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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

chester_bunger
jjss49's avatar
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
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

holmz's avatar
holmz
2,328 posts
 

I have a better idea…
What is in the non-vacation house?

I have Vandersteen 2Cs, and would suggest that the Treos might be better.
And the 2c should be better than 1Cs… depending on age/model, room size, etc.

If you upgraded the house and moved the house system to the vacation house then maybe that makes sense?

chester_bunger's avatar
chester_bunger OP
14 posts
 

I dunno...

Vacation home is under construction, it's naked.  The listening room would be overpowered by the AR9's I fear.   

The vacation home will be 2.0 or 2.1, a critical music room, not home theater.  At this point we do not have plans to have a 5.1 at the vacation home.  Although, those stinking Jones SP-FS52 Pioneers would probably work great work there as front speakers.

 

 

 

tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,189 posts
 

I forgot to add congrats on the vacation home ! it’s an interesting first world problem maintaining great systems both locales, especially 1,200 miles apart. The Hafler 220 works great w Vandy. I would venture to say the 2’s left most dealerships with a DH 200/220, a PSE, Amber , B and K, Apt Holman, Audionics of Oregon or similar 100 isg WPC SS amp. i worked at a Vandy dealer back in the day.  Best to you on your musical journey, enjoy tge getaway in excellent health !

Jim

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