Vintage speaker prices.

[Cayuga]

Why is it that the price levels for vintage speakers seem low compared to new speakers? For example at Best Buy a pair of TSI200's is $299, yet you can find a pair of SDA-2's in great shape for the same money? If you account for inflation, the SDA's would be $2400-$2500. Your thoughts please.

[Boonaroo]

IMO the price of speakers deflat at a slower rate than any other component in a system.

[soundfreak1]

Supply and demand, tons of new-few of the used. And the preception that "they don't make-um like they used to.

[Cayuga]

The last two responses would suggest the opposite of what I'm finding, is this true?

[cincycat13]

Marketting and changing times. Who wants 80# speakers 15" wide and a foot deep by their thin LCD tv? Plus pay for something to play them? Hey. Better for us that do!

[audio_alan]

Supply and demand, tons of new-few of the used. And the preception that "they don't make-um like they used to.

Soundfreak - You have it backwards. What are you saying would cause vintage speakers to sell at a premium. However, that's not the reality, nor the observation of the Original Poster.

Proof in point, I've been consistently paying about 1/6 to 1/4 of the original MSRP on vintage SDAs.

To take it one step further, I bet in 25 years you'd be lucky to get $50-$75 for a set of TSI200's.

Factors:
- People like new things.
- Most people don't want 5 ft. speakers.
- Some people aren't into the retro look. (I think the SDA's look awesome though)...

[Cayuga]

Thats what I'm saying audio_alan, why spend $200-$400 on these new speakers when the same money will get you great vintage gear? Will the TSI200's last 25 years?

[nooshinjohn]

And the preception that "they don't make-um like they used to.

It's not perception. That is a fact. The SDA's that the OP is refering to tend to blow away most speakers you can get for 5 times the cost of a used set of SDA's. Ask anyone here if they would rather spend $400 bucks on a set of SDA-1c's or $400 on a set of TSi's. A grand on a set of 1.2TL's or 3k on a pair of LSi-25's. For most, the choice has already been made. Long Live SDA!:cool:

[Cayuga]

Well said noushinjohn, I've picked up SDA SRS 2's and a pair of SDA-2's in the last 60 days for $500 same money as a new pair of TSI400's. I think my two sets of SDA's win.

[Toolfan66]

How rare will SDA's be in the next 15-20 years?? Hell I have gutted 2 sets but have restored 4 sets. so 2 sets gone forever and 4 sets that should last another 15-20 years.

Also what are the chances of polk still selling drivers and tweeters for them??

Just something to think about..

[Tony M]

I think most speakers from the past are now rotted and falling apart. SO in the large selection of what's at yard sales and such, 99% are POS. Then you have these uneducated people putting their dads Polks or ADSs on the market, they have NO clue or how to price them. Some smart people do research and are amazed when they see Polks acually bring more than 50.00.

But for some, I bought that set of ADS L1280's for 5.00 a pair. I gave her 20.00 and wanted to give more but didn't. They were rough and beat up alittle and I didn't know if the redneck people who were assisting in the sale had blown em up. They worked fine and I kept them for a couple of years.

But most speakers DO fail and become worthless within a few years, and the already said fact is , younger people for the most, don't want heavy ,bulky stuff in their lives anymore.

Download, Download, Download...

[George Grand]

I got a pair of perfectly functioning L1290, for free. You overpaid. Plus, the guy threw in the biggest/heaviest Onkyo receiver I ever saw.

[Tony M]

Why cars and audio gear prices drop so fast noadays is another story I presume. The economy in turmoil for the past 5 years could explain audio gear.

I hate to see this and being frugal that I am, I still don't like the rapid drop in prices. Somebody else said years ago on this forum, "Why would anybody pay for new gear at full price, when if they wait, they can without a doubt, save alot of money in a years time".

I know, got to have it now has been said or the first on the block to have it.

[Cayuga]

I really feel like an old fart, but I wonder if I tought my kids the meaning of value and thats what this post is about. I bought a showroom 1958 MGA from a kid (30) and when asked why he was selling, he told me the car was inhierted and he wanted to get a new Lebaron convertible. I get the same feeling buying vintage speakers.

[Tony M]

I got a pair of perfectly functioning L1290, for free. You overpaid. Plus, the guy threw in the biggest/heaviest Onkyo receiver I ever saw.

