Are there any disadvantages to buying speakers released in 2007-2009?

[PeterNewman]

Hi All,

So my question relates to speaker technology and how quickly it changes and what impact those changes have on speaker quality.

It seems to me that a lot of the speakers released 4 years ago (2007-2008) are now on sale. Speakers that received glowing reviews are now much cheaper than they were when they entered the market. Is the technology different now than it was then? What would I potentially be missing (in terms of audio quality or otherwise) by purchasing a set from this period?

I am focused on speakers in the $1200-$1500 range that are now closer to $800-1100 and am considering the PSB Synchrony 2Bs.

Thanks in advance!
-Peter

 

[hizzaah]

I believe PSB gives a 5 year warranty, so you could potentially grab a pair under warranty! Other than that, I can't exactly comment. I'm hopefully picking up a 3 year old 5.0 set of Ascend speakers and they out spec my stock 2011 HTiB Onkyo speakers by a ton

 

[FirstReflection]

In a number of ways, we're worse off now than we were 4 years ago in terms of price : performance ratio. Pretty much all because of parts prices, which have skyrocketed in the past couple of years. Neodymium is WAY more expensive today. Copper's more expensive, other metals are more expensive. Wood finishes are more expensive. Etc. etc.

Good speakers from 4 years ago are still good speakers. And the exact same speakers would likely cost more today than the MSRP they had 4 years ago. So you combine the lower MSRP and then lower the price even further due to them being cleared out, and they can be a terrific deal!

Now, obviously, they need to be in good working order. Good speakers should last for many many years, but the drivers are moving parts, so it's possible for things like the rubber or foam surround that goes around the driver to degrade or get worn from abuse. But other than that, it's not like speakers "wear out"

There've been some advances, particularly in the understanding and design of waveguides. But it's not as though every speaker out there is making use of the new developments. If the speakers you like happen to be a model from 4 years ago, there's no reason to avoid them

 

[PeterNewman]

In a number of ways, we're worse off now than we were 4 years ago in terms of price : performance ratio. Pretty much all because of parts prices, which have skyrocketed in the past couple of years. Neodymium is WAY more expensive today. Copper's more expensive, other metals are more expensive. Wood finishes are more expensive. Etc. etc.

Good speakers from 4 years ago are still good speakers. And the exact same speakers would likely cost more today than the MSRP they had 4 years ago. So you combine the lower MSRP and then lower the price even further due to them being cleared out, and they can be a terrific deal!

Now, obviously, they need to be in good working order. Good speakers should last for many many years, but the drivers are moving parts, so it's possible for things like the rubber or foam surround that goes around the driver to degrade or get worn from abuse. But other than that, it's not like speakers "wear out"

There've been some advances, particularly in the understanding and design of waveguides. But it's not as though every speaker out there is making use of the new developments. If the speakers you like happen to be a model from 4 years ago, there's no reason to avoid them

Thanks for the quick and helpful response! This is reassuring. I should note that I am still looking to buy the speakers new. PSB hasn't updated their top end line so they are still selling the synchrony 2b's new. I was just worried that I might be missing something relative to a new speaker released in 2012. Your comments have eased my concern.

 

[ImcLoud]

Don't get hung up on age, I would listen to what you are considering and compare it to a few other speakers...

 

[zieglj01]

Thanks for the quick and helpful response! This is reassuring. I should note that I am still looking to buy the speakers new. PSB hasn't updated their top end line so they are still selling the synchrony 2b's new. I was just worried that I might be missing something relative to a new speaker released in 2012. Your comments have eased my concern.

A good design is a good design - nothing is quaranteed in the
present age. The end result is how it sounds to you, and if you
will enjoy the sound and not be distracted.

 

[JBH]

I agree with Mr. First Reflection. Generally, you will be paying more for a similar speaker.
Arguably though, the industry, in an attempt to keep costs down due to rising material costs, has focused more in recent years on smaller speakers. The PSB 2B's are a decent speaker, but they lack the midrange clarity and bass extension of the best examples of the class that don't cost a great deal more. Step up a bit and you will have something that you'll have no motiviation to upgrade in the next decade or so.

Try PSB's own Imagine Mini or the very new KEF LS50, which is radically underpriced IMO. Either will knock the socks off the 2b's.

 

[PeterNewman]

I agree with Mr. First Reflection. Generally, you will be paying more for a similar speaker.
Arguably though, the industry, in an attempt to keep costs down due to rising material costs, has focused more in recent years on smaller speakers. The PSB 2B's are a decent speaker, but they lack the midrange clarity and bass extension of the best examples of the class that don't cost a great deal more. Step up a bit and you will have something that you'll have no motiviation to upgrade in the next decade or so.

Try PSB's own Imagine Mini or the very new KEF LS50, which is radically underpriced IMO. Either will knock the socks off the 2b's.

Thanks for your input, I had not really considered the Imagine Mini as I kind of assumed that the Imagine level is below the Synchrony and likely not as solid a speaker.

In looking at the 2Bs I thought they would really be the speaker that I wouldn't want to upgrade for the next decade. I am aware of the lack of bass extension but was planning on augmenting the 2Bs with a solid sub to hand off too.

Your comparison to the KEF and Imagine Mini have me a little concerned about the direction I have started down. Do other people agree that the KEF or the Imagine Mini are a vast improvement on the B2s?

 

[JBH]

Sorry, my error. I assumed you were referring to the Image 2B (PSB is funny like that...). It looks like they can be had for around $1k on sale, which is probabley what you're looking at?

The Synchrony is likely more of a contender to the KEF, though i've not heard the Synchrony 2B personally.

 

[bikemig]

I've been using the PSB Imagine Bs for my 2 channel music set up for a while. They're great. I like em fine without a sub actually. The synchrony 2bs are one model up from the imagine Bs. Like I said, I think they work fine for music without a sub. If you want something that goes lower, I'd think about a floorstanding speaker. You could go a model down and pick up the imagine t for the price of the synchrony 2bs.