How old is too old ?....

Interesting to see KEFs compared with B&Ws, which have, to my ears, a completely different sound. Of course, comparing KEFs to Lowthers is equally weird. That's not to say that both aren't good, only that they are terribly different.

If you like the KEF "sound", that classically understated and reflective BBC-like quality but think you aren't getting it in full measure, you might consider replacing the drivers as well as the crossover components. Twenty years is about the maximum life expectancy for even high quality drivers. Surrounds get soft...or hard...cone properties change, etc. Just be sure you get OEM replacements from KEF.

I suspect that the only really good piece of advice is to ignore all of us and buy what sounds good to you.

will

Will, just for clarification, I was suggesting that Clueless build the Lowther Voigt Pipes, since we had talked about that at one time. I was not drawing any sonic parallels between the KEFs and the Lowthers. I guess I got a little off topic.

Upgrading speakers will add detail and linearity, but...

You still may prefer the 104's. British speakers of that era captured a beauty offered by music that modern speakers with all their speed and "accuracy" have difficult reproducing.

Upgrade as an experiment but don't be too quick to sell the 104's.

Art

Since you are up here in the Great White North, I would wholeheartedly recommend Canadian made speakers. There is a variety at different price points. A good number of which leave nothing to be desired. Energy Veritas 2.3s, Paradigm Studio 100 v2s (or are they up to v3 yet), Gersham, PSBs, Mirage, Verity.

You will be amazed at how much performance you can get for the dollar these days, especially if you compare older foreign designs to newer Canadian designs. Keep Canada green, buy Canadian products. Listen globally, buy locally,

Good day.

16yrs is really way too old. Go buy new ones immediately. There, that's what you wanted to hear.
If I were you I'd listen to some new B&W and Kef reference (amongst others) and decide whether it's worth it.