If you have a big enough bank balance, these JBLs are among the best speakers money can buy. One of the best pairs of speakers we've had the pleasure of listening to, offering surprisingly good value even at that huge price tag. AI Score. Give them breathing space and you had a musical speaker that was as articulate, transparent and dynamic a floorstander as we had heard at the price. Hence the elaborate tone controls on the AU-9500, while US designers were going the opposite direction. So now that weve established that were not looking for Quad ESLs, MartinLogan CLS, or Rogers LS3/5As at a bargain basement price, lets dig a little deeper into some surprising vintage loudspeakers that might really surprise you sonically. Ive seen replacement tweeters selling for around $25/each online. A stereo receiver is an amplifier that has built-in radio in it. About Us Privacy Policy Disclaimers, In case of questions contact us at: hello @ speakergy .com, COPYRIGHT 2023 SPEAKERGY.COM | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NAD amplifiers that can double their output into 4 ohms work well but not something smaller like the otherwise excellent NAD C 316BEE V2 integrated amplifier. Five of these monsters behind some screens for 70mm Todd-AO (and its heir. And that iconic Klipsch proprietary horn design really sets this Synergy Black Label B-200 bookshelf speaker apart from anything else in this range not just because it is so cool looking and so reminiscent of earlier times, but mainly because the Klipsch horns still offer the most detailed, highest efficiency and lowest distortion sound imaginable. The overall sound was cohesive and the sonic balance highly musical. LuguLake R9. Intended to properly reproduce an impulse signal (a sharp, short sound), the Mk2 achieved this with aplomb. Bang and Olufsen has always had the reputation of making the most beautiful and stylishly advanced audio gear in the world, with design, material quality and craftsmanship all literally as good as they can possibly be, and with functionality that is beyond pretty much any other products. Sure, you could wuss out and get the more sensible CERWIN VEGA SL-5M, with their polite (well, not too polite, actually) 5 inch woofer, but this is Cerwin, so just go for it! The presence, the existence of music and musicians in time and space, is simply unbelievable or finally wholly believable. by romanose 06 Jul 2012 07:37. Wilson Benesch made a big splash with its first loudspeaker, the A.C.T. Really incredible sounding speakers which are as accurate as anything in their range, and much more engaging and exciting, the Wharfedale Linton are by far my favorite speakers on this list of best vintage speakers (the Klipschorns, at ten times the price, notwithstanding), and equally perfect for both the most demanding of audiophiles and the most joyous of music lovers. So much of this has to do with the three-way folded horn design all three drivers are horn-loaded! LuguLake Handheld Multi-work Bluetooth Speaker. Still have them. TEWELL Vintage Speakers, Bass Enhanced Technology, Retro Speakers Plug-in Speakers for PC, Laptop, Klipsch Synergy Black Label B-200 Bookshelf Speaker Pair with Proprietary Horn Technology, a 5.25 Marshall Emberton Bluetooth Portable Speaker - Cream, Tivoli Audio model One Am/ fm Table Radio, Classic/ Walnut, 2.4 Lb. About the size of JBL L100s with huge Alnico magnets on their 12 woofers, with midrange and soft dome tweeters by Polydax. Though there are more revealing high-end floorstanders available mostly at higher prices few are as musical or as balanced as the Twenty 26. With sophisticated midrange and bass performance for the price, the Diamonds were fussy in terms of partnering kit but excelled with more upmarket amplification. Sold my last pair a few years ago to a youngster who was blown away what theyd do. But with Klipsch speakers thats the normal course, and these ProMedia Heritage speakers, with 160 watts of total power, are an awesome example powerful enough for a big room and yet with the kind of intimacy and nuance that suits even a small office perfectly, and with sound that even the most discriminating audiophile would be thrilled with. B&W's 800 Diamond speakers were packed to the rafters with cutting-edge technology. The Technics SL-1200 demands the right amount of money and is an excellent choice for DJs even today.. 