Summary: I got these speakers used and beat up in 1994 from a thuggish Mexican dude in Camarillo CA for $300. He told me they were $2000 new but his DJ "friend" had used them for house parties for 5 years so they were pretty beat. He then tried to sell me a snap on tool set that fell off a truck... Anyway, they were really beat up and one woofer was blown out. Luckily I lived in Simi Valley, CA, a mere 10 minutes form the factory where they were built. Over the next 4 years I ended up bringing both speakers in to be rebuilt for $80 apiece. They have been bumping for the last 15 years, moved from my parents house, to dorms, to about 10 different places I've lived at. They have been inside, the garage, even the backyard for almost 2 years and are still kicking. Unfortunately, one cabinet has started to rattle itself apart and I lost the mids on the other one. So now I'm searching for a quality speaker repair place to rebuild both of them one more time.
I honestly have never seen better speakers that weren't professional DJ equipment and cost orders of magnitude more money. The lows are INSANE. The highs are in crisp. The mids are just there, which is what they should be. These speakers have survived so many moves that I thought they might be indestructible. Turns out I was wrong as several things started breaking the last 2 years. Regardless, I cannot recommend them enough. In good shape, I'd pay $1000-1200 for another pair of these today.
I've been pushing them with an old Pioneer 125RMS 8ohm receiver that I bought new in '94 for $300. I know its far from ideal for these babies but they still sound pretty good and that bass bumps pretty well. Since they are 4OHM speakers I figure I'm really pushing about 250W through them.
Ryan,
I'm sure that you have enjoyed the speakers for the time that you have had them, but it's time to put the dead to rest. Take a look at the Cerwin Vega website and look into getting a pair of CLS-215. You can find them heavily discounted on ebay and elsewhere, and they are great.
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Summary: I bought my 380SE's 20 years ago, New, when I really new nothing about HiFi. What a stroke of luck really as I am never going to part with them. Initially I had them partnered with many different amps usually about 100wpc and they sounded very good, loud and clear. It wasn't until I hooked them up to some quality components and cables etc that these speakers truly announced what they were capable of. I now have 450W mono blocs driving them and boy do they sing. Depth and soundstage are amazing while detail, separation and clarity exists not normally associated with CV, especially at high levels. And bass so punchy that pictures are constantly falling off surrounding walls. I have had many speakers come through my hands but have been unable to find a sound like these for under 10K. I have never seen another pair for sale either. Although they are looking a little worse for wear after 20 years, they still sound as good as day one.
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Summary: I searched long and hard for a good pair of hard rocking speakers, and Cerwin Vega is what I found. Picked these speakers up for $460.00 from a guy selling them on kijiji. Best loud speakers I have herd yet. Once you find some good clean power to feed them ( i am am running an Adcom 545 II, 125w rms), they really come alive and will never disapoint. I listen to a large variety of music from classic rock to hip hop and they sound truly amazing in every situation. Play the "What's the differece" by Dr. Dre and they will make the lights fall out of your celing. The horn tweeters make the snares just snap like youve never herd before. The Bass is loud clear and never gets tired.
If you happen to find a pair of these speakers for sale, make sure you look the speakers over very carefully for any signs of wear n tear or ageing, as most of these speakers are at least 20yrs old, and listen to them very carefullly for any distortion. Cost for a pair of these shouldnt be more that about $500.00.
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Summary: These Cerwin Vega's are "TRULY" a work of Art ! Big ,Solid and Very Pleasing to the eye,not to mention the" AMAZING SOUNDSTAGE ! Being they are a couple of Decade's old,they were way ahead of their time.They look very modern w/ the MTM Desisn(Mid-Tweeter-Mid) and the black felt on the front baffle(nice touch),the poly treated mid's,black cabinet's ,grill covers w/ the red stripe,Level adjustments.
*Now to the good stuff-The 15.25 " Woofer(WOW) Has a Pleated Rubber Surround( not the usual rolled foam)that will NEVER need replacing.Very Stiff and also the woofer cone is Pleated and Rigid.It was only used on 2 Model's that I know of The 380 -SE and the pd-9.(Besides Pro Models & Earthquake subs!)Vega only used it on their Limited Special/Select Models.This is a serious Woofer my Friend's-Extremely Tight ,Detailed Slab Cracking BASS!
*The (2) 7.5" Midranges Provide plenty Midrange,they sound very dynamic and smooth.
*The tweeter horn provides plenty of clear,clean ,Airy, High's!
*I am running 300 Watts R.M.S. of clean Amplifier Power thru them.
Conclusion: I have listened to many a Speaker's and this is TRULY a Beast of a speaker.Reminds me of the old Savard's! Kick-ass Bone Jarring Sound!
I would almost bet my life that you cannot touch the Dynamic's of this speaker without getting in the $10k plus range!(1 haven't heard it.)
