Celestion County Bookshelf Speakers
Early speakers from Celestion using the famous hf-1300 tweeter and a Celestion bass driver (no model number visible).
Early speakers from Celestion using the famous hf-1300 tweeter and a Celestion bass driver (no model number visible).
Later version had brighter veneer and different drivers. I feel these original ones are better however. Such a warm musical speaker, simple crossover and good drivers, very impressed with these.
Can be found quite cheap on ebay, not considered as good as the later ditton series it would appear. I strongly disagree though, if you're looking for warm valve like sound, these are worth a go.
I wish I hadn't sold them and I really wish I'd kept those stands, doh!
These were my very first "Hi-Fi" speakers bought for £37.00 in 1971-73.
ReplyDelete5 years ago when I started re-playing vinyl, I wanted to remember what it had sounded those years ago. Bought a pair on auction and still have it. I have moved on to IMF TLS 80 Mk II and I would not trade these for anything at the moment.
Listening to my Celestion Countys as I type this. Bought second hand in 1985 in a package (£30) with Garrard SP25 (?) turntable (later replaced by Sony CDP XE-310 CD player) and Sansui 210 receiver.
ReplyDeleteI bought second hand Celestion C county speakers in Cyprus in May 2012.
ReplyDeleteSpeakers were in very good condition. Almost like new. I packed them properly and brought them safely to Moscow in my air luggage. I use speakers with Onkyo A5VL amplifier and Denon DCD 485 CD player. Speaker cable is DH Labs ST 100 silver cable.
They sound very well. Better than modern HiFi speakers.
I put each speaker on the 4 small rubber feet to avoid a lot of bass. The sound is almost perfect
Im surprised to see just how much interest these old counties have generated. Im glad to see it wasn't only me who appreciated these charming little speakers.
ReplyDeleteI still have my original Counties, bought in 1973 in Oxford UK, just like the pair you have pictured, I use them with my older gaming systems and a 100hrtz 32" CRT TV, I sold my old Sanyo tuner,TDK tape deck and my PL12D turntable a long time ago, I just could not part with the Counties.
ReplyDeleteI also started with a pair of Counties back in 1974, great speakers for the price.
ReplyDeleteI now have a pair of Ditton 44's on my main system, with new up graded crossovers, 79 strand internal wiring, & 4mm gold connection posts, great sound.
Hi Guys,
ReplyDeleteDo you know how/ where to find front grills, or the material for it?
Thank you,
Kolos
kolos, i realize it has been 4 yrs since your post but i have the grilles which i am willing to sell for $40 + shipping. i couldn't get a replacement woofer after a friend i lent these speakers to had blown the woof by playing it too loud. i intend to remove the hf1300s from the cabinets and sell them separately as well.
Deletei believe that the hf1300 tweeter is the heart of any speaker it resides in because of its depth and imaging plus its dynamic capability. my friend had the big IMF Monitor IIIs improved and they had the same qualities except the IMFs were much larger and bass down to 16Hz.
i truly wish i had bought the Monitor IIIs from him.
...hifitommy
reach me at: hifitommy@gmail.com
i have the original grills, the cabinet was modified to take an infinity poypropylene woofer and the hf1300s are in good condition. i am in socal and want $50 for the pair. i prefer local pickup but will ship at your cost.
Deletereach me direct at 818.554.5783.
..t
Just picked up a bargain price pair of Counties, a tenner to be precise.... Wired them up to my Audiolab 8000 phono pre and power amps and I'd say that for the price and for being 40 plus years old they sounded wonderful,just a bit shy in the bass, but then I do use a pair of IMF TLS80S as my main pair in the living room........ and s w m b o doesn't mind in the least... As ELP once said 'ooh what a lucky man he was '. The Celestions are now in the conservatory hooked up to a lovely Yamaha 1000 cr amp and an Ariston - linn basic - Ortofon 2M red set up and sounds like I was listening back in the 70s. Halcyan days my friends.... HALCYAN DAYS.
ReplyDeletepair county speakers for sale -good condition
ReplyDeleteI now have some county speakers they are best paid with my Kenwood's KA-3020SE which seems to give the best bass. no sub needed with this amp defo better than the other Mordaunt Short MS 3.50 Floorstanding Speakers I sold these were very OK speakers but just took to much space up.
ReplyDeleteI picked some up this weekend for £10 at a carboot sale iv got them in my workshop with a vintage set up they are fantastic 👍 I did have some dittons years ago I wish that I'd of never got rid of them
ReplyDeleteI bought my county's for $25 Cdn pair in 1972 used. Still have them today they are great still. Have them on a modern Yamaha receiver for vinyl.
ReplyDeleteI bought mine new back in 79 and 42 years later they stil sound great in a seven speaker cinema system hooked to an Onkyo with mqa streaming. Sounds good so why not keep on rocking in the real world to quote a certain Mr. Young .
ReplyDeletethese speakers are very dynamic and are imaging monsters. i always listened with the grills off but they are butt ugly that way. staining the pressed wood would mitigate that greatly.
ReplyDeletemake sure to run them with plenty of power (60-100wpc) so as not to endanger clipping. they a little fat but you will adjust.
the heart of the speaker is the HF1300 tweeter which can be found in some prestidious designs like IMF ans Gale loudspeakers.