What differences are there between portable loud speakers and home units?

[Zeke]

Talking about multi-way towers. I recently came upon some maybe 70's speakers made in Japan for Realistic. Radio Shack I presume. They are black, have carry handles, metal corner protectors and 1/4" mono jacks. I don't see these jacks on home units ever.

Beyond that, what would you think are any differences in dynamics? They sound clear and big. Kinda blew my Pacific Stereo era 3-ways away. I doubt I can hear much by the way of high frequency anymore but these definitely shove the cymbals out there.

Will be going through an equalizer as soon as I get my stereo project done. I've pulled all the components off the shelf, cleaned things up and serviced the pots and connections. And I'm adding that equalizer.

Funny, over the years I have had a few individual components go south. These include an equalizer, CD player and tape deck (cassette). But my Viet Nam era receiver just keeps on ticking. It puts out a nice sound given what's in the room. I have a newer Harmon Kardon that just doesn't cut it. That'll go in the garage with some Bose bookshelves I have.

I have a ton of old music from vinyl to cassette to CD's. I'm working on getting what I can on drives, thumb and solid state HD.

[astrochex]

The Japanese speakers are also 3-way?

Are the drivers sizes similar between the two?

[ltusler]

They are probably PA speakers and will do well with the mids and highs, you may need a sub to get down low.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by ltusler

They are probably PA speakers and will do well with the mids and highs, you may need a sub to get down low.

That depends on "low." I've never appreciated a sub woofer. I don't like that type of sound. Subs to me came on the scene about the same time as rap. I can understand why that sound is needed to get the point of rap but it's not the sound I was raised with. In fact, my youth was spent with a single speaker in the dash and an AM table radio. When the stereo revolution hit about the same time as the Beetles I got into that as did my peers. But let's face it, that was then and a long time ago, certainly before surround sound and woofers.

I listened to contemporary music, top 40 if you will, until punk came out. That was it for me and I retreated to my roots while throwing a bit of country into the mix. The Urban Cowboy thing and all that.

So, I don't need big lows. Just wondered about the speakers. PA does make some sense but I wonder what the construction of a dedicated PA speaker would be in comparison to what a small band might set up. Or, these could have been for an early version of a DJ. DJ's have been around for a long time.

I should have opened one up.

[pwd72s]

Milt, Hell, if they sound good to you, plug them in and enjoy.

FWIW, I had my old 70's JBL's reconed...just wasn't crazy about the sound of today's offerings that I listened to.
Maybe it was just liking what I was used to.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by astrochex

The Japanese speakers are also 3-way?

Are the drivers sizes similar between the two?

Somewhat, but they aren't really different like say what has been used for large concert speakers. I have been close to a concert bank and that's an amazing experience. Probably lost 10% of my hearing in 10 minutes.

Good question and as I said, I should have opened one up. 10" seems to be a norm.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by ltusler

They are probably PA speakers and will do well with the mids and highs, you may need a sub to get down low.

I agree.

Also with PA systems the amps were higher in distortion, I'm pretty sure the speakers were too.

PA systems were meant to be played at one volume - loud.

The drivers are not delicate nor of light weight construction. Heavy construction can take power, but light construction makes good for lower listening levels and responsive dynamics.

PA System = X15 Rocket ignited

Audiophile System = Powered glider

A PA based system needs to be cranked up to come alive in other words, and that can be fatiguing in the long run, even outdoors.

Bottom Line: If it sounds good to your ears then buy it.

Truth is, as we age we lose our high frequency hearing as the little hairs in our ear canal die out. This means we may favor high frequency leaning systems, and we may not hear the distortion that often comes with it.

Like it, buy it.

To me the true test of a speaker system isn't how good it sounds at any one level, it's how good it sounds at all volume levels. This is a very difficult thing to do.

It's like having an off the line torque master of an engine, and having a peppy high revving engine all rolled into one.

[serene911]

Hey Milt, a good sub woofer,set up correctly as part of an integrated system works
great. They are designed to make up for the lack of bass in the main speakers. The
ones that are boomy are cranked up by idiots who want to vibrate their car or living
room apart. The good ones have a cross over system as well as a volume control so
you can dial in the correct amount of bass so it is correctly balanced with the main
speakers. Also great for home theater set ups

[kach22i]

We have to see the speakers to even being to guess at their low end performance.

Most PA systems are large and can produce bass, however if this is not a sealed box, or even ported box and what you have is an open baffle dynamic loudspeaker system then you may lack bass. However this would be my favorite kind of PA speaker as box colorations are reduced.

Remember, PA systems not only can be higher distortion (which you probably will not notice at your age) but they can less accurate and more colored as they are designed for efficiency not accuracy.

Shotgun verses sniper rifle.

The shotgun being the PA system.

[KFC911]

I have vintage Polk SDAs available....even if you can't hear the whole 20-20k range....dawgs can . 180 lbs each....I've never been a sub man either Milt....these are perfect for ya

[Zeke]

Wow, good discussion. I'm sure I underestimated the PPOT brain trust when it came to sound systems.

I like what Paul and others have said more or less, if it works bone't fix it.

BTW, beforehand, I had some pretty nice bookshelf units running on the B side at the same time as my floor speakers. I placed them high sort of like you see some of the trick Bose set ups and they brought a lot of mid range brightness to the overall sound, given the room in which my stuff is located, of course.

BTW, that room is 15 X 15 and full of siht on the walls and lots of furniture to absorb the sound. I mean like this room is dead, sound wise.

