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Why are so many companies like harbeth making old speakers designs and charging thousends?

Hi everyone I am a little confused about the speaker market. I had been two dealers that sell totally different products. The one I had been to which I bought my forests from sells Totem And Monitor Audio and B&W. though I went to the other that sells Harbeth And audio note speakers which they recommended me buying. And the problem I have trouble understanding Is when I spend thousands on a speaker. Especially my next big purchase. That has no real new technology and is the size of my dads old conerwalls and never use to cost Thousands to build. With no technological advancements. to a product such as the totem that is small compact and modern for the wife approval , and to be more exact. The new Element line and technologically advanced like the torrent driver. Which I can get the same speaker as the same cost or less of the audio note and Harbeth and dose not need to take up the whole room or look like the 70's. Whats your opinion? Would you buy a product that is a 30 year old design that costs 5 times as more with the only diffinceses as upgraded silver wire and upgraded crossover components. To a thousand dollar woofer that is machined not stamped and has so much magnetic flux that it ca lift a car and no crossover?
128x128jakecanada
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,891 posts
 
Like dweller said, never mind the speaker, buy it for the sound. You have cars makes that rest on their laurels, mimicking what they looked and performed like 50 years ago. Audio is no different. People and makes can buy into their own hype and therefore feel no need to improve, albeit incrementally.

I don’t mean to sound so harsh when it comes to Harbeth but every time I listen to them, I walk away feeling "meh". Others are bowled over by the sound so if you aren’t enamored by them, then by all means, walk away and don’t look back.

All the best,
Nonoise

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grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,506 posts
 
Harbeth does indeed have new technology with the drivers and crossover. Not sure where you pick up on the notion they did not? 
phusis's avatar
phusis
1,216 posts
 
Marketing efforts would have us believe much if not most of what's really evolutionary tweaks equals reinventing the wheel. My own speakers are based on designs some of which originate in the late 20's (the mid driver; based on RCA's 1428 field coil unit) , and I find them substantially more rewarding than most newer designs. Go figure. 

jakecanada's avatar
jakecanada OP
80 posts
 
More audio note is where I was going with it, I just used harbeth as an example compared to the old bbc monitor.
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