Jill Posted January 17, 2020 Report Share Posted January 17, 2020 Hi! My husband bought a pair of Allison speakers at an estate sale about 20 years ago. We’d like to know if they’re worth keeping now that we’re buying a new TV. The sound quality is good. Should we keep them, sell them or throw them out? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKent Posted January 17, 2020 Report Share Posted January 17, 2020 No good. Give them to me ? Seriously though. Welcome to CSP. Maybe you could post a picture of a whole speaker, preferably with grille off. Do you know what model number? Looks like they are floor standers and they are excellent speakers. You'll want to confirm that the woofer surrounds are good--they are probably rotted or just holding on with a gooey coating. They should probably be refoamed. Relatively easy to DIY, and we'll provide guidance, or you can send them to Bill LeGall at Millersound in PA for expert re-foaming. The other thing is you want to be sure your amp can handle a 4 ohm load. Many AV surround receivers are only rated for 8 ohm loads, maybe 6 ohm but 4 ohm speakers can damage the amp. Some receivers have outputs to attach an external power amp for the front speakers (my Onkyo does). So please give us a little more info and we'll be happy to help. Kent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newandold Posted January 18, 2020 Report Share Posted January 18, 2020 14 hours ago, Jill said: Hi! My husband bought a pair of Allison speakers at an estate sale about 20 years ago. We’d like to know if they’re worth keeping now that we’re buying a new TV. The sound quality is good. Should we keep them, sell them or throw them out? Thanks Jill, If the sound is “good” as you say just continue to enjoy them, regardless of what you do about the TV ?. One has nothing to do with the other. I’ve replaced my TV 3 times while still keeping the old Allisons. Mine are 33 years old. My “newer” Allisons, similar to yours are babies at a mere 26 years of age! Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jill Posted January 18, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2020 Thanks for the info. The sound quality is good, as I said. I had the crazy idea that the Allisons were too old and we needed a sound bar for the best audio for the TV. Apparently we don’t. LOL I’d love to know more about our Allisons: approximate age, value, etc. Here are some better pics: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKent Posted January 18, 2020 Report Share Posted January 18, 2020 I think what you have are Allison AL120 speakers. I don't have first-hand experience with them but maybe other members here do. Here's a link to the brochure from 1989. http://www.classicspeakerpages.net/library/allison/other/allison_speakers_in_1983_an/allison_speakers_in_1989.html#previous-photo You can google "Allison AL 120" but there doesn't appear to be a whole lot of info. Kent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newandold Posted January 19, 2020 Report Share Posted January 19, 2020 On 1/18/2020 at 6:37 AM, Jill said: Thanks for the info. The sound quality is good, as I said. I had the crazy idea that the Allisons were too old and we needed a sound bar for the best audio for the TV. Apparently we don’t. LOL I’d love to know more about our Allisons: approximate age, value, etc. Here are some better pics: Hi Jill, Those AL 120’s are in the 32 year plus age range. The woofers (the larger of the two drivers) are installed with one reversed, to smooth the bass with the lowest possible distortion. Allison had 5 models that I know of (I’ve got one of them) that used the same arrangement. The two problems with those speakers are the surrounds on the woofers, and the availability of a tweeter, should one blow out. How far you need to go with those systems right now, depends on “how hard you play”. If you don’t drive them terribly loud, you COULD go for a while yet without having the woofers redone. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jill Posted January 19, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2020 Thanks, Bill. What do you see wrong with the surrounds on the woofers? Jill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newandold Posted January 19, 2020 Report Share Posted January 19, 2020 4 hours ago, Jill said: Thanks, Bill. What do you see wrong with the surrounds on the woofers? Jill I meant 120’s in general, not the surrounds on your particular pair. The pictures are pretty good, and yours look to be intact, but time is against you. After 20 years or so the foam really starts breaking down. Once you loose the air seal of the surrounds the bass deteriorates along with them. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tibo Posted November 18, 2022 Report Share Posted November 18, 2022 Hey every one, i Inheritate allison speaker from my grand father wich sound litteraly amazing. However, i have to restore them and her's the problem: It's said Al 120 s behind but it's only got two woofers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newandold Posted November 18, 2022 Report Share Posted November 18, 2022 14 minutes ago, tibo said: Hey every one, i Inheritate allison speaker from my grand father wich sound litteraly amazing. However, i have to restore them and her's the problem: It's said Al 120 s behind but it's only got two woofers Should look like this….1 tweeter and two push pull woofer arrangement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.