vintage versus modern speakers

As Larryi and Almarg have touched upon the subjective impressions of some older loudspeakers compared to some newer ones, I would like to add that some older loudspeakers compare rather favorably objectively to some of the newer offerings too.
When one considers the marketplace bathtub effect of the value of some older loudspeakers, it seems as though some of these older loudspeakers offer quite a bit of intrinsic value.

Larryi makes some valid points....
I continue to hear modern speakers which leave me befuddled....yet clearly remember the original Martin Logan CLS electrostatic speakers from the '80s.....a sound (admittedly on smaller scaled music) which I have not heard reproduced by any other speaker...modern or otherwise...

I know. Myself I prefer the lovely Chevy Vega over these silly modern technology autos. I've tried simply HUNDREDS of cars, and absolutely nothing can compare with my amazingly sounding Vega. It's got the bucket seats, and AM radio and white wall tires and a 4 speed manual transmission.

People can get used to and prefer anything. And no one is saying that all new speakers are great, folks. But amazing engineers dedicating their lives to what they love, with the amassed knowledge from the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s, and the power of the computer for theorizing, testing, measuring, etc, all add up to the potential to build an amazing speaker. Today's $3000 speaker can sound excellent. $5000? $10,000? $20,000 speakers? I know I haven't tried them all. Are those of you knocking all modern speakers telling me you've tried them all? Because I'll call you a liar.

Now new good quality speakers are going to sound different than your speakers from the 60s or 80s. No doubt. And this is where the knee jerk reaction happens. It's different therefore it's worse. You don't remember your fave music sounding like that, so how dare they build a speaker that messes with your religious experience?

What you may be used to is simply inferior sound. You're stuck there and happy. You couldn't imagine that your speakers and or ancient gear(not even in spec anymore) is coloring the sound. Stay there if you want, knock yourself out. But don't expect everyone to not get a puzzled look in their eye when you start talking about your amazing Vega again.

The OP asked a generalized question. I will repeat here question here...

are great vintage speakers (Infiniti, JBL,Sansui, Sony, etc..) from the seventies better sounding than what is available now?

I am in the camp that says no. As a whole, modern speakers using technology derived from over the decades are much better today than what was generally available then. There are specific model exceptions, then and now, but OP asked a general question.

No different than asking if Vintage Audio sounds better than Modern Audio.

I think we sometimes let nostalgia get in the way. We can blame American Pickers for that.

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.