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Speakers for 30 year old Technics stereo


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Old 17-02-2016, 13:28
Charky
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Hi,

I have a Technics stereo system that is about 30 years old. I would like to change the speakers for new ones, ideally wireless ones but don't know which ones I should be going for as I don't know if the fittings will be ok as the stereo's so old. Could anyone possibly point me in the right direction on Amazon please?

Many thanks
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Old 17-02-2016, 13:40
chrisjr
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Model of the system would help as would a rough ballpark figure for how much you are willing to spend.

Forget about wireless speakers. The Technics system is very very unlikely to work with any wireless setup. Stick to cables. In any case do you have a mains socket close to where the speakers will be sited? If not then they are going to be very quiet, you did know that wireless speakers either need built in amplification or an external amplifier to drive them and that amplifier will need a mains supply?

I would also not buy speakers from Amazon, very difficult to hear them in action with an online store. You really need to listen to a set of speakers as sound quality can be very subjective. What I like in a pair of speakers may not be what you like and vice versa.
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Old 17-02-2016, 13:48
fmradiotuner1
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If wanting wireless look at soundbars though they will not work with the Technics unlikely.
depending on budget some like these would be really good
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wharfedale-9...fedale+Diamond
though also need speaker cable and a Bluetooth adaptor for your device.
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Old 17-02-2016, 15:44
Charky
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Model of the system would help as would a rough ballpark figure for how much you are willing to spend.

Forget about wireless speakers. The Technics system is very very unlikely to work with any wireless setup. Stick to cables. In any case do you have a mains socket close to where the speakers will be sited? If not then they are going to be very quiet, you did know that wireless speakers either need built in amplification or an external amplifier to drive them and that amplifier will need a mains supply?

I would also not buy speakers from Amazon, very difficult to hear them in action with an online store. You really need to listen to a set of speakers as sound quality can be very subjective. What I like in a pair of speakers may not be what you like and vice versa.
Thank you for your reply Chris. I don't have the model number, I no longer have the instruction booklets and I can't access the back or underneath of the system as I hurt my back not so long ago so I'm having to be very careful. All I know is that it has a turntable, tuner, amplifier, cassette deck and cd player! There will be a mains socket next to the system.
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Old 17-02-2016, 15:47
Charky
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If wanting wireless look at soundbars though they will not work with the Technics unlikely.
depending on budget some like these would be really good
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wharfedale-9...fedale+Diamond
though also need speaker cable and a Bluetooth adaptor for your device.
Thank you for your reply fmradiotuner. They don't have to be wireless, it was just an idea. Because I can't access the back of the stereo, I can't see the connections for the speakers. (The stereo and current speakers are in situ at the moment but I want to move them over the other side of the room and have slimmer, possibly taller speakers than my current ones, which are on a stand). Thanks for sending the link too, these are a lot like my current speakers though, so I am looking for tall and slim lol

Would current speakers have a connection that will go in the back of a system 30 years old or does it vary?
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Old 17-02-2016, 16:08
chrisjr
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Would current speakers have a connection that will go in the back of a system 30 years old or does it vary?
If it is one of their "proper" HiFi amplifiers then it will likely have standard screw or spring terminal speaker connectors that accept a simple bare wire connection which is pretty much universal. You just need a bit of two core cable to hook up the speaker.

Even so, if it did have some odd proprietary plug arrangement you just chop the cable off the old speakers and bare the ends of the wire and attach to the new speakers which will almost certainly have standard screw or spring terminals on.
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Old 17-02-2016, 16:27
AlanO
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Have to say for a 30 year old system I'd be looking for some second-hand speakers.

Something like JPW Monitors or Sonatas which could be picked up for less than £50.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_fr...w=jpw&_sacat=0

or some Tannoy Mercurys

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_od...rcury&_sacat=0

The age of the system means spending more on newer speakers is probably something of a false economy.
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Old 17-02-2016, 16:35
Charky
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If it is one of their "proper" HiFi amplifiers then it will likely have standard screw or spring terminal speaker connectors that accept a simple bare wire connection which is pretty much universal. You just need a bit of two core cable to hook up the speaker.

Even so, if it did have some odd proprietary plug arrangement you just chop the cable off the old speakers and bare the ends of the wire and attach to the new speakers which will almost certainly have standard screw or spring terminals on.
Thanks Chris, when I can get someone to look around the back of the stereo I'll be able to suss out whether it's a simple thing to connect the speakers.
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Old 17-02-2016, 16:39
Charky
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Have to say for a 30 year old system I'd be looking for some second-hand speakers.

