I know all ya'll dying for some more Insignia madness...

[Jimmy C]

Hey Jimmy C. I'm not going into hysterics over these but I did pick up a pair while they were on sale for $34.99 and I've found a use for them. I've been wanting to add vintage speakers to my vintage system (used w/headphones only, until now), but so far I've found nothing locally and I've been afraid to pull the eBay trigger.

I tried these in my main system first. They rocked with Massive Attack's Mezzanine. They filled my small room with bass energy. I'm generally a midrange nut. Clarity and presence on acoustic instruments and vocals are what I look for in addition to a smooth tweeter so that high notes on the sax, trumpet, etc. don't drive me nuts. Unfortunately, these didn't have that midrange quality I enjoy. Acoustic guitar and vocals on Neutral Milk Hotel's In the Aeroplane over the Sea sounded recessed and lifeless. I'm still undecided on the tweeter's performance. I think I've heard some anomalies, but nothing too irritating. However, I was impressed with the bass response. So, off to the vintage system they went.

These are great if you have tone controls and are not afraid to use them. (My main rig doesn't have tone controls.) With the Sansui AU-5900's midrange boosted 2 notches to +3, treble boosted to +1, bass at 0 and the loudness circuit engaged these handle drivin' rock guitar music (Dinosaur Jr.) easily - nice big sound. I'm enjoyin' them for what they are.

...I think the tweeter is better than the woofer - so far, anyway. I'm not impressed by the bass as of yet.

The mids... really? I haven't listened to any solo guitar yet, but I was thinking this is where they would excel. Who knows. Female vocals weren't bad, but again, a bit hollow.

You want a great vintage (semi-vintage, anyway) speaker? Grab a pair of series 1 (original) Boston Acoustics A100s... great 2-way, not sure if you have heard them. A friend of mine has a pair that I thought I was going to have to wrestle out of him. I said I would help him move this month, I offered him a c-note, etc. He said "I'll give 'em to ya". Cool. In a few weeks, I'll have those.

They are very good stock, tweakable, and parts readily available. Forget the 3-way Bostons from that era, as well as the later iterations (unless you find a nice pr. of A400s). Just an idea.

Sorry for rambling!

P.S. Happy almost B-Day

[dean_martin]

...I think the tweeter is better than the woofer - so far, anyway. I'm not impressed by the bass as of yet.

The mids... really? I haven't listened to any solo guitar yet, but I was thinking this is where they would excel. Who knows. Female vocals weren't bad, but again, a bit hollow.

You want a great vintage (semi-vintage, anyway) speaker? Grab a pair of series 1 (original) Boston Acoustics A100s... great 2-way, not sure if you have heard them. A friend of mine has a pair that I thought I was going to have to wrestle out of him. I said I would help him move this month, I offered him a c-note, etc. He said "I'll give 'em to ya". Cool. In a few weeks, I'll have those.

They are very good stock, tweakable, and parts readily available. Forget the 3-way Bostons from that era, as well as the later iterations (unless you find a nice pr. of A400s). Just an idea.

Sorry for rambling!

P.S. Happy almost B-Day

My reference is nothing too special. It's a monitor with an excellent midrange and smooth top end. It may even be rolled off on top, but it portrays "air" when it's in the recording. The bass response is extended for a monitor (with roll off), but it could be more defined. i guess the bottom line is that I'm not accustomed to deep bass in my music only system and haven't really missed it. So I thought the Insignia's bass was tight and even though my monitors go a little deeper, the Insignia's were tighter at their limits. My main music only system is set up in a small extra bedroom on the long wall and the listening position may be less than 6ft from the speaker plane in the middle of the room.

These were my initial impressions in my main system. They didn't stay in that system long enough to get an extended work out. I listenend to Mezzanine, Kind of Blue and In the Aeroplane... The latter two (which are 2 of my favorites) weren't engaging, but Mezzanine had that dance club feel.

As for the midrange, I really am convinced they are recessed. The acoustic jazz and acoustic pop/rock I listened to didn't have the presence I'm used to. In fact, when I read your post, I initially suspected that the midrange was to blame for the "hollow" sound you described. Oh well, I was able to compensate for what I thought were its short comings by using the tone controls on the old Sansui integrated. This combo sounds sweet. I think they have balls with rock but don't handle the delicate stuff as well.

I've tried to come up with conclusions on the tweeter. All I can say is it's doing its job which is good. I've heard more air before. My reference is a little smoother. But I can't put my finger on anything "wrong". I also agree with you on the soundstage - nice and big with well defined images.

And thanks for the heads up on the Bostons. I was considering the A60's or A70's for their convenient size. Are these the later iterations I should avoid? I haven't ruled out vintage (or semi-vintage) just because I got the Insignias. The Sansui has A & B speaker connections!

B-Day wishes! I'm blushing.

[Jimmy C]

And thanks for the heads up on the Bostons. I was considering the A60's or A70's for their convenient size. Are these the later iterations I should avoid? I haven't ruled out vintage (or semi-vintage) just because I got the Insignias. The Sansui has A & B speaker connections!

B-Day wishes! I'm blushing.[/QUOTE]

...all second or third series Bostons of that era. Bear in mind Boston made the A40, 60, 70, 100, 120, 150, 200, and 400s. I think I got them all.

I had a pair of A70s (very good) and recently, a pr. of 150s... not good at all. People at "Vintage" in the Audio Asylum have told me the originals were better, as well as the 2-ways of that era being better in general than the 3s. I believe 'em!

A few things to avoid, at least with the lower (but better!) models...

If the tweeters are off-center, NOT good. That indicates a later model.

If the tweeter has a slotted faceplate, again, NOT good. Should be plain and flat.

Not sure if these are hard and fast rules, but your first defense.

These were designed to be put near a corner, and work best that way. You can still drag them out a bit, but tonality suffers a bit. Not to mention bass and dynamics won't be as good (natch).

Bet you'll like 'em.

Talk about an Insignia beater...