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Is new better than old?

I have been looking at upgrading my speakers. I have a budget of around $1,200. There is a plethora of speakers on A’gon and C’list in that range. I did a search of Full Speakers priced between $900 and $1,300 and got a list of over 100 really nice (or not) speakers.

My question is, are the newer speakers in this price range better than the older speakers in this range? Are the newer models with the latest and greatest technology, research and design likely to sound better that a speaker that is 6 or 8 to 12 years old, but when new was twice the price (or more)?

A good example is the 13 year old Vandersteen 3A’s vs two year old Paradigm Studio 60 v4’s. Both of these are around $1,000.

Another example is the Von Schweikert Gen: II at $1,099 vs new ERA D14 at $1,100 (seller says these are half price).

I may not be comparing apples to apples above, but I think you get my point. Is a speaker that cost $4,000 but is 10 – 12 years old better than a two year old speaker that maybe sold for $2,000 when new?

Thanks
ben77059
ben77059 OP
29 posts
 
Well, I found a pair of Vandersteen 2ce Signatures at a good price ($700). They aren't the II's, but they are like new and I am very happy.

I've only had them hooked up a couple of hours, but I am hearing things on some of my favorite tunes I've never heard before. They aren't as harsh as the Paradigms and a whole lot more low-end (of course).

I'm driving them with a NHT Power2 amp.
(Output 2 x 200W RMS @ 8ohms THD+N <0.05% - all channels driven simultaneously
Frequency Response +/-0.5dB 20-20kHz
Dynamic range 112dB A-weighted @ full power
Damping factor 2000 @ 8ohms 100Hz
Peak current 35A
IM distortion (CCIF) 0.0005%
TIM distortion 0.003% Soft Clipping)
I got a good deal on this amp but I bought it before the final closeout, so I paid a little more than I could have, but I think it's a great amp.

Arcam C30 pre and Marantz DV4500 cd/dvd player
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
In general, I don't think speakers from the past 20 years have been surpassed because of intervening technology, which might, arguably be the case with digital sources (not necessarily even there). Only issue is the wearing out of parts, which is a different issue. The Vandersteens you bought were excellent, especially at their price point, then, and remain so today. Great designers were perfectly capable of making speakers 20 years ago to compete with most anything today, and Richard was a great designer when he made your 2Ces - enjoy them.
sthomas12321
408 posts
 
ML request $1300-$1700 used

ML Prodigy $3k-$4500 used

ML cuuent vistas $2100-$2500 used

ML current vantages $4500k apox new

you be the judge. Frankly, how can you pass on the requests, or Prodigys for the cost of newer Logans? ML's cost vs Performance is WORSE every generation. Same with most others.

Paradigm 20 v2 upgraded real cherry wood $350 used, the V4's 1k new. The V2's were better to me in sound & build.

lists go on & on....
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