All-around performance

All things considered, NONE!

I've had the L1290's since I bought them new in spring of 1984 after an extensive search. I spent months listening to every speaker in the under $2000 price range that I could find. My local dealer was exceptional - they let me try out every pair I was interested in at home! Finally settled on the 1290's after I realized they were the ones I kept coming back to, I even preferred them to the more expensive 1590's. There isn't a single complaint I can make about the sound of these speakers - shopping expeditions to replace them have come up short every time, there simply is nothing under $3000 that even comes close, and actually it is hard to find something under $4000 that would make a reasonable replacement. Simply amazing after 17 years. The bass is tight and deep, mids and highs are smooth and transparent, imaging is excellent, dynamic range is VERY wide. Everything from AC/DC to Vivaldi sounds fabulous. The only problem I have had is that the tweeter fuses blew occasionally at HIGH volume when they were powered by a small H/K amp. Overall, these speakers have been the best audio dollars I have ever spent. If you can find a used pair for sale you should consider yourself extremely lucky and get them while you can!

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Comparably priced models of the same vintage from Klipsch, Infinity, M&K, Thiel, JBL, Polk, KEF

A lot

Few

Just a note to anyone considering purchasing these or any ADS speakers that have to be shipped by UPS, USPS or whoever. The metal grilles and dome drivers must be WELL PROTECTED or you will experience shipping damage! I have personally had this problem and know of others also. Shipping in the original ADS boxes, if available, will help but not guarantee safe arrival. I suggest you discuss this with the shipper to ensure safe arrival and avoid the hassles of repair. No replacement drivers are available from ADS, so you have to have them repaired.

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ADS

Amazing midrange!, hi-fi bass, huge soundstage, smooth top end.Did I mention amazing midrange.Incredible dynamics.

none after 8 years

After hearing these in the store I was amazed by the soundstage it seemed like the whole wall was a speaker.I bought them for 500.00 and they were in almost perfect condition.
The first four years I used them with a Yamaha reciever which sounded good as so I thought, then I coughed up enough money to buy a Adcom 5500 to which the speakers sounded 10 times better.I could not believe they were the same speakers.
Then came along the Adcom 5800, I sold my 5500 and end of story.The sound I got from my speakers after that was unbelieveable and the difference between the 5500 and 5800 was unchartable.The sound stage opened to above my head and behind me.The a/d/s could handle all the 5800 could put out except on Alice in Chains at concert levels and lighting up the distortion lights blew my circuit breakers on the high/mids.After resetting it they carried on!!!
I still have not found any speaker that matchs its midrange.Yes some have more bass but not as hi- quality ,and some may look more modern.Connected to a high quality amp they are untouchable in detail and smoothness.Just listen to Dave Matthews band on them you will be ruined for life.I must leave now and listen to them.

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none.

Tight, articulate, sealed-box bass, solid build quality. Really shine with electronic, metal, pop music.

Power hungry, Slightly bright high end, need floor-stands, not shielded.
Not great with "complicated" classical music.

Fond memories of my Dad lending me the money to buy these "bookshelf" ADS L780's (three-way design w/
8.3" woofer, 1.5" soft-dome midrange, 0.75" soft-dome tweeter)back in January of 1988. Butyl rubber surrounds still like new. Removed the sheet of cloth from the insides of the grills, now can see the beautiful mids and tweeters in all their glory. Or maybe now they just look like cheap car speakers, I don't care, I love them! I have almost sold these babies many times over the years, only to change my mind at the last minute. That doesn't mean I don't buy new speakers, I just can't seem to part with my first "real" set. I don't think one speaker is ideal for all music, so that gives me a great excuse to keep shopping forever....

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Maggie MMG's, JBL HLS 820's, HLS Center.

Invisible sound. Great imaging. Crisp highs.

None really

These comments are related to the larger 1590 series speakers. I bought them back in 1983. Over time I have upgraded the system around them and have come to appreciate their great sound even more. These speakers are best run in bi-amp mode with a good set of amplifiers. When properly positioned, you can really "see" the sound in front of you. Too bad that a/d/s got out of the higer end side of the business. I haven't heard anything that sounds as good (even at several times the price).

