Speakers to hang on to for LIFE

Steveallen, I'm with you. Prices are down, technology has progressed, and anyone who comes into the game with the idea of hanging onto *anything* 'for life' is shutting him/herself off from the progress that's happening all the time.

That's not to say that you should not hang on to good stuff for a long time if you can't find anything that will beat it--but you should recognize that eventually something will.

I just recently purchased a pair of Goldmund Dialogues from an Audiogon ad. I had wanted them for many years and will no doubt keep them for many years. This is a timeless design first introduced in 1983 and discontinued sometime around 1990. Very fast, very articulate, accurate and musical.4 ohms and 96db efficiency make it very amp-friendly. Hard to find but well worth the search. I use mine with a Rowland Concentra for incredible results.

The Spendors LS3/5a or any of the LS3/5a variant would be for keeps.

The newer S3/5 or S3 is definitely worth considering as well.

There are some big league speakers in here, so I’m chiming in timidly. But, considering that I do not like stereo equipment which dominates a room, and knowing my listening rooms will always be on the smallish side regardless of where I live, my ProAc (this brand has come up a few times now) 2.5’s are definitely speakers that I know I will keep. In an absolutely stunning cut of yew, I consider these as good as it gets (or I ever care to get) in a two way.

Steven Allen:

I would be hard pressed to find speakers at a decent price that can do what my Infinity IRS V can. Sure, I could go and get the newer Genesis 1.1 for a lot more money, but the upgrade is rather small in my mind versus the money it costs.

Besides, newer technology isn't always better. People still use tube amps and listen to vinyl here, so don't come off saying that all these old systems are just boat anchors. Besides, my system wouldn't anchor my boat - it would sink it. ;-)

I realize that there have been improvements in phonographs and tube amps as well, but there still isn't a CD player that sounds better than phonographs that existed a long time ago.

Keeping something for life? Well, I don't know about keeping my IRS V for life, but I plan to hold on to them for at least 15-25 years (2-3 refoamings necessary) and often times, a life sentence ends up being about 20-40 years, so that may be about right for my speakers.