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It is hard enough buying new speakers, let alone older speakers to use as an upgrade

The above subject title about the potential difficult in  purchasing an older speaker, that is, a speaker that is at least 10-15 years old (and now discontinued) but garnered very good to excellent reviews when it came to market. I have often seen good reviews and personal recommendations for Linn's Magik 140 speaker and the Joseph Audio RM-25si Signature II. speaker, both approximately in the same or close to the same retail price, but no longer available.

It would be an audiophile's dream to have a small warehouse to store several of these overachievers so as to audition them. Another speaker, I have come across for sale on AG and elsewhere (and is far more expensive) is the Vandersteen Treo, a beautiful looking speaker that reviewed well, but was discontinued in favor of the Treo CT , and now I think the "Vandy" 5a  Its main caveat like several of Vandersteen's models is difficulty getting the room placement dialed in as a consequence of the use of first order crossovers. The original Treo (used) would be at the outer limits of my budget,.... but how might the Linn and Joseph Audio speakers mentioned above, measure up in overall value.

sunnyjim
shkong78's avatar
shkong78
1,485 posts
 
In my 40 years of audio history,  I had gone through about 15 speakers.

But there are only two speakers that I had used for more than 10 years.

The first one is Apogee Duetta Signature that I had used from 1988 to 1998.

The second one is Lansche Audio 4.1 which I have been happy since 2007.


It is very hard for me to get out of Lansche because of excellent treble out of Plasma tweeter and overall balance.

I may use it until it stop working (it is an active speaker).
dill
2,545 posts
 
" Choosing loudspeakers is like choosing partners, but far easier to change."
And cheaper too ... ;-)
jperry
2,462 posts
 
The most effective thing to do is buy the speaker on the used market and sell it if it does not suit you. If you buy right it is like a home trial and not expensive.
cd318
2,636 posts
 
Afer reading some excellent contributions on this forum such as the ones by prof or this recent one by duckworp

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/a-brief-review-of-15-high-end-speakers-on-home-demo-including...

the full extent of my laziness when it comes to checking out loudspeakers has gradually dawned on me.

For years I just checked out magazine reviews and made no effort to get out there and listen. Apart from one show in Manchester 10 years ago and a short trip to hear the Naim Ovator S 600 (with it’s BMR driver) I had done nothing until last weeks show in Leamington Spa.

However my experience there only confirmed my worst suspicions. I know it’s been said thousands of time before, but it’s undeniably true - in the end you have to listen for yourself. No amount of reading can give you anything more than a rough pointer (I guess it’s similar with cars).

But jperry’s advice could also be a great alternative strategy providing you have the space, time and resources. If I did, then I would keep my favourite speakers and just buy and try replacements in a second system.

As things stand I need to get out and listen to a few SOTA designs like Joseph Audio speakers, Linkwitz Labs 521s, or TD Eclipse 712z’s, and maybe something by Boenicke Audio. Even if I wasn’t intending to buy, I’m sure the effort would be worthwhile and memorable.

Sometimes the only way to hear a cerrain loudspeaker might be via private sellers who welcome an audition beforehand.
Dealers can often only usually stock a handful of similar sounding models.

And definitely catch a few shows or launch next year.
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