I have the Ditton 66s driven by Adcom GFA 5500 amp, Adcom GFP555II pre-amp, and Technics SLQL1 turntable.

Mu other main speakers are PSB Stratus Gold from 1992. Both speakers were the flagship of their company line when introduced.

The two models seem very similar to me, in both the intent of the builders and the results. Both are suitable for long listening sessions at very high volumes, both have incredible range, and both are suitable for all types of music. The Dittons are even more power hungry than the PSBs, which is saying something. (We are not talking Magnaplanar level, but moving that direction.)

The midrange - and especially the voice - with the Ditton dome mid is simply fantastic. Rather than airy, I would call is juicy and visceral...

Imaging on the Ditton 66 is flat out fantastic. Vastly superior to the PSBs, which do not have a strong reputation in this area but do ok if positioned with great care.. Folks who say a big three way can't image well need to listen to these. They disappear completely, leaving nothing but the musicians arrayed across the stage. YUMMY! They also have a sense of immediacy and intimacy that can be weaker with the PSBs. Sometimes Iwith the PSBs I feel like the musicians are playing 20 ft behind the speakers. It is the exact opposite with the Dittons; they sound like the folks are about to sit down in your lap.

At 18 years old, the PSB build quality is vastly superior to the 35 year old Dittons.. Solid Oak in the PSB vs veneer. Bi-ampable on the PSB but not the Ditton. And the overall design of the Ditton is pretty basic compared to the style of the PSB Stratus Gold. I laughed at the comments that the Dittons were big and heavy; the PSBs outweigh them by a BUNCH! So the did the Klipsch Forte IIs I traded for them.

I auditioned the Dittons with a Wilson installation and setup test CD and a couple of other reference test CDs.. The 18hz claim is for real; on the low end test I could feel the base long before I could hear it. Almost spooky, My buddy and I just turned and stated at each other when it started.

Overall the Ditton win for sure, and that is a big pleasant surprise for me. The PSBs had already entered my "never sell or trade these" category, and now the Ditton 66 move ahead of them.

BTW, I traded an Amp and the Klipsch Forte IIs for them. I had about $210 into the amp (a little custom tube amp), and about $250 into the Fortes, so $460 total. The truth is that I JUMPED at the chance to make the trade. I would consider anything under $600 a great deal on these.

Strengths: Imaging, clarity, incredible range

Weaknesses: I had to give up my Forte IIs to get them?

Celestion Ditton 66 Studio Monitors are one of the most easy listening and enjoyable speakers I have ever owned.
I've been buying used speakers and other gear for over 25 years, i have owned and sold at least 50 pairs of speakers and today I still own 15 pairs.

A month ago I found a pair of Celestion Ditton 66 Studio Monitors on a local Kijiji site and did some research before I bought them. I only paid $400.00 Cdn for them and for 30 years old they looked like new.
I bought them from the original owner who hardly used them and never even had the grills off once.

Out of all the speakers I have owned and all the different sized listening rooms i have had, these were and are the most pleasing and easiest to set up for most all types of music.

I usually favor certain speakers over others for certain types of music (thats why I have so many speakers and different rooms) but the Ditton 66 plays all types very well and the bass is the best I have heard.. I have them in a small room 10x19x8ft.. I thought for sure they would be boomy and out of control here but I was dead wrong. Bass is so tight and detailed and musical, soundstage is deep and wide and vocals are controlled with a sense of real life, like very few I have heard.

For a speaker that is this old I thought I would have come across other newer models that would have excited me more , but happy to now say:) nope!! these are the winners for me. I can finally start selling off most of my speaker collection.

I must mention one thing about these. I enjoy them much more with the grills off. These grills are made of metal covered with a fabric (nice looking though) and have 1/2" inch holes which to me smothers the mids and congesses the soundstage a lot. Once removed they opened up and sounded better than speakers I have spent 5 times the money on..

If you want articulate, musical meaty bass with authority and clean and clear mids and highs with great realism and soundstage then grab a pair of these if you ever get a chance. I only paid $400.00 for mine, but knowing what I know at how good these are, I would pay 5 times that to get what they can do...

Thanks to the Celestion engineers from 30 years ago for doing such a great job. Oh ya,, I think these look great too.

These speakers are fantastic very musical, I play an akai 747dbx reel to reel and they sound fantastic. Just recored jackson on EE tape with dbx....... fantastic sound!!!!!!!! No need for cd!!!!!!!!

Bought the Celestion 66's lately and very impressed with how low the bass goes. You definitely don't need a sub with these babys. It may lack the authoritive punch of my Jbl's, but it makes up for it in other ways. Kind of like comparing apples to oranges.They're tall but not really that big compared to other monsters. I have no problem carrying from one room to another, I much prefer these to any modern speakers that I've heard in a similar price range. I no longer feel the need to upgrade further, at least for now. Hooked up to a Marantz 2330 in my sunroom, they really shake the place. Neighbors may not care for them.

Sound dynamic and cohesive. Only accepts thin bare cables, but sounds good nevertheless with these.

Only cosmetic - vinyl finish.

