- Tight and clear imaging - Very accurate mids and highs - Solid construction

- Very low frequency (<30Hz) is not there

This review covers the larger brother to the 1290s - the L1590. I bought these in 1984 along with two carver 0.5T amps and an Audio Advisor electronic cross over and Carver preamp. I was advised at the time that the speakers sounded best when bi-amped. I didn't really listen to a lot of other speakers at the time since I kind of knew that I wanted the a/d/s speakers. A few years prior I had listened to a pair of ads-Braun speakers that a friend owned (yes, Braun and ads had developed speakers for the commerical market) and was floored by the quality of the sound. By the time I had some bucks to buy my own speakers, Braun had left the picture and a/d/s was on their own. These 1590s are now approaching 20 years in age and they sound better than ever. As time has moved forward I have upgraded the system around the speakers and the imaging has only grown more distinct. I don't really feel compelled to upgrade from these speakers as the sound has continued to rival what I have heard at audio stores and friends homes. Only reason for me to switch is if a driver were every to fail (happened once before and was able to get a replacement from a/d/s) and I couldn't repair it. For those using either the 1290 or 1590s, you should really bi-amp the speakers. You can find lots of good material on the Internet why this will improve separation and imaging, but the bottom line is that you will really hear a marked improvement in sound quality. If you are able to find a pair of these speakers on aBay or any of the other online auction houses, buy them. There is a reason that after 20 years from being first introduced on the market the average user rating for these speakers on Audioreview is 4.75 out of 5 stars.

Similar Products Used:

None, there aren't (weren't) any.

- Tight and clear imaging - Very accurate mids and highs - Solid construction

- Very low frequency (<30Hz) is not there

This review covers the larger brother to the 1290s - the L1590. I bought these in 1984 along with two carver 0.5T amps and an Audio Advisor electronic cross over and Carver preamp. I was advised at the time that the speakers sounded best when bi-amped. I didn't really listen to a lot of other speakers at the time since I kind of knew that I wanted the a/d/s speakers. A few years prior I had listened to a pair of ads-Braun speakers that a friend owned (yes, Braun and ads had developed speakers for the commerical market) and was floored by the quality of the sound. By the time I had some bucks to buy my own speakers, Braun had left the picture and a/d/s was on their own. These 1590s are now approaching 20 years in age and they sound better than ever. As time has moved forward I have upgraded the system around the speakers and the imaging has only grown more distinct. I don't really feel compelled to upgrade from these speakers as the sound has continued to rival what I have heard at audio stores and friends homes. Only reason for me to switch is if a driver were every to fail (happened once before and was able to get a replacement from a/d/s) and I couldn't repair it. For those using either the 1290 or 1590s, you should really bi-amp the speakers. You can find lots of good material on the Internet why this will improve separation and imaging, but the bottom line is that you will really hear a marked improvement in sound quality. If you are able to find a pair of these speakers on aBay or any of the other online auction houses, buy them. There is a reason that after 20 years from being first introduced on the market the average user rating for these speakers on Audioreview is 4.75 out of 5 stars.

Similar Products Used:

None, there aren't (weren't) any.

Crystal-clear highs and mids Pure, tight base Superb Imaging

Very low frequency bass

My L1290's were bought in 1986 at Magnolia HiFi in Seattle after listening to Also Sprach Zarathustra and being absolutely blown away by their clarity, imaging and tightness. I purchased the PA-1 biamps with them but had problem after problem with them overheating (apparently I wasn't alone with this problem). I then replaced the biamps with a Carver M1.5T 200-watt amp, a Carver M200T 130-watt amp, a Carver C-2 preamp, and an Audio Control Phase Coupled Activator that incorporates an electronic crossover for the amps. Holy cow - I've owned this system for over 15 years and its imaging, bass tightness, and effortless, distortion-free soundstage never cease to amaze me or my friends. My only criticism of the system would be a lack of extreme (30hz and below) bass. I resolved that problem last year by acuiring a Carver 500-watt, 10-in. KnightShadow sub, with which I've been extremely happy. (My musical taste runs from the Rolling Stones to Yo Yo Ma to Hawaiian traditional.) As far as I'm concerned, this is the system that I'll take to my grave. I've got all the original brochures if anybody needs crossover info, etc. One thing is for sure: these speakers need power, and lots of it. Powering these puppies with a receiver/single amp will not cut the mustard. You've got superb speakers - power them accordingly.

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what - are you kidding?

smoothness of vocals/midrange/accoustic instruments. They reproduce my Martin guitar's sound perfectly. Nice tight bass....no Q problems here. Sweet top end. Not boxy or compressed ever. Sound great loud or ultra quiet. Listen to Stevie Nicks voice and the guitar on "Landslide" you'll see what I mean. No x-over phase problems which is rare in a 3-way.

Don't go really low in the bass.....not much below 30hz but then what speaker does for less than $2K?

The ADS L-1290 is a remarkable speaker even by todays standards. The guy above me using a JVC reciever should have been tought how to assemble an audio system as the speaker can only reproduce what it's fed: Garbage in = garbage out. I have owned and have friends with Magnaplaner; Accoustat, B&W to name a few, so i'm not comparing them to junk product. Just listened to the top of the line Paradigm's and the 1290's are still better. I have worked side by side with some of the most respected speaker and amplifier designers on the planet(like Roy Johnson and Jeff Rowland) and they all agree on one thing...ADS did it RIGHT. I'm a musician/audiophile and love my 1290's more now than when I bought them 20 years ago. They continue to amaze me and get better as my electronics get better. Buy a GOOD amp/pre-amp and these babies will amaze you too.

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see above

Small footprint. Full soundstage. Beautiful build quality.

