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Buying used: how old is too old?

All,

Considering buying some used speakers from a well established company, e.g., Wilson, Focal, B&W, etc.

Aside from obvious technology updates, do speakers have a shelf life? If so is this measured in overall life, or number of hours played?

I’ve read some reviews that some speakers can really improve with age, no doubt longevity is going to be influenced by speaker drivers. Perhaps paper breaks down before other materials—I don’t know.

Old flagships can be bought for a fraction of their original cost and less than new mid-level speakers. No break in needed! But maybe they would be broken down?

I’m sure there have been numerous threads on this topic, but I didn’t find much in my search and am also interested in any recent experience on the topic.

Would be really interested to hear thoughts, opinions, and experience with this.

Thanks!
w123ale
audiodwebe's avatar
audiodwebe
244 posts
 
I've bought many speakers 10, 20, even 30 years old.  I've not had issues with any of them.

Don't know if they degraded in sound over the years, though, as I don't have a new pair to compare them to.  

As long as they weren't abused and the drivers themselves look fine, I wouldn't hesitate to buy.  The "abused" part you can't tell by looking at the driver.  I look at the condition of the enclosure and guess that if it looks pristine, it's more than likely the previous owner(s) handled the speakers with care.
mglik
908 posts
 
Believe the major and obvious issue with very old speakers is surround break down. Many can be replaced.
On not so old, usually there are some small or not so small cosmetic issues. There are also some brands which are not currently popular which can be scored for 1/10th original price or more but still an incredible bargain. Buying used speakers off the Internet can be tricky to know if you will like them. Buying one of these highly discounted ones may be more difficult to resell. So, hearing some at a dealer is the safest way. Unless you buy a well known and popular pair that are just an older model and/or a bit scratched up.
fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,623 posts
 
Foam is easily replaced. Inspection is detection.
Ferro fluid harder to find and fix.  

https://www.speakerrepairshop.nl/en/questions/ferrofluid/c-34
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Speaker technology has advanced so much that I doubt you will be able to find anything from 20 years ago that will not be flat out blown out of the water by $4500 Tekton Moabs. So the question then becomes can you find any really old speakers that will sound better than what that same money will buy you today?  

Yes you can feel like a champ for having scored some formerly $100k speakers for only $10k. But if $5k will buy you more sound today, which will make you happier? "Got a deal"? Or "got great sound"?  

What exactly is a good deal, anyway? I see an awful lot of guys stoked to have got such a great deal. Their measure of a good deal turns out to mean a big discount. My measure of a good deal is insane good sound for less.   

You pays your money. You takes your chances.
w123ale OP
108 posts
 
Awesome, thanks for all your helpful thoughts. I’m thinking more of the 4-5 year old speaker than the 20-30. I like the car analogy, I have always bought higher end cars that are low mileage but 3-4 years old that end up being discounted 30-60 %.

There seems to be a sweet spot where you can get extraordinary performance for a massive discount.

keep the comments coming!

Any horror stories of buying used speakers?
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