Something like JPW Monitors or Sonatas which could be picked up for less than £50.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_fr...w=jpw&_sacat=0

or some Tannoy Mercurys

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_od...rcury&_sacat=0

The age of the system means spending more on newer speakers is probably something of a false economy.
Thanks Alan,

Although it's 30 years old, it still has fantastic quality sound, but I wouldn't want to pay a lot for the speakers anyway, so will have a look at the links you kindly sent.
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Old 17-02-2016, 16:48
chrisjr
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Thanks Chris, when I can get someone to look around the back of the stereo I'll be able to suss out whether it's a simple thing to connect the speakers.
There are two main standard types of speaker connector

Spring loaded like this

http://faq.yamaha.com/images/Zone%20...0Terminals.jpg

or screw like this

http://faq.yamaha.com/images/RX-V775WA%20EXT%20SPKR.jpg

(ignore the fact they are from the Yamaha website every manufacturer uses virtually identical connectors)

They accept bare wires so are universally compatible.

It would only be a problem if Technics used some odd socket arrangement unique to them and you didn't have the matching plugs. If it does have some odd plug and socket arrangement and you do have the existing speakers with suitable plugs on the end of a bit of wire then you simply re-use the bit of wire (even if that means cutting off at the back of the speaker). Any modern HiFi speaker will use one of the standard type of connectors so you just bare the end of the existing cable and attach that to the speaker.
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Old 17-02-2016, 17:15
dearmrman
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To complicate matters a little, not sure what it is called though...but my Technics has 4 wires from the amp to each speaker...rather than the usual two.
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Old 17-02-2016, 17:51
fmradiotuner1
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my amps are like this so will take most speakers
https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5673/2...d0aaf986_o.jpg
https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5772/2...1df9f723_o.jpg
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Old 17-02-2016, 19:25
AlanO
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To complicate matters a little, not sure what it is called though...but my Technics has 4 wires from the amp to each speaker...rather than the usual two.
Some Technics systems had a 'surround sound' feature so there were two sets of terminals, one for the main speakers one for the surround.
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Old 17-02-2016, 19:35
anthony david
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To complicate matters a little, not sure what it is called though...but my Technics has 4 wires from the amp to each speaker...rather than the usual two.
I think at this point you will have to state the model number of the amp and speakers as four wires could imply lots of things such as non standard speakers with separate bass and treble amps.
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Old 17-02-2016, 20:15
dearmrman
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I think at this point you will have to state the model number of the amp and speakers as four wires could imply lots of things such as non standard speakers with separate bass and treble amps.
I think they are described as bi amped & bi wired.
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Old 17-02-2016, 20:28
dearmrman
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Just to add to the above...I brought mine of a friend the model number for the amp is a SE-HD560, but mine is only a mini hifi, pretty sure it was only released in the late 90's, so might not be the same set up on the OP's unit.
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Old 17-02-2016, 20:58
Chris Frost
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I can't access the back or underneath of the system
Why do you think you need to look at the back or underneath for the model numbers? They're written on the front. All you have to do is read them. Go have a closer look.

I sold Technics in retail in the late 80's, so that's roughly the vintage of your gear. The speakers connections are exactly as others have said, simple spring clip terminals or binding posts. Back then I often sold better speakers with Technics than their own offerings. The favourites then were Mission 70's. Mission has been and still is a prolific manufacturer in the budget and mid-market. Ebay is a good source of a broad range of both stand-mount and floor-standing Mission speakers. There are also lots of reviews online for the various models. You should be able to find something to suit your needs and budget.

Tannoy is another good make to have a look at. You can't go far wrong with a pair of the original Tannoy Mercury M20 speakers unless you need something to go hard in to a corner. (with grilles and without). If you have a look at the second linked image you'll see that these are quite large by modern bookshelf standards, so they produce both a depth and tone of bass that's difficult to get from smaller speakers. The tweeters are sweet too, so the overall sound is lush and full. This makes them very good for low level listening as the bass still has some power.

Tannoy came back in to the market quite aggressively in the late 90's with an updated range of Mercury speakers in both bookshelf and floor-standing designs. The newer speakers sound leaner and possibly tighter but they need a bit of volume to kick out the bass. All of these speakers though, whether old or new, and Mission or Tannoy, they're all a huge step up from the Technics' own speakers.
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Old 17-02-2016, 21:05
chrisjr
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Just to add to the above...I brought mine of a friend the model number for the amp is a SE-HD560, but mine is only a mini hifi, pretty sure it was only released in the late 90's, so might not be the same set up on the OP's unit.
According to a manual I found online the speakers have the bass and treble units connected separately to the amplifier.
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Old 18-02-2016, 11:09
AlanO
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Just to add to the above...I brought mine of a friend the model number for the amp is a SE-HD560, but mine is only a mini hifi, pretty sure it was only released in the late 90's, so might not be the same set up on the OP's unit.
The OP mentioned his set up has a turntable - so it definitely ISN'T a mini hifi.

