I can't agree with SteveAllen and some other posters that newer = better technology = more accurate reproduction.
Speaker technology has not changed that much since the 1920s. Manufacturing processes and materials may have, but even then it doesn't mean that a given manufacturer applies these new techniques.
My case may not be representative, but it may be instructive. I was heavily into audio in the early and mid- 1970s. Ended up with Tannoy Monitor Golds in big plywood boxes, Crown and SAE amplification and unremarkable turntable and cartridge.
Then spent many years moving around and travelling a lot and made do with nothing more than a clock radio. In the late 1990s, my finances started to improve and I decided to put together a decent system once again. Spent a lot of hours visiting various high end shops and found that the cost of good audio equipment had increased astronomically. Anyway, listened to a lot of $10-30K systems.
Eventually spent about $10K on 10 to 25 year old used equipment: Altecs from 1982 (604-8K), Tannoys from 1993 (System 15 DMT II), turntable from late 1970s (SP-10 MK II),
amplifiers from 1989 (Meitner PA-6i, MTR-101), etc.
Since then, I've heard a lot of systems in shops, at friends' houses, etc., but haven't heard anything remotely close to what I paid that, for me anyway, comes close to the musical enjoyment I get with my "old" technology. Plus I've converted several friends to high sensitivity coaxial horn-loaded speakers. Can you imagine dumping $25K Wilsons in favour of old coaxes that cost $2K including new cabinets?
It's a weird business. Main thing, though, is to enjoy the hobby and, especially, the music!
Speaker technology has not changed that much since the 1920s. Manufacturing processes and materials may have, but even then it doesn't mean that a given manufacturer applies these new techniques.
My case may not be representative, but it may be instructive. I was heavily into audio in the early and mid- 1970s. Ended up with Tannoy Monitor Golds in big plywood boxes, Crown and SAE amplification and unremarkable turntable and cartridge.
Then spent many years moving around and travelling a lot and made do with nothing more than a clock radio. In the late 1990s, my finances started to improve and I decided to put together a decent system once again. Spent a lot of hours visiting various high end shops and found that the cost of good audio equipment had increased astronomically. Anyway, listened to a lot of $10-30K systems.
Eventually spent about $10K on 10 to 25 year old used equipment: Altecs from 1982 (604-8K), Tannoys from 1993 (System 15 DMT II), turntable from late 1970s (SP-10 MK II),
amplifiers from 1989 (Meitner PA-6i, MTR-101), etc.
Since then, I've heard a lot of systems in shops, at friends' houses, etc., but haven't heard anything remotely close to what I paid that, for me anyway, comes close to the musical enjoyment I get with my "old" technology. Plus I've converted several friends to high sensitivity coaxial horn-loaded speakers. Can you imagine dumping $25K Wilsons in favour of old coaxes that cost $2K including new cabinets?
It's a weird business. Main thing, though, is to enjoy the hobby and, especially, the music!