Man have we been lucky in our quest or what...Karma has been good to both of us I've seen.:wink:

I read where it's not to cool to post someones's rediculously low purchase price deals because it makes others upset. Well the others don't know how much time and money I've spent over the years searching for audio. I've found deals and I've past them on too. And my age and knowledge of what to buy when I see it plays into the picture also. :redface:

[DON73]

Not one of the speakers I have is rotted out or falling apart. Maybe the crossovers could use some TLC but the speakers themselves are near mint except for those with oil finished real wood veneer. They have character and patina.......like me:biggrin: I've never found any of the bargains I read about here and I'm a redneck but I ain't selling any of my stuff to city folk. Back in 76 Polk Monitors sold for $200 and a mint pair will bring close to that now. In about 79 I special ordered a pair of Monitor 10s in real oak veneer for $550. Not many of those for sale now for any price.

[gsxr141]

i just came across a mint set of rt12's for less than $150. i wish i needed them. I did grab the psw150 from the guy for $80 though.

[Cayuga]

How do you think the mint RT12's would sound next to a pair of big box $150 speakers? I don't know why I ask, they must sound the same they both cost $150.

[TECHNOKID]

Thats what I'm saying audio_alan, why spend $200-$400 on these new speakers when the same money will get you great vintage gear? Will the TSI200's last 25 years?


I really feel like an old fart, but I wonder if I tought my kids the meaning of value and thats what this post is about. I bought a showroom 1958 MGA from a kid (30) and when asked why he was selling, he told me the car was inhierted and he wanted to get a new Lebaron convertible. I get the same feeling buying vintage speakers.As mentioned, many are looking for the newest and coolest modern new gear. Speakers loose their value pretty quickly no matter what you paid for.

Another factor that some don't think of is the feeling of safety bhind the new gear warranty. Many are consumers but don't really know the actual value of what they are buying and not being technically inclined will simply take refuge behind a new but cheap piece of gear that bares a warranty. As a former repair shop owner, how often did I see a client refusing to pay a small fee to get their gear repaired because they seen a deal on a cheap piece of gear with a 1 year warranty. Hasn't anyone noticed new cheap goods on the market but with killer warranties. Manufacturers and dealers know of such and take advantage of it to attrack the consumers toward their new cheap goods, make replacement parts for older gear expensive and/or hard to acquire.

I look at Polk for example, new gear is 5 years warranty so this is very appealing to consumers. It however surprises me the replacement parts are still so readily available and at fair pricing, many companies would typically sell the replacement parts for repairing/refurbishing their old worth so much that it would entice the consumer to buy new.

[gsxr141]

How do you think the mint RT12's would sound next to a pair of big box $150 speakers? I don't know why I ask, they must sound the same they both cost $150.

i heard them today just hooked up to a denon receiver, and they sounded great. I would have jumped on them, but i just got a set of tsi400's.
I still have my set of rt10's sitting here. You could make a nice 7 channel setup with all of these.

[Cayuga]

Don't get me wrong there's new gear I would love to have, but if I'm going to spend my confirmation money I want the best value. When it comes to speakers or cars or houses, I go for used.

[Tony M]

Not one of the speakers I have is rotted out or falling apart. Maybe the crossovers could use some TLC but the speakers themselves are near mint except for those with oil finished real wood veneer. They have character and patina.......like me:biggrin: I've never found any of the bargains I read about here and I'm a redneck but I ain't selling any of my stuff to city folk. Back in 76 Polk Monitors sold for $200 and a mint pair will bring close to that now. In about 79 I special ordered a pair of Monitor 10s in real oak veneer for $550. Not many of those for sale now for any price.

I was speaking of infearior made speakers and gear only. Nothing like what is in your sig. or mostly what I've owned over the last 13 yrs. or so.

You know your audio I can see. I'm sorry you didn't get to save alot of money on your gear. But never save never. Most rednecks couldn't give a s*%t about high quality sound systems,I thought. Maybe loud and powerful, heck, I'like that too but I also like soundfields. So I've owned all kinds of gear myself.

I've been into studing audio for 40 years and can tell you without taking grills off of speakers wether or not the surrounds are rotted or how much a set weighs maybe.

But your in a league above me by quite a bit, I will admit. Redneck, I doubt it. Nautilus's......

I had a building full of mostly high quality speakers and some the same as yours. I don't see Fisher or MCS in your signature. Those are the brands most of the public could afford. CHEAPO's.
How about my friend finding a pair of B&W 608's on the street just around the corner from me..LOL
He knew when a speaker has 4 binding posts with brass connectors that they might be pretty good and worth a turn around just from knowing what I owned!!. They worked to. College kid moving back home more than likely didn't want to be troubled with putting them into his car. My said friend who found them is a redneck and thought they were ok... . I thought they sounded great!

