When To Replace Speakers Even Though They Work Fine?

streetvan1985

So since I dont have a lot of money, it took me years to build up my stereo, but its one im very proud of. If you bought each speaker new and component the system is worth over $4000. but I had to be patient, save up, wait for really good deals ( like getting a pair of Polk FXiA6's for $300 something because of the smallest amount of cosmetic damage).

But some speakers are almost reaching ten years. Like my oldest is a sony receiver. Its a nice one that puts out 250 watts, had 2 ten inch subs one facing out, the other down. I almost bought a better company but the reviews of the sony sub were very good, from reliable sources so I took a chance, and have been happy with it. and its still doing a great job, I think? After recently replacing my old receiver with a Denon receiver that has HDMI capabilities, while my last one didn't, I cant believe the difference in how my system sounds. It blew me away. I cant help but drool over new speakers and think about 6 months down the road saving up and getting, say a new polk audio sub. but really to get one like the one i have now with the same specs is about $300+, which was what the sony cost. I also question my front channels, they were $1200 speakers when the company was still in business, solid oak enclosures with two mids, two tweeters and a port for the lower sounds, gold connections on back. These speakers sold well for $1200 when the company was going, but as a US company they couldnt compete. and I got the last pair from a local company that sells high end stereo equipment. I just wonder if a set of Polk Audio floorstanders that have like 4 mids on each would be so much better. I mean there must be something to these individual speakers that make having two mids make the pair so expensive.

I used to be big into JL subs for my vehicles. I still have a JL sub in my car now, was like $1000. and you can get two 12" JL subs for $300. or you can spend $2000 on two 12" speakers. same company, but if you look at the speakers they look totally different. the magnets on the back are about 20 times as heavy on the most expensive ones.

So i wonder if the mids in these floorstanders are better than the ones in the polk audio that have like 4 of them.

My signature shows my system. I mean i wish i was rich and could go nuts buying B&W floorstanders and Macintosh pre amps, and amps. Luckily that high end shop you can bring in a CD and listen to a pair of B&W fronts that are over $60,000!!! the sound blew my mind, almost literally! it was too much, it was like a ten by ten room. oh man to be wealthy. I would have so many toys. but you know what they say,

"The more that you gather , is just more that you can lose, Tangled up in blue" -Bob Dylan ( Jerry Garcia Band does an amazing version of the song which when i sing it in my head is what im hearing)

sucks2beme

Replace speakers? Sorry, I rotate them like tires!
But seriously, it's a hobby. You work with the funds you
have. I went 20 years while my kids grew up to change out gear.
So don't feel pressured. Enjoy what you have, and save some money up and if
a good deal on something better comes along, you'll be
ready.

polrbehr

Tough call. I have never even heard OF Phase Tech, never mind heard them! I googled the pair you list in your sig, and they look to be well-made speakers. Look a little like Polk R50s IMO.

You can probably upgrade them, perhaps to a pair of RTi10/12s, or maybe a pair of newer RTiA7s or the like. If you're patient you an probably snag a good pair used for not a lot of money. But if the speakers you've got now still sound good, I'd hang onto them, maybe get yourself a better sub (not saying the Sony is bad)?
Just my .02

zane77

I argee with sucks, start an audio cookie jar, so that when you do see an awesome deal that you just can't pass up you'll have a stash of cash to jump on it.

cfrizz

Congrats on putting together a system that you enjoy & welcome to Club Polk!

There is no rule that says you have to upgrade your speakers. Like you I put my current system together over years, none of the pieces match but it all sounds great. It is anchored by my 23 year old Polk RTA-8T speakers. I was considering upgrading them but I purchased a Parasound 205wpc amplifier instead and discovered EVERYTHING I was missing from my speakers now that they were operating to their full potential.

Since then, I have switched out to my Sunfire prepro & 5 channel 405wpc amp. Both of these again improved the sound of my speakers. Every once and a while I get to thinking about upgrading my speakers, but then I sit down and listen to them and forget about it.

If you are happy with the speakers, then consider upgrading your electronics or adding a seperate power amp and continue to enjoy your speakers.

You worked long and hard to put together your system, if you are happy with it, then just enjoy it. Coming to places like this will make you second guess yourself all the time, since we love to help newbies spend their money!

There will always be something newer and maybe better than what you have, you just have to decide if it is worth the hit to your wallet. Good luck!

boston1450

Reported

boston1450

cfrizz wrote: »

Congrats on putting together a system that you enjoy & welcome to Club Polk!

There is no rule that says you have to upgrade your speakers. Like you I put my current system together over years, none of the pieces match but it all sounds great. It is anchored by my 23 year old Polk RTA-8T speakers. I was considering upgrading them but I purchased a Parasound 205wpc amplifier instead and discovered EVERYTHING I was missing from my speakers now that they were operating to their full potential.

Since then, I have switched out to my Sunfire prepro & 5 channel 405wpc amp. Both of these again improved the sound of my speakers. Every once and a while I get to thinking about upgrading my speakers, but then I sit down and listen to them and forget about it.

If you are happy with the speakers, then consider upgrading your electronics or adding a seperate power amp and continue to enjoy your speakers.

You worked long and hard to put together your system, if you are happy with it, then just enjoy it. Coming to places like this will make you second guess yourself all the time, since we love to help newbies spend their money!

There will always be something newer and maybe better than what you have, you just have to decide if it is worth the hit to your wallet. Good luck!

....very nicely said....

maximillian

Take your time and don't get hung up with the upgrade bug. Listen to other system whether in stores or at a friend's house. Learn by reading here, reviews, and the many other audio circles. This is a hobby to listen and enjoy, not be constantly worried that your gear isn't up to snuff.

