I think where speaker technology has really improved in the last 20 years is the performance available in lower cost examples. I’ve been stunned by the sound quality offered by some inexpensive speakers recently. Now, what about the more expensive speakers? My opinion is it’s far less as dramatic an improvement over expensive speakers of 20 years ago. I used to own JM Lab Mini Utopias and like you I would love to hear the Mezzo’s today.
Owning the speakers you dreamed of 20 years ago
Does speaker technology really change that much? As I'm listening to my Klipsch Heresy's in a bedroom setup, I decided to look up to see what $3k or so could buy me today used and was shocked to see the speakers I used to drool over, when I was done looking at the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition ;), were available for a quarter or less of the money.
Revel Ultima
Sonus Faber
JM Lab Mezzo
And more, are all available to buy used.
Seriously these were speakers I would daydream about. How do they sound today compared to a speaker that you would spend $3k on new or even a few years old? How could these $10k speakers from a time I can still remember, really sound like a $3k speaker? My Klipsch's remind me that speakers even older and cheaper are irreplaceable to me, so why wouldn't I spend $3k for one of my old heroes?
What am I missing here?
Revel Ultima
Sonus Faber
JM Lab Mezzo
And more, are all available to buy used.
Seriously these were speakers I would daydream about. How do they sound today compared to a speaker that you would spend $3k on new or even a few years old? How could these $10k speakers from a time I can still remember, really sound like a $3k speaker? My Klipsch's remind me that speakers even older and cheaper are irreplaceable to me, so why wouldn't I spend $3k for one of my old heroes?
What am I missing here?
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^ You just got to dig a little and you can find the Replacement tweeter, I'd be much more worried about the Mid range and Woofers. https://www.scan-speak.dk/product/d2904-980000/ Good Listening Peter |
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secretguy, in which way are they better? Computer measurements? I kind of like the days of getting a designer's "taste" coming thru in their speakers, the only thing that made sense to me on how speakers varied in sound. Has driver technology gotten better? Back to the Klipsch's, a few years ago I found some Cornwalls I with the vertical horn and rebuilt the crossovers and the horn gaskets and WOW did that speaker perform, liked them better than my Spatial M3 Triode Masters I have now BUT the wife factor of the cornwalls.........yikes. ;) |
over the past year, despite having a couple enduring faves on hand for many years (the spendor sp1/2e as well as the harbeth shl5+) i went out and found nice condition pairs of the spendor bc1 as well as the original sp1, just to compare and contrast - these being seminal/original 2 cubic ft bbc heritage designs by spencer and derek hughes it has been thoroughly enjoyable lightly rehabbing and enjoy these wonderful wonderful speakers again... yes they have their weaknesses (easily sidestepped, btw) but their enormous strengths in midrange tonal purity, natural unfatiguing presentation of bass and treble, and overall tactility have been just a pleasure to experience again, after so many years |
Old speakers the surrounds on the driver need inspection , and for sure the Xover needs to be upgraded. I have been upgrading crossovers for years and stock ones are on average in quality or below at best . And capacitors-dry out over time especially over15 years , and higher quality parts make the whole speaker much better sounding. |
I agree ghdprentice I’ve owned more speakers than I can remember always an upgrade. I liked Tannoy and when I retired I bought the Harbeth 30.1 in 2017 right before they upgraded those and put out the Anniversary Ed’s. Love Them!. I really don’t know what I would upgrade to now. And I’m shopping for a friend. It’s tough. |
Interesting way of looking at it. Speaker purchases for me have always been big purchases, So I have probably owned only 5 pair in the last 50 years. Each represented a significant jump in cost and performance. Most were new, I guess when doing such an infrequent purchase I wanted the best performance available at the time. I have noticed over this period was movement from big huge flabby inarticulate bass / drivers… to clear, clean, articulate bass (small long throw drivers) where individual bass lines became clearly defined. The treble has gone from primarily sizzling white distortion to (with good electronics) the highly detailed shimmering brass of real instruments. So the difference has been huge… but gradual so it doesn’t seem any few years made much of a difference. |
No speaker tech has not changed much imo. These old speakers are just as good as they were. Watch the foam surround and ferrofluid in the tweeters as it can dry up. Honestly bass might have gotten worse in the quest for smaller “nicer” looking speakers. I feel like the current tweeter tech is the main difference. Tweeters seem much better to me at least in the old and new speakers I have heard. Brands that use computer modeling have gotten flatter Frequency responses and advanced crossovers… but there are brands that are tuned by hear and are great too. A handful of brands have pushed driver tech but I am not sure it has translated to better sound. Impulse response of the driver is always improved and appreciated but the latest wiz-bang material still gets competition from good old paper imo. |