I bought the Celestion Ditton 250 speakers from a workmate on a whim. I already have quite nice speakers, Revel M20, but listening to these speakers at $30 being as or more musical than the Revel's at $2000, although less detailed, makes a wonderful case for budget second hand hifi. I use Threshold power amplifier S/5000 with these so power supply is ample for live jazz at reasonable volume. The sound is cohesive and dynamic and does good justic to live jazz recordings. I regret I have to let these go.

Superb bass that I am still looking for.... So far, never found something comparable... So alive as well, bring the stage in the room...You can listen to them for hours if it's not days!

Very big amp appetite, old looking ( even if I found them classy), big and heavy.

Well, to begin with, let's go for my story..... My neighbour who was keen on audio material proposed me years ago to have thoose speakers cause a lack of room in his house! Well, I ended with the two speakers and a all an old technics system from the 70's ( the 8000's series). Quite a nice present for a 20 year old guy listening to music with a Kenwood integrated and some Sony's speakers...... I still remember when they first came alive! It was like listening to another dimension of music, strong bass and very defined highs... But the bass, even my parents can remember them! I discovered Herby handcock, Kruder and Dorfmeister, and many artistson thoose speakers. For the first time, I experienced music that you don't want to stop listening to, I stayed hours just eating sounds.
Since I moved to denmark, I had ( cause of the size and weight) to leave them at my parents and found a new system with some Kef 104.2 speakers and Rotels. Quite nice but the Wohooo effect is not there anymore.
I really beleive ( after a lot of learning about Hifi) that those speakers are just piece of art, unique and addictive.... The only time I was transport this way was with some Nautilus and Electrocompaniet system ( not really the same price).
If you see some Ditton 66 to sell ( in good conditio, quite difficult) and you have the room at home, just buy them! A love story will begin for sure!

Similar Products Used:

Not find yet. Kef 104.2 are nice but uncomparable!

Massive bass
Volume feeder
Close cabinet

Heavy
Hard to find in perfect condition
Ugly ( specially the grills)

Well, I have to be fair, I'am quite impressed by the reviews. I don't think you can really compare the Ditton 66 to anything else.
The bass are simply put to a new level for the ears. One day, my neighbour came asking me if I could be interested in thoose speakers he was throwing away! He showed me two massive and heavy speakers that he bought when he was younger. Like a fairy tale, I ended with the all system, perfect contion... I can still remember the first listening: heavy bass, define medium and chrystal clear high tones.... Even trying to push them, the sound was still very define.... I fall in love with them.... buy them if you see some in good condition. To power them, I use an old Yamaha SU-SE 8000... I think you need some power to make them ring!
The dittons give a unique experience I wich everybody to feel one day!

Similar Products Used:

Kef 104/2
Well, I just baught them.... They are impressive but not still kicks the Dittons.... More listening is needed....

Love the Low End Bass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A nice balance the the mids & highs.....not too overpowering! Nice weight to the cabinets, with their teac finish.

I might add a super tweeter ,for a little more top end.

I picked up 2 pair of Celestion 25's on Ebay. $160 for the first pair, and pieced together the second pair from 4 differant sellers, for approx. $160 dollars. I love the low end bass,while watching movies, with my Onkyo TX SR600 7.1 Receiver. With 4 of these in the room, I don't realy need my Acoustic Profile Subwoofer. I am running Celestion 1's for center + rear center channels, at the moment. The 25's are great for our music collection....Early Beatles,Clapton,Stones...etc. They have that Warm Vintage UK Sound!!!!!!!!! Similar sounding to my Vintage KEF's + Wharfedales. I haven't tried them on newly aquirred Decca tube amp yet.....I'm curious to see how they run ,with a lower wattage amplifier!

Similar Products Used:

Sansui SP-2500'S, AR 3A'S, PIONEER HPM1100'S,CAMBRIDGE AUDIO R-50'S

superb sound which has revitalised my interest.

Nothing apart from the size, but my wife has found them to be good for putting vases of flowers on.

I have just been given a pair of Celestion Ditton 66 and have been interested in comments in reviews here. I note that some users recommend replacement of cross-over components. I would like to do so, but, short of an axe, how do you get into the box to do so ?

Bass, Midrange, Treble. The bass on these speakers give stand alone woofers a bad name.

When you move em you will need a strong back, they are 63KG each

My friend has had his celestion 66 speakers since he purchased them in the 1970's. They just blew away my new mission M74 speakers in every way, so when I saw em on ebay (canada) in 2004, I just had to get them. Even had them travel in style from canada to australia by air. Amazingly packed in their original ditton cartons. Because speakers of this age generally deteriate I had my local speaker doctor inspect them, he upgraded the internal cables and capacitors and kept on mumbling how well built the speakers were. Of cause I had to upgrade my amp to a NAD C372 and Rotel RCD02 CD Player as these speakers will pickup any defect in your total system. Just amazing bass so my neighbors keep on telling me. The bass on these speakers are just incredible, had to retire my stand alone sub-woofer as it just wasn't in the same class - poor thing! Bottom line, these speakers sound so good there is no need for me to compare them with anything else - I am totally happy with them. If you want to have a decent HiFI system and don't have big bucks get these speakers. Just remember to replace the internal speaker wires (original ones are very cheap wires) and replace the leaky capacitors in the crossover. You will not be dissapointed.