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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
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.
warnerwh
539 posts
 
Speakers and their crossovers are good for decades. The foam surrounds on older speakers may rot after 10 or 12 years but that is easily replaced with modern foam which is good for 20 years or so.

The crossover components should be replaced by thirty years. I say that but until recently my computer room had a pair of Dynaco A-25's from the early 70's that sounded good. They still have the original parts in them.

So the moral of the story is speakers don't really wear out. Now there are stats and panels that do have issues much earlier but that's a different subject.

7 years is a non issue. The speakers I'm listening to now I bought new three years ago. In 20 years it may be a problem somewhere. There's alot of speakers from the 70's that work as they did new.
bondmanp
1,808 posts
 
I know this flies in the face of everybody else's experience, but my Advent New Large Utility speakers, which I got new in 1978 (!) still work fine. The tweeter level switches need a cleaning (I think), but so far, the foam woofer surrounds are in tact!
wwwrecords
172 posts
 
My Altec 604s were made in 1974 and they are still making beautiful music.
oilmanmojo
472 posts
 
a lot depends on the actual speaker components. SOme speakers have a foam that breaks down pretty easy. Other designs this does not appear to have a problem. lots of altecs, jbls, klipsch speakers out there that push 30-40 years and still sound good.
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