Speakers WITHOUT serial numbers, what do you think?

[JazzJames]

Evening everyone,

I've spotted a pair of speakers I've been after a while at a good price (a little under market if anything), but my concern is there are no serial numbers on the back.
The seller has said there weren't any when he bought them and I've no reason to believe otherwise. Everything else is there, grilles, bases and spikes for hardwood and carpet, just no serial number.
Does it matter? They're pretty old now, over 10 years but still a chunk of money at £400. They're the PMC FB1+

Any thoughts, is it a problem (maybe selling on) or am I worrying over nothing?

J

 

[gibbsy]

Speakers have serial numbers on them so that they can be identified and sold as pairs. Manufacturers would have checked those speakers together so that they both met quality control criteria. I've never bought a stereo pair that does not have matching numbers. I'd be wary.

 

[Timmy C]

If I remember correctly, the serial number should be on a sticker that also shows the model number. There was an upgrade available to turn the original FB1 to FB1+. It could just be someone removed the stickers to hide the fact they are upgraded original FB1's. On the other hand they might just be stolen!

If you feel the seller is trustworthy and they are in great condition then that's a good price. I don't think that alone would put me off.

 

[JazzJames]

Hmmm, I’m torn. I questioned it, he said he’d had them for ten years and he bought them without the stickers, he enjoyed the sound so much.
Might have to listen to my gut instinct on this one…

 

[Timmy C]

Hmmm, I’m torn. I questioned it, he said he’d had them for ten years and he bought them without the stickers, he enjoyed the sound so much.
Might have to listen to my gut instinct on this one…

Have you ever heard a pair? I bought a pair before listening and it was a big mistake as it turns out they weren't suited to my taste at all. Please don't let that put you off though as it seems most people have nothing but good things to say about them. They sounded amazing with some tracks I played on them but not so suited to the majority of what I like to listen to, at least to my ears that is. Shame as with the tracks that sounded good, they sounded fantastic!

 

[HiFiRuss71]

The sticker was a bit crappy and prone to curling up and peeling off. It did on one of my DB1s and my TB2C (upgraded to plus) center channel.

Whether they're upgraded FB1 or actual FB1+ makes no difference as the upgrade supplied all of the parts (tweeter, crossover and an extra bit of foam for behind the mid-bass unit) to make them identical.

If he has the boxes, then they may also have S/N on them. At £400 I'd say they were a good buy.

Russ

 

[JazzJames]

Have you ever heard a pair? I bought a pair before listening and it was a big mistake as it turns out they weren't suited to my taste at all. Please don't let that put you off though as it seems most people have nothing but good things to say about them. They sounded amazing with some tracks I played on them but not so suited to the majority of what I like to listen to, at least to my ears that is. Shame as with the tracks that sounded good, they sounded fantastic!

That is a good point Timmy, had hoped too but hasn't worked out. It did occur to me that if they're really not right I can sell them on - less easy clearly without SN it would appear.

 

[JazzJames]

The sticker was a bit crappy and prone to curling up and peeling off. It did on one of my DB1s and my TB2C (upgraded to plus) center channel.

Whether they're upgraded FB1 or actual FB1+ makes no difference as the upgrade supplied all of the parts (tweeter, crossover and an extra bit of foam for behind the mid-bass unit) to make them identical.

If he has the boxes, then they may also have S/N on them. At £400 I'd say they were a good buy.

Russ

thanks Russ, no stickers for ten years, unlucky if they peeled off when pretty new. I decided to pass and be a patient grown up, not easy when you're speaker - less!

 

[Paul7777x]

That would be a great price for the FB1, and better again for the + version.

Personally I’ve never even thought to check serial numbers on anything I’ve ever bought.

I’d be very tempted to buy them anyway.

Have you any photos of them? Or a link to the sale site?

 

[JazzJames]

That would be a great price for the FB1, and better again for the + version.

Personally I’ve never even thought to check serial numbers on anything I’ve ever bought.

I’d be very tempted to buy them anyway.

Have you any photos of them? Or a link to the sale site?

I have Paul!
Apart from the scratch, the look clean...

 

[Paul7777x]

They do look clean indeed. The tweeters especially look sparkling.

That’s a lot of speaker for £400.

If it was my cash I’d buy them.

 

[gibbsy]

They do look good. My worry with no labels were knock offs but they do indeed seem to be the real deal. It is a very good price.

 

[Timmy C]

It really is a good price. I paid close to double that a few years ago and sold them again for over 700 without too much difficulty.

 

[HiFiRuss71]

They' re definitely not knock offs. Knock offs don't come with a real wood veneer with the authentic fade!

They do look good. My worry with no labels were knock offs but they do indeed seem to be the real deal. It is a very good price.

 

[JazzJames]

They' re definitely not knock offs. Knock offs don't come with a real wood veneer with the authentic fade!

Ha, who needs serial numbers!

 

[JazzJames]

Thanks for all of your replies, you helped me see sense, as long as I can test them first and hear that they both sound the same there shouldn't be a problem. Anything else I should look out for? I've not wired speakers up like he's done before which looks a little shoddy.

 

[Ugg10]

The speaker jumper cables may not look the nicest but will do the job perfectly well. Just push your banana plugs if you have then into either the top or bottom pair of sockets. If you want to prettify them you can add spade connectors to one end and banana plugs the other end of the jumper cable to make them look tidier or buy some jumper cables but beware of over prices unicorn poop. These look like they could be Van Damme Blue cable which is more than adequate. One thing to check is whether the foam in the ports is starting to crumble, not a big issue but worth looking into, also check that the dented woofer dust cap is not split and the state of the woofer rubber surrounds, should be good with no crazing or cracking. Good luck.

Example of jumper cables -

 

[JazzJames]

The speaker jumper cables may not look the nicest but will do the job perfectly well. Just push your banana plugs if you have then into either the top or bottom pair of sockets. If you want to prettify them you can add spade connectors to one end and banana plugs the other end of the jumper cable to make them look tidier or buy some jumper cables but beware of over prices unicorn poop. These look like they could be Van Damme Blue cable which is more than adequate. One thing to check is whether the foam in the ports is starting to crumble, not a big issue but worth looking into, also check that the dented woofer dust cap is not split and the state of the woofer rubber surrounds, should be good with no crazing or cracking. Good luck.

Okay, good intel. This is the other woofer, looks a little damaged at 5pm next to the middle cone. Cracked, I'm not sure.

 

[JazzJames]

They sold! thanks for all your input though, plenty learn’t by me.