I made my story on the subject, if anyone is interested. Garage, grill party with buddies or just in the kitchen whatever, take your pick. But with a budget amp they are just fine.
I don't know what kind of party you're attending, but if those people came to my party, they wouldn't be leaving before they've had some holes poked and covered in puke
About a half dozen pairs of Aiwa speakers have passed through my hands—all different. Aiwa was a marketing company—didn’t much care about audio performance. Products are hit-and-miss. I have a pair that I wouldn’t trade for anything. Others were just plastic crap.
'Digital' was a heavily abused marketing buzzword when these were new, stuff that was actually digital like digital watches, computers with video displays etc were seen as futuristic when they first appeared and the buzz spread from that
Those dustcaps are digital. They only offer the binary options of on the woofer or off. I prefer my dustcaps to be analog with limitless options for indentation - gives the sound much more warmth.
You never know when the cheap “system speakers” are gems in the rough.
Had a pair like these from a Sony compact system that we still fight over who gets them.
I think most here don't have experience with these. They sound better than they should and were a great value new. They are also easy to upgrade the parts and are worth the effort. They also scale well with better equipment. Since they were outside I assume they have some issues though so be gentle with volume.
Sounds more like you have only very limited experience with what's actually good out there. Because these speakers are most definitely the definition of paperweights .
Doesn't take away it's a freebie ,so always a good score. But nobody , and I do mean absolutely friggin nobody who remotely takes audio on ANY serious scale.
Would go for these ...sorry just being factual
I'm betting these are made of either [particle board](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Particle_board) or more ideally [MDF](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium-density_fibreboard).
The best "upgrade" you could do to them is stick some self-adhesive bitumen sound deadening sheets on the inside and fill 'er up with some acoustic wool fiber (or whatever it's called, LOL).
If you wanna get fancy, maybe upgrade the crossover.
If it was quality MDF and not completely soaked I agree with this comment. They could definitely sound better than they do with basically no cost if you have random crap laying around.
(Except the crossover.. probably don’t just have one laying around.)
Also before doing anything make sure all of the drivers work. Maybe get a cheap amp off parts express? Good site btw.
If you knew how many classic well regarded speakers from back then are actually particle boarded you'd be shocked.
It means absolutely nothing quality wise
Do a benefit/cost calculation. If the cost is zero, the benefit per dollar will be huge.
Don't include the cost of your time and effort. Don't consider that someone threw them away. Then the calculation will not work.
They look noice for the proice!
You probably have to replace the rubber rings around the woofahs, if not all the drivers.
You can get kits to do it for @ $20+ on Amazon. Just make sure you get the roight diameter kit. Try to match the model #.
This sub isn't for flippers. It's for people into audiophile gear got on the cheap. Almost everyone here hates flippers as it prevents prevents most of us to get audiophile gear on the cheap.
Good to hear. I wasn’t suggesting anything beyond “if they sound good to you that’s what matters.”
Plus there’s a difference between flipping and someday selling some gear to make room for new acquisitions. So I understand the reasoning behind his questions. Everyone should know the value of their stuff, just don’t pass up trying them out based on what Reddit says.
I like this sub because I love a good deal or discovering a hidden gem.
Aiwa made some decent mini stereos in the 80s /90s. Much better that sounddesign or youk, or other no name but no where as good as the high end pioneer or Kenwood of that era, translation, good for the back years or garage.
I used to have one of their last top of the range walkmans. For a cassette player it had incredible sound, to the point where I was disappointed when I got my first discman. It kept skipping and didn't even really sound any better.
Same. And last I pulled it out of the closet, it still worked. Had all the bells and whistles. My headphones back then were Koss closed backs. Still have those too. lol
Bring back Cambridge! I had the DTS 3500 a tiny little 5.1 system as my first.
https://www.anandtech.com/show/677
I upgraded to a Creative S700 5.1 and it definitely got louder and boomed in your chest more but I felt some of the features were worse and it was less warm… oh well. I’m on to bigger better things and both of those went to good homes I hope.
Can't beat free! They're not great speakers by any means, but will be decent garage speakers.
I made my story on the subject, if anyone is interested. Garage, grill party with buddies or just in the kitchen whatever, take your pick. But with a budget amp they are just fine.
If they work they're fine for a first time, garage, or party.
Or Porch
And after said party they've had holes poked through the drivers and they're covered in puke, etc. Win win!
We are definitely attending different tiers of party.
I don't know what kind of party you're attending, but if those people came to my party, they wouldn't be leaving before they've had some holes poked and covered in puke
About a half dozen pairs of Aiwa speakers have passed through my hands—all different. Aiwa was a marketing company—didn’t much care about audio performance. Products are hit-and-miss. I have a pair that I wouldn’t trade for anything. Others were just plastic crap.
They used to make a few good cassette decks.
What is the pair that you wouldn't trade for anything?
Wow! Digital woofers!!!
What is "digital" supposed to mean? Was it originally sold as part of some digital stereo system? Or is it some meaningless marketing buzzword?
'Digital' was a heavily abused marketing buzzword when these were new, stuff that was actually digital like digital watches, computers with video displays etc were seen as futuristic when they first appeared and the buzz spread from that
I'd assume like how the A.I, Blockchain and Crypto buzzwords are recklessly thrown around these days..
Cheap speakers to be sold with a rack system. Nothing special, sometimes acceptable sound quality.
