Can you say Kabuki without smiling? These Coral BX-1200 speakers from the late 70's are 5-way, 6-driver speakers with that classic Sansui look and sound.I especially like the labels on each driver so you know what you're listening to. Of course the question inevitably arises: "Just how many drivers can we pack into a cabinet?" And the answer? As many as you think you need to sell speakers to people who believe in "the more, the better" philosophy. Confused? Me too - it's late and I still have to help clean up the kids' room.
I had these speakers for about a week then traded them and a six pack of domestic beer for a single Boston bookshelf speaker. I think I got the better end of that deal.
Have any experience that's more helpful than mine with Coral speakers? Shouldn't be too hard :) Please shoot me an email or leave a comment.
Thanks!
What's it worth?
Good: $100/pair
Fair: $75
As is in photo: $85
I just bought a pair of these speakers at a Good Will thrift store , $ 14.99 for each speaker . There about the same condition yours are in . From the same store I bought an old Marants stereo cassete deck SD221 for $ 9.99 .(in mint condition) Now if I could find an old Marants reciever with that gyrotouch tuning like my older brother still has . Thanks for posting your speaker picture and info . Troy
ReplyDeleteI have a pair of these speakers;I was wondering how much they were worth when they were new.
ReplyDeletePlease send me a E-Mail back.
Thanks
cackerman4@cogeco.ca
I purchased two of these speakers for $75.00 ea in 1971. Bought them direct from Japan through PACEX when I was in Nam. I donn't know what they sold retail in the states at that time.
ReplyDeleteI HAVE 2 SETS OF THESE SPEAKERS AND BOUGHT NEW IN PENANG MALAYSIA IN 1975. THEY ARE STILL AS GOOD AS NEW ANE ARE USED EVERY DAY. AT THE TIME THEY WERE THE BEST SPEAKERS I COULD FIND AND PRODUCE A VERY CLEAR SOUND IF LACKING A LITTLE BASE.
ReplyDeleteALAN
I have a set I traded for when I was in the Army in 76. I would never sell my set. Ive been offerred quite a sum, on many occations when demonstrated with a modest amp the Marantz 1152DC, and a 20 band equalizer. High frequency output had degraded due to old crossover caps almost demanding eq compensation. The theory regarding multiple drivers via a crossover which insures each receives it's band of frequencies competing in the aural space is sound. Traditional methods allow that the same waveforms occurring in a single driver algebraically sum. Two simultaneously occurring sounds will have the one with the lesser amplitude not heard. I stop short of saying cancelled. Whereas separate drivers theoretically have only the path from the driver to you to determine whether or not each simultaneously occurring sound is heard, no the transduction process of the driver. The lesser expense of providing cabinets with fewer drivers won out. The same process happens with the digital quantitization of analog sounds. The greater the sampling rate the better the fidelity and the more opportunities to produce a lesser sound with one of greater amplitude with the potential to hear its occurrence. I'd maintain and keep my Coral BX1200s.
ReplyDeleteWOW rightly said . I found my BX-1201's without grills. I also have 2 oyher sets of speakers that I paid A lot of money for. I'm not an Audiophile but enjoy good sound, quality sound. I have had A hunch about just what you said and it rang A bell in my head. I for one think you are correct. These speakers give me more head room while listening. I hear things with the BX-1201 That I don't with others.
DeleteWell said , Thanks
David Maier
I just picked a pair of these Coral BX-1201 speakers a week ago for 25.00. Pretty decent condition, however, the grills could use a bit of a repair but the speaker themselves are really nice. Cabnets look good, a few dings and scratches here and there but still pleasant to look at. I hooked them up to a Marantz 2230 receiver. At first I was not impressed but these do grow on you. Once you sit back and really listen to these speakers they sound rather nice. Little more bass would be nice but the mids and highs seem quite smooth and clear. The bass is there (leaves you wanting just a tad more). Tweaking with the Marantz 2230 tone controls I find (for my ears) that the bass at 3/4 (with the loudness off), the mid 2 clicks forward from the center, treble one click forward from the center and the volume at 1/4 (a bit more when I need a tad louder) seems to sound rather pleasant. For what I paid for these speakers I can't complain. The guy on eBay selling a pair for 250.00 is a bit scary. Certainly not worth that much in my mind.
ReplyDeleteTry A tube Amp. You will find your base .
DeleteI have a pair of these speakers and was wondering how to hook them up to my receiver. I went to Radio Shack and they didn't help.
ReplyDeleteI have four of these speakers I bought new in Japan in 1973. Four channel stereo was just coming out then, so I had to have a speaker for each channel. I haven't used them for 20 years, but still have them in the garage. I also have two four channel tape decks. If you are interested,contact me at ricknlauraw@aol.com.
