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Speaker life expectancy: How long can you buy used

I'm in the process of assembling a cost-effective second system with high quality used or demo gear for use in a relatively small room (appr. 20qm, normal height, wardrobe, big window, carpet, sofa, apart from the size of the window quite average really).
I saw a pair of Avalon Monitors, that I think could fit the bill at 30% of the original price, mint by the looks of them BUT seven years old! In spite of the good things I hear about Avalon's longevity, I do wonder whether it is wise to buy a seven year used speaker, any speaker.
Apart from considerations of wear, where would you draw the line that even a steeply discounted speaker of justified fame in its own time will likely not be able to compete anymore with new products that may cost just about the same amount of money, new that is. And are there exceptions to the rule?
Any considerations or experience you may want to share?
Karel
karelfd
dcrookham53
57 posts
 
They are 30% of original list price, 70% off seems very good.
ruben1
5 posts
 
I recently purchased a pair of Infinity RSIIIBs from 1985 and they sound amazing. I have heard many medium to high end speakers such as Paradigm, Sonus Farber, B&W, etc prior to purchasing this vintage set and although all of them sounded good, to me, for the thousands they cost they simply could not beat my Infinity's when concidering sound and cost.
sherod
1,690 posts
 
Audiofeil states:

"I suspect that years alone is a poor measuring tool.

I would guess hours of use, how the speakers were driven, and temperature/humidity conditions are more important determinants"

I agree. Very important criteria.
chadnliz
3,736 posts
 
7 years is nothing, I probably wouldnt even worry till almost twice that age..... or even longer.
tonyptony
617 posts
 
My Shahinian Diapasons are coming up on 20 years old. It was only this year that I had to replace the passive radiators. When mine were built the passives used a foam type surround. It took about 19 years for them to distintegrate. Fortunately Shahinian eventually went to passives that used a hybrid rubber surround. I bought these and replaced them myself. The woofers already used this type of surround and show no sign of deterioration.

I think a well made speaker should have every chance of lasting a good long time. As long as the Avalons had not been misused then they'd still be considered youngsters at 7 years.

BTW, in all that time I have yet to hear any speaker up to the price range of my Diapasons that I'd want to replace them with. I guess if you find a pair of speakers you love they also have every chance of still sounding great years later.
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