For those looking to contact a/d/s, their web site is

http://www.adst.com

Clean sccurate clear upper and midrange

Not as strong on bass as some like, clean not boomy.

I have not shopped for speakers in a while but these were great when I bought them. Ended up getting the KEF later which were originally about $300 more because we wanted to save money but in the end preferred the warmth over the clarity. I have heard some say the built in amps(which mine do not have added to the bass but I have no experience with them) Using a Bryston ST did not reveal any extra lowend over my original setup so I would have to defer this to others.

The L1290's are for sale if anyone is interested.

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Upgraded to KEF Reference

liquid midrange, transparent hi end, tight bass

none

Got these babies from my father. He bought them in 1988, upgraded to some very expensive KEFs and kept the 1290 in storage for almost 12 years.

I have been using them for almost 1 year now and i cannot find a reason to change them.

My setup includes an Onkyo M501 power amp, Denon AV 2800 as preamp and a Nakamichi MB-10 CD player. All interconnects are MIT Terminator6 and speaker cable is Monster Cable (the regular cable with spades) which i braided.

These speakers are amaizing!!!! I wanted to upgrade lately but discovered that nothing below $3000 sound even close.

They are great for home theater and even better for music.

I´m planning to upgrade to a separate system for music and use these speakers. Probably I will hook the up to a Marantz CD63SE connected directly to a pair of Onkyo M501 poweramps. I´ve heard that the bi amplification gets them even better. If you have any suggestions or comments regardinh this setup please contact me.

By the way: If somebody owns the original manual or has a contact address for ADS please send email

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KEF, B&W, Tannoy

These speakers have been in my system for about 10 years (now in my "second" system). They A/B'd very well in 1988 against contemporary Snell, Vandersteen, KEF, B&W systems in the $1,000 per side range. Very flat from about 32Hz to 20Khz (see period reviews in Stereo Review, Audio). Very forward mid-range, very tight, well-defined bass from two 8.3" woofers. My dream speakers of that era were the KEF 105/3's at over double the price. These weren't that far below in overall sound quality and beat the lesser KEFs easily in my opinion.
Don't believe the 30W minimum rating - these babies need power to sing. Very solid construction (75 lbs.) and nice cosmetics, with real walnut all the way around.. Bi-amp capable.

Sound stage is nice and deep. One thing I really like is off-axis performance - as you move about the room the sound doesn't suffer as much as with other speakers I've owned.

I'd rate a 4 against contemporary speakers, but quite a few were sold and they can be a great used buy (my friend just bought a pair). For $500-600 a pair used, you'd have a tough time doing better.

I have the larger version, the 1590s (2 10" woofers, 1 3" dome mid, 1 1" dome tweeter). I agree with all of the post below, esp. on the off axis response, it is very good. Have had to replace the mids and tweeters a few times (they are about 15 years old now). They can take quite a bit of power, but it must be clean power. Shame the ADS seems to have gotten somewhat out of the home speaker market. Mine are about 100 lbs apiece and sold for $1,100 each in walnut veneer. Still have them and still happy with them. Have spiked them. Any one out there gone the biamp route?

Wonderful, clear sound. Shimmering highs, tight base.

I have blown three mid-range drivers over the years.

I love my L-810s, but I have just lost another driver and am trying to find a place to get them repaired. After reading the reviews posted here, I am more determined to get the speaker fixed rather than shop for a new pair. It sounds like ADS still compare very well to current speakers. I bought mine used for $500 about 1980 and have always been very pleased with them, other than having to replace a mid range every 5 to 10 years.

What happened to ADS? Can I get these fixed?

Bytheway, I am also still using the same Hafler A110 preamp and D220 power amp that I built from kits about the same time. They are wonderfully pure components and have performed flawlessly. I wouldn't think of replacing them.

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Looked at KEF, Dahlquist