Speakers: Anything really new under the sun?

I was actually in the exact same situation about 4 years ago. 20 year hiatus and then wanted to get back in. I feel you 100% jaybird! Had the same thoughts and wonders...But I knew where I left off was where I should start. With the speaks. Back then the journey led me to Dynaudio and that was it for me. My Audience 82's were my Holy Grail. Selling them after my divorce was one of the hardest things I had to do...Well 20 years later the Audience line is long gone. But Excite line which I didn't love (couldn't hold a candle to Audience, IMHO) led me to Evoke which is much closer to that Dynaudio Audience line that blew me away. However I still think about my Audience 82's and would love to do a side by side with my Evoke 50's. I'm not entirely sold today's technology is that much better. But at least the Evoke's have filled that gap more than anything else could...Just my personal experience and opinion...

@arion 

There are advances in materials all the time. Manufacturing process improvements help companies build products that are more consistent....We...have invested considerable resources to design, develop and manufacture our own AMT drivers. Advances in adhesives, diaphragm architecture and substantial research of magnetic motor structures have allowed us to build AMT drivers that cover the range from 120 Hz to 24 KHz.

Thank you for weighing in. This is why I suspected the claim by @holmz (that there has been very little advances in materials since the 80's or 90's) might need checking.

After Jim Winey invented Magnepan speakers, the rest were simply not important.

IF you want speakers that reproduce WHAT YOU FEED THEM, this is your choice.  Then, you can fine-tune your electronics and source information.

If you start with speakers that do not color the sound, you are starting correctly for only hearing what you provide.

Do NOT believe me.  Go to a shop and listen for yourself, then have the dealer bring a pair to your house and listen IN YOUR ROOM.

Cheers!

The short answer is "yes", but if you put it on a graph it would look like a "smiley face" with the biggest gains at the budget level and extreme high ends.  The mid-band of the range has been generally getting it right for quite a while.  Gains in this range are better, but incremental.

To the OPs specific case, I'm with @realworldaudio on this one.  Improving parts quality in an existing speaker can prodce stunning results with the speaker fighting well above its weight (price?) class in transparency, detail, and emotional impact.  Spending more money on a speaker that incorporates low-to-medium quality crossover components is like spending big money on a turbo upgrade for your car, and driving around with the parking brake on.  Taking the parking brake off is a good first step.

We drill down pretty deep into speaker upgrades and modifications.  Our rule of thumb is to have an upfront converation about the speaker they are aspiring to own.  Then, set an upgrade limit of 40% of that cost as a budget to upgrade the client's existing speakers.  Above that, the additional investment in improving internals may not overcome the gains made by improvements in newer/better drivers, stiffer cabinets, etc.  So, we get off at the 40% exit.  This approach will, without question, have an outcome that will do MANY things better than a newer, more expensive speaker of a similar design.  In the OPs example, I would set a budget top end at $800 (40% x $2k).  This will allow for the installation of serious crossover components (and, other upgrades) and allow the speaker to perform as the original designer intended. I'm not trying to paint a mustache on the Mona Lisa.  Just geting things out of the way that make the speaker sound worse.

If you are handy with a soldering gun, you can perform the work yourself.  If not, the crossovers can be removed, shipped off, and returned to you with all the "goodies" installed -- including the pigtails (using quality cable, of course) ready to solder to the raw driver's input lugs.  I've taken in speakers that, to put it mildly, were not my Top Ten list of favorites.  Then, found myself actually enjoying listening to them after the performance mods.  Just think what will happen when you already enjoy the sound of your speakers?

Borresen, Magico, YA, all pushing the envelope-- but also very expensive.  Listen to Borresen if you get a chance.  The best speakers in the world IMHO.