1. Also, I think it looks great: Really, no speaker Ive ever heard seems to be able to present so much music with so much bright and bracing clarity with absolutely no harshness or edge whatsoever. Mirage Loudspeakers are coming back. They use a complex cabinet design, with two layers of MDF separated by a lossy Gelcore material that reduces cabinet resonances. The soundstage the Duette produced was huge and the bass well-articulated, and the adjustable crossover allowed for a wide range of positions (including horizontally). Litejazz53 Perfect Sound Through Crystal Clear Digital Thread Starter. The Magnepan SMG are a departure from the rest of the lot. The Gloucestershire-based company opted for a sealed cabinet for agile bass performance. Bass is absolutely thundering when it needs to be, but always perfectly balanced, and as fast and controlled as Ive ever heard, and the highs and mids are the most open, clear and detailed Ive ever experienced. You can play, pause, skip tracks PORTABILITY: Emberton weighs just 1.5 lbs and can fit in the palm of your hand, making it the perfect compact speaker to take with you. Heres how it works. Control it with the multi-directional control knob. It sounds huge and really musical. So there you have it, the top vintage bookshelf speakers. I see the Ohms in your picture with the Maggies arent on your budget list. Ok, for this next recommendation Im cheating a bit there are just so many amazing tabletop Bluetooth wireless speakers on the market these days, in either sleek modern designs or a more retro style, but two of them stand out so clearly in this affordable premium range and, happily, are so beautifully vintage in appearance that I had to include them both! A vintage Marantz 2230 stereo receiver is a high-quality item that is also high on many people's lists as far as classic stereo receivers are concerned. JBL Charge 5 (Best for USB Charge out speaker) Key Features: Bass radiators. I never would have thought of that. Joey Roth. Verdict. Bath Almost dont need a subwoofer. Sansui QRX-9001. Of course, even with the excellence of that horn, when many people hear Klipsch they think bass, and the new and not, I admit, particularly vintage-looking injection molded graphite woofers definitely deliver, with remarkable extension, speed, and weight, and real slam. That helped the ES11 produce surprisingly sturdy bass and excellent resolution, as well as superb rhythmic drive and dynamic expression. In some ways these premium Bic Acoustech towers are the most interesting speakers on this list of best vintage speakers especially when looked at from the perspective of the 1980s. The ATCs were the type of speaker that could play any type of music with ease. B&W DM602 S2. Your email address will not be published. This is a very competitive price level and a very popular type of product, and so there are many different choices the Marshall Woburn II, for example, is a superb wireless active speaker, and maybe a better choice for rock and rollers. That is a very interesting and disgusting observation. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Since Im not Jeff Bezos, those upgrades will have to wait until my COVID-related poorness abates. The speaker's two-way design had a mid/bass driver that was developed in-house and featured a hefty motor system. The SCM 100As were imposing and functional lookers, but capable of great sound. Surely you forget the best speaker ever made on the top 10 list Griffin Electronics type 85 Tri Amplified with electronic crossovers. But not all of it, and here we get back to the idea that surely things must have gotten better there are so many companies right now that are making incredible speakers which are inspired by or even directly descended from, the true classics of the golden age of stereo, but that take advantage of computer design, improved materials, and engineering, all sorts of new technologies and years and years of experience, evolution and perfection. 2 db cut switches on the mods and highs, but unlike the JBLs, they are a sealed acoustic suspension design like KLH. We did some research and most sellers wanted a lot more than that. Quite possibly one of the best speakers ever made. The 753s were stylish floorstanders that produced a dynamic performance. Audiophile web forums might try to convince you to spend big on speaker cables, but you can ignore them. Ditto on the EPIs. This speaker sports a two-way setup - 12in. Real musical power easily co-exists with intimacy, and absolutely any kind of music sounds just perfect warm, clear, effortless and absolutely there with you in the room. when they were new in the market but I could not afford spending $2000 on a system, fast forward to today where I still cannot justify spending $2000+ for a good system but I do get alot of enjoyment out of putting together a vintage system for a few hundred dollars the definition of the vintage budget audiophiler? It has 250 wpc and also 4 15 speakers with super tweeters. My perspective is that I admired 70s speakers, receivers, turntables, etc. The Advent Large stand 26 tall and come in veneer and vinyl versions. 2. 