Buying used vs new speakers from a technology perspective

I love the audio folks who buy lots of new speakers, and regularly. I'd have to have millions to be in that league, but buying their used stuff is great.

Yes, the original Raidho D2 by Michael Borresen is not his latest creation, and by reports they are better, but how much?  For a third of the burl list, I got a lovely used pair in 2016. I'm keeping them; I never thought I could own such a speaker.

Yes there are probably some minor new features on Borresen designs (and well publicized by Lars, of course).  Are they worth $30k add'l to have a new Borresen B02s instead of older Raidho D2s? No, probably not for me.

No. I feel that good speakers are like wine! Vintage is good. I have Tannoy Churchill’s which get better with age….timeless. 

I am with the yes and no camp, yes on my newer model Monitor Audio Platinum PL300ii design,  but no with my older 2000 Klipsch LaScala's, of which, I'd rather have these than the newer Klipsch LaScala II design. 

Yes, they can become outdated, both in the sense that they no longer perform to their original specifications, and that they can be surpassed by newer technology.  And yes, they will eventually require repair or go past that point.  14 years is probably not a problem, but if you keep them long enough, it could be.

No, in the "can't live without" sense.

Speaker makers vary wildly in their development process.  Some build the same speaker for years or even decades.  New models may share little with their predecessors, as years of advancements are incorporated.

OTOH, KEF introduced the Uni-Q concept in 1988, and are on the 13th generation.  Changing driver materials, geometry alterations, dampers, radial reinforcements, waveguides, MAT, and lots and lots of computer modelling have led to a long series of refinements.

That doesn't mean you need to get a new pair of KEFs every couple of years.  It does keep them competitive in a fast-changing world.

@yoyoyaya ,

"There has probably been a bigger improvement in more affordable speakers over the decades as improved materials and techniques from higher end speakers trickles down. The Kef LS50 is a good case in point where the driver technology is much better now than it was than when the Uni-Q was introduced several decades ago."

I'd say so too. There's some excellent designs out there for under $2k.

Let's not also forget that $2k might well have been nearer to $1k back in 2008. I can't remember anything as good as speakers like the Q Acoustics Concept 50 back then going for £1k.

On the other hand, speakers like the Harbeth M40 seem to be frozen in price terms. I'm not sure what they cost new back in 2008, but you're unlikely to find one used for under £5k today.

Perhaps we need a depreciation chart for used Hi-Fi like they do with used cars?