vintage versus modern speakers

In the under $1500 price range, there are not many speakers from the 1970's and 1980's that would be worth considering; vintage models from that era that are still worth considering have actually become more expensive than their original price (e.g., 15 ohm Rogers). While some of the higher end speakers from that era might have depreciated in value enough to be a bargain, it will take some experience to identify such bargains and know whether age has not cause major deterioration (the material used on many speakers from that time period for the soft rubber surround on the drivers can turn into dust by this time).

What is amazing is that MUCH older vintage speakers at WAY above that price range are a completely different matter. There are many drivers from the late 1920's throught the 1950's that, can be turned into fantastic systems. The problem here is that many such systems are impractically large in size (the speakers were originally meant for theaters), and because their superiority is no secret, such drivers are VERY expensive. The compression/horn drivers I am talking about are made by the likes of Western Electric, IPC and RCA. If you have a chance listen to modern horn systems built around such drivers (they DO NOT sound like Klipschorns or Altec Valencias and the like). There are modern companies making very good horn drivers, such as ALES, but some of these are even more expensive than the vintage classics.

To me, it is not only the speaker itself that matters, but also the amplifiers that will work well with the particular speaker. I personally don't like the sound of most high powered amps, both tube and solid state, and so both efficiency and how easy a load the speaker presents to the amp matters a lot. Most modern speakers, even those that are quite efficient (e.g., Wilsons), are not at all compatible with the amps that I like. Is it the sound of the Magico speaker that I don't like; is it the sound of the amp being used to driver the Magico that I don't like; does it matter which is the root cause?

While it is a good thing that advances in materials and design keep coming along (this affords designers a much wider range of options), it is not always the case that the latest design/material is the best option for a particular implementation. As a very rough generalization, I still prefer the sound of woofers with paper cones and pleated paper surrounds that have VERY short excursion capability. Yes, this does limit acoustic output at the very lowest frequencies, and it does require use of very large cabinets, but, I like the variety of tone and texture to the bass and lower midrange that is afforded by such drivers. There are current manufacturers that make cost is no object speakers that could be made with any kind of driver available that utilize such "old" technology (an absurdly expensive example is the Living Voice flagship).

It is interesting how technological advances can be more readily applied in certain areas, but, not in others. We now have, and employ, the latest tools to analyze such instruments as the violin and yet, many of the best instruments remain those made from the late 1600's to the early 1700's. There are instruments made of fancy metal alloys and carbon fiber composites, and yet, no one has been able to make consistently superior instruments using modern technology. Why? For one thing, we don't completely understand what makes for good sound reproduction and how to measure those qualities and how to then embody those qualities in the instrument. A lot of that is the "art" of making a good violin or a good speaker.

There are a lot of speaker designers who employ very high tech approaches to reducing cabinet resonance, controlling breakup modes in speaker diaphragms, reducing driver mass, etc., and yet, notwithstanding the same technological goals, the sound of their products is radically different. Clearly, there are things at play that have not been analyzed, measured and accounted for that ultimately matter.

From a perspective of my personal taste, a lot of the high tech speakers are a disappointment. I suspect that, in the pursuit of improving on certain measurable aspects of "performance" something else suffered.

If someone likes a particular sound, someone likes a particular sound. What is the "objective' criteria for superior or inferior? I don't see the point in claiming that someone else's taste is wrong or that mass delusion has gripped those nostalic for old gear/sound.

I have owned a pretty wide range of types of speakers--dynamic, planar magnetic, electrostatic and have heard most of the others out there (plasma tweeter, bending wave). I have not heard any one particular type or brand that was clearly superior to all comers in all respects. I have found that ANY choice is a matter of compromise. For me, the field of choice of modern speakers is narrowed significantly by efficiency/impedance curve considerations because I MUCH prefer low-powered amps. That still does leave a number of modern alternatives. Earlier this year, I did audition and consider one such alternative made by Surreal Sound (unique bass driver configuration, active crossover, high-powered Class D bass amp, modern fieldcoil midrange/tweeter, solid state power supply for the fieldcoil drivers), but, I think, on balance, my current speakers are a keeper. I know what sound I am personally looking for and I don't care whether it is old school, or some new school, and I certainly would not fault anyone for having different taste/priorities.

As to the original poster's question, I think that there are quite a number of decent modestly priced modern alternatives on the market. Buying new is the easiest and safest alternative. Unfortunately, the ravages of inflation and the increasing value of the dollar does constrain the choice of new speakers. In the $1500 range, I would be looking at something used, not necessarily vintage, and I would certainly enlist the help of someone experienced to avoid getting a dud. I don't know about specific pricing, but, I know I could find decent sound from used speakers made by the likes of Magnepan, Vandersteen, Spendor, Totem, Harbeth, Audionote and ProAc. It may be a bit more tricky to assess the condition of some of the more exotic models, but, I bet there are some nice sounding Martin Logans, Infiniti and Apogees out there for reasonable amounts of money.

Hi Mapman,

It has been a while since I heard Ohm/Walsh drivers, but, I would bet that they still sound terrific. Have you had the chance to hear Ohm's latest iteration of the Walsh driver? Of course they claim that their current speakers are vastly superior to their older F series, but I do wonder if this is really the case (current speakers are, after inflation is factored in, much cheaper).