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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
jimspov's avatar
jimspov
60 posts
 
I have the same dilemma with the Vandersteen Classics (specifically 1ci) and Totem Arros. They're about the same price and both are well regarded in the forums. The Vandersteen's have survived longer, so they can be said to have stood the test of time.

Yet the Vandersteen's don't have expensive parts as far as I can tell. The Arros do - the interlocking cabinet, the veneer both inside and out, the crossover and the borosilicate  damping.

On the other hand, the Vandersteen's don't need most of the expensive materials because they've done away with the cabinet. (Hard not to be impressed with the application of  Occam's Razor).

Vandersteen's claim to fame is their first order crossover providing time and phase accuracy. Yet the Totem Arro's also claim to be phase coherent (which I thought wasn't possible with a 2nd order crossover?).

How is the price similarity explained? I guess because the sound quality is on an equal plane.
soundsrealaudio's avatar
soundsrealaudio
756 posts
 
Jake

I am on the same band wagon as you are. Three drivers in an MDF box and they want thousands and thousands. Metal drivers, ribbon drivers, they are trendy now. Every year they " improve their crossover" upgraded parts, " hold me back". Cross overs don't add music they take away, are subtractive. Wouldn't a better design would be to reduce or eliminate the crossover. Of course. 
I stopped begin a dealer for those brands years ago and picked up Wilson Benesch. Carbon fiber cabinets, aero dynamic shaped drivers to reduce bounce back of the sound waves off the back of the drivers. Much much more. 
I love them. If you get a chance take a listen. 
I confess I am a dealer for them. My bad? 

stanwal's avatar
stanwal
3,147 posts
 
When I tried ARs in the early 70s I though that the tweeters has failed. I had been using ARs for years. I have gone  through a lot of Brit speakers ever since then.You would not believe how many. Even Had a B&W P2H. Later a dealer for Harbeth and B&W. If you like the sound what difference does the age matter? Since I am 75 I try this line on women but it does not work. The Harbeth were based on BBC designs and I still listen often to the SP1s and have even compared them to my Duetta  speakers. Still have the SP1s
marqmike
839 posts
 
Nice to hear from Stanwal again. Hope you are doing well.
Ya.  That age doesn't matter some cannot get that. I go the opposite way and demand my seniority.  Funny.  Oh well.


freediver
1,121 posts
 
jakecanada there are speakers that have the exact things you specify. You want New Technology & materials,how about "Flax & Inverted Aluminum/Magnesium,ALL designed & constructed COMPLETYELY In House by the manufacturer & NOT in China??Do NOT dominate a room?Do not cost thousands of $?Not SUPER hard to drive?Work in smaller rooms?Extensive bracing & multi internal sections to separate drivers?
 Focal Aria Series speakers...
PS:Premium veneered cabinets alone require sustainable sources & that cost $$$ in todays shrinking growth areas.
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