ads L10 Bookshelf Speakers Reviews


ads L10
MSRP:
$
2-way Acoustic-suspension design bookshelf speaker with 7" woofer and 1" silk dome tweeter. Made by ADS in Wilmington, MA circa 1978.

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Rating
Reviewed by:

trisweb

(Audio Enthusiast)

Review Date
February 28, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 3.00 votes

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Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
These speakers were made quite a long time ago, probably around the 1979-1980 model year. They employ classic ADS 2-way acoustic suspension design with a small sticky-substance coated fabric dome tweeter and a full 7" woofer in a sealed wooden cabinet. They were originally sold only paired with the L10 "Acoustic Dimension Synthesizer", an early and pioneering foray into auditory effects, but they are nice little speakers all on their own, with great sound in a very convenient package. I picked them up for $50 on eBay.

I'm currently using them as a stereo desk system in my bedroom (driven by the infamous but beautiful sounding plastic T-Amp), and they're doing the job very well. They can give plenty of volume when needed (and indeed they shine when they have a little power applied) and sound just gorgeous with perfectly clear airy highs and tight, accurate bass. This seems to be the classic ADS sound - they sound very similar to my L520s that are in the living room, just a nice flat response with perfect accuracy and a good warmth to them. Very very nice to listen to. No fatigue after long periods of sitting working at the desk. They're nice on all music, but are especially adept at warm recordings of folk, or classical and jazz. It's very easy to hear subtleties and nuances in the music - they are very transparent in the right configuration and reveal so much. Really amazing little speakers for a small space.

I used to have Cambridge Sound Works M50's in the same position, and these fairly beat them, though not by too much; the M50's have impressed me lately. They (M50's) would perhaps excel at more driven guitar, alt rock, etc. But the beautiful airy tweeters on these L10's are no match, they're simply a pleasure to listen to, and have such a balance in all aspects of the sound that they're the obvious winners. The M50's will go be the rears in the living room!

If you ever see a pair of these, grab them. They can be had for a steal and will be the best money you ever spent on a pair of small speakers. Likewise with the other ads 2- and 3- way offerings of this era. Great stuff.


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