Listening to you speaking about great loudspeakers from the past just reminds me of all the great speaker manufacturers that no longer exist eg Castle acoustics, narberth, celestion who still make pa loudspeakers, Gale and many others, too many to mention. Looking forward to your next video. Have a great holiday.

[@rooie16]

My Hi-Fi journey started in 1984 with Heybrook HB1's, nothing seemed to come close back then.

[@boydsargeant7496]

Thanks Phil, very interesting, but a bit mind boggling. I’ve had loads of different cable over the years just because my rooms have got bigger. Means I’ve got boxes full! Yes after about 20-15 years the ends to oxidize, I just cut a bit off till clean again as you said!

[@twochaudiomg2578]

Funny lots of speaker wire over the years. So you cut the ends of because of oxidation. Something just seems wrong in your note lots of different zip wire ? How do you buy a cardas cable and cut the ends of Good luck with that method my Polish friend

[@tonystevenson6068]

Hi enjoyed the video very interesting I don’t think you mentioned the Tannoy range seem to have a good range in the 80s-90s thanks again Tony

[@mikemcguinness1304]

Thank you Phillip, that was the best video in a long time . Please do more . I loved j m lab too . I remember the grande utopia at the accoustica show 25 years ago. Also liked the naim nbl . Jpw were great little speakers in the late 80s

[@mikemcguinness1304]

@AlexAlex-lo7sx yes they were the ones I was thinking about .. wow memories. The 80s were the golden era of British audio

[@timothyfreeseha4056]

I like and find compelling the idea that we hear the same but have different listening priorities. For myself, I remember that my Grandfather was in the habit of turning off his hearing aides when in the presence of my Grandmother. I do think- generally, that some ears will capture sound at certain frequencies over other frequencies, which is not a bad thing to know about yourself when vetting products for your stereo.

[@zukispur5493]

In a attic flat I was living in once I ran 4 linn index speakers driven by the wonderful nad 3020 amplifier. Beautiful beautiful sound

[@TonyCottrell-iv2qv]

I had (long ago!) a pair of Heybrook HB3s. For stand mounters they were enormous by most modern standards. I always found that they were the sort of speaker that made me listen for differences in the rest of the system, not to the music . Replaced by a pair of LS3/5As which were 20% the size, 500% the music.

[@tonyjedioftheforest1364]

Great video, I love this kind of thing. I have had many speakers over the last 50 years, one that I wish that I had kept would be the Mission 700 which were very exciting but could give you listener fatigue. One that I have kept and still use today are the Gale Gold Monitors and suit my room very well.

[@markkinsman5013]

Phil, the Magnepan LRS+ would be worth looking into as one to carry. Absolutely amazing even in smaller rooms.😊

[@garywilson6146]

Still own a pair of Mission 751 paired with an Arcam FMJ A32. Had the crossovers rebuilt a few years back. Sound out of that combo still surprises me.

[@remiwjuniski1808]

Focal aria 906 is a gem and a fantastic value in Europe, price go down to 600€ /pair a lot of time. Midrange is amazing, bass is tight but not overwhelming and high not fatiguing. After hearing B&W706 I found the Focal much more refined and a better value for Money. And they pair great with Rega amplifier ;)

[@mostirreverent]

I’m really enjoying the Cozy chat series clips. The thing about speakers, at least a basic acoustic suspension models (no things like crazy beryllium super tweeters) is I’m never sure why something like a Harpeth would be better than say an ADS L880 or KLH. It’s funny too, you can listen to an inexpensive speaker, and it sounds really nice, and you only realize how poor it is when you listen to something really good

[@chuckmaddison2924]

I've always had a liking for the Electrovoice Eliminator 1B. They can really make you feel the band is in the room.

[@jameshutton5979]

B&W DS1, KEF Coda 2, JPW Sonata, Mission 760/780, Monitor Audio R100, tons more. All very capable speakers that have no foam rot to worry about and all commonly on eBay in 2024 for under £40!

[@garyb2507]

As far as magazine reviews go, I always trusted Alvin Gold's opinion.

[@russellparker4568]

I own the Abbots and Minstrels. Ive owned 16 different sets of speakers in 3 years and the Royd’s are the only ones i did not sell. Stick them on the end of an exposure amp and you’re away. I had some little Chario reference 100 speakers which i shouldn’t have sold, they were like minstrels but small stand mounts, very punchy and transparent.

