Would These 3 Vintage "Best" Speakers Still Be Contenders Today?

[davide256]

I wouldn't turn down a pair of Linn Kan's or KEF bookshelf speakers from the 80's. I do sometimes wonder if JBL was intentionally clever in designing with a coloration

that complemented acoustic guitar.

[davide256]

4 hours ago, firedog said:

I have a pair of KEF 303's, Version II.  I think they were called  the Celeste outiside of the US. 

Believe I bought them in summer of 1981. 

They cost $450 at the time, that's about $1300-$1350 today.

 

I thought they were great then. Today they don't compare to many speakers at their price and well below: Bass response is very weak - big rolloff from 70hz - very little output below that. Aren't particularly efficient and can't play that loud. 

Today you can do much better for less. Speaker desing and technology (especially cone design and materials) has vastly improved, especially what you get for your money. 

Had to look to identify what I had... they were actually from the 70's, the Reference 103's. As a bookshelf speaker they rolled off in the bass and also at the top. But in between

they had very little driver distortion and cabinet resonance, something that even today many box speakers fail at. Definitely slow on transients by today's standards.