A Nice set of LST's on CL in Albany

[Analogman]

16 hours ago, GD70 said:

What could you get today for that price that could compare to a LST? Not much.

You missed my point - I'm not making comparisons - ARs are ARs, KLHs are KLHs and so on

Different strokes for different folks and value (the what and why you're willing to pay) is a personal thing

I HAVE NO ISSUE WITH THAT and NOTHING NEGATIVE TO SAY ALONG THOSE LINES

Guess that's why there are more than a few BRAND oriented sub-forums here

Kind of like Chevrolet and Ford

But since you press on the subject, here goes

I'm not making a relative comparison to the garbage they build today and the crazy money some folks seem willing to pay for it

Besides that, a new to new comparison is impossible as well as meaningless for a number of obvious reasons

I'm saying that they (LSTs and other vintage ARs) are like a really nice (all original survivor) car from the 1960s

They, or just about ANY loudspeaker system that's 50 years old or even older, are a commitment and a lot of people aren't up for that sort of thing, for different reasons

And OUR numbers (die hard fanatics and loyalists) are dwindling gentlemen whether we wish to acknowledge that fact or not

As I already mentioned, just think about/reflect on how our hobby has changed (and not for the better) over just these past 20 years or so (and after about 40, 20 years seems/feels more like about 20 minutes, to me anyway)  Lot of that because of the internet I realize

Ergo, $1,750 bucks ain't a "great deal" (just going by cosmetics) but rather a starting point for a hobbyist/collector

And even for a serious hobbyist it's a LOT OF MONEY still, if one honestly takes into consideration the potential risks of marrying an ongoing (and at times, a seemingly never ending project)

25 years ago I was good to go (enthusiasm and parts availability) and 100% up on these sorts of things (I also never had fewer than a half a dozen, or more, fine pairs of loudspeakers in the house to chose from for daily listening while the current projects, cabinet restorations and repairs were under way on whatever was "down"), but at now age 60, not so much, preferring to listen to my systems instead of working on them, tracking down long ago NLA parts and at times having to devise workarounds - not to mention taking things apart and putting them back together on a semi-regular basis 

And THIS reality exacerbated even further by the fact that I am an extremely fastidious perfectionist - so the work on it (whatever the project may be) constantly is compounded even more so on top of what actually matters from a simply functional standpoint (like having tweeters from two different runs or batches, or woofers with mismatched magnet structures)  I obsess and always have on all of my speaker projects (and it has hurt me over the years - I have let go some nice systems over insignificant flaws that tormented me but 99% of the rest of the Human race would have never even noticed, or if they had, would not have given two seconds thought to)

So my perspective, that I have shared here, is only to say that at my now advanced age, taking on projects like "all original" LSTs, which would still be, and are a pleasure and which would definitely yield the worthwhile results of a truly extraordinary loudspeaker system, would have to be had with a strong enticement of a reasonable upfront cost for the-project's initial buy in when all of the very real potential issues are taken into consideration

I would take on a pair tomorrow IF the price were right - but it would have to truly be right - not based on what others are paying at auction sites or where have you, especially by those sorts who can't and don't do their own work - same as with vintage cars, I call them checkbook mechanics 

I am not knocking, criticizing or denigrating  the LST in any way, but it is still a VERY old system with all of the potential pitfalls that come with that fact

I am merely sharing my point of view, that to me, $1,750 bucks is a price I would never pay for a pair no matter how pretty, UNLESS I was in possession of impeccable provenance for the pair in question and they truly were exceptional, as in PRISTINE

I don't want to start an argument or a flame war here but there are PLENTY of speakers out there for that kind of money (vintage) that you can still get factory parts for that'll give any AR a run for it's money and then some

