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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
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Hi Bill,
You have no plans to modify your Harbeths,  this is a first for you. I wonder how long you can resist reaching for your soldering iron 😊😊. What amplifier are you using to drive them?
Charles, 
jakecanada's avatar
jakecanada OP
80 posts
 
I do for the person who said totems sound crappy and only sound good with ss amps. I truly disagree with that statement I use a 60watt tube amp with the forest and it sounds better then solid state with tubes, with half the wattage. And also tryed out the new element earths out. With the torrent driver are even more esier to drive with lower wattage amps and sound even better! Esapacialy since they have no crossover.

ebm
9,311 posts
 
So don't buy them.
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,506 posts
 
My amp will surprise you Charles. It happens to be a great value and where I think audio, high end audio, is heading. Lyngdorf TDAI amp with internal pre, Dac, and  near miraculous room correction. The room correction is just out of this world and utterly shocked me when engaged. 

I hear the Harbeths the way the designer intended! No modding this piece I'm afraid. First digital amp I really love. 100% digital unit! 

I know several folks who sold off $30,000 separates in sonic favor of this simplified approach. It did that for me also. Cost me $4,000. 

Great match with the Harbeth speakers. No overblown mid-bass no matter where I place them because of the room correction feature. Up against the wall is no problem even. 

This amp is a poster child example of audio progress and value. 

jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
Which had some points to it, and made me think twice would you want to spend money on something that takes quite a bit of real estate in a starter home with older technology. Or a speaker that sounds as good or the same. With the same price smaller foot print and newer technology

@jakecanada , you would be surprised at how much money people spend on "older technologies". Just look at the popularity of tubes and vinyl.

Newer technology does not necessarily translate into better sound.
Just as smaller is not necessarily better.

If you want a smaller speaker, that's fine. I have space restrictions myself.
I don't question why some speakers have to be so big though.
Different strokes for different folks.
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