...do great speakers increase in value over time in the vintage market?


Hello to all...

I have a pair of JBL L25 "PRIMA" speakers, made 1972, case in 7/10 shape (not repainted), surrounds on woofers reformed several years ago, grill cloth replaced several years ago, includes JBL badges on speakers. Original 1972 price $169/ea. 

Recent searches of this speaker in the vintage market show prices 50% OR MORE than the origional issue price: ???

Is this that good a speaker design? - I have read comments saying it his/was one of the best speakers ever made by JBL (at that time?) - and I do luv their sound (which I now wonder if I've ever really heard them?) especially with well-recorded jazz and have the ability with little power to ROCK OUT!

(Would greatly appreciate any comments by those who have/had these over the years...)

DO GREAT SPEAKERS INCREASE IN VALUE OVER TIME, or do/should all depreciate in value...
insearchofprat

Showing 3 responses by douglas_schroeder

Yeah, let's just forget inflation in order to come to the simplistic conclusion that you really get ahead with a vintage piece of gear. Not to mention the ever present possibility of repairs, which BTW, would not be cheap. Let's not forget that since SOTA is a moving target, vintage gear always gets relatively worse sounding, if you actually use it, compared to newer gear. 




I've done my time (like brief prison sentences) with various vintage gear. I would never turn to vintage to get superior sound, and in my estimated 99% of the cases are lousy "investments ".
Vintage is good for nostalgia. Buy at your own significant risk of poorer sound and loss of money.
Anyone want to buy a mint pair of Realistic Minimus 7 Speakers in white for $700? They were such GREAT compact monitors! So much better than all the wooden boxes now! Guarantee you would like the sound better than Harbeth! Use lamp cord to put them with a Realistic era receiver and you'll be living the dream (in more ways than one)!  ;)