A recurring feature curating interesting speakers for sale on Craigslist from around the Pacific Northwest. Links to Craigslist postings might go down at any time if they’re sold or pulled from sale.
IMF TLS 50-II speakers loudspeakers; pair
$775 · SE Portland (Portland)
British-made from the late 1970s/early 80s, the IMF TLS 50-II is a transmission line loudspeaker — a relatively rare bass-loading design that uses a long, damped internal duct to absorb and release woofer back-wave energy rather than trapping it in a sealed box. These used KEF drivers and sold for over $1,500 new. Really interesting design – I’m not super familiar with transmission line speakers, but I’m a fan of KEF.
Paradigm 40 Active
$1,500 · Hillsboro (Portland)
The Paradigm Active 40 is a self-powered studio-reference speaker from Paradigm’s acclaimed Active series of the late 1990s — each cabinet contains its own tri-amplified electronics with individual amplifiers for tweeter, midrange, and woofer, eliminating passive crossover losses entirely. Original boxes included is a bonus for safe transport; at $1,500 these are a significant but worthwhile ask for powered monitors of this caliber.
McIntosh ML-1C speakers with stands
$350 · Albany (Corvallis)
McIntosh is better known for its amplifiers and preamplifiers, but the ML-1C is a solid example of the company’s speaker division — a 3-way acoustic suspension design from the 1970s built with the same attention to build quality the brand is famous for. Re-foamed with stands included at $350, these are a collectible piece of McIntosh history at a very approachable price. Pair them with an MQ-101 equalizer and you’ve got a fantastic system!
Acoustic Research 3a Speakers
$600 · Boise
The AR-3a was one of the most important loudspeakers ever made — introduced in 1967, it helped establish acoustic suspension (sealed box) design as an audiophile standard and remained a benchmark for bass accuracy and imaging for over a decade. Fully functional at $600 in Boise, this is a rare opportunity to own a foundational piece of hi-fi history in a cute and unassuming package.
Klipsch KLF-30 Tower Speakers
$1,900 · Boise
The KLF-30 is one of the largest and most powerful speakers from Klipsch’s KLF (Klipsch Legend Forte) line of the mid-1990s, featuring a 12-inch woofer and Klipsch’s signature horn-loaded midrange and tweeter for high efficiency and room-filling sound. All-original with no replaced drivers and tight cabinets — a known weak point on some production runs — this pair in Boise at $1,900 is a compelling find for Heritage-adjacent Klipsch collectors. I used to own a set of these some years ago, and they’re excellent.
Vintage Nelson Reed 8-04/BI Tower Speakers (1 Working, 1 For Repair)
$1,350 · Bellingham
Nelson Reed was a small, boutique American speaker manufacturer from the 1970s-80s that built large, highly efficient horn-assisted tower speakers largely unknown outside of audiophile circles — making any clean pair a genuine rarity. At 47 inches tall, these imposing towers are listed as one working and one needing fuse/repair work; at $1,350 there is a project element, but for the right restorer these could be a worthwhile score.
Sansui SP L700 Speakers
$350 · Port Townsend (Olympic)
The Sansui SP-L700 (sold as the SP-G200 in Japan) represents one of Sansui’s most ambitious home speaker designs — a large, furniture-grade enclosure with distinctive Mid Century Modern styling and a reputation as one of the best speakers the brand produced. This refinished pair in Port Townsend has had its foam replaced and grilles are intact; the missing acoustic lens covers are a minor cosmetic issue on an otherwise beautiful and hard-to-find speaker at $350.
KLIPSCH KSF 8.5 Floor Speakers
$250 · Tacoma (Seattle)
The Klipsch KSF 8.5 is a floorstanding speaker from Klipsch’s mid-1990s KSF series, featuring a horn-loaded tweeter and an 8-inch woofer — a step down from the Heritage line but still delivering Klipsch’s characteristic high efficiency and dynamic punch. At $250 for a pair in working condition in Tacoma, these represent solid value for a vintage Klipsch floor-stander. Sounds great for mid/high, but you’ll want a sub for the low end. I’d say these are better as a part of a home theater system than a necessarily a listening system.
JBL 2600 Bookshelf Speakers
$80 · Cully (Portland)
The JBL 2600 is a compact two-way bookshelf speaker from JBL’s consumer lineup of the 1980s, notable for using the same titanium-dome tweeter technology found in JBL’s professional studio monitors of the era. Well cared for and fully working in Portland at $80, these are an affordable entry point into the JBL vintage ecosystem.
NHT Audio VT-1A Tower Speakers, Gloss Black – Excellent Cond
$375 · Meridian (Boise)
NHT (Now Hear This) was a California-based audiophile brand of the 1990s known for its sealed, time-aligned designs and glossy lacquer finishes — the VT-1A is a slim tower that punches above its weight in imaging and soundstage width. USA-made and in excellent condition with the original gloss black finish intact, this Boise pair at $375 is a solid buy for fans of 1990s American high-end audio. “High end speakers from companies that are less focused on audio” is always an interesting genre and sometimes you get a real gem. Not sure about these, but they’re certainly different.
RETROVOLTAGE 