1. Despite how big they are, they kind of totally disappear, and there is just music there in the room. New technology, computer design, the benefit of decades of experience, and all of that? They're designed to be used on their sides, not standing up, and they emit a hefty sound that's got plenty of detail, weight and scale for their size. It was first . The Missions didn't do laid-back, offering a fast and punchy listen that had a real sense of vitality for those willing to take the time to run them in properly. They used three popularly-priced receivers of about the same power outputa Pioneer, an AR receiver, and a Marantz 2270. Fluance Ai40W is also a good Bookshelf Speaker with a class D Amplifier for Turntable, HDTV, and PC. Surrounds DIY/kit from a magazine. One. Best Vintage Tabletop Radio A True Modern Classic! Tonally they were spot-on, and capable of being immensely muscular as well as delivering a dose of subtlety too. Well the Altec Model 19 was the best speaker ever made, vintage or not, IMO. Needed to replace the caps a few years back but they still sound amazing and well-balanced. The LS50s were a fun speaker and formed the basis of the spellbinding LS50 Wireless system. I picked up a pair of Bozak LS250s at a local goodwill for $16 a couple of months go and they are just the most beautiful sounding speakers. Current models are world-class loudspeakers used in systems in the $50,000-$100,000 range by some users. The K2s are fabulous, retro-styled speakers. I might add that to the article. The recommended wattage is 10 60 watts, making them ideal for a tube or solid-state receiver in that range. Our 7-part vintage audio podcast series concludes with a conversation with vinyl mastering legend, Kevin Gray. KLH, Klipsch, EPI, Jensen and others made some very good options as well so don't limit yourself. 3. Also to consider the EPI m100. But Im not the first to make such a bold claim about these superb KLH loudspeakers when they were first introduced, back in 1965, the original Lintons were hailed as extraordinary, and immediately set benchmarks in terms of accuracy and musicality not to mention sheer desirability that other, perhaps more successful or well known speakers could never really compete with. Unfortunately, buying a 30 year old speaker is not getting you greater accuracy. PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS - Compatible with your favorite devices, from your TV and computer to your music player and gaming consoles, True Entertainment: The legendary, detailed and dynamic sound youve come to expect from Klipsch. What is the best vintage speaker ever made? In addition to my A25s, I have a pair of Avant 5AXs. Year: 1960. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Jeremy, is there a way to reach you directly with a question about a vintage cabinet speaker? The short answer is direct-coupled, Class A/B design with high current capability. ), Currently available in Black and Walnut - sold in pairs, One-Inch Soft-Dome Tweeter and 6.5 Kevlar Woofer, Speaker Type: Powered Active Desktop Stereo Speakers with Subwoofer. Many say it is the best McIntosh receiver ever and certainly one of the best audio receivers of all time. There are a lot of basic, very inexpensive tabletop Bluetooth speakers out there, and many have a nice, funky retro vibe, but the Tewell is special. Listing is for a pair of speakers with stands. Despite only abut 300 of them ever being produced, it received rave reviews and was the reference speaker for several audio magazines. A lot of thought went into the cabinet, from the curved front panel to the materials used in the speaker's construction. A basic wired stereo speaker for rock and rollers both young and old, the Cerwin Vega SL-12 will also reproduce a full symphony orchestra with staggering impact, and can place a single singer with guitar in the middle of your room with perfect scale and eerie realism. Best speakers Ive owned. All rights reserved. Performance 84. Apropos which, I attached a video below of the Omegas in action . Yeah, I still dont know how they do it, but I absolutely love them! If you thought that pre-amps and power-amps were a recent phenomenon, think again. Vintage THD 2x12 speaker cabinet. Best Vintage Audio Speakers for the Modern Audiophile, https://www.humanspeakers.com/e/epistory.htm. I have had the unforgettable experience of listening to a pair of Klipschorns on several different occasions different pairs in different rooms with different systems and every single one of those listening experiences I count as among the most impactful, important and awesome of my life. I totally get this, and agree, and I think that even some of the most beautiful, futuristic turntables you can get - like the superlative Rega Planar 3, as one example - are at their hearts retro products - thrillingly . It replaced the servo woofer of the Servostatik with the Watkins dual-coil woofer, giving it amazing bass. 