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At a given price point, better to go late vintage or modern?

This would be for a vacation house. The main listening area in the vacation house.  I set a budget for under $2,000 for a pair of speakers and was thinking I was going to purchase either some dahlquists, Thiels or vandersteens.  What I've discovered shopping locally is that a pair of Thiel 3.6's and a golden ear Triton model 2 are essentially the same price somewhere in the mid teens.

 

As a reference point my main home system has ar9 speakers while the smaller home theater room has the Andrew Jones pioneer home theater set. The Andrew Jones Pioneers amaze me but then again they are a 30-year newer design. 

Is it folly for me to think that the Thielss can compete with the newer goldenears?

 

Thanks

128x128Ag insider logo xs@2xchester_bunger
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,436 posts
 

I own Vandersteen.....and had Thiel 3.6....also great.   I don't know your amp, but would say either speaker could use better electronics.

tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,880 posts
 

Vandersteen 1ci new w stands, still in production at your budget. Easy to drive 2 way that plays pretty low. I am prevoius Thiel owner, much more demanding to drive speaker but design principles and build quality excellent. We have Vandersteen Treo in out getaway place, 7’s at home..count me as biased.

Jim

jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 

if you go vintage it is not just the purchase cost but also the cost to maintain and repair (rotten driver surrounds, bulging caps in crossovers etc) so one shd bear that in mind

i would say unless you are a serious hobbyist with repair skills or deep wallet and patience for the unexpected, it is better stay with newer gear

chester_bunger's avatar
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chester_bunger OP
14 posts
 

@jjss49 your surround and cap scenerio exactly describes the history of my old AR9's.

@tomic601 Jim. Your are biased, agreed.  Common theme it seems, that is, had Thiel and moved on, settled on Vandy's.  Good to know.  I wasn't even aware that the 1Ci was even still in production, I'll research for a local dealer.

 

@stringreen probably blow the dust off an old Hacker 220 amp and preamp that's been resting first.  Everything discussed so far on this thread plays nice with SS electronics, right?

 

Thanks

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