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Have speakers really improved within the last 20 years??

Question:

  • If there is one measurement that would prove that speakers have indeed got better over the last 20 years, what would it be? 

I dont just want one example of a speaker from today that has a better measurement than another speaker from 20 years ago because that could just be a coincidence. I want to see IRREFUTABLE PROOF that most speakers today have a measured performance in at least one area that is better than most speakers 20 years ago.

When I look at a typical bookshelf speaker from 20 years ago versus one from today i see little difference. All i see is a wooden box, typically mdf with a pair of drivers in 'em. There would be a small crossover circuit inside and a bit of foam inside the box and that would be the end of the story. I would like to believe that speakers have gotten better but I see no reason to believe it. All I see is that speakers may have gotten brighter and brighter with time to dupe us into thinking we are hearing more detail. 

This challenge is open to any audiophile or speaker designer reading this.
kenjit
mglik
911 posts
 
Measurements are relatively meaningless compared to the sound.
IME, there are only a handful of speakers that sound “real”.
I believe the biggest factor is the matching of drivers and crossovers. The designer’s knowledge of what music sounds like is key. And their ability to transfer that to their design.

desktopguy
383 posts
 
I really tire of certain overly frequent posters (you know who you are) who seem to specialize in sandbagging us with presumptive (not actual) knowledge; gaslighting us with false knowledge; and bait & switching us with presumed facts that promote only their P.O.V.s (not helping anyone who might need help).

It really doesn't have to be like this. We've all been in group discussions where we came away having learned or realized something. This kind of post is the opposite. More than anything else, it's tiresome to get lured down the same old rabbit holes* by the same people.

*apologies to the rabbits, who do no audio harm that I'm aware of
dht4me's avatar
dht4me
83 posts
 
For the high end we have had sandwich cones, carbon fiber cones, ceramic drivers, low distortion motors, and FEA analysis for 30 years now. We do have much better capacitors which can make all the difference no though.

Where the advances are is in what Asian manufacturing brings to the mid market in affordable implementations. The high end top flight gear has not advanced much in comparison. 

Some of the best sound I ever heard is from designs made 25 years ago. Sound Labs A1, Big Apogees, CS5i's, Maggies, Vandersteen 5's, Symphonic Line, MBL 101's and Zellatons are all top tier performers that are at least 20 years old designs and aging.

The mid market is where the advancements are at!!
phd
1,323 posts
 
I think its a valid question. A well designed set of older speakers should be viable for years to come. Since good sounding speakers can be a major purchase and are usually the most expensive investment in ones system, routinely swapping them out to try other speakers don't happen that often and a lot of audiophiles rely on reviews to get needed information.
I was fortunate enough to have a dealer that allowed me to take home different speakers to try with no obligation, he knew I would buy something eventually. My speakers sound very good with all amps and preamps I have tried in the past but some components sounded better than others. My speakers were manufactured in the early nineties.
yyzsantabarbara
4,923 posts
 
I will buy a 16 year old design next. My other option was a cutting edge new design,  Thiel CS3.7 vs Yamaha NS5000. I think the CS3.7will be a good choice. I shall see.
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