Learnings, Insights and Tips on Speakers, Subs and DJing
Subwoofers were used extensively in movie theatres in the late ’60s and ’70s, and they were far from consumer items. Yes, they existed but weren’t part of the consumer HiFi experience. A few subs that were around the late ’70s and ’80s were geared towards music, which has different requirements than home theater systems, which … Read more
A developing school of thought suggests something must be nice because it’s new and bad if it’s old. But in reality, quality hi-fi is as timeless as great music. Throughout the first 15 years of my life, I have been forced to listen to music on inferior systems. I had no idea my dad was … Read more
Back in the 60s and 70s, “bookshelf” speakers actually sat inside a bookshelf. These speakers were more compact than floor-standing speakers and could easily sit on a table, be placed on a stand, and even be mounted on a wall. Back then, the only speakers that were “happy” to be close to a wall were … Read more
By the early to mid-1970s, the Japanese giants YAMAHA, Matsushita Electric (Technics), and SONY had established a reputation as world leaders in producing audio equipment. Japanese engineers recognized the need for fundamentally new technology. They started a tireless and frantic search for technical solutions for the new concept. By this time, analog recording and mixing … Read more
The generalized idea is that speakers from a company that makes receivers are not very good. In the same way, great speaker manufacturers often don’t make the best headphones. Marantz, though, made some excellent speakers. The older HD series has really excellent speakers and are often overlooked. They were developed by Edmund (Ed) May, formerly an … Read more
Disclosure: Some product links in this guide may be affiliate links. If you buy through them, Starting to DJ may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend gear that makes sense for the topic, not just whatever pays the most. Some speakers remain in the memory of several generations … Read more
Sony usually gets that bad rep when discussing vintage speakers, or to say it better, lack of interest. To most folks, Sony is more synonymous with its mass-market Walkman and PlayStation products than high-end and innovatively engineered loudspeakers. But, being the giant it was (and still is), Sony still had the resources to dip its … Read more
Altec Lansing was dominant in the USA in cinemas and studios, and homes with “higher requirements” from the 40s until the late 70s. Then it went down in connection with purchases from various technology/investment companies, and engineers fled to other companies like JBL, EV, and others. Any day of the week, older Altec Lansing beats … Read more
I have bought and sold all kinds of speakers over the years since I was in the DJ business, and I know a lot about sound. I noticed that vintage Cerwin Vega is a brand that rarely receives positive reviews. What is it regarding that brand? Is it their West Coast Sound heritage? Is it … Read more
The under-appreciation of Kenwood audio equipment has long bewildered me. Kenwood manufactured some of the best speakers out there, although they are rare. You will hear many so-called audiophiles call Kenwood speakers “Kabuki nonsense.” However, if you like listening to good music more than talking about it, you will be impressed with some of its … Read more