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My vintage JBLs vs new B&W, PMC etc.

My system:  Bryston BP-26 pre-amp, McIntosh MCD500 cdp, Conrad Johnson MV-60SE with JBL 4312s or Bryston 4B-SST2 with JBL L150As.  Audioquest Coral interconnects and nothing special speaker cable.

The dilema:  I keep thinking the next set up will involve a $peaker up grade.  I go to the dealer and listen to high end demos and then return home only to find I still find my JBLs just as good.  To be fair, both pairs of my JBLs are in near pristine condition.  I compared my 150As to PMC PB1s and while I really liked the PMCs, I eventually sold them because I could not discern any real improvement over my 30yr old 150As.  I also sold my Kimber 8TCs with the PMCs for the same reason.  My listening room is about 30 wide by 20 deep.

I recognize that you can't just walk out and buy 30+ year old speakers in mint condition, I was very lucky to find these, but I find it interesting that I can't seem to find speakers which are significantly better sounding for less than the price of a new car.  Is it just me or is there something I'm missing.
rwheeler
reubent
6,980 posts
 
What lak said......

BTW, what was the price of the JBL's 30 years ago? I'm guessing they were not cheap speakers.

I'm using a pair of Infinity RS 1.5's that are 35 years old. They sound great. They don't have the accuracy and precision of some of the more modern audiophile speakers I've owned. But they are musical, have non-fatiguing highs and go very low (down to 28hz, which is amazing for a large bookshelf speaker). However, their $900 original MSRP is over $2700 in today's dollars. I could probably find a reasonable new replacement for $2700.

Congratulations on finding and buying a great speaker that you love. Now go listen to some music and enjoy!
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,477 posts
 
Vintage speakers can be extremely good. Especially ones that look crap but are built from great components. Don't believe all the marketing hype! A lot of the latest and greatest is not an improvement but cheap stuff in a shiny box that only looks great.
rwheeler OP
4 posts
 
"reubent" has a good point, the 150As were about $750 each in the early to mid 80s.  So let's say that is $3000 each in today's money.  Not an insignificant sum but still wouldn't get me a pair of 803Ds.

"lak" also has a good point in that I'm blessed or lucky to have them.  I bought the 150As from a retired gentleman in San Antonio back in 1998 for $600 for the pair.  I wish he could see how they are being used today and that they are just as nice today as they were the day he let them go.  He loved them but he and is wife were moving and downsizing.
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