Strengths: EVERYTHING!!! Detailed Spacious Soundstage, Heart Pounding Acccurate SOUND! Strong Bass Down to a Real 25Hz/Smooth Detailed Mid's/Clean High Frequency's to 20kHz! Real Level Adjusters ,LOOKS AWESOME! A Decibel level of 126dB'S!
Weaknesses: Very Rare & Hard to find!
Similar Products Used: Pretty much all Speakers under$8k Dollar's !
I also have 380SE's and I agree that they are awesome, they impress anyone who listens to them. However, I don't think that the top end is that great and wondered if anyone has modified them or added in an extra tweeter?
I don't know what you are trying to push them with,but i would bet it is not a stable2-4ohm load high power Amp.These speakers although efficient love and drive hard and clean off 250-500 Watts.THEN you will hear the crsip high's and deatailed mid's that they can produce.What are you pushing them with??Are the level adjustments all the way up?
Apparently,something is wrong with you ears,taste or your system.These Compression Horn Tweeters will make your ears Bleed!!
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Rating Reviewed by: Chris(Unregistered User)
Review Date June 10, 2007
Overall Rating 5 of 5
Value Rating 5 of 5
Used product for 1 to 3 months
Visitors rate this review 5.00 of 5,
4.00 votes
Review 5 of 8
Price Paid:
$0.00
from FROM AN IDIOT FOR LE
Model Reviewed: 380 Select Edition
Summary: I have just added these AMAZING Speakers to my ALREADY "All Vega setup"!I COULDN'T BE MORE iMPRESSED! i HAVE LOVED vEGA'S SINCE THE FIRST TIME I HEARD EM AROUND 1978,MY FRIEND HAD (4) S-2's one in each corner of his room,WOW!MY PANT'S LEGS WERE MOVING,I WILL NEVER FORGET THE POWER!!
MOST OF YOU DISK EM BEVAUSE YOU ARE NOT PROPERLY SETUP OR YOU DO NOT HAVE THE ROOM OR YA NAGGING WIFE WONT ALLOW THEM!
126 dECIBELS OF CLEAN POWERFUL SOUND!WOW!GET A GOOD AMP,SETUP CORRECTLY(SPEAKER PLACEMENT,BASS TREBLE ADJUSTMENT,LEVEL ADJUSTMENTS,DISTANCE ETC. AND PREPARE TO BE AMAZED!
My setup:
MAINS=380-SE,RE-38,(Wired in Parallel)WOW!THIS CREATES A 2ohm load !
Centers= VS-80 on 38"Stands (WIRED pARALLEL) Awesome center setup!
Surrounds= E-712 Very nice !
Now for all you"VEGA HATERS"-I invite you to bring on your little wimpy towers w/subs(I have (4) 15"WOOFERS)NO NEED FOR A SUB!
I WILL SMOKE YA !!!!! I WILL PUT BIG MONEY ON IT TOO!NO REPLACEMENT FOR DISPLACEMENT!
IT IS QUALITY SOUND TOO/AWESOME PRESCENCE,SOUNDSTAGE,IMAGING,DETAILED,ACCURATE!(I DONT KNOW WHAT SETTINGS OR LEVELS OR WHAT YALL ARE RUNNING THAT SAY vega's don't sound good,apparently not the correct ones.
These 380 se's are the best vega's that I have heard.I have OWNED or listened to the heds,D's,DX's,AL's,M's,Mx's,PD-9's,VS's,E's,RE's,DC's are close pretty much same upper drivers.
The 380 Se's are SPECIAL,Real level adjustments,I love the Black Velvet on the front.The Woofer has PLEATED RUBBER SURROUNDS,KICK-ASS POWERFUL,TIGHT BASS!
THE (2) 7.5"mID's ARE DYNAMIC,WARM,DETAILED,SMOOTH
tHE HORN'S ARE AMAZING ,SUPER CRISP,CLEAN SOUND!
I HAVE A live Concert in my living room,I can produce 126 Decibels CLEANLY!
HOW MANY OF YOU CAN SAY THAT WITHOUT HAVING SPENT 10'S OF tHOUSANDS?
THERe ARE BETTER SPEAKERS i WILL NOT ARGUE THAT,BUT YOU WILL BE IN THE absolute crazy priced speaker Range.
Strengths: The 380 SE's live up to their "Select Edition" name!
Powerful tight Bass!
Awesome cabinets with the Black velvet!
(nice touch)
MTM SETUP (MIDRANGE TWEETER MIDRANGE)JUST SOMETHING ABOUT THAT SOUND!
Dual Mid's wow,Treated not paper w/ rubber dust caps!
THE HIGHS SUPERB HORNS!
Weaknesses: YEAH RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Similar Products Used: I HAVE LISTENED TO:
KLIPSCH(NICE)BUT BRIGHT AND NO EXTENDED LOWS,BOSE,KLH,POLK,AXIOM,CELESTION,PIONEER,SONY ETC.
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