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New speaker technology vs. Old speaker tech???

The following is an issue that many members may have encountered: that is, buying an old speaker (vintage 10-12 years old) vs buying a newer and more current technology created by better driver material and using for example a ribbon tweeter, vs traditional silk or aluminum tweeter.

A friend recently purchased a monitor made by Monitor Audio, GX-50 Gold series. which uses a ribbon tweeter. His other choice was a VonSchweikert VR-1, a two way small monitor hailed by many reviewer for its tight bass almost down to 40-45HZ.

I liked the Monitor Audio GX-50, but did not want to influence his final decision. However, the more I listened to them, they sounded somewhat bright and edgy on several "redbook" CD's. He liked VonSchweikert VR-1, they seemed to him more balanced and the bass had real punch. However, he opted for the MA's because he felt the newer technology overall would be more competitive in producing good and detailed sound

Like my friend, I have often get caught up by the technology of new speakers,and ignore what sounds better and satisfying regardless of the music The VR-1 are very good speakers, and usually don't last long on Audiogon when they come around for sale. However, sometimes a mystique emerges around a speaker because of its unexpected performance that elevates it beyond its spec.

Would like to get some input on this "dilemma", especially the reputation of Von Schweikert VR-1 for being "more than sum of its parts"

sunnyjim
bombaywalla's avatar
bombaywalla
1,958 posts
 
Do you think there is any way to educate those people? From all my efforts, it seems unlikely. But then again, I am not a natural teacher, so if you have any suggestions, I'm all ears!

Best,
Roy
Green Mountain Audio
well, it IS hard, I admit as well. Many don't want to listen. There are several members here (i.e. on Audiogon; not in this thread as yet) who have been in total disbelief & I have had (unfortunately) a very negative & mud-slinging exchange with - all started by them, mind you & not by me. Many think that time-coherence is one of many parameters to taken into consideration during the speaker design phase rather than thinking of it as a design paradigm. Agree that time-coherence is not a panacea - it has its own set of issues to solve - but the end result, when engineered correctly, is a heck of a lot better sounding than 99.9% of what else is available in the market.
Some Audiogon members are beginning to believe this once they've experienced time-coherence for themselves but the process is very slow. I'm finding that the person needs to experience time-coherence for him/herself & be convinced that it did something positive for them. Then the willingness to change is much more forthcoming & they are much more willing to listen to its benefits. The audio big marketing machine has done a lot of damage & continues to..... ;-)
johnk's avatar
johnk
1,975 posts
 
Time coherence has been a goal since the days of Western Electric and the older designs like the Shearer horn were designed with it in mind. Many vintage compression drivers available some at very low prices like EV DH1A also lots of radials or multi cells horns about. And modern versions of most of the better designs exist some like GPA Altecs are very fairly priced. With horn based systems mostly the will to pursue is missing not the cost or availability limiting any such pursuit.
cider_maker
1 posts
 
Does anyone know the price of good condition RCA 1428B drivers?
sunnyjim OP
927 posts
 
Hey, Mr. Phusis, and the other guy you quoted replying to the thread; I did NOT have a "good chuckle" about the term vintage"  that I WAS ASKED TO DEFINE"  I say ask; I did not even want to declare one knowing how prissy and hen like some members CAN BE  Maybe, you should have considered before blathering forward, my age.  Do you remember Bozak, Rectilinear, KLH, Dynaco, Utah, (even) Pioneer, Marantz  Bose, Gale,  and a few other old crows of sound I can't recall.. 
devaultcarl1's avatar
devaultcarl1
29 posts
 
I run definitive Technology 9080 towers with 1970 klipsch LaScalas, with Bob Crites mods and I have the best of both worlds. My ears are happy and my sense of modern technology is appeased 
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