[DON73]

:smile: The only things in my collection that I bought new are the 805 Nautilus and the Integra receiver. The rest are either used or demos. I'm happy with what I have and what I paid. Twenty five years ago there were five audio stores here and bargains were available but now we have only one true audio store besides BB. None of the pawn shops seem to take in the items most of us would like to have or the employees are skimming the good stuff. Anyway it's fun no matter how we acquire our toys. There are probably very few guys my age still interested in our hobby.:cool:

[inspiredsports]

Broad strokes, vintage Polks seem to go for around 20% of original price paid. Many similar size/weight speakers from that era go for around 5% of the original price paid. Polk's sell for a relative premium over many old competitors because their sound output characteristics were well engineered.

One thing we are missing is that most who buy old Polk's sink nearly as much as they pay for the vintage "shell" into modifications. Using that train of thought, the renovated product might cost 40% of what they once cost new from a Polk dealer.

The other aspect is that most consumers want to by "new" and the mainstream discounters feature lighter satellite/bookshelf/subwoofer systems. I also really believe there is a manufacturing bias toward sizes/weights that can be sent USPS/UPS/Fedex, and toward speakers that can be driven by mid-fi receivers.

At any rate, demand for big, heavy speakers is not what it once was. Because of this, those who want both "new" and "big" pay specialty prices at specialty stores.

Those of us with a little knowledge and who are willing to roll up our sleeves, risk a hernia, and get out our soldering irons win big. We get modded Monitors and SDA's that would cost, as you say, 5-6 times as much for comparable, new, boutique speakers.

[PolkMaster1]

I got a pair of perfectly functioning L1290, for free. You overpaid. Plus, the guy threw in the biggest/heaviest Onkyo receiver I ever saw.

Is it the Integra Line? Onkyo was known to have a hand up in their audio equipment over other manufacturers in the likes of Sony, JVC, Pioneer, Akai, Aiwa. It cost a bit more, but I always found their equipment to be well worth it. The same can be said for Yamaha and Denon equipment made back then.

Be proud of your Onkyo Equipment!!! Then again, the vintage equipment made in the 80s (from all the manufactures listed above) is far better made than anything that is made now!!!

[On3s&Z3r0s]

One thing we are missing is that most who buy old Polk's sink nearly as much as they pay for the vintage "shell" into modifications. Using that train of thought, the renovated product might cost 40% of what they once cost new from a Polk dealer.

No kidding... if I had lots more money than time I would have bought LSi25's instead of 2Bs and $400 worth of new caps / tweeters / posts, etc. People don't seem to buy them just to watch them continue to age gracefully.

[nooshinjohn]

How rare will SDA's be in the next 15-20 years?? Hell I have gutted 2 sets but have restored 4 sets. so 2 sets gone forever and 4 sets that should last another 15-20 years.

Also what are the chances of polk still selling drivers and tweeters for them??

Just something to think about..

If you keep making all these restoration parts, it will only be a matter of time before SDA's take over the world!:tongue::wink:

[nooshinjohn]

...Those of us with a little knowledge and who are willing to roll up our sleeves, risk a hernia, and get out our soldering irons win big. We get modded Monitors and SDA's that would cost, as you say, 5-6 times as much for comparable, new, boutique speakers.

And they sound as good, if not BETTER than those "boutique" brands. Thank god for guys like Larry, Ben and the others that have stepped up big to help keep the SDA dream alive.

[nadams]

SDA or not... the vintage Polks have the best bang for buck that you can find in the Polk line... IF you're willing to buy used. New Polk speakers still offer the same for NEW speakers, IMO. I love my SDA 2's, and I love my RTIa1's. They both offer a different sound, and they both sound better than anything in their price range.

I don't think I'll give either line up, unless it's for something bigger in the same line.

[inspiredsports]

No kidding... if I had lots more money than time I would have bought LSi25's instead of 2Bs and $400 worth of new caps / tweeters / posts, etc. People don't seem to buy them just to watch them continue to age gracefully.

I don't have a lot of experience with LSi's, but my preconceived notion is that if I auditioned the 2 side-by-side, I'd favor my restored 2B's. Side-by-side with my SDA SRS II's, same notion.

I'm pretty stuck on the SDA sound, and not a big fan of onboard amped speaker systems.

I also like the old-school monolithic appearence of SDA's

[Tony M]

:smile: The only things in my collection that I bought new are the 805 Nautilus and the Integra receiver. The rest are either used or demos. I'm happy with what I have and what I paid. Twenty five years ago there were five audio stores here and bargains were available but now we have only one true audio store besides BB. None of the pawn shops seem to take in the items most of us would like to have or the employees are skimming the good stuff. Anyway it's fun no matter how we acquire our toys. There are probably very few guys my age still interested in our hobby.:cool:

Is your age in your name signature? If so, bravo !


