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Used vs New vs Vintage vs Floorstanding vs Bookshelf vs ..... OMG!

OK. I am new in this (new in HIFI, in Audiogon, in discussion forums). I need to buy a pair of speakers for a newly-to-be-built HIFI system, and I am getting a little overwhelmed about all the options and possibilities (and opinions). By the way, I am NOT rich so that helps me a lot to discard a bunch of options.

I started checking vintage HIFI speakers for around $500, basically old JBLs, Technics, and the like (eBay, Craiglist, Letgo). Of course as soon as I began I started checking newer and pricier loudspeakers... and I am trying not to be a consumerist… Either way first  I decided for a pair of JBLs vintage. Until I watched John Darko's youtube review on the ELAC Navis ARB-51. So I changed my mind, I raised my budget and changed from vintage to new, from big to small.

Then I learned about the huge immense used HIFI market. For the same price of the Navis I could buy speakers from enormous brands like Sonus Faber and Focal and B&W in the used market. There I could find Sonus Faber Veneres for 1500, B&W 802 for 2000, and so on. When I contacted somebody from another webpage (The music room) about which was the best option.... the response was... Vandersteen 2Ce signature, "by far". I looked for opinions about it and all I read about them was "OK but meeh". 

So I was really confused. Until I learnt about the Tekton Double Impact, and now I started to get some dizziness. "The best loudspeakers for that price range", "the best period", etc. I contacted Eric Alexander, who kindly took his time to explain me why paper speakers are still the best, and so on. So they are great, really great, for "just" $3000... and I raised my budget again.

Either way, I have read so much, heard so much, watched so much, and I haven't learned much really. Different experts have different opinions, whether the speakers should be flat or not, colored or true, whether it is a matter of "taste" or "you should listen and like them". Well I am no expert, I am 45 years old and I probably won't listen wavelengths of 50 Htzs or lower.

I just want a pair of good speakers so I can enjoy King Crimson, Ramones or Beethoven.

Can anybody help? PLEASE???....

tykozen
passet02's avatar
passet02
267 posts
 
Try old polk or infinety speakers
jhw9
39 posts
 
I do get vtv..’s concern. If you have (and are willing to part with) the money, buying new is preferrable. However, given the 5 and 6 digit prices good (new) full-range speakers command these days.. buying used can save you several of those digits.. but you definitely do have to go see them first, personally. You have to listen to them with good, educated ears. This means traveling. That is most likely only a 3 digit expense, hwvr.

Most often, given butyl surrounds (not foam), all you’ll need to do for service is ferrofluid (which is simpler on woofers and tweeters than it is on small mid-ranges). For those you’ll need an expert.. but again, this is only a 2 or 3 digit expense. Capacitors are fairly robust on good quality crossovers.. esp if they’re under 20yrs old. I’ve gone through my original film caps on my 25+ year old x-overs boards, and suprisingly, they all still measure within what’s printed on the outside.
jhw9
39 posts
 
Also, if you live in a humid climate (40-50%+), I would avoid old paper coned speakers, unfortunately. They’re great when new, but awful when the coating disintegrates and local humidity has ravaged them.. adding mass to their membranes.

Carbon, Poly, and most certainly Ano’d Alu would be better as used in humid areas. The old NEAR transducers, which Lewis Athanas patented and designed (albeit finicky given no centering-spiders), were extremely robust and later used in gardens as outdoor speakers.. even somewhat exposed to hydro-misters, they can still work for many years. But yes.. buyer beware.. due diligence, etc.
jimman2's avatar
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jimman2
55 posts
 
Several years ago I went to a somewhat local hi-fi store that had a nice selection of vintage used speakers to upgrade my speakers.  My budget was intended to be in the $800 range.  I listened to a few different mid sized speakers and after so the owners said he wanted me to listen to a new at the time speaker that KEF had put out - the LS50.  Compared to the vintage speakers I auditioned, they blew me away.  So I upped my budget and bought those and a few months later bought a decent subwoofer.  Bliss at least for me within my budget.  They really are worth a listen.

Fast forward a few years and I started reading about Tekton speakers.  I spoke/emailed Éric at Tekton for his opinion of his Impact Monitor and he felt the LS50s were not in the same league (despite comparable pricing).  I bought the Impact Monitors fairly recently but life got in the way (I started my own business/retail store) and I haven’t had the chance to listen to them sufficiently to say wether or not they are far superior to the KEFs.  I switched/added some equipment to my system (added a DAC which I am still trying to set up) and I just haven’t had time to set my system up.  I can say they (the Tektons) are awesome speakers for the price and many people that have actually listened to them agree.  I can say for certain that you will NOT need a subwoofer as I did with the KEFs.  So this might be a speaker to consider within your budget.  
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