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How do reference speakers rank to today's standard

I think that most of us at this forum had an experience like I am having now: to choose between a once reference speaker and a recent midrange speaker.
For 8 years I have been the owner of Audio Physic Spark III's and I love the sound of the AP's so I want to cling on to this brand. But what to do.
I can choose between two offers, both in the same price range. One is the Audio Physic Avanti II (the year 2K version, the Century), 11 years old and once a reference speaker.
The other one is a 2 1/2 year old Audio Physic Tempo VI.
I know that speakers do age and that 11 years old speakers won't sound as they did 11 years ago.
Also, in the 8 1/2 years that seperate these AP's there has obviously been some development in speaker design.
But do you think that the Tempo's sound better than the Avanti's ?
And what about the (remaining) lifespan of both of them. For the record, I am not able to listen to them at home. Any advice is highly appreciated. regards, Ton
linkingpin
lloydc's avatar
lloydc
549 posts
 
IME, speakers seem to wear out about like cars. 2.5 years may be a safe bet, but 11?
linkingpin OP
7 posts
 
Yes, 11 years is a long time. But cars still drive after 11 years, and, when taken care of, will do so after 25 years. But how does a speaker sound after 11 years compared to the younger Tempo ?
larryi
1,972 posts
 
Most conventional dynamic speakers do not wear out. Some might have components, such as the rubber surround, that will age (primarily from exposure to pollutants in the air, such as ozone), but not all do.

Eleven years old would make MOST speakers pretty young, in terms of such aging or any sort of wear. Abuse, is a different matter.

I recently bought a compression driver that is more than 70 years old. I would put this up against ANY other midrange driver. If it has lost anything with age, it must have been unbelievably good at the time it was made.
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