New Speakers Vs Vintage Speakers

[prerich]

As Beta Man has often stated - speakers can last up to 20 years and beyond. Also, taking into consideration that companies that are traditionally non-high-end are buying high-end companies - what does that say for the speaker market?

I can remember when Infinity and Polk made true High-end speakers. When Arnie left Infinity - with the exception of the Preludes, they exited the high-end market (don't get me wrong - Infiinty makes some fiine products - but nothing like what they made in their heyday of the 1980's). D&M (owners of Marantz,Denon, Snell, Boston Acoustics) now faces the same thing - possibly being bought out by Kenwood of all things! Acoustic Research used to sell high-end products and now they are reduced to cables and computer speakers. Even Martln Logan's making "lifestyle" changes!

To get to my point, if you have vintage - grade A speakers, and replacement parts are still available, doesn't it make sense to stay with a high performance speaker that''s 20 years old rather than buy a new speaker that doesn't perform nearly as well? The mid high - to high-end is being usurped by consumer level gear. The PS3, receivers getting the newest codecs before pre/pros, and other trends are a sure sign of that. People have the latest tech, but their speakers are suspect.

I for one admire people who still use vintage speakers instead of some of the new stuff (unless that new stuff is put out by a truly committed high-end company such as B&W, Focal, Revel ect.). Early Bostons kill new ones, Snell models designed by Peter Snell (namely the E/E-II,J/JII, and the original K) were bought by Audio-Note and sell for thousands more (The AN-E Sogon base off of the Snell E sells for $125,000)! There was something to these older speakers that was just right. I think Bose marketing and it's lifestyle focus has caused the industry to shift - speakers should look good (even if they don't sound as well). People in the U.S. are focused on appearances (speakers that sound ok but look great, vice speakers that sound awesome but look plain or even ugly).

I haven't found a new speaker outside of the high to ultra high end that I really like - that's why I stick with my vintage models and will put there performance up against anything - even some new high-end models. Give me a plain or even ugly, awesome sounding vintage speaker over a beautiful, ok or decent sounding new speaker any day. I do most of my listening and Movie watching in the dark anyway!

What do you think, chime in and let me know - whether your are for or against