Opinions on these ADS speakers

[Snade]

Local guy is selling these at a reasonable price.

These are the later version of the ADS L710, the owner bought them in the early 80's.

Are these great speakers or just OK?

I need these like a hole in the head, but I've liked all the ADS I've heard, but never owned them.

 

[JohnVF]

I guess a lot of it is relative to what you like and are used to. I borrowed a pair of ADS L-880s (I think....) about a decade ago because I liked the Braun-look but they didn't last an evening. They just, to me, sounded like what they were...decent '80s speakers. Dynamics were constrained, and the top-end was a bit harsh, which might have been age related. I had them on about 170wpc so power shouldn't have been the problem. Those Allison speakers you had, they are kind of in that camp, at least the 880s were similar, though I think the Allisons imaged better and were generally more interesting speakers. I had the next one down from what you had, I think. CD7? I've read that the 710s are better than the ones I had but my memory is a bit foggy. The last ADS I had were the very tiny ones, the L-300e... lovely -looking- speakers but impossible to get going. A desktop speaker that wanted a small-fridge-sized amp. Hope this is of some help.

 

[Snade]

I guess a lot of it is relative to what you like and are used to. I borrowed a pair of ADS L-880s (I think....) about a decade ago because I liked the Braun-look but they didn't last an evening. They just, to me, sounded like what they were...decent '80s speakers. Dynamics were constrained, and the top-end was a bit harsh, which might have been age related. I had them on about 170wpc so power shouldn't have been the problem. Those Allison speakers you had, they are kind of in that camp, at least the 880s were similar, though I think the Allisons imaged better and were generally more interesting speakers. I had the next one down from what you had, I think. CD7? I've read that the 710s are better than the ones I had but my memory is a bit foggy. The last ADS I had were the very tiny ones, the L-300e... lovely -looking- speakers but impossible to get going. A desktop speaker that wanted a small-fridge-sized amp. Hope this is of some help.

Right, I had the Allison CD8 speakers. Technically, I still "own" them but they in a friends house in Michigan. I really liked the design of these, but never fell in love with the sound.

One reason I'm interested in these ADS is I have custom metal stands that will fit them nicely and look cool. And I like the look of these metal grills. I listened to several 800ish and 900ish ADS models at a friends near Chicago and they sounded big and well balanced.

My beautiful wifey is not in love with the photo of these ADS speakers, so this will probably not happen, but I'm intrigued by these guys.

Mark

aka Snade

 

[JohnVF]

Right, I had the Allison CD8 speakers. Technically, I still "own" them but they in a friends house in Michigan. I really liked the design of these, but never fell in love with the sound.

One reason I'm interested in these ADS is I have custom metal stands that will fit them nicely and look cool. And I like the look of these metal grills. I listened to several 800ish and 900ish ADS models at a friends near Chicago and they sounded big and well balanced.

My beautiful wifey is not in love with the photo of these ADS speakers, so this will probably not happen, but I'm intrigued by these guys.

Mark

aka Snade

If you painted the grille a slightly different color I think they'd look really cool and fit in with the MCM vibe. The brown is strange, though.

 

[Snade]

If you painted the grille a slightly different color I think they'd look really cool and fit in with the MCM vibe. The brown is strange, though.

Wifey also does not dig the brown grills. What color would paint them - black? Or possibly an off white? Silver?

Here are the stands I have in the closet that will fit them.

 

[Andyman]

The 710 is a bit of a cult classic as it seems more well loved then the next step up 810. If those are Dynaco A25s in the picture, you may enjoy the 710s, as I liked both my A25s and the 810s. Regardless, you shouldn't have too much trouble reselling them should they not entice you.

FWIW, I wouldn't paint them at all, as that most likely would devalue them significantly for resale.

 

[JohnVF]

Wifey also does not dig the brown grills. What color would paint them - black? Or possibly an off white? Silver?

Here are the stands I have in the closet that will fit them.

View attachment 67494

I think they'd look better with a cream/white grill personally. Those are cool stands.

I have a pair of A25s in the basement that I'd bought grille-cloth for (have burlap on them) that matched the look of original but was a newer material and...one of my Harbeth SHL-5 suffered a tumble off their stands and the grille cloth got a big snag. After getting no response from Harbeth or their distributer I just ripped the old cloth off of the frames and put the A25 cloth on ....so now I have Harbeths that look like A25s.

Which is a long way of saying yeah, I agree it might affect the resale value (especially of Harbeths) but sometimes you just have to do it.

 

[mhardy6647]

I love 'em.
Indeed, I have a pair of L-710s (courtesy of the Harvard, MA transfer station). They are on long-term loan to a hifi fellow traveler who lives across the river in VT, as I felt guilty that I wasn't using them.



They are just plain pleasant to listen to, in the best sense of the word.