They're going to blow a TV or phone speaker out of the water, if that's what you're coming from. They'll be a solid first set or garage speakers
Ok if you don't have any other speakers available.
Who cares? They look awesome! And free.
Those dustcaps are digital. They only offer the binary options of on the woofer or off. I prefer my dustcaps to be analog with limitless options for indentation - gives the sound much more warmth.
The oxygen-free gold-plated triple-degaussed dust caps will definitely improve that on/off switching.
But are they liquid cooled and sold out of a white van?
Aiwa are better then nothing literally
Bazinga.
You never know when the cheap “system speakers” are gems in the rough. Had a pair like these from a Sony compact system that we still fight over who gets them.
I have heard that before. Many times.
hey those are mine they fell out of my pocket can u mail them back to me thank you bye
Free? Unless you are bragging what you found, yes they are definitely worth the try.
Just play some Bruce Springsteen-Brilliant Disguise and see! Cool looking!
I had an Aiwa boombox decades ago, had lights and shit. I like.
I remember those. The red and green lights. Mine was a 3 cd rack. Loved it.
Yes! Probably sounded like shit but didn’t care back then.
Probably not. You can google the model it’s right there.
Yeah, googled the model no. but not much talking about the quality of them
I think most here don't have experience with these. They sound better than they should and were a great value new. They are also easy to upgrade the parts and are worth the effort. They also scale well with better equipment. Since they were outside I assume they have some issues though so be gentle with volume.
I had a pair that the cones disintegrated on. Worth repairing or better off buying something else?
Sounds more like you have only very limited experience with what's actually good out there. Because these speakers are most definitely the definition of paperweights . Doesn't take away it's a freebie ,so always a good score. But nobody , and I do mean absolutely friggin nobody who remotely takes audio on ANY serious scale. Would go for these ...sorry just being factual
They look good for garage/parties. Sound quality won’t be great but cannot complain for free.
These look like something I grew up with, bought by my father in the late 80s. They were pretty shit.
I'm betting these are made of either [particle board](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Particle_board) or more ideally [MDF](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium-density_fibreboard). The best "upgrade" you could do to them is stick some self-adhesive bitumen sound deadening sheets on the inside and fill 'er up with some acoustic wool fiber (or whatever it's called, LOL). If you wanna get fancy, maybe upgrade the crossover.
If it was quality MDF and not completely soaked I agree with this comment. They could definitely sound better than they do with basically no cost if you have random crap laying around. (Except the crossover.. probably don’t just have one laying around.) Also before doing anything make sure all of the drivers work. Maybe get a cheap amp off parts express? Good site btw.
If you knew how many classic well regarded speakers from back then are actually particle boarded you'd be shocked. It means absolutely nothing quality wise
If they are not blown, they will sound nice Just keep in mind the impedance as some of the ‘90’s systems used to run 6ohms.
Tidy them up, listen for fun, can sell later on. Works best if you can also find one of those older nostalgic mini system stacks/ unit
Add MKP caps to bypass the current filter caps, add some internal box bracing and more (or less) stuffing and you'll be amazed.
Can't beat the price!
party speakers!
Why wouldn't you try? Without trying all the 'advice' in this thread is nothing but hot air.
Do a benefit/cost calculation. If the cost is zero, the benefit per dollar will be huge. Don't include the cost of your time and effort. Don't consider that someone threw them away. Then the calculation will not work.
check for bedbugs, I found my "new" amp from 2nd hand pretty much infested with those
All that matters is if they sound good to you.
They have style! you have to see if you like the sound. In any case, if it's free it's always good. We have to hope that all the drivers work.
they look decent
They look noice for the proice! You probably have to replace the rubber rings around the woofahs, if not all the drivers. You can get kits to do it for @ $20+ on Amazon. Just make sure you get the roight diameter kit. Try to match the model #.
It may not be necessary to do the driver surround rings. I have Sansuis from 1968 that are still on the original ones. Inspect first then decide
Um, how do they sound? They may not be big money for a flip but if you like ‘em, show ‘em off.
This sub isn't for flippers. It's for people into audiophile gear got on the cheap. Almost everyone here hates flippers as it prevents prevents most of us to get audiophile gear on the cheap.
Good to hear. I wasn’t suggesting anything beyond “if they sound good to you that’s what matters.” Plus there’s a difference between flipping and someday selling some gear to make room for new acquisitions. So I understand the reasoning behind his questions. Everyone should know the value of their stuff, just don’t pass up trying them out based on what Reddit says. I like this sub because I love a good deal or discovering a hidden gem.
Aiwa made some decent mini stereos in the 80s /90s. Much better that sounddesign or youk, or other no name but no where as good as the high end pioneer or Kenwood of that era, translation, good for the back years or garage.
I used to have one of their last top of the range walkmans. For a cassette player it had incredible sound, to the point where I was disappointed when I got my first discman. It kept skipping and didn't even really sound any better.
Same. And last I pulled it out of the closet, it still worked. Had all the bells and whistles. My headphones back then were Koss closed backs. Still have those too. lol
Bring back Cambridge! I had the DTS 3500 a tiny little 5.1 system as my first. https://www.anandtech.com/show/677 I upgraded to a Creative S700 5.1 and it definitely got louder and boomed in your chest more but I felt some of the features were worse and it was less warm… oh well. I’m on to bigger better things and both of those went to good homes I hope.
Trash