Many audiophiles and music lovers still prefer vintage speakers because of the warm sound that comes with older audio equipment. For others, it’s just the nostalgia of it all. In this article, we will be looking at the best vintage speakers under $1000 and the best vintage speakers under $500.
Before you continue, you can also check out other guides in this series:
Best Vintage Bookshelf Speakers of All Time
Vintage vs Modern Speakers
Best Vintage Bookshelf Speakers
Best 70s Vintage Bookshelf Speakers
Best Vintage Speakers Under $1000
1. Magnepan MMG
This is a speaker made out of magneplanar film with ribbon drivers. They deliver deep and wide soundstage.
They, however, need some breathing space to sound their best. Besides, they don’t look traditional!
Pros
- Built from magneplanar technology
- Sound excellent
Cons
- Power-hungry
2. Paradigm Classic Monitor 7
Liked by many audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts, this seventh generation of the monitor series is the true definition of refinement and longevity in a series that has stood the test of time.
It perfectly plays down to 48Hz with a sensitivity of 91dB. They are therefore straightforward to drive.
Pros
- Classic sound
- Easy to drive
- Solid build quality
Cos
3. Focal Profile 908 Diamond
You can now get these speakers for under $1000. They offer an incredible soundstage with superb dynamics.
If you need high-end sound, you need these speakers.
Pros
- Incredible sound quality
- Value for money
4. Wharfdale Diamond 10.5 Tower Speakers
Wharfdale is a legendary brand in audiophile circles. The Diamond 10.5 tower speakers present a three-way speaker with a 2-inch domed midrange together with a 6.5-inch bass driver.
These full-range speakers are impactful and will play orchestral music with more power even without a sub.
Pros
- Impactful and powerful
- High build quality
Cons
- It needs a good quality amp to sound best
5. Fluance SX6W High Definition Two-Way Bookshelf Loudspeakers
These vintage speakers are very sensitive and will adequately respond to frequencies between 50Hz to 20kHz.
- Premium components ensure serious performance, natural sound and great reliability at an exceptional value;...
- Engineered MDF wood construction to reduce cabinet resonance; Ultra high-end Neodymium tweeters provide...
- Butyl rubber surrounds for increased durability and performance; Tuned bass port for controlled low frequency...
They are built with 5-inch Polymer treated woofer drivers and 1-inch neodymium tweeter and consume less power (30 – 100 Watts).
Pros
- Affordable
- Simple setup process
- Easy to place on stands or wall mount
- Stylish and easily blends with vintage décor
Cons
- The black color finish model isn’t really vintage
6. Klipsch R-24F Floorstanding Speaker
This speaker comes with a dual 4.5-inch copper-spun, a dynamic horn-loaded tweeter, and high-output woofers.
Besides, it has a high sensitivity of up to 95 dB and operates normally within 45-24,000 Hz. It delivers a room-filling sound, especially if paired with another. Besides, it is versatile and will fit into any room size.
Pros
- Reproduces Hi-Fi sound
Cons
- Not sold in pairs
7. TEWELL Portable Vintage Speaker
Suppose you are looking for a portable vintage speaker with high sensitivity. In that case, this speaker brings professionally-tuned drivers with a bass reflex system that will turn around your sound experience with a budget below $1000.
- POWERFUL STEREO SOUND: Powered by two professionally-tuned full-frequency drivers, Retrorock delivers stereo...
- DEEP BASS: With the state-of-the-art Bass Reflex System, Retrorock provides a whole new experience of...
- WIRELESSLY CONNECTION: Provides lossless wireless sound at a range of up to 33 feet while maintaining strong...
Pros
- Connects and serves for multipurpose
- Bluetooth connectivity
Cons
- Bluetooth connection range is narrow
- Heavy
8. Edifier S1000DB Audiophile Active Bookshelf Speakers
This classical, premium bookshelf speaker is very sensitive and comes with a 5.5-inch woofer drive and 1.1-inch treble driver that deliver more sound fidelity above its price.
