Upgrading from Celestion Ditton 15?

[Lee_01]

Hi All

 

Current setup is Thorens 147, Sansui Au-555 and Celestion Ditton 15.

 

I've been resisting the urge to play with the setup on account of buying a house & having a kid in the past 12 months, but I'm itching to tweak it and I've come across some 90s Richter Harlequin speakers that are in a Wife Permissable Price Range. Does anyone know much about these? Are they anything of an upgrade on my current speakers? Current ones have had the crossover capacitor updated, but not much else that wasn't merely cosmetic.

 

The sound is a bit 'foggy/woofy' for me and I was hoping to get a clearer sound with better bass at low volumes, and maybe better "imaging" (loaded term?). No idea where to look though in the sub-$500 bracket. 

 

Cheers,

Lee

[Happy]

Try something modern this time any entry ones will murder the ditton


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[Lee_01]

I get that impression, yeah. Are the Richters worth a look though?

(Problem I have with a lot of modern speakers I can afford are they are quite ugly. Being a designer means I am a shallow individual and these have to please my eyes as well as my ears.)

[Happy]

Well looks like the richters are still being sold but I guess you're looking into something vintage since the new ones are around 1.5k?


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[Happy]

Btw they're fugly....just another boring pair of skinny floorstanders


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[Lee_01]

Yeah, pair of 90's Richter Harlequins. 

 

90's probably counts as vintage I guess and now I feel old.

 

Edited June 29, 2017 by Lee_01

[allthumbs]

I used to like the combined look of my AU-555A and Ferrari red Usher S-520's on stands,  they both lent a look to each other that made them look timeless IMHO, like good science fiction films, steam punk style.

[THOMO]

The Celestion Ditton 15s are actually pretty nice.I guess they have a characterful sound more than a strictly accurate one but they are very musically engaging.

If you want stay vintage the B&W DM2s/DM2A are fabulous speakers with a much bigger and more open sound with a lovely tuneful transmission line bass.Also good at lower volumes.You should be able to get a pair of them for around $500.Not exactly slim floor standers though.

 

[charlie_bird]

I have to admit I'm still chasing a 'better' pair of speakers for my setup, but I don't know that 'modern' is always better.

I've got eight pairs of speakers in the house now and my daily drivers are a pair of 60's vintage Aurex Toshiba's.

You can buy and sell some different speakers under $500 and see what you like... If your are inclined that way. That's what I've done, just a bit behind on the selling

Your amp may be a contributing factor as well, the the older Sansui amps have softer (duller?) sound. 

 

 

[THOMO]

The Thorens turntables can sound a bit foggy/woolly too.Especially if the cartridge is a bit that way.

The Stanton 681EEE works really well with them however and will give a more vibrant,open and snappy sound.

[Misternavi]

Going to be hard to find  new speakers that have the  vintage look with out spending big bucks (harbeths/ Spendors) 
I have  a pair of Monitor Audio MA6 budget speakers that are the size of Harbeth SHL5 would suit you for under $200. Would work well with the Sansui. @Lee_01

 

Ivan

[Lee_01]

The Thorens turntables can sound a bit foggy/woolly too.Especially if the cartridge is a bit that way.
The Stanton 681EEE works really well with them however and will give a more vibrant,open and snappy sound.

Current cart is Ortofon Super OM 40. Maybe 12months of daily use on it.


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[Bronal]

Have you had the speakers checked to see if the driver surrounds need replacing?

 

That might be contributing to a 'foggy' sound.