Vintage speaker prices.

dcoil

inspiredsports wrote: »

At any rate, demand for big, heavy speakers is not what it once was. Because of this, those who want both "new" and "big" pay specialty prices at specialty stores.

Those of us with a little knowledge and who are willing to roll up our sleeves, risk a hernia, and get out our soldering irons win big. We get modded Monitors and SDA's that would cost, as you say, 5-6 times as much for comparable, new, boutique speakers.

This was also noted by On3s&Z3rOs. Before I purchased my SDA SRS (back about 5 years) I auditioned some fairly high priced speakers (to me anyway), backed by similar priced electronics, in the $10k - 15k range. Not that I could afford them, but I wanted to see what to shoot for with my cheaper budget. I won't go into brands, and I know there are many people who really don't care for the SDA sound. But when I got done, I thought my 1988 pair of stock SDA 2B's sounded better than anything I auditioned :eek:. To 'upgrade', I bought a pair of SRS in 2006 and as has been noted - with a little time/effort/money and the GREAT assistance and knowledge of the CP members, they have just recently been modded. They sound at least 50% better than when I bought them and if they originally compared to $10K - $15K speakers 5 years ago?? Well, I'm probably in the $20K - $25k range now :biggrin:

quadzilla

Definitely have to agree on the warranty and small/compact thing. I just spent a week trying to help a guy at work decide on a sound system for his new HT. Keep in mind, this guy is dropping 10k for a projector and lens. When we starting talking about sound, he kept asking how to get really good sound, so I pointed him to some stuff I thought he should audition. He looked at everything, and just said "but it's all so big! I want small speakers that are out of the way." Then an endless discussion of why very small satellites and a sub probably just wouldn't do it, since he also wants to use the system for music. I finally managed to talk him to into getting the Polk Blackstone system, but even then he kept going on about "but they're still kind of big". But at least he's getting something relatively decent. He's also supposed to come over to hear the latest edition of my HT and 2 channel room, so we'll see after he hears what "bulky" speakers can do.

That's not to knock the Blackstone line. I'm pretty interested myself. But I just don't see smallish satellites and a single sub hidden in a corner, as he intends, getting him the couch rattling sound he says he wants for movies.

I also have to strongly agree with the value of used speakers. I've picked up several sets that were in like-new condition. Even the new stuff I've bought has all been Polk. And the fact that Polk stocks drivers for years, even decades after a speaker is no longer made is just another reason that Polks are the only speakers in my house. There are others I like, and a few I might own some day. But for now, Polk rocks my world.

DON73

tony millard wrote: »

Is your age in your name signature? If so, bravo !


We have 3 music stores here but I don't go to them though :-(.. and alot of pawn shops BUT the pawn shops pretty much stopped flipping audio gear because of the MP3 and subsequent digital downloading era. But I still go around looking. Once every 4 months, my heart gets to pounding over something on the shelves in a couple that still will try to flip audio.

Thrill of the hunt was great but not so much anymore, at least around the bargain places.

My user name is my agebut I feel like a little kid when I bring another piece of audio gear into my home but the old receivers and amps. are much heavier than they were 30 years back........they pretty much stay wherever I put them initially.

Tony M

DON73 wrote: »

My user name is my agebut I feel like a little kid when I bring another piece of audio gear into my home but the old receivers and amps. are much heavier than they were 30 years back........they pretty much stay wherever I put them initially.

I've noticed the same weakness with my ability to shift things at will. I just moved some 60lb. Hartley speakers for a potential sale the other day and my lower back was sore to begin with and the man steped up and helped move one himself. Man they were heavier than I remembered..LOL
I'm still a little sore 2 days later.

I also love that feeling of finding something at an affordable price. I'll bet Nguyendot knows this feeling very well too.

My Mother taught me that, by showing me her yard sale finds and the savings she made.

Cayuga

My mother taught me the same thing and there's no better feeling than finding something of value at good price. The hunt for vintage gear adds to the value of the find and makes the money well worth it.

lancejohnson15

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Cayuga

I'm glad people liked the post, I think the post by Jstas "Old Stuff" was very good as well

ricohman

With vintage speakers I can get a lot of bang for my buck. If I could afford new TOL speakers I would probably have them.