They're just a different sound

I love AR speakers, I own AR speakers, I built a pair of ARs for my Daughter and her 24 years old boyfriend can't stop talking about how good they sound (and he's a punk rock guitarist) and I have a couple of pairs that won't leave me until I die and my Son takes them over - but there are better out there OBJECTIVELY speaking that are a whole lot easier to keep up and running to original specs, better (flatter) response at HIGH SPLs and better power handling and they can still be had for a whole lot less than $1,750 a pair

That's all I meant when I said $1,750 dollars ain't cheap for the commitment that is a pair of LSTs

For SOME people, which is most, present company excluded 

And with that said, I would never pay that much myself for a pair unless I had a complete and impeccable provenance of the pair in question

I could cobble together a nice pair, functionally speaking, for far less money, sans sweat equity  

In my opinion

Craig

[Analogman]

4 hours ago, frankmarsi said:

Four thousand dollars for quality speakers these days doesn't get you much but if the speakers below are getting it, the AR-LST as a used speaker, 45+ years old with new tweeters has got to be worth twice as much as a lowly L-100.

A friend and I did a 'battle-of-the-speakers' in 1975 with his L-100's and my AR-3a's. In sum his high end sounded more present and with my 3a's trying to keep up rendered blown tweeters for me. His bass was a touch tighter but something was missing, his mids a touch more there but my bass sounded more round and developed, his had a slight peak in the upper bass.

http://www.audioholics.com/tower-speaker-reviews/jbl-releases-updated-iconic-jbl-l100-speakers

You, or anyone, with access to a pair of L100s (the original incarnations) should listen to them for about a week with the ports plugged and see what you think and them then

No matter what you think of them now, good, bad or indifferent

Craig 

[Analogman]

4 hours ago, frankmarsi said:

Four thousand dollars for quality speakers these days doesn't get you much but if the speakers below are getting it, the AR-LST as a used speaker, 45+ years old with new tweeters has got to be worth twice as much as a lowly L-100.

http://www.audioholics.com/tower-speaker-reviews/jbl-releases-updated-iconic-jbl-l100-speakers

So you've heard the new version?

Where so?  CES?

Craig

[frankmarsi]

1-24-18

Oh?

Not even a single thought of doubt or question could challenge my pride of ownership.

Some good reading below.  

 

 

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/191691122539

 

 

 

 

[ar_pro]

Great link, thanks! 

The L100 looks so cool with its foam grille, I love that it's being reissued by JBL. 

Let's see, Technics has brought back a new version of the SL-1200, and McIntosh produces updated models of the C22 preamp and MC275 power amplifier; a guy could put together a pretty nice "vintage" system with full warranties! 

[lakecat]

What that shows is the interest in vintage audio is NOT dying as proclaimed by self described experts...but in fact is increasing.

And prices reflect that.

[Analogman]

5 hours ago, lakecat said:

What that shows is the interest in vintage audio is NOT dying as proclaimed by self described experts...but in fact is increasing.

And prices reflect that.

I concur 100% - except I prefer "good" audio, even "great" for the over used term "vintage" 

And by that I mean "good and believable sound"

('cause as we all know, there was and is plenty of "vintage" equipment that sucked)

A lot of people are finally realizing the old adage "you don't know what you've got until you lose it"

Or that you don't need an arc welder and two refrigerator sized boxes to get fabulous sound - or the opposite end of the spectrum with some sort of "bud" shoved in your ear canals or multi-channel madness with a room the size of a meeting hall in order to create some sort of cheesy sounding, pre-programmed effect ("night club", "dance hall, "Jazz club" or "stadium") 

Speakers like the LST paired with a decent amplifier, and most importantly a well made recording held the answer all along - and always did

it's a nice trend to witness and I hope it continues

Same as what's happening in the world of Lps - honesty is returning, albeit slowing, to the recording, mixing and mastering suites 

It'll never be the Golden Age again, but in the meantime I'm thankful for what we've got going on right now, regardless of motive

Makes life a whole lot better for those who aren't do it yourselfer inclined or able

Wouldn't it be wonderful if someone would pick up the old "New England Sound" torch!

Craig