vintage versus modern speakers

This is an easy one. No. Technology has advanced and the products evolved. You are better off with newer speakers at all price points.

Of course speakers from the 70s that are still around are old and not even as good as they were back then.

I don't think it's even debatable but hey you never know....

They made good stuff and bad stuff then . They make even better stuff and bad stuff now. Except now the good stuff from then is old now and if still sounds good has probably benefited from being refurbished or rebuilt using modern technology.

Anything can sound good anytime as long as it is in good working order, old or new.

The key is to do your homework. If you do it no telling where you will land. But it probably should not be some untouched speaker that was a gem 40 years ago.

I have Dynaudio COntour 1.3 mkII monitors. These are overachieving little guys that hit way above their size and cost and deliver many delights, but they are not nearly as coherent sounding top to bottom as my newer OHM Walshes. My older "vintage" Walshes from 1983 were similar in that regard.

My triangles are somewhere inbetween in terms of being coherent. Evey speaker old and new has its relative strengths and weaknesses. No two are the same regardless of age.

...unless you happen across a steal somehow but most often you usually get what you pay for on the used market.

If you like the sound of a particular speaker with a particular amp then buy it. Doesn't matter when it was made if in good condition. It doesn't matter how good or not all the rest are.

IF one thinks a particular speaker from teh 70's is the best for them then that is what they should buy.

I still have my OHM Ls from 1978. I had to refurb them with some new parts but they can be had newly refurbed from the maker still for about $500 (they cost $400 back then)and would float the boat of many a buyer these days still.

The thing that many box speakers from back then did not do as well as today is soundstage and imaging. If you don't care about that too much, put some old speakers on a good modern amp and most people will be good to go.

Larryi,

Yes, I own two pair of recent OHM Walsh. You will see them in my system pics. Not most recent X000 but the generation prior from just a couple years back.

YEs, I would agree they do sound terrific, especially when matched to an amp capable of letting them do all they can, which typically means decent power and current delivery.

THe current models are much improved from teh original OHM walsh line from the early 80s though those were no slouches either. The sound is more modern and in line with teh better modern competition in terms of detail and clarity. I've owned various OHMs among others since 1978. My big OHM F5s are my go to speakers currently for uncompromised sound in a larger room.

Fs and As were a much different design, though the newer OHMs leverage the Walsh driver design principle from those.

Each has some unique advantages and disadvantages. Check the forums here and you will find a lot of good discussion.

I live in the DC/Baltimore metro area if you are ever in teh area and want to stop by for a listen.

in hindsight the amps most people were using in the 70s with whatever speakers they had were probably the weaker link. I'd guesstimate most speakers I heard back then on your typical Japanese or similar receiver or integrated amp would sound at least twice as good with even decent quality modern amplification.

Acoustic suspension designs back then were probably the best technical match for many of teh 40 watt or less SS amps/receivers of the day. The designs that extended the low end response like those with ports or passives requierd more power usually and the same amp would be at a disadvantage trying to drive those to their max which in general would be a notch above int erms of being able to deliver more extended bass with teh right amplification.