Lack really low bass.

The a/d/s L1290 was a major upgrade for me when it replaced my Klipsch Heresey's back in 1987. Although the L1290's have since been displaced in the main listening area, they still continue to delight. It's a shame that a/d/s couldn't remain a viable player in the tower speaker arena. The 1290's combine a small footprint, full sound, and high-end build quality at a price point that cannot be matched. It's become cliche to say, but still worth noting that a used pair of these towers will hold their own very well against current day big sellers in the B&W line (even the 803's). That said, the L1290 does a remarkable job of reproducing the live soundstage. The 3-way design uses a pair of 8-1/3" woofers to eliminate the need for a sub-woofer in many environments. However, if you listen to a lot of rock or use them to anchor your home theatre, a 12" sub is probably a prerequisite to a truly satisfying system. Regardless of your musical tastes, jazz, classical, or pop, a robust amplifier will go a long way to making the 1290's sing. Having made the transition from receiver to Adcom separates along the way all I can say is 200 watts per channel makes a big difference. Being able to play the speakers louder and cleaner may be an obvious benefit. The added warmth at low volume achieved with the big amp was just as important to me though. Fans of classical music will appreciate the improvement in sonic quality as much as anyone. Low strings become recognizable and the entire soundstage moves from the speaker out into the middle of the room. If there are any knocks on the 1290 they are mostly in terms of what is now possible in mid-range drivers to produce amazing "breathy" vocals, B&W and Legacy come to mind. Again, either of these current day alternatives are acquired at a substantially higher purchase price. I just mention this because you shouldn't expect the beautiful mid-range of the B&W 803's out of the L1290's. They're good. Not that good though.

UNBELIEVABLE VALUE** Better,yes Genesis Series1 $130k big Mc XRT $45k. Get real, right! Opinions on Joseph Audio's Pearls $20k or Meadowlarks Nightingales $22.5k?

The lows can overshadow the high/mid's. really must biamp with gain control amps or drive lows with lower powered amp. Tri-amping w/ sub & c2000 whole new world and no complaints possible.

Hard to beat. I tri-amp w/ my McIntosh preamp to an ads sub 12, filtered out to ads C2000 biamp to multi 600w Mc (S)amps to ads L1530's (have 4). Unbelievable soundstage, imaging and live effect. BUY USED AND A TRUCK TO HAUL HOME WITH WHAT YOU WILL SAVE TO GET COMPARABLE NEW. B&W dealer took back $28K worth of speakers. Sorry a/d/s quit.

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Boston Acustics Lynnfield 300L's (triamped of course) Almost as good and significantly less size. The 500L's too much low end for me.

soaring highs, piercing midrange, thundering bass, magnificent immaging

none

I bought these speakers new in 1987. I added the optional PA-1 Biamp system designed to be mounted onboard the speaker. The amp is designed for the speaker by the manufacturer. What could possibly be a better situation? Perfect immaging is an understatement. Even off axis immaging is supurb. These are perhaps the fineist sounding loudspeakers ever produced. I had considered Klipsch, B&W,Snell,OHM and many others. Cost at the time was not a consideration. The only real contender was the ADS 1590(the 1290's big brother). These I found a bit too boomy.

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none needed

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I just bought a pair of these L1290 speakers at a tag sale for $5. I repainted the finish, and the drivers are in perfect condition. The lady wanted $20, but I told her I was a poor college student. These speakers are great. Can someone tell me what amp I should use? The one I have is crap. These speakers sell for over $700 on ebay.

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None

Good, tight bass, fairly neutral sound.

Small sound stage; not very impressive at low volume.

I have to dissent a bit from the rave reviews these speakers have gotten. I''ve never felt that these speakers create the soundstage they should; the sound often seems to sit inside the boxes, even when played at fairly high volume. There probably are two mitigating factors in my assessment. First, I frequently listen to my friend''s Maganapans, and feel disppointed when I come home to my L1290''s. They just don''t stack up. Second, and perhaps most telling, I''ve never used anything but popular brand receivers for amplification. One previous reviewer made a comment about Sony Surround Receivers not applying; well, that''s what I''m using. It''s an improvement over the JVC I used to have, which made the speakers sound heavy in the lower midrange. With the Sony, they''re a bit on the bright and harsh side, with voices tending to "honk" slightly. (Gee, I wish I had my old Dynaco Stereo 120). In any case, the equipment these speakers are hooked up to DOES seem to make a significant impact on the sound quality, so one of these days, I''ll probably spring for something better.

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Magnapans

Very detailed

Can be shrill with the wrong system

I bought these used in 1989.I had noticed from a Telarc CD jacket that they were using them for monitors in their audiophile classical recording studio.That was a good enough sales pitch for me(at the time I knew very little about equiptment)Telarc was using 1 pair of 1590+ 1 pair of 1290 both biamped.I was told that ADS was actually owned by the German company Braun.
I had horrible equiptment at the time and the ADS made all the flaws apparent.So for years Ive been upgrading and the speakers keep sounding better and better.They sound great with a Dynaco ST70 and a Soundtream DAC+ Monarchy DIP.Im tweaking for better bass but its almost enough at the present(neighbors!).In the past I thought the speakers were much too shrill,BUT it was my mediocre system causing the problems.The highs and mids are now very detailed and sweet sounding .I can now play
them at a whisper and get quite a musical kick out of them.
Before I needed 200 wpc(B+K 442 transistor amp and Audio Alchemy CD) blasted to get the same visceral satisfaction.I'll probably keep them until I win the lotto.
I recently auditioned new Tannoys which were no where near the ADS sound quality .Im selecting 5 stars to raise the average a bit .Less than a 5 but better than a 4 ,especially at the current used price.