's past for the best 30 pairs of speakers to be lifted, wheeled and even crated in to our test rooms. Its Speaker Type: Powered Active Tabletop/Desktop Radio, High-performance table radio with simple design and superior sound reproduction, Attractive, furniture-grade, handmade wood cabinet doubles as acoustically inert housing, 3-inch long-throw driver ensures accurate tonal balance and bass response, State-of-the-art discrete component FM tuner improves reception and increases clarity, Measures 8.375 x 4.5 x 5.25 inches (W x H x D); 1-year warranty, Award-Winning Performance, Wide-Open Sound, One-Inch Soft-Dome Tweeter and 5.1 Kevlar Woofer, Layered Cabinet Construction and High-Quality Finish, Frequency Response: 45Hz - 24kHz -- 12.4 H x 6.9 W x 9.8 D (11.7 lbs. Vinyl, audio cassettes and reel-to-reel have all made a comeback and there is a new movement afoot for high-end loudspeakers that look like your daddy's speakers from the 1970s. Editor Pick: Rerii RW-01. You have to cut a hole in the front panel to add the additional tweeter. SANYO JCX 2900, Onkyo 8500, Kenwood KR-9600, Sansui Eight Deluxe, Sansui G9000 Series, Sherwood 9910, Pioneer SX-1250, Marantz 2325,2330,2285, Luxman 1070,1120. The Klipsch The Sixes are a premium pair of speakers that are still quite affordable, and have the most open, clear and detailed sound Ive encountered in this ultra-competitive price level, with sweet musicality and not a touch of edge or harshness their amazing titanium horn-loaded tweeters are, in fact, known for their incredibly low distortion. And it turns out that the celebrated Marshall sound, which is so beautifully captured in the Stanmore, is fantastic for all kinds of music well, all kinds of rock music, for sure. 7 Best JBL Speakers Ever Made. Please note that the above link is for a single speaker, and you will need to put two in your cart for a stereo pair unless, of course, you are super-vintage, and only listen to antique monaural 78s! By 1983 Mission had updated its '70' speakers and, despite the model number, the 70 Mk IIs were the third iteration. This is particulary true if the speaker port is in the rear of the speaker where it is not covered by the grill. Make sure you hear sound from each element, or "driver". All three were rated at about 50-70 watts RMS/channel into 8 ohms, within about 1.4 dBW of each other. The addition of a port on the front baffle allowed listeners to place them really close to the wall if that was required. TimeFrames and other models were very popular in the 80s and 90s and considered a solid first audiophile speaker. Location: Music City (Nashville, TN) I would be so surprised if there is someone on the forum with these beautiful JBL L-300 loudspeakers, and even more surprised if someone has purchased some completely refinished and refurbished L-300's. Best system I 've ever had!!!!! At 6 ohms they were a little tough on electronics that seemed to want 8 ohm speakers. I am happy to admit that the Wharfedale Linton floor-standing loudspeakers are the finest sounding speaker system on this list of best vintage speakers, and in fact one of the finest sounding speakers Ive ever heard. Oddly proportioned wider than they are deep and weighing 83kg each, these speakers are not to be trifled with. I also had a similar-looking (though . Ohm Acoustics have been around since 1972, manufacturing their products in Brooklyn, New York; Ohm, joins DeVore Fidelity, and Grado Labs who have kept the high-end audio torch alight across the East River. The SP-G300II is better known as the SP-L800 here in the states. What about the classic early Polk Monitor 7s/10s? Nostalgia may be driving the trend for some, but the loudspeaker brands at the tip of the . Atmos front height Ino Audio A1 built as kit. The 780s weren't fazed by whatever music you threw at them. Most importantly, though, the Tewell vintage Bluetooth speaker sounds great much warmer and richer than you might expect, with solid and decently extended bass that is not too strongly boosted and nice presence and detail in the upper ranges. Had those components for years until I upgraded to MacIntosh 6100 integrated Amp and a pair of ML1Cs. They do require stands to put them at the proper listening height. One other thing up front: This is an American-centric article. It is a good fit with jazz, classical, and female vocals. Klipsch ProMedia Heritage 2.1 Multimedia Mid Century Modern Desktop Computer Speaker Monitors with Klipsch Heritage Groove Portable Bluetooth Speaker, Marshall Stanmore II Wireless Bluetooth Speaker, Black - NEW, Klipsch The Sixes Powered Monitor Walnut Veneer (Pair), Bang & Olufsen Beolit 20 Powerful Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker, Grey Mist, Cerwin-Vega SL-12 12" 3-Way Big Cabinet Floor Tower Speaker w/Mid & Tweeter, BIC Acoustech PL-980L-PL-980R 3-Way Floor Speakers - ONE Pair, KLH Kendall Floorstanding Speakers - Pair (Walnut), Wharfedale - Linton with Stands - Black Oak (Pair), Bang & Olufsen Beoplay A9 4th Gen Wireless Multiroom Speaker, Black with Walnut Legs, Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn Speaker Pairs (Cherry), How To Pair Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 2 Speaker: A Guide, How To Pair Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 3 Speaker: A Guide, How To Pair Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 Speaker: A Guide, How To Pair Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6 Speaker: A Guide, How To Pair Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7 Speaker: A Simple Guide, Speaker Type: Powered Active Tabletop/Desktop Single Speaker System, Connectivity: Wired and Bluetooth Wireless. The larger-than-average M2s generated a performance that struck