- BLUETOOTH 4.0 aptX connectivity – Stream high quality sound wirelessly with minimal loss
- OPTICAL / COAXIAL and AUX inputs - Attach the professional studio speakers to multiple sources at the same...
- 5.5 INCH MID-RANGE UNIT - Coupled with Digital Sound Processing (DSP) technology to deliver 120 watts RMS...
The power consumption is 120 watts RMS and works within 48Hz to 20kHz.
Pros
- Classical design
- Remote controller included
- Supports Bluetooth
Cons
- The sound output is not perfect
9. Marshall Black Stanmore Bluetooth Speaker
Built with a dual 5 1/4 –inch woofer driver and dual 1-inch dome tweeter, this portable Bluetooth speaker brings you a compelling design.
With 80W power consumption, the sound performance is as expected. Also, it is compatible with many devices and will seamlessly connect to smartphones via Bluetooth.
Pros
- Sound clarity
- Bluetooth connectivity
Cons
- Price not justifiable
Best Vintage Speakers For Rock Music
1. JBL Professional 308P
These 2-way studio monitor speakers come in three different sizes – 5″, 6″, and 8″. They deliver impressive deep bass with lower harmonic distortion.
For a rock music lover, the classic design with new boundary EQ, adjustable frequency response, and a broad sweet spot for fine-tuning make it an excellent choice for rock.
Pros
- Modern design
- Dual integrated amps
- Flexible connectivity
- Low-frequency transducers
- Peel off rubber pads
Cons
- Not as powerful
2. JBL Studio 530
Best for rock and roll music, this speaker from JBL comes with a 5.25-inch speaker. The speaker is built with low-frequency transducers and a polyPlas cone.
In addition, the studio 530 has dual-gold-plated binding posts with bi-wire capability that gives it added connectivity options.
Pros
- Exclusive design
- Bi-wire capability
- High-impact bass performance
- Reduces unwanted resonances
Cons
- The price is much higher
3. JBL SRX835P
This speaker comes with JL premium transducers with a complete user-configurable DSP. It has a class D amplifier and can handle up to 2000W power.
Pros
- Easy to transport
- Clear sound
- Network control
- Intuitive to use
Cons
- Very expensive
4. JBL GT-BassPro
This is a high bass car audio subwoofer with so many possibilities. It has a 12″ polypropylene cone, a built-in 150-watt amplifier, and remote control.
Pros
- Vented polepiece
- Best performance and value
- Oversized speaker-protection bars
- Automatic on/off function
Cons
- High power consumption
Vintage Stereo Speakers List
- KEF Coda II (1982)
- Wharfedale Diamond I (1982)
- Mission 70 MK II (1983)
- Heybrook HB1 (1983)
- Acoustic Energy AE1 (1988)
- Epos ES11 (1991)
- Monitor Audio Studio 20 (1992)
- Mission 753 (1992)
- Tannoy Mercury M2 (1997)
- Dynaudio Contour 1.1 (1999)
FAQs
1. How many years can a speaker made in the 70s last?
2. Are vintage speakers from the 70s worth getting?
Yes, they absolutely are. Most antique speakers are less efficient than modern speakers. They may not play as loudly as you’d want in a bigger room. Many people enjoy the warm sound of older audio equipment, while some may prefer the modern sound of the most recent speakers.
You can get them as decoration pieces. Some people like collecting old audio systems and equipment as a hobby.
3. How does dirt affect the old speakers?
One must know that dirt can get trapped in the systems, impacting their performance and producing mediocre music. Cleaning keeps them in great condition and ensures that your music sounds wonderful. Also, polishing them may make them look new.
In the case of vintage speakers, extra care and attention must be given to make them last even longer and preserve them.
4. Which premium vintage brand made good speakers in the 1970s?
JBL built a plethora of speakers in that period. Here is the list of good ones they made:
- JBL Professional 308P
- JBL Studio 530
- JBL SRX835P
- JBL GT-BassPro