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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
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?
russ69's avatar
russ69
3,514 posts
 
"...I’m thinking more of the 4-5 year old speaker than the 20-30..."

You are GTG in that time frame. As they get older, it depends on the materials used in the drivers. Titanium horns, GTG. Foam surrounds, not as great. 
ghdprentice
7,016 posts
 
4-5 years… absolutely go for it. I have not often bought used, but did a couple times… high end 4 -5 years old I would just consider, broken in for you. Speakers tend to have very long lifetimes. I have had some speakers for over 20 years and I still remark (last night) at how great they sound (B&W 805, 25 years old)… the source components have been upgraded many times.
raysmtb1's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
raysmtb1
800 posts
 
Look at the guy you’re buying them from. If he’s an older fella and he listens to classical music poor Teppy is a young dude who is the head banger I would rather buy from the old guy.
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