an expert sonic balance, with consistently superb bass and treble performance. I have owned the Ohms and they were great upgrade from a pair od Cerwin Vegas at the time during my high school years. It was a different approach to speaker design that yielded a wildly entertaining sound. The Sixes are also among the most versatile and genuinely usable of all powered stereo speakers, with an amazing range of connectivity options including Bluetooth wireless, USB and optical digital inputs and both normal line-level and phono-level analog inputs, not to mention a subwoofer output, which is best directed to the optimal and downright awesome Klipsch R-120SW sub. Bass monsters they are not. The Maggies are probably my favorite speakers ever, and the Wilsons are truly among the very best, most accurate speakers ever made. That question does not have a "correct" answer. Yes, absolutely, with a look so reminiscent of the fine hand-made speakers of the 60s, 70s, and 80s, and a level of finish that, if anything, may surpass them. 4. But to me the Woburn, or indeed any other wireless speaker, doesnt come close to the Bang and Olufsen Beolit 20, which is the most beautiful, magical and musically disarming speaker of its type. The antique vintage style outlook and a full-scale modern spec are what made it stood out of the crowd. Wharfedale Linton Stereo Loudspeakers with Stands, Klipsch Synergy Black Label B-200 Bookshelf Speakers, Marshall Emberton Bluetooth Portable Speaker, Wharfedale Diamond 225 6 Inch Two Way Bookshelf Speakers, Klipsch Heritage Wireless The One II Tabletop Stereo Walnut, Klipsch The Sixes Powered Monitor Walnut Veneer (Pair), BIC Acoustech PL-980 3-Way Floorstanding Tower Speakers, The Best Vintage Speakers in 2023 An In-Depth Buyers Guide, Tewell Vintage Speaker Bass Enhanced Technology Wired and Wireless, Best Budget Wireless Portable Vintage Speaker. Best Vintage Stereo Speakers - Budget - Klipsch Synergy Black Label B-200 Bookshelf Speakers. They just sound beautiful and they just sound like the music. So what is the best amplifier? Set-up is super critical with these loudspeakers. Emotiva, Carver, Aragon, and NAD are a good start with this type of loudspeaker. Speakergy.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. I own a pair of 1976 Klipschorns with updated volti audio crossovers. Both were the last Marantz direct competitors to McIntosh. The QUAD ESL-57 utilises a cling-film like panel, providing exquisite upper frequency performance. They can certainly take the power, but dont overdrive them with anything more. The ESL was introduced by Peter Walker in 1957 and it's still considered by many audiophiles to be the holy grail of audio design. tweeters. Depending on the condition, expect to pay between $75-150 for a pair. Edifier S1000MKII. You will need 18-21 stands or risers to get the tweeters up to the proper listening level. In production for two decades, the Mani-2s had stupendous bass power and authority thanks to isobaric bass loading. Despite being 80s speakers, Sansui S-815 stereo speakers are remarkable. The price reflects the panel upgrades from a third party outfit, One Thing Audio. I am thrilled to announce, though, that it does have an auxiliary audio input on the back panel, letting you play pretty much any other device from a smartphone to an 8-track through the Model One not just one of the finest tabletop radios in the world, but a fine powered speaker as well! SUPERIOR SIGNATURE SOUND: Rich, clear and loud, like the artist intended. This is one of the best vintage retro stereo speakers. For a more compact and for some at least liveable speaker system, with the same superb KLH sound and an even more iconic form, you might also want to look at the beloved KLH Model Three Bookshelf Speakers another true classic and also easily one of the finest (somewhat) affordable pure audiophile speakers you can get. How these two qualities of sound can exist in a single speaker is apparently a well-guarded company secret, because many other companies have tried to copy that nearly ideal sound and failed. I dont think anyone disagrees with you that speakers made today are better. All of this sound was delivered with speed and punch. The B&O Beolit is also perfectly up to date in technology, and is a masterpiece of design and technological implementation as well, with superbly crafted and delightful touch controls on top, ultra-discrete connectivity ports on the bottom, integrated wireless charging for your phone, great battery life, flawless Bluetooth wireless and the finest quality internal audio components available. This is a pretty long article, so if youd like to cut right to the chase here are some of my top picks: This is a great question, and we may well wonder why so many people even younger buyers who are new to the wonderful world of audio are searching for the best vintage speaker systems from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. They may not be purely accurate or neutral, and can get a bit of a rap from the most discerning