[socwrkr]

I just started my home audio setup by buying a pioneer sc 05 receiver yesterday and now am looking at speakers.. I have been on this site for awhile and know there are alot of different opinions on good speakers. I had decided on def tech speakers and would buy them new probably in a couple of months since i just got the receiver.. yesterday i came across a set of def tech's locally for $500. the set includes bp30 fronts, bp1x rears and c2 center. The only hang up i have (as it would save me about $1900 from what i was going to buy) is that he bought them in 1997. I'd really like any opinions on buying used speakers and if you guys think this is a worthwhile deal.

thanks!

 

[Knucklehead90]

Take a listen to them. If they sound great - buy them.


I've been steering people toward used for quite a while. Take a look at these

Infinity Beta 50s on ebay -

this similar set sold few days ago for nearly $400 and didn't include the Beta 20s. You can't buy new speakers of that quality of sound for $400. No way.


There are lots of great deals on used speakers - you just need to know where to look - and what to look for.


That Beta 50 setup is a 5.0. 2 Beta 50s - C360 center (very good sounding - I own one) and the Beta 20s (I also have a pair of these) for surrounds.

 

[Raymond Leggs]

Old speakers are cool especially ones with dual 12's

 

[psyduck103]

Make sure that if they have foam surrounds that they are not brittle or rotted.A lot of speakers have this problem.Rubber surrounds do not have this problem.

 

[localnet]

What they all said, try to audition them first though, as you never know.


Mike

 

[datranz]

nothing wrong w/ old speakers as long as you like them and they are in good condition. Be mindful of the foam surrounds. I got mine used at a great deal, couldn't be happier.

 

[socwrkr]

Thanks for the input.

I may have lost them as I couldn't get over there today and he has someone coming to see them now.. I suppose there are always good deals to be had.

 

[Knucklehead90]



Quote:
Originally Posted by datranz /forum/post/16892153


nothing wrong w/ old speakers as long as you like them and they are in good condition. Be mindful of the foam surrounds. I got mine used at a great deal, couldn't be happier.

Most of the speakers made in the past 15 years don't have the surround rot problem. My definition of 'old' fits inside that 15 years - and usually recommend speakers no older than 5 or 10 years old. I have a pair of Infinity Interlude series IL40 3 way towers that I couldn't get $300 for off ebay - so I decided to keep them. They are 9 years old and look and sound nearly new. I take care of my audio and don't beat it.


There is no way I can buy a speaker with the quality of sound for that money. Why nobody recognizes this nearly untapped used market is beyond me.


I suppose they all want new, eh?


So they are in the bedroom setup matched up with an Infinity Beta C360 center and a pair of Beta 20s for surrounds and being driven by a refurbished Harman AVR 247. The nice thing about it is they are all 5 timbre matched - not just close - perfect. They all use the same 1" CMMC tweeter. And I don't need a sub. The IL40s 8" woofer do a great job of low bass - down to about 38hz - rolling off rather fast from there - but its adequate.

 

[psgcdn]

Old with paper cones... Like Klipsch Heritage, last a long long time. Lots of trade going on 30 year old Klipsch speakers!

 

[remodeler]

I have a 31 year old set of B&W 1200s I have two sets of Klipsch fortes I think one is 28 yrs old and the newer set is only 20 yrs ole they are all great sounding. Maybe not as pretty but also not nearly as expensive. All together less than $500 in all 3 sets. Nothing wrong with used as long as they sound good.

 

[tpham]

I'm with you on this but how many sellers willing to let you audition their gears or let you take them back if you don't like in your space.


It takes time researching and waiting for a fair price. Used audio/video requires patience and not everyone has one.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Knucklehead90 /forum/post/16892489


...There is no way I can buy a speaker with the quality of sound for that money. Why nobody recognizes this nearly untapped used market is beyond me.


I suppose they all want new, eh?

 

[arkiedan]

I've auditioned a lot of under-$2,000 loudspeakers over the last fifteen years and found none that sound better than my AR-9s, bought new, by the way, back in 1981. Five years ago I replace all the rotted bass surrounds (not a big-deal job by the way) and recently bypassed the six upper-range attenuator switches. They sound fantastic. They do have dual side-firing bass drivers so NO sub needed! These 28 year old big boys reach down well into the 20 Hz region.


Some of the old classics are every bit the equal of todays loudspeakers. I enjoy the reaction of sales guys during auditions when I tell them what I currently own. I had one guy tell me the ARs were junk when they were new and I should have dumped them years ago. I told him he should consider his words more carefully with a potential customer, particularly since he didn't know what he was talking about. When I left he knew I would not be buying from him. He sold Paradigms, by the way.


Bottom-line - if you find a good deal on a pair of classics with rotted surrounds - grab them. Replacing surrounds is easy and you may well end up with $2000+ sound for peanuts.