My question is while the reviews on the Cremonas are good they are dated (8-12 years depending upon whether it's the M version or not) and driver technology has advanced a lot since then.
Well, this is just my 2 cents but when I think of vintage speakers I think of an old pair of AR's that need to be refoamed or some of those Japanese, lattice grilled Kabuki speakers. I sure don't t think of SF Cremonas, that were just discontinued a few years ago and replaced by Olympicas. By your definition my Viennas that were bought new in 2011 will be vintage too by the end of the decade.
The technology hasn't changed that much since the Cremonas were discontinued I believe in 2013. The ribbon tweeters used in Scansonics are a variant of the Heil AMT tweeter that was developed in the mid 70's. Carbon coned woofers are not new either and are no guarantee that they sound any better a laminated paper cone when properly implemented. Dynaudio for example has been using their MSP, Magnesium Silicate Polymer, cones in their mid/bass drivers for 20 years now. Because they sound good.
You should select speakers by hearing them and making sure they can be properly driven by your electronics. And not by age. I would think twice before I walked away from a pair of Cremonas.
Good luck in your speaker search.