audiophiles, but I have spent extensive time with many different Bang and Olufsen systems and speakers, and to me they are consistently the most musical and moving products Ive ever heard. From tweeter domes made out of diamond, to cleverly braced and shaped cabinets, to cones made out of Kevlar, they were innovative speakers. Best Wireless Portable Vintage Speaker - Budget - Marshall Emberton Bluetooth Portable Speaker. Running an amp into clipping blew the 1 amp tweeter fuse, so you had to have enough horsepower to run them up. I can testify that they have been selling old versions and still choose these models instead of new ones. However, some people might say that the best vintage speakers ever made are the Altec Lansing A7 Voice of the Theatre speakers. Care was required when positioning, but get it right and the huge soundstage, accuracy and speed of delivery on offer were superb. Even if you are one of those discerning audiophiles, if you love music with all of your heart, you will fall deeply, deeply in love with the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay A9 this is as good as it gets. With a presentation that is articulate and expressive, they have plenty of detail, insight and a lovely midrange. As you said, they are ported (technically) but they are more of an aperiodic design. JBL introduced the original L-100 Century in 1970 and they soon became one of the best-selling loudspeakers of all-time. The best vintage stereo receiver should have an adequate number of supported sources, high power per channel and have a high-quality retro look. And this vintage speaker would still beat some of the top-ranking speakers when it comes to sound quality because back in the day, performance was the main criteria around which a speaker was manufactured. See, back then BIC made a lot of audio gear, but it was not, uhm, well, especially well respected, or especially good. They were miles above anything else in their price range then and still sound great today. Are they vintage sounding? Quite possibly one of the best speakers ever made. With a high-quality finish and dynamic sound, the HB1s were another example of a speaker that could hold its own against much more expensive efforts. This lengthy list is a celebration of the speakers that have a special place in our hearts and yours too, hopefully as we flick through What Hi-Fi? Glance in the direction of the Totems and they look a bit ordinary. Posted on . Manufactured between the years 1974 and 1972, this stereo receiver provides 30 watts per channel. Especially in terms of midrange and high frequency reproduction. Marantz built loudspeakers? Best Vintage Stereo Speakers - Affordable - Wharfedale Diamond 225 6 Inch Two Way Bookshelf Speakers. The Klipsch Heritage The One series 2 wireless stereo speaker is as clear, detailed and accurate as any of its type on the market today, with truly room-filling volume, energy and stereo projection and amazing bass for its size. Nothing could touch these for sound quality. So thats just what well look at in this article the very best vintage speaker systems made today, Speakers of all types wired and wireless, passive and amplified, portable, bookshelf and ridiculously monolithic floor-standers almost all from the same iconic companies that made the original classics, and all benefiting from the very latest technology, design, and manufacturing techniques. It has a lot in common with Marantz 4400, including 60 watts per channel and 120+watt output for two channels at once! This is another model that has been discontinued, but you can easily find them on Amazon. They lost a little performance at low volume and were not sensitive - so they needed a hefty amplifier - but these were quibbles. The SMG are on the smaller side for this type of loudspeaker (48 tall), but driven with the right amplifier can sound significantly larger. Usually weight is a good indication. The good thing about the JBL store is that their popularity is . I have also heard that there are many phony vintage scam models that exist with in the good stuff, such van scam speakers, etc. Kob began his career at What Hi-Fi?, starting in the dusty stockroom before rising up the ranks to join the editorial and production team as the Buyers Guide editor. Speaker Type: Powered Active Single Speaker System, Connectivity: Wired and Wireless: Bluetooth, Chromecast, Airplay, Wi-Fi, Powerful room-filling sound for any living space thanks to its seven effective drivers, Active room compensation ensures high quality sound that suits your speaker placement, Floor-standing (or wall mounted with an optional mount accessory) beoplay A9 can perfectly complement an ever evolving home style, Lots of ways to connect including airplay 2 Chromecast and Bluetooth as well as improved Wi-Fi connectivity, Iconic design paired with rich expressive sound for a speaker thats as good to look at as it is to listen to, Fully Horn-Loaded Three-Way Loudspeaker Pair, All-New Enclosed Low Frequency Horn Design, Sold in pairs with Book-Matched Wood Veneer.