[@dougedwardsyachts]

Me too, Minstrels since new and Abbots a few yrs back. I’ve just acquired a pair of The Herald too. Great speakers.

[@plasticvision6355]

I’ve been an SBL user for years. I’ve been lucky I think in terms of how they suited the rooms I’ve used them in. They’ve always sounded terrific. Recently, I lost one tweeter (mechanical fatigue). I fixed it with a new diaphragm (which didn’t work properly) but when I got them working they sounded better than ever! I had thought of getting different speakers (I can afford a lot) but I think my SBLs are hard to beat!!!

[@tomeasterbrook9486]

I picked up one of the last pairs of Scanspeak d2008s as spairs for my SBLs, they’re still sat in their boxes as I can’t decide whether to fit them or just keep them as they are, just in case. I haven’t done anything with them as I don’t fancy having to repeat the setup process that would be necessary having pulled the SBLs apart although I do also have a set of mk2 woofers ready to go in too ( my SBLs are mk1) so that might be even more of a reason to get on & do it.

[@plasticvision6355]

@@tomeasterbrook9486 I’d strongly recommend the mi11 woofers. They make the SBLs sound even better than ever! What are you using to drive the SBLs? I use a classic olive series. (NAC 82, two hi caps, and a 250). I’m keeping an eye on eBay as the scanspeak tweeters do come up occasionally. In fact I just missed a pair a month or so back. That could’ve been you! I’m not sure that changing the tweeters will improve SQ, but those woofers do. Bass deepens and becomes more powerful. The only thing I’d say is get yourself a hefty soldering iron as the terminals are quite hefty! Ps. The other day I had a separate spur put in for my hi fi. The difference it’s made to SQ is simply staggering! ATM I’ve only plugged my Naim CDX in. I’m not a CD fan, but this spur has me enjoying the silver disc like never before and I’ve been a die hard vinyl nut!!! I therefore cannot wait to plug in my Naim Armageddon, Aro equipped LP12, which apparently sounds epic on its own plug! I’ll post a view on the differences after I do so! Have fun!!!

[@dougedwardsyachts]

Back in 96 I went to a small HiFi store in Raunds to audition a B and W floorstander and Royd Minstrels. The Minstrels were so much better and I still have them now. They replaced my AR18BX’s which I didn’t ever love. A few yrs ago I bought a pair of Royd Abbots secondhand for £50 (bargain) and I’ve just picked up a pair of The Heralds. Great speakers.

[@chrisclose7793]

my favourite classic speakers have to be KEF coda2 ,B&W dm110 and mission 731s great speakers and still a classic

[@spinynorman8217]

What did you think of neat petit speakers. they were small?

[@DaleWhitlam-ni5wp]

Thanks, really interesting. My first system in the 80's included the Wharfedales (with a Garrard deck and Rotel amp) which was really musical. Howzabout doing a video on some of your favorite personal systems over the years?

[@hallaiged]

Hi Dale, Had same system, Rotel 40w had the moving red lights on the display?Three way Wharfies?🙂I have always struggled to get that wonderful articulate, effortless bass ever since. Now using an Exposure amp with wonderful Neat SX3's, got to be Brit gear really. Happy listening, thanks for the memories.👍

[@timothyfreeseha4056]

No Magnapans or floor standers in my house of unruly cats. No doubt they sound amazing and can be a great value. As is, I have to rig my stereo with angry nuns and dinosaurs to give the cats pause.

[@AndyLudwig-mv8dj]

I find the AR18s amazing, they look like they were made by MFI with a wrap-around vinyl finish, the drives look cheap, dreadful push-fit connectors but the sound always blows me away, I would put them up against any small vintage bookshelf speakers and many from the present day, the only downside is how much they currently sell for on the used market.

[@conkerman01]

Rogrts LS4A have a special place for me. Sealed box with decent sized drivers.

[@Venus_Isle]

Yes...Electa. Agree the modern SF stuff is less good, particularly when Franco Serblin passed away.

[@derekshorrock594]

Had a similar experience to your Doublet man only with Monitor Audio 14's they where the second pair of hi fi speakers I ever bought, been through loads of speakers since managed to get hold of a hardly used pair a few months ago, sold all my other speakers after listening to them again will never buy another pair of speakers again

[@itk2493]

Never got the Royd thing. I went in to dealership, must of been early to mid 90s and heard the minstrel floortander and the Merlins? standmounts. Ugly as you say, but I found the sound too harsh and very bass light.