I've walked into many houses in my line of work, maybe at my peak a 100 a year, and have seen every sound system there is spare some 25 grand $et (which I have seen and heard one) and I don't like big rooms sparsely furnished with hard surface floors. Yet I see this more often than not. The sound is irritating at any elevated volume.

You guys might criticize me but the last thing I like is those tiny Bose cubes way up in the corners and out about 2 feet supported by a sub buried in the coffee table. The sound is coming from everywhere. I like to face the sound. Maybe that's why I hate the movie theater.

I do headphones now and then but not my favorite these days. Ear buds are nasty. No depth.

[scottmandue]

PA speakers in the house? Why not!

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

PA speakers in the house? Why not!

Horns are supper efficient and will probably not fry an amp with poor impedance matching.

Understanding Impedance
https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/understanding-impedance

No home studio is immune from issues of impedance, yet the subject can seem very confusing. In this workshop we explain what the recording musician needs to know about impedance, and show you how to avoid lifeless guitar sounds, digital glitches, and fried amps!

Yep, mixing PA equipment with home stereo equipment can lead to impedance mismatches that can result in fried amps or speakers.

Maybe I should have started with this?

Originally Posted by Zeke

BTW, that room is 15 X 15

Bass node nightmare square rooms are.

Active room equalization may be able to cure that though.

[cairns]

Where did you get your JBLs re coned? I have an old pair of 4311s that need crossovers. They're still one of the best sounding speakers I've ever had.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by cairns

Where did you get your JBLs re coned? I have an old pair of 4311s that need crossovers. They're still one of the best sounding speakers I've ever had.

Search around there are a number of people doing it.
My Altec A7's were in a studio that got broke into, the speakers were too big to steal so they left them behind... but the robbers got the bright idea to burn the studio down to cover their tracks... but the studio had sprinklers so it didn't burn down... but my speakers got soaked. Found a local guy who did reconing out of his garage (did work for Disneyland).
you can even DIY, we had a tech here at work that did his own reconing. I think you can find kits on eBay.
I actually thought of going into the biz.

On a side note, our studio was on federal land so the FBI found the thieves and returned everything they stole.

[Sooner or later]

I am a rocker so Bose is a noze.

Realistic brand was really nothing special back in the day.

Currently running Yamaha power through Infinity surround sound. Nothing special. I have an entire monster set of Polk towers that are boxed and never used.

For music I don't like surround. Believe it or not the best system I ever owned (everyone LOVED) was two pairs af Large Advent Loudspeakers that were stacked. Chrystal clear and could make your ears bleed. I build up two kit Hafler power amps that I bridged. Something like 300 watts. Hafler kit for a pre amp. Pioneer turntable with Grado cartridge. . Whole set up was less than 1500 bucks but performed like a million.

[cairns]

Thanks Scott. I found the parts for the crossovers on line but was afraid to try it myself. Looks like I probably will anyway.

[fintstone]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Wow, good discussion. I'm sure I underestimated the PPOT brain trust when it came to sound systems.

I like what Paul and others have said more or less, if it works bone't fix it.

BTW, beforehand, I had some pretty nice bookshelf units running on the B side at the same time as my floor speakers. I placed them high sort of like you see some of the trick Bose set ups and they brought a lot of mid range brightness to the overall sound, given the room in which my stuff is located, of course.

BTW, that room is 15 X 15 and full of siht on the walls and lots of furniture to absorb the sound. I mean like this room is dead, sound wise.

I've walked into many houses in my line of work, maybe at my peak a 100 a year, and have seen every sound system there is spare some 25 grand $et (which I have seen and heard one) and I don't like big rooms sparsely furnished with hard surface floors. Yet I see this more often than not. The sound is irritating at any elevated volume.

You guys might criticize me but the last thing I like is those tiny Bose cubes way up in the corners and out about 2 feet supported by a sub buried in the coffee table. The sound is coming from everywhere. I like to face the sound. Maybe that's why I hate the movie theater.

I do headphones now and then but not my favorite these days. Ear buds are nasty. No depth.

Need to mount the tiny Bose cubes at the same level as you listen...so chairback/sofa height.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Sooner or later

I am a rocker so Bose is a noze.

Realistic brand was really nothing special back in the day.

Currently running Yamaha power through Infinity surround sound. Nothing special. I have an entire monster set of Polk towers that are boxed and never used.

For music I don't like surround. Believe it or not the best system I ever owned (everyone LOVED) was two pairs af Large Advent Loudspeakers that were stacked. Chrystal clear and could make your ears bleed. I build up two kit Hafler power amps that I bridged. Something like 300 watts. Hafler kit for a pre amp. Pioneer turntable with Grado cartridge. . Whole set up was less than 1500 bucks but performed like a million.

Stacked. That's what I am doing. It does do the trick.

To the Realistic comment: agreed. That was never a premium brand although RS did sell some decent stuff now and then. It was all over-priced which I suppose is why they are almost gone now.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Stacked. That's what I am doing. It does do the trick.

To the Realistic comment: agreed. That was never a premium brand although RS did sell some decent stuff now and then. It was all over-priced which I suppose is why they are almost gone now.

If they are made in Japan they are probably old and might be fairly high quality.

I have JBL surround speakers with a 15" powered CV sub, the front satellites were not putting out enough volume and mid-bass for me so I bought some tower speakers for the front. I really liked the Bose towers they had at the time, but in the listening room they had some Sony towers right next to them that sounded almost as good but half the price, I bought the Sony's