It will almost certainly be a 'midi' system of some kind - and I restate the point I made earlier - namely that Technics (along with other manufacturers at the time) often included a 'surround sound' feature which needed a separate set of 'satellite' speakers - hence the second set of speaker terminals.

If the OP could look at the amplifier - if there's a surround sound button on it that should confirm my suspicions.
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Old 18-02-2016, 11:28
Deacon1972
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The OP mentioned his set up has a turntable - so it definitely ISN'T a mini hifi.

It will almost certainly be a 'midi' system of some kind - and I restate the point I made earlier - namely that Technics (along with other manufacturers at the time) often included a 'surround sound' feature which needed a separate set of 'satellite' speakers - hence the second set of speaker terminals.

If the OP could look at the amplifier - if there's a surround sound button on it that should confirm my suspicions.
Surround as in DPL on a midi hifi 30yrs ago?

My first surround amp was Technics, that was about 25yrs ago, just when surround (DPL) was hitting the market, I think it was a Morden Short X1 or something that got enthusiasts excited, it did for me.

I'm not saying the extra inputs are not surround, just my recollections make me think it's a bit early for surround.
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Old 18-02-2016, 11:35
AlanO
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Surround as in DPL on a midi hifi 30yrs ago?

My first surround amp was Technics, that was about 25yrs ago, just when surround (DPL) was hitting the market, I think it was a Morden Short X1 or something that got enthusiasts excited, it did for me.

I'm not saying the extra inputs are not surround, just my recollections make me think it's a bit early for surround.
Not DPL but my parents have a Technics midi from exactly that time.

It wasn't DPL surround sound - but the principle was with satellite speakers - so two sets of speaker terminals. And other manufacturers did similar.

In fact this - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Technics-S...0AAOSwuAVWvaLT - looks alot like what my parents had and you can see on the Amp a button labelled 'AV surround'.
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Old 18-02-2016, 12:05
Deacon1972
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Not DPL but my parents have a Technics midi from exactly that time.

It wasn't DPL surround sound - but the principle was with satellite speakers - so two sets of speaker terminals. And other manufacturers did similar.

In fact this - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Technics-S...0AAOSwuAVWvaLT - looks alot like what my parents had and you can see on the Amp a button labelled 'AV surround'.
With you now, I presume the surround was just a matrix from the fronts.

I had a Pioneer full size system in about 1987, not long after CD's hit the high street, it was the main speakers from this system I used as fronts for the Technics receiver later, I bought two pioneer satellites for the rears, no centre channel was used by this format this early on, that came soon after as was my first upgrade, been doing it ever since.

Just love the old stackers, just something about them. In fact I've been looking at turntables, fancy reliving the vinyl years, still got a modest collection in the loft, plus a lot of new stuff is now available on vinyl.
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Old 18-02-2016, 12:12
dearmrman
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The OP mentioned his set up has a turntable - so it definitely ISN'T a mini hifi.

It will almost certainly be a 'midi' system of some kind - and I restate the point I made earlier - namely that Technics (along with other manufacturers at the time) often included a 'surround sound' feature which needed a separate set of 'satellite' speakers - hence the second set of speaker terminals.

If the OP could look at the amplifier - if there's a surround sound button on it that should confirm my suspicions.
Pretty sure it isn't anything do with Surround sound and no need for a separate set of satellite speakers, as far as I can tell from looking on the web, it is used to power the Bass & Treble as Chrisjr said.

http://www.nrpavs.co.nz/archive_2_13...csSC-HD560.htm
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Old 18-02-2016, 12:24
chrisjr
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Pretty sure it isn't anything do with Surround sound and no need for a separate set of satellite speakers, as far as I can tell from looking on the web, it is used to power the Bass & Treble as Chrisjr said.

http://www.nrpavs.co.nz/archive_2_13...csSC-HD560.htm
I simply googled the model number and one of the links returned was to a copy of the manual. That showed the two pairs of speaker terminals per channel on the back of the amp. One pair clearly labelled "LF" and the other "HF".

Also a diagram showing that each of the two speakers had two pairs of terminals identically labelled to the amp with two pairs of wires between amp and speaker.
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Old 18-02-2016, 13:50
AlanO
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Pretty sure it isn't anything do with Surround sound and no need for a separate set of satellite speakers, as far as I can tell from looking on the web, it is used to power the Bass & Treble as Chrisjr said.

http://www.nrpavs.co.nz/archive_2_13...csSC-HD560.htm
Maybe so for your system - but NOT the OPs.

His IS NOT a mini system - it has a turntable.

And mid-80s Technics midi-systems (note MIDI not MINI) DID have an 'AV Surround' feature - as you could see from the link I posted.

If the OP could kindly post the model number of the amplifier - which as another poster has commented is usually on the front of the unit - then we can settle this for certain.
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