Early on I got the upgrade bug a lot and spent money on gear that I really didn't like but I thought at the time they were going to be awesome. Through listening and reading and with time I have discovered what I do like. And this is important since there is always better gear for more money, and pretty much all of us have limited funds (although limited is a relative term).

streetvan1985

Phase technology didnt last long i dont think, and hasnt been in business for 8 years I think, They were a US company and made high end speakers. I bought mine like I said from Audioclassics.com actual store which is in my town, and these speakers retailed while the company was still running for the years it did for $1200. THey are very well built speakers, and sound great. but I just wonder what say a pair of $800 Polk audio front speakers would sound like. like the ones that are $399 each, the ones that are on pre order look nice. but they might as well be 7 million a piece

streetvan1985

cfrizz wrote: »

Congrats on putting together a system that you enjoy & welcome to Club Polk!

There is no rule that says you have to upgrade your speakers. Like you I put my current system together over years, none of the pieces match but it all sounds great. It is anchored by my 23 year old Polk RTA-8T speakers. I was considering upgrading them but I purchased a Parasound 205wpc amplifier instead and discovered EVERYTHING I was missing from my speakers now that they were operating to their full potential.

Since then, I have switched out to my Sunfire prepro & 5 channel 405wpc amp. Both of these again improved the sound of my speakers. Every once and a while I get to thinking about upgrading my speakers, but then I sit down and listen to them and forget about it.

If you are happy with the speakers, then consider upgrading your electronics or adding a seperate power amp and continue to enjoy your speakers.

You worked long and hard to put together your system, if you are happy with it, then just enjoy it. Coming to places like this will make you second guess yourself all the time, since we love to help newbies spend their money!

There will always be something newer and maybe better than what you have, you just have to decide if it is worth the hit to your wallet. Good luck!

See I just did replace my Receiver, I had a $400 sony I bought in about 2005, It had no HDMI, it put out 100 per channel , 7.1 and was pretty nice i guess. But recently I decided I had to get one with HDMI, so I sold the sony for $100, saved up and bought a Denon 2309 CI that is a $900 receiver new, but its a few year old of course. but it made my system go up 10 points out of 100, I couldnt believe the difference, yet it only puts out 100 watts per channel too. Most of my speakers call for 150 avg to 250 tops. Maybe tracking down a amplifier might be a smart decision. but I dont know how you hook up a amp, and a receiver, it can be done right? I thought to use a amplifier you had to use a pre amp with it. because IM not sure how an amplifier would hook up to a receiver. Im sure though it can be done right?

zane77

That receiver doesn't have pre-outs to hook up,an external amp. So an amp really wouldn't work for you.

steveinaz

You'd have to ask my 37yr old Pioneer HPM-40's that are rocking my workshop to this day.

cfrizz

streetvan1985 wrote: »

See I just did replace my Receiver, I had a $400 sony I bought in about 2005, It had no HDMI, it put out 100 per channel , 7.1 and was pretty nice i guess. But recently I decided I had to get one with HDMI, so I sold the sony for $100, saved up and bought a Denon 2309 CI that is a $900 receiver new, but its a few year old of course. but it made my system go up 10 points out of 100, I couldnt believe the difference, yet it only puts out 100 watts per channel too. Most of my speakers call for 150 avg to 250 tops. Maybe tracking down a amplifier might be a smart decision. but I dont know how you hook up a amp, and a receiver, it can be done right? I thought to use a amplifier you had to use a pre amp with it. because IM not sure how an amplifier would hook up to a receiver. Im sure though it can be done right?

Too bad you didn't come on here BEFORE you upgraded your receiver. We all would have told you to get one with preouts to add a separate amp. It is very easy to hook up an amp to a receiver all that's needed it IC's from receiver to amp and hooking up the speakers to the amp.

So your only options are either selling your receiver and getting a more expensive one with preouts then getting an amp or enjoying what you have already put together.

rpf65

When you upgraded your reciever, you also changed brands. Could be you just like Denons sound better than your Sony. I would probably think that is the difference you're hearing.

When your dealing with AVR's 10 or 20watts is pretty insignificant. Lets just say those rated wattages are questionable, and leave it at that. SO you were uninformed, mad a mistake, and want to spend more money. These people seem to curse us all in that area.

You seem to have a pretty good system going on there, better than many people have. Just be a little patient, start putting away a little here and there, enjoy what you have, read what many people here have to say, learn, and demo all the gear you can. At least this way, when you are able, you will know what brands of equipment you like and dislike. You're already way ahead of most people on the planet. Beats audio just never really impressed me.

boston1450

streetvan1985 wrote: »

See I just did replace my Receiver, I had a $400 sony I bought in about 2005, It had no HDMI, it put out 100 per channel , 7.1 and was pretty nice i guess. But recently I decided I had to get one with HDMI, so I sold the sony for $100, saved up and bought a Denon 2309 CI that is a $900 receiver new, but its a few year old of course. but it made my system go up 10 points out of 100, I couldnt believe the difference, yet it only puts out 100 watts per channel too. Most of my speakers call for 150 avg to 250 tops. Maybe tracking down a amplifier might be a smart decision. but I dont know how you hook up a amp, and a receiver, it can be done right? I thought to use a amplifier you had to use a pre amp with it. because IM not sure how an amplifier would hook up to a receiver. Im sure though it can be done right?

....NICE RECEIVER OVER THAT SONY..i like DENON's..that should sound very nice id think.....randy