Why are vintage speaker prices so high right now?

[Superampman]

Do you understand what kind of volume there would have to be for a tweeter to actually see 60 watts RMS?

Depends on sensitivity. I guess it is an extreme illustration, none the less to the point. JBL was wise to use their explanation in that a mere 3db increase in spl requires twice the power so a bit of warranty insurance was what that was about. That little bit more volume with a bigger amp would satisfy a typical customer's ego while adding a bit of hesitance to turn it up.

 

[Dr. Ears]

I think vintage speakers offer great values at current prices.
I bought a pair of Technics Linear Phase SB-6060's, 3-ways for $350.
The same seller had ADS L810's offered at $300.
I sold a pair of Infinity Kappa 200's for $200.
Bought and sold original large Advents for $80.
Bought a pair of Bose 501's for $50 in nice shape, now at my girlfriends house.
Bought and sold a pair of Bose 401's for $50.
The Technics are voiced to go well with my Green Mountain Audio "Imagos", I doubt I will be able to best them for anywhere near the money.

 

[mythless]

Price is relative to the local market. Vintage stuff (in general), offers really good value. IMO, speakers (volume displacement) and turntables are hard to beat. Power source can vary but, unless you're into the retro look of your power source, there are some very good stuff out there that aren't that expensive.

 

[philthympc]

Not to be a contrarian, but I’m still finding great Vintage hifi pieces for not a whole lot… I go to estate sales every weekend… in the past 6 months I’ve found:
Sansui Eight - $35
Adcom GFP-555 and GFA-545 $300
Dual 1229 with the rarest German breadbox plinth - $40
Marantz 2218 - $50
Harman Kardon HK670 - FREE
Pioneer SX-1080 - $400
Klipsch KG4 - $100
AR XA - $50 fully working
Technics SL-Q2 - $50
Onkyo TX4500 - $40

I’m sure there are more in forgetting. The stuff is out there. Just gotta religiously search for it.

YMMV

 

[kevintomb]

There are a several guys in my area (Western Pennsylvania) That seem to make a business out of flipping vintage speakers.
They buy up many models at reasonable cost, and relist them for prices that are a bit "Generous", for what they are selling.

That seems to create a supply issue, as many are not willing to pay their high prices, OR, they linger on Craigslist of Facebook Marketplace for quite a long time.

So many many dozens of good models are sort of in this "Artificial Limbo" being over priced and when a good priced one comes along, it sales almost immediately.

 

[infullview]

Recently ran across a set of new style bull-nose large advents where the ask was $895 shipping included. These normally sell locally for about $200 if in good shape.

 

[Guido57]

Not to be a contrarian, but I’m still finding great Vintage hifi pieces for not a whole lot… I go to estate sales every weekend… in the past 6 months I’ve found.....

I’m sure there are more in forgetting. The stuff is out there. Just gotta religiously search for it.

YMMV

True, but hitting tag/estate sales can be a somewhat consuming hobby in and of itself. I guess it should be expected that prices on line tend to be higher as those are trying to reach a wider audience but as noted many times asking prices can be insane.

 

[kevintomb]

True, but hitting tag/estate sales can be a somewhat consuming hobby in and of itself. I guess it should be expected that prices on line tend to be higher as those are trying to reach a wider audience but as noted many times asking prices can be insane.

I tried doing that for a while, but it is physically and mentally wearing on me!

Too many guys, can never find times to meet or keep acting like someone is interested or act like they are NOT even interested in selling etc.

Add in all the time, gas and so on, and it becomes almost like a job.

 

[kevintomb]

Do you understand what kind of volume there would have to be for a tweeter to actually see 60 watts RMS?

It also depends a lot on what type of music is playing.

Certain Genre of music can have a lot of lower treble energy or distortion in the music already.
That kinda music turned up too loud, will create FAR more treble energy and distortion, than something like say, Diana Krall turned up too loud.

Her music too loud, simply starts to have an "edge" to some of the notes she sings, as compared to a huge Ball of distortion with some rock/pop music.

 

[seanserafini]

Asking prices have absolutely spiked around here thanks in no small part to resellers. Even Salvation Army has tripled its usual speaker and amp prices since November. A ton of the stuff I see come through Sal Val gets tossed on FB marketplace within a few days for 3x the price.

To illustrate this, I bought a mint JVC R-X500 