[@TonyCottrell-iv2qv]

My dad had a pair of Royd Revelation RR3s which sounded exactly as you describe. He gave them to me (thanks Dad!) so between us we tried them on several amplifiers and sources and with classical and rock music. Put you off listening for more than an hour at most.Worst speakers either of us have ever owned, and far from the cheapest. Just goes to show how true it is that speakers need to be auditioned. And that more expensive is not always better.

[@hallaiged]

@@TonyCottrell-iv2qv Had the Minstrels, made in Telford I think? Pretty tacky and no bass whatever you tried! Love my Neat Motives x3's in a bookcase now, with an Exposure amp. Happy at at last, guess I got lucky🙂

[@KevinBower-gy5be]

Tannoy Jupiter. Castle Harlech. Epos ES 22. PMC OB1. My journey which went no further.

[@gdwlaw5549]

Enjoying coffee in south of france ….JPW sonata, Dali,Monitor Audio,Klipsch and now a weird pair of Jean Marie Reynaud

[@sonaria]

I was always somehow obsessed with the Jean Marie Renaud brand... are they so good?

[@gdwlaw5549]

@@sonaria I understand they have a new distributor in the UK. I am extremely happy with my JMR Cantibile. I bought mine second hand from a local dealer. The transmission line concept works very well with wonderful, natural bass response. I can't see myself buying anything maybe PMC. They have an excellent export market and notably Japan.

[@joemartin6439]

I love full frequency ,horns and tubes Casta B horns 2015 paid $5000 Canadian, now they are 31,000uro Greed is every where now

[@zukispur5493]

4 leak sandwich 600s driven by my SANSUI AU 717 amplifier work for me.

[@carlsitler9071]

Triad speakers are the best built speakers I've ever owned. I hit one with a hammer and broke my hammer. The Logic drivers are great. I bi-amp my LCR MTMs with quad 15" Marantz woofers for natural, effortless bass, crossed over at 100 hz.

[@christophermaley6822]

Have always liked the 70's Leak speakers, namely the 2030, 2060 and the large 2075. My current main speakers are the 2075's which are the Mk.1's (better tweeter/mid). Have listened to 100's of speakers since 1976 and have owned Monitor Audio MA7, Ram 200, Leak 2060, IAS Beaulieu and Leak 2075's. BEST speakers I have heard (inc. 2075's and IAS's) are TDL Ref Trans and Living Voice Air Scouts. I have to admit I DISLIKE most speakers including a lot of so called High End speakers, especially those that use tiny 6" units for BASS. You really need 10" minimum for proper bass imo ??

[@ReferenceFidelityComponents]

Speaker matching involves matching to the room as well as the amp. I agree that we all hear the same but have different tonal preferences. As a speaker engineer, I see most of the high end as smoke snd mirrors, not all, but most is marketing guff and spendy components. For me, vintage tannoy hpd drive units suitably rebuilt and fitted to properly designed cabinets with quality crossovers still wipes the floor with a majority of what I hear from others in terms of musical enjoyment, resolution, decent extension and realism. I’m experimenting with new manufacture coaxials and regard them as a great compromise which tick so many technical boxes. Never understood why oeople get hooked on most vintage speakers many by now needing a lot of attention. Better speakers will bring better sound, always. “Better” needs defining and understanding but most people unfortunately just go on cost, popularity in forums or marketing babble and end up with “different” rather than better. Hb1’s nice but overrated. Hb2’s are little different in truth. Agree re AR18’s. Axial FR telks you very little about a speakers response. Crossovers need NOT deprive of immediacy if properly specified. They need to be only as complex as needed and simplicity is desirable but not essential. Starting with decent well behaved drivers is a good start.

[@michaelvincent8306]

Tried kef ls 50 at home hated them anyone tried revolver rw 16 with valves my mate says they are terrific

[@itk2493]

Never heard a good pair of KEF's. Remember those good awful Koda 7 WTF used to rant about. Revolver were real nice, the RW series and then I think they became Music? What happened to them?

[@justinparkman3585]

The ls 50s are awful

[@joestarkie5597]

Has Allison escaped

[@att0987654321]

I still own my Modraunt Short MS40 floor standing speakers from the early 90’s and they sound 👌🏻

[@Theoriginalramjammer]

1st 😮

[@twochaudiomg2578]

You mumble skip about makes no sense. Wbats in that coffee cup Booth,s Gin seems like you wohld be buying that. Yes!

[@carlsitler9071]

I had Wharfedale Diamond 8.4 for a week. Worst speakers ever.