ReplyDeleteHello. I have a pair of these fantastic speakers over here in the UK where I have only come across one other pair and they had had a hard life. I have an extensive collection including Celestion 120, 15,s (3 pairs) 15xr,s (8 pairs) 25 and a superb pair of Pioneer cs-99a shipped over from the States, to name but a few. My Corals are very special, a bit more precise than the Pioneers and any concerns regarding lack of bass, just requires tweaking the vintage Sansui, guaranteed to cure anything. Like most mid 70,s audio exotica, such products were slow to catch on in Europe and especially the uk, where tastes remained very traditional and conservative. High price tags (25% vat for a while) also smothered enthusiasm in the oil crisis years. So....rare examples of the Corals and others, including "monster receivers" -another of my collections-, that do exist over here, usually have an ex- military connection, usually US army in Germany or USAF in England. Where did my ones come from.....its been nice talking to you. A very happy Englishman
ReplyDeleteJust grabbed a pair for next to nothing. Sound great! Looking for another pair. Never heard of Coral before. One has some damage to the wood cab. Looking for someone that specializes in speaker restore.
ReplyDeletejwood30503@aol.com
thanks!
Just unpacked two NOS BX-1200E speakers. Military orders included from 1970. Sealed box, never opened. Very clear mids and open sound. Won at local auction for $50.00. These have one less speaker than the 1200's. Particle board cabs, no lattice grills. A lower cost version. I am playing them with a 1970's Allied 395 receiver and enjoy them very much.
ReplyDeleteCan anyone comment on the sound comparison of the BX-1200 to the BX-1200E.
Best!
i have a pair bought while in Vietnam. these are studio grade speakers from that era. They never fail to amaze me with the metallic tweeters. i have gone through many speakers where cones disintegrate over time. these r almost 50 yers old and sound as good as day i bought em.
ReplyDeleteI just scored a pair off of Craigslist for $100 and I couldn't be happier with them. They produce plenty of bass for my needs (shook my daughter's picture off the wall) and a very clear sound. I have them paired with some Realistic Optimus 1B's. I'm pushing them with a Sony str-7045 receiver. I think it's a great marriage so far. I've tested them with everything from classic rock, metal, funk to gangster rap. I'm glad there's so many haters on these speakers otherwise they'd be crazy overpriced just like other Speakers in the same category.
ReplyDeleteThe most piercingly bright treble I ever heard from a pair of speakers came from Corals. Can't remember which model but I would also definitely rather have a case of beer.
ReplyDeleteI've got a set of these and they can go seriously loud, easy over 110db. Sound quite ok but geez they've got some punch! 100 watts was a lot for a speaker back in 1973, probably quite efficient I'd imagine. Dno.
ReplyDeleteInherited my set from father, got in Nam. I have loved them ever since. Lack of bass response bothers me. Never had an issue. Put the first Boston on a give them a little power and you will not be disappointed.
ReplyDeleteI’m looking for a pair of these speakers. If anyone can direct me to where I can get them at a good price.
ReplyDeleteLet me know! Thanks!
enos747ngugi@gmail.com
I picked up a pair of these BX-1201's locally with a Pioneer SX-424. What a pleasant surprise these speakers are!
ReplyDeleteJust picked up a pair of these BX-1201 and for almost 50 years old they sound fantastic! What a pleasant surprise!
ReplyDeleteI have a pair I recently picked up for $125 in good condition. after a recap and refinishing cabinets sounding very nice to my ears.
DeleteLook! The closest thing I have is the Sansui SP-3500. Have 4. And I have to say that they have a very peculiar sound. Not at all like modern speakers. And I can see how a lot of folks would not like it. But I think this is where a certain level of maturity comes in handy. I mean, I would not want to be limited to this 1960s multi-driver sound. On other other hand, every so often I want to be able to hook up a class a single ended tube amp with about 6 watts per and rock out. And these are exactly the speakers to do it. The sound is very detailed, textured. Each instrument distinct. No really deep bass. Sound is not particularly accurate. Who cares? I can always hook up my Thiels or Apogee or whatever. But none of them can do what the SP-3500 does. And these Corals are probably similar. It is interesting to me that ever since the 1950s we have had single driver fans, coaxial fans, hogwild multiplr driver fans, point source fans, open baffle fans, acoustic suspension fans, and so on. Variety really is the spice of life. And it's all about FUN and curiocity. So these Corals DO tempt me. (By the way the reason they sound bad is usually because they are being overdriven by shreachy transistor amps rather than sweettalked by warm friendly valves.)
ReplyDelete