Sealed cabinet bookshelf speakers from the 1990s.

[chebby]

Affordable bookshelf loudspeakers, with sealed cabinets, from the early 1990s onwards.

Apart from JPW (Mini Monitors, Gold Monitors, Sonatas) and the expensive stuff (Spendor, Harbeth) my mind has gone blank regarding good - sealed cabinet - bookshelf 'speakers from the 1990s/2000s.

I can reel off any number of low-mid budget (and expensive) sealed cabinet bookshelf 'speakers from the late 1970s and the 1980s but have got brain fade right now regarding affordable examples from after that.

I'm also ok with very recent models (last few years).

I suppose it's because I had the same system from 1996 until 2007 and bought no hi-fi magazines, nor visited any dealers, nor had any interest in upgrading during that time. So the early 1990s until the early/mid 2000s are a bit of a 'vacuum'.

Please can some of the 'veterans' fill in the gaps for me?

Thanks.

 

[Anonymous]

Would some of the avi speakers fit into this gap, I am thinking of the avi neutrons in particular?

 

[Mr. Iceman]

Celestion - I still have a pair of SL6Si I bought new in 1991 for around 300 quid, so mid range budget? They also made SL12, 600 and 700 from late 80s to mid-90s if memory serves, that were rather expensive.

Original SL6 is from early 80s. Sorry, can't think of any other at the moment.

Is this just out of curiosity or are you thinking of replacing your Regas ?

 

[Anonymous]

Hi I am a newby but I have some Wharfedale Diamond IV which would qualify methinks.

 

[Frank Harvey]

The Musical Fidelity Reference 2's spilled over into the early 90's, and the higher quality Refrence 4's too.

 

[chebby]

Hi I am a newby but I have some Wharfedale Diamond IV which would qualify methinks.

No, they have reflex ports...

...thanks though.

 

[CnoEvil]

Celestion - I still have a pair of SL6Si I bought new in 1991 for around 300 quid, so mid range budget? They also made SL12, 600 and 700 from late 80s to mid-90s if memory serves, that were rather expensive.

Original SL6 is from early 80s. Sorry, can't think of any other at the moment.

Is this just out of curiosity or are you thinking of replacing your Regas ?

I have the SL6s from the 80s......I think later models had Aluminium tweeters and were a little more sensitive and lively than the original copper ones.......imo they need a lot of power to really get them going.

I think the MA 852 MDs were around in the early 90s......very nice speakers (I think they share some genetics with the Celestions). The cabinets were beautifully made under the auspices of Mo Iqbal....where quality took a big jump forward.

It has a high quality ferrofluid cooled dome tweeter, made by Elac to MA's specifications. The bass driver is an 8" unit and has a thermo-formed polypropylene polymer cone with a nitrile rubber surround. They measure 450mm ( H ) x 250mm (W) x 278mm (D) and are rapped in a selection of real wood veneers.

They sound detailed, dynamic and smooth (imo).

 

[Anonymous]

oops ther's a hole in the Wharfedales - sorry!

Mordant Short M30i dont have a breather but they are small.

 

[chebby]

oops ther's a hole in the Wharfedales - sorry!

Mordant Short M30i dont have a breather but they are small.

There were Mordaunt Short MS30i or Mission M30i.

Both were port reflex designs.

EDIT... oops MS30 were ported. MS30i were not. Sorry.

Thanks

 

[chebby]

Thanks Dan.

I have also just learnt that the Denon SC-M2 loudspeakers were made by JPW and were also sealed cabinet designs like their Mini Monitors.

 

[drummerman]

The Ruark Sabre's I used to have were IB. Very good speakers ... even better made.

regards

 

[WinterRacer]

B&W made a range of IB speakers, starting with the DM600 (6.5" driver I think), DM610 large standmount with 8" driver (I have a pair of these in my loft) and some large floorstanders will two 8" bass drivers called the DM620.

Btw, AVI Neutons are rear ported (well, my Neutron 5s are).

Any particular reason for asking?

<img>http://www.hifidatabase.com/static/gallery/3/5843-bw_DM600.JPG</img>

 

[hoopsontoast]

Early Ruark Sabres, Old model ATC SCM7

 

[danrv]

Interesting post.

I have a pair of Sony SS86E's that I bought 'open box' from Currys around '93 / 94. Did me for 16 years and cost only £100. Sealed box design so easy to position and 5* rating from WHF. I think it was one of the best budget speakers available at the time. They've been in the loft since I got the Dali's 3 years ago.

Also have a pair of JPW speakers connected to an 80's silver Pioneer system. They may be Mini Monitors but can't find a name on them. Budget and black ash veneer, that's where my hifi adventures began. I even built my own black veneer hifi rack that wobbled like no other. You live & learn!

 

[Mr. Iceman]

I have the SL6s from the 80s......I think later models had Aluminium tweeters and were a little more sensitive and lively than the original copper ones.......imo they need a lot of power to really get them going.

Mine are the "Si" incarnation with aluminium tweeters. Agree with you, they project a wonderful 3D image and are certainly among the most holographic speakers I have heard, little on the dark side though.

Need a bit of a push with sensitivity of only 83 dB. I have to bring the volume on my M-CR603 up to some 50-60% to bring them into life, but that's not a problem for the Marantz.

Had mine in black ash but I stripped the ungodly (damaged) paint last year to reveal the lovely wood veneer underneath. Smoothed the surface with grade 400 sand paper, applied some Danish Oil et voila! (I hope I'm not hijacking the thread with this diy stuff )

 

[Mr. Iceman]

I have the SL6s from the 80s......I think later models had Aluminium tweeters and were a little more sensitive and lively than the original copper ones.......imo they need a lot of power to really get them going.