We have 3 music stores here but I don't go to them though :-(.. and alot of pawn shops BUT the pawn shops pretty much stopped flipping audio gear because of the MP3 and subsequent digital downloading era. But I still go around looking. Once every 4 months, my heart gets to pounding over something on the shelves in a couple that still will try to flip audio.

Thrill of the hunt was great but not so much anymore, at least around the bargain places.

[dcoil]

At any rate, demand for big, heavy speakers is not what it once was. Because of this, those who want both "new" and "big" pay specialty prices at specialty stores.

Those of us with a little knowledge and who are willing to roll up our sleeves, risk a hernia, and get out our soldering irons win big. We get modded Monitors and SDA's that would cost, as you say, 5-6 times as much for comparable, new, boutique speakers.

This was also noted by On3s&Z3rOs. Before I purchased my SDA SRS (back about 5 years) I auditioned some fairly high priced speakers (to me anyway), backed by similar priced electronics, in the $10k - 15k range. Not that I could afford them, but I wanted to see what to shoot for with my cheaper budget. I won't go into brands, and I know there are many people who really don't care for the SDA sound. But when I got done, I thought my 1988 pair of stock SDA 2B's sounded better than anything I auditioned :eek:. To 'upgrade', I bought a pair of SRS in 2006 and as has been noted - with a little time/effort/money and the GREAT assistance and knowledge of the CP members, they have just recently been modded. They sound at least 50% better than when I bought them and if they originally compared to $10K - $15K speakers 5 years ago?? Well, I'm probably in the $20K - $25k range now :biggrin:

[quadzilla]

Definitely have to agree on the warranty and small/compact thing. I just spent a week trying to help a guy at work decide on a sound system for his new HT. Keep in mind, this guy is dropping 10k for a projector and lens. When we starting talking about sound, he kept asking how to get really good sound, so I pointed him to some stuff I thought he should audition. He looked at everything, and just said "but it's all so big! I want small speakers that are out of the way." Then an endless discussion of why very small satellites and a sub probably just wouldn't do it, since he also wants to use the system for music. I finally managed to talk him to into getting the Polk Blackstone system, but even then he kept going on about "but they're still kind of big". But at least he's getting something relatively decent. He's also supposed to come over to hear the latest edition of my HT and 2 channel room, so we'll see after he hears what "bulky" speakers can do.

That's not to knock the Blackstone line. I'm pretty interested myself. But I just don't see smallish satellites and a single sub hidden in a corner, as he intends, getting him the couch rattling sound he says he wants for movies.

I also have to strongly agree with the value of used speakers. I've picked up several sets that were in like-new condition. Even the new stuff I've bought has all been Polk. And the fact that Polk stocks drivers for years, even decades after a speaker is no longer made is just another reason that Polks are the only speakers in my house. There are others I like, and a few I might own some day. But for now, Polk rocks my world.

[DON73]

Is your age in your name signature? If so, bravo !


We have 3 music stores here but I don't go to them though :-(.. and alot of pawn shops BUT the pawn shops pretty much stopped flipping audio gear because of the MP3 and subsequent digital downloading era. But I still go around looking. Once every 4 months, my heart gets to pounding over something on the shelves in a couple that still will try to flip audio.

Thrill of the hunt was great but not so much anymore, at least around the bargain places.



My user name is my age:smile:but I feel like a little kid when I bring another piece of audio gear into my home but the old receivers and amps. are much heavier than they were 30 years back........they pretty much stay wherever I put them initially.

[Tony M]

My user name is my age:smile:but I feel like a little kid when I bring another piece of audio gear into my home but the old receivers and amps. are much heavier than they were 30 years back........they pretty much stay wherever I put them initially.

I've noticed the same weakness with my ability to shift things at will. I just moved some 60lb. Hartley speakers for a potential sale the other day and my lower back was sore to begin with and the man steped up and helped move one himself. Man they were heavier than I remembered..LOL
I'm still a little sore 2 days later.

I also love that feeling of finding something at an affordable price. I'll bet Nguyendot knows this feeling very well too.

My Mother taught me that, by showing me her yard sale finds and the savings she made.

[Cayuga]

My mother taught me the same thing and there's no better feeling than finding something of value at good price. The hunt for vintage gear adds to the value of the find and makes the money well worth it.

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[Cayuga]

I'm glad people liked the post, I think the post by Jstas "Old Stuff" was very good as well

[ricohman]

With vintage speakers I can get a lot of bang for my buck. If I could afford new TOL speakers I would probably have them.