Question - is new always better than old?

[The Dali]

As I work down my speaker journey I started to think about the value of NEW speakers vs older speakers. It feels like high quality speakers from 10 to 15 years ago might be a better option (value?) than new speakers that can be had at the same price. In other words... is there anything wrong with looking for 20 year-old Paradigm speakers for $250 instead of buying a $250 set of new speakers?

I guess the idea is that the older speakers at the current price were "made better" or were "higher quality" at the same price point of the new version? Do speakers wear out considerably? Like over 15 - 20 years? Just wondering the best approach, since I have seen lots of discussion about "buying used' over new.

Thoughts?

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Two answers:
a) Betteridge's law of headlines
b) It depends. Many speakers are often created to cost - ie: maximize profits. See the vast majority of Klipsch and Martin Logan speakers. While others fall into two categories and the goal for both is to maximize audio quality. First, one is built to a price, maximizing performance as possible (limited by price) and accepting some compromises (Kali Audio) and the latter isn't limited by price nor compromises (many of RBH, TAD, ATC, and PMC, etc..)
New developments in math, physics, measuring equipment, and computing, allow for much lower investment to maximize new speaker performance, but it's NOY a hard rule. Like I said some new speakers are simply built to price without much actual sound development - just pick some cheap components, slap a cheap piano finish, and call it a day.

 

[davidscott]

I currently own a pair of 12-year-old Infinity P363 floor standers as well as a pair of P163 bookshelves. (currently in storage). I wouldn't even consider buying new at anywhere near their original price. I would have to go much higher on today's list price for comparable performance. So yes, I would consider10 to 12-year-old speakers. JMHO of course.

 

[The Dali]

I guess to follow-up... do speakers have a limited lifespan? Would a high-end set of speakers from 1995 but were treated well and cared-for still be a viable option vs a lower cost set of mid-tier speakers manufactured in 2020?

We have a similar discussion about guitars... the technology hasn't changed in 70 years so is a 1970 guitar really worse than a 2024 guitar?

Speakers are different, I know, but the amount of tech in speakers is much lower than TVs or AVRs... so in theory they should have a much longer lifespan (and relevancy), provided the materials don't wear-out.

 

[isolar8001]

I guess to follow-up... do speakers have a limited lifespan? Would a high-end set of speakers from 1995 but were treated well and cared-for still be a viable option vs a lower cost set of mid-tier speakers manufactured in 2020?

We have a similar discussion about guitars... the technology hasn't changed in 70 years so is a 1970 guitar really worse than a 2024 guitar?

Speakers are different, I know, but the amount of tech in speakers is much lower than TVs or AVRs... so in theory they should have a much longer lifespan (and relevancy), provided the materials don't wear-out.

As a worst case scenario, the foam surrounds on woofers' maybe mids are the primary concern.
I picked up this pair of Advents (that had just been refoamed) and did new grill cloth and changed the caps.
Total investment 100 bucks.

Buffed up the cabinets with Howard's Restor-A-Finish and Feed-N-Wax . (don't have any pics of how they came out) They look practically brand new.
These were 250 a pair in 1970, which is 2000 today.
They sound as good as new and will hold up to many new speakers.

Advent Score !!

This would probably be a better post on Audiokarma, but Im so damn thrilled. Scored these Large Advents today... The cabinets are perfect for an easy refinish...zero scratches, corners are perfect. Woofers have been refoamed...correctly with surrounds inverted. Grills are pretty soiled...If I...

forums.audioholics.com

 

[j_garcia]

IMO, it is more about your sound preference. Different generations of speakers from a given manufacturer can sound different, even in the same lineup. But in agreement with what the others said, nothing wrong with an older speaker as long as you know what to look for and/or fix to ensure they are in working order.

 

[Mikado463]

so many 'what if' possibilities, but............. in the world of electrostatics, panel degradation over time is a real concern.

Now, when it comes to conventional 'box' speakers and IMO, when a mfg comes out with a update of a current well regarded speaker and you know there's always someone who has to have the latest and greatest, that's when you want to pounce !!