Mine are the "Si" incarnation with aluminium tweeters. Agree with you, they project a wonderful 3D image and are certainly among the most holographic speakers I have heard, little on the dark side though.

Need a bit of a push with sensitivity of only 83 dB. I have to bring the volume on my M-CR603 up to some 50-60% to bring them into life, but that's not a problem for the Marantz.

Had mine in black ash but I stripped the ungodly (damaged) paint last year to reveal the lovely wood veneer underneath. Smoothed the surface with grade 400 sand paper, applied some Danish Oil et voila! (I hope I'm not hijacking the thread with this diy stuff )

 

[Singslinger]

I'm not sure but was the Rogers LS35A a sealed box design?

 

[CnoEvil]

Mine are the "Si" incarnation with aluminium tweeters. Agree with you, they project a wonderful 3D image and are certainly among the most holographic speakers I have heard, little on the dark side though.

Need a bit of a push with sensitivity of only 83 dB. I have to bring the volume on my M-CR603 up to some 50-60% to bring them into life, but that's not a problem for the Marantz.

Had mine in black ash but I stripped the ungodly (damaged) paint last year to reveal the lovely wood veneer underneath. Smoothed the surface with grade 400 sand paper, applied some Danish Oil et voila! (I hope I'm not hijacking the thread with this diy stuff )

Totally agree.

Mine are the originals and very heavy for all the size of them and look like this (same finish): http://www.listeninn.com/product/407001-11282/Loudspeaker/Celestion-SL6

With the right amp and certain music, they do a disappearing act.

 

[Mr. Iceman]

Mine are the "Si" incarnation with aluminium tweeters. Agree with you, they project a wonderful 3D image and are certainly among the most holographic speakers I have heard, little on the dark side though.

Need a bit of a push with sensitivity of only 83 dB. I have to bring the volume on my M-CR603 up to some 50-60% to bring them into life, but that's not a problem for the Marantz.

Had mine in black ash but I stripped the ungodly (damaged) paint last year to reveal the lovely wood veneer underneath. Smoothed the surface with grade 400 sand paper, applied some Danish Oil et voila! (I hope I'm not hijacking the thread with this diy stuff )

Totally agree.

Mine are the originals and very heavy for all the size of them and look like this (same finish): http://www.listeninn.com/product/407001-11282/Loudspeaker/Celestion-SL6

With the right amp and certain music, they do a disappearing act.

Nice!

These are mine:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9Ppnly2-dRs/UO7yZU9wncI/AAAAAAAAAA4/DH2kCJaugy4/s512/Left%2520speaker.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5XVQ5zLMdlM/UO7yanIwNXI/AAAAAAAAABA/7bPVoSFcEtY/s512/Right%2520speaker.jpg

 

[altruistic.lemon]

I'm not sure but was the Rogers LS35A a sealed box design?

The LS3/5A is a sealed box, but it also dates from a couple of decades earlier.

 

[chebby]

Thanks for all the help.

Certainly a few more than I had remembered.

However, if I stick strictly to affordable/budget*, bookshelf speakers, with sealed cabinets, from the 1990s, it seems the list still isn't very long. (I could easily fill a large van with all those I remember from the late 1970s and 1980s.)

I might renew my search for a pair of 'minty' condition JPW Sonatas. (No hurry, I can wait until a really good pair comes up on ebay.)

This is not for my main living room system, but for a small (all second-hand) system to go with our iMac in the spare-room. Slightly 'experimental' admittedly. I also want to re-acquaint myself with the 'character' of small(ish), sealed cabinet, two-way speakers.

*Affordable/budget when brand-new.

 

[WinterRacer]

Thanks for all the help.

Certainly a few more than I had remembered.

However, if I stick strictly to affordable/budget*, bookshelf speakers, with sealed cabinets, from the 1990s, it seems the list still isn't very long. (I could easily fill a large van with all those I remember from the late 1970s and 1980s.)

I might renew my search for a pair of 'minty' condition JPW Sonatas. (No hurry, I can wait until a really good pair comes up on ebay.)

This is not for my main living room system, but for a small (all second-hand) system to go with our iMac in the spare-room. Slightly 'experimental' admittedly. I also want to re-acquaint myself with the 'character' of small(ish), sealed cabinet, two-way speakers.

*Affordable/budget when brand-new.

small(ish) sealed cabinet speakers here:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/B-W-DM600-Speakers-Excellent-condition-/190780289847?pt=UK_AudioVideoElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_HiFiSpeakers&hash=item2c6b643337

(usual caveat of not knowing anything about the seller)

 

[Dougal1331]

KEF K range (i.e K120) and C range were sealed box.

Don't exactly pop up for sale often, though...

 

[chebby]

Thanks WR.

This 1991 review of the JPW Sonatas is encouraging...

http://www.makeasound.net/1/post/2012/10/jpw-sonata-a-review-from-what-hifi-may-1991.html

...now if I can just find a pair in the same condition as the one pictured. (Real wood veneered boxes courtesy of the cabinet making workshops of HM Prison Dartmoor!)

 

[WinterRacer]

My first speakers were Mordaunt Short MS15, which are very similar to the JPWs. What I really wanted was the MS100s, which as far as I can tell are identical to the JPWs. The only difference between the MS15s and the MS100s/JPW Sonatas was a greater cabinet depth and real wood veneers of the latter two.

I still had the Mordaunt Shorts in the loft until my last house move a couple of years ago, when they went to the tip in a hasty bout of decluttering.

From memory (a friend had them) the JPWs sounded pretty good, but being small and a sealed box, needed a good amount of welly to get much volume out of them.