The cat-proof grilles were a plus when we lived in MA (and had cats), and I replaced the Polk 7As in the family room with 'em for several years due to the proclivities of Griswold the cat (who was, in all other respects, a fine cat).

EDIT: Since the L-880 was mentioned above. Many years back, still in MA, I briefly had a pair of L-780s that I bought from their original owner (a coworker) albeit for a very good price. They were like-new perfect, in their original packaging (and, by the looks of things, probably not used very much and/or for very long). I thought they sounded bland in the extreme, so I sent them on their way rather quickly. Just one anecdotal data point.

 

[JohnVF]

I love 'em.
Indeed, I have a pair of L-710s (courtesy of the Harvard, MA transfer station). They are on long-term loan to a hifi fellow traveler who lives across the river in VT, as I felt guilty that I wasn't using them.



They are just plain pleasant to listen to, in the best sense of the word.

The cat-proof grilles were a plus when we lived in MA (and had cats), and I replaced the Polk 7As in the family room with 'em for several years due to the proclivities of Griswold the cat (who was, in all other respects, a fine cat).

EDIT: Since the L-880 was mentioned above. Many years back, still in MA, I briefly had a pair of L-780s that I bought from their original owner (a coworker) albeit for a very good price. They were like-new perfect, in their original packaging (and, by the looks of things, probably not used very much and/or for very long). I thought they sounded bland in the extreme, so I sent them on their way rather quickly. Just one anecdotal data point.

I'm actually happy to hear that maybe the 880s I had were just in the bland-camp generation and perhaps the others aren't.

 

[Andyman]

Re: Painting speakers.
I picked these Boston Acoustics CR6s up for $10, they were asking $20, because the owners roller painted them when wall mounted. I spent an hour with a toothbrush stripping the grilles, and even sanded a side to repaint them, but finally decided that was too much work and installed them on the workbench where it doesn’t matter what they look like,

 

[avguytx]

If you're anywhere near central AR, I have a pair of ads L1230's I'm pondering letting go. Have the updated mids and tweeters from Richard So, updated crossovers, and new grill cloth on re-solidified frames. Simply great sounding speakers but I still prefer my Klipsch Epic CF-3's for what my odd hearing has gone to. And yes, it's odd that having tinnitus, I prefer the Klipsch....but they aren't like Heritage. ha.

 

[Andyman]

I also have a set of little ADS L300s in the bedroom. They're slightly bigger than Minimus 7s and blow them way. A buddy brought them to a swaproom I had years ago and I hooked them up so folks could audition them and after about a half hour of play I decided to buy them. They're probably lifers as there big sound and small size make them perfect for listening in a small area.

 

[Snade]

If you're anywhere near central AR, I have a pair of ads L1230's I'm pondering letting go. Have the updated mids and tweeters from Richard So, updated crossovers, and new grill cloth on re-solidified frames. Simply great sounding speakers but I still prefer my Klipsch Epic CF-3's for what my odd hearing has gone to. And yes, it's odd that having tinnitus, I prefer the Klipsch....but they aren't like Heritage. ha.

I'm sure those sound amazing. I'm in SE Florida, so a little far away.

But much appreciate the thought.

Mark

aka Snade

 

[mpholland]

I haven't had any experience with the 900 series and above, but I have had570's, 700's, 730's, 780's, and 810's. I think the 730 was by far the best with the 810's coming in second. Didn't care for the 780's as much as I thought I would, but were better than the 2 ways.

 

[Tom Brennan]

Back when they were new I thought ADS speakers had excellent clarity but were kind'a zippy on the highs, but not quite so zippy as to be bad speakers. Back then a pal was considering buying ADSs but then he ran across some gorgeous Altec Carmels (twin model 414 12" woofers and a 806-811 driver-horn) at a very reasonable price and bought them.

 

[billfort]

Does anyone remember which ADS model Kegger had? I heard them a few times in his tube systems and they sounded very nice.

But then that was on Kegger homebrew amps, and he was kind of a magician with a soldering iron.

 

[Andyman]

@billfort I’m pretty sure those were 880s as I sold around 3 sets of them. I thought about keeping them, but I liked his E-waved KPM-100s a bit more.

 

[JohnVF]

@billfort I’m pretty sure those were 880s as I sold around 3 sets of them. I thought about keeping them, but I liked his E-waved KPM-100s a bit more.

Unrelated but I have a pair of HPM-100s coming in for free. Hmmmm. Ok carry on.

 

[Snade]

Unrelated but I have a pair of HPM-100s coming in for free. Hmmmm. Ok carry on.

I feel a disturbance in the force.

 

[Andyman]

Unrelated but I have a pair of HPM-100s coming in for free. Hmmmm. Ok carry on.

These were so archtypical Kegger...