Audiophile Speakers with 25 yr + Longevity

Well, I would like to mention the older Mirage M series speakers. Not much for looks but they were very well made. The main drivers do NOT require new surrounds like Infinity speakers. I had a 20 year old pair and they sounded as new.

Crossover capacitors can go out of spec over time and electrical joints can corrode. Large woofers with heavy magnets can sag and start to rub. Even rubber surrounds can dry out and lose flexibility which can alter bass performance. Air tight seals can dry up and leak. In general the speakers will still produce sound, but not as originally designed.

I bought my Magnepan MG 1B speakers in 1985. They have been to the factory twice... the first time when I blew the tweeters because the fuse was bypassed and the second time 10 years later when the repair needed touch up. The speakers are now handed on to my college age son. As long as you have a climate controlled environment Magnepan's will last... don't leave them at an un airconditioned location where the membrane will deteriorate from heat. The 1.7's I now have will likely be in my will 25 years from now.

10-29-12: Pdspecl
Well, I would like to mention the older Mirage M series speakers. Not much for looks but they were very well made. The main drivers do NOT require new surrounds like Infinity speakers. I had a 20 year old pair and they sounded as new.

A pair of 1996 Mirage M5si's still anchor my HT 7.2 surround rig, and I have no intention of sending them on, In fact, the speakers they replaced are also nearly timeless--ADS L1090 series ii. Both speakers use butyl surrounds on the cone drivers and the cabinets are very solidly made of thicker-than-average MDF.

The continued popularity and high resale value of both these brands is testament to their sound designs and durable construction. I bought my L1090s the year my daughter was born in 1987 and I have no doubt they'd continue to deliver today. I've seen plenty of 20-30-yr-old ADS speakers fetch $500-1500.