Vintage Mirage Bookshelf Speakers with Exceptional Sound SM-.5
$245.00
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Build a set to length →Mirage SM-.5: Vintage Canadian Bookshelf Speaker with Exceptional Sound Quality and 8″ Woofers.
The Mirage SM-.5 is a hidden gem in the world of vintage audio. This Canadian-made bookshelf speaker offers a surprisingly accurate and natural sound signature that belies its unassuming appearance.
Key features of the Mirage SM-.5 include:
Solid, inert cabinet construction for minimal resonance
Accurate and detailed sound reproduction
Excellent imaging and soundstage capabilities
Natural timbre and tonal balance
Lifelike and dynamic performance
The SM-.5’s feature heavy, sealed cabinets and 5-Way bindings suitable for banana plugs.
Unfortunately we’ve been unable to find the specifications for this model, but we’ve given them a good listen and have been quite impressed.
Estimated specs:
Frequency Response: 55Hz – 20kHz
Sensitivity: Around 88-90 dB
Dimensions: H:18″ x W:12″ x D:9″, Weight: 24lbs each
The Mirage SM-.5 represents an excellent opportunity for audio enthusiasts looking for a high-quality vintage speaker with a neutral, accurate sound signature. Its ability to create an expansive soundstage and reproduce fine details makes it a compelling choice for those who appreciate natural, lifelike audio reproduction.
Asking just $245 for this pair of great sounding vintage Canadian speakers from Mirage.
| Weight | 51 lbs |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 24 × 16 × 22 in |
Mirage is a Canadian speaker brand, founded in Toronto in the late 1970s and later built by Audio Products International in Scarborough, in the same factory as Energy. Its bipolar and Omnipolar designs send sound in more than one direction. We carry Mirage towers, satellites, centre channels and subwoofers. We've had more than 110 Mirage listings so far. Every used Mirage here is inspected, tested and serviced as required, then photographed in-house and covered by our Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty and Perpetual Trade-Back Program. Don't see the model you want? Tell us on First Dibs and we'll email you when one arrives.
The Mirage story
Jeff Percy, Jeff Soltysek and Patrick Dempster founded Mirage in Toronto in the late 1970s (1979, according to Stereophile). Kevin Voecks, later of Snell and Revel, did the original designs. Audio Products International of Scarborough, which already assembled Mirage speakers, took the company over in the mid-1980s.
Bipolar. The M-1 of 1987, begun by Voecks and completed by API's Ian Paisley, fired identical drivers forward and backward, in phase. Mirage's engineers worked with the National Research Council's loudspeaker research here in Ottawa.
Omnipolar. The OM-6 of 1997 was the first commercial version of Mirage's Omnipolar idea, and the Omnisat satellite system followed in 2002.
New owners. Klipsch bought API in 2006, and VOXX bought Klipsch in 2011. Later models were made in China; the 2007 OMD-28 was "designed by API in Canada and built in China". Around the end of 2022, Oscar Bernardo, a former API executive, bought the Mirage brand himself to relaunch it.
Which Mirage is which?
Early two-ways (1980s to early 1990s): models owners discuss include the SM-1, 190, 290, M-360 and M-460.
M-series bipolar (1987 to late 1990s): the M-1, M-3, and the "si" models such as the M-1si, M-3si and M-7si.
OM-series Omnipolar (1997 to early 2000s): the OM-6, OM-7 and OM-9, and the OM-5 subwoofer.
Home theatre: FRx (2001), Omnisat and Nanosat satellites (2002 to 2005), OMD (2007) and MX (2009), plus the OMNI towers and Uni-Theater.
Subwoofers: the BPS bipolar subs, the LF-150 and MM-6, and the Nano subwoofers.
Buying used Mirage: what to check
Surrounds. Materials vary by model: some M-series midranges use foam surrounds that turn brittle, while many woofers use rubber. Check the rear-firing drivers too.
Tweeters. Owners report that original M-1 tweeters become fragile and have been unavailable for years. Check that every tweeter plays, front and rear.
Powered woofers and subwoofers. Test the built-in amplifier at volume; owners report failed sub amplifiers with no replacement available.
Finish and pairs. M-series panels are lacquered and some clip off plastic fasteners, so look for damage. The M-1si was built in mirror-image pairs.
Placement. Omnipolar and bipolar speakers sound best well out from the wall.
Everything we list is inspected, tested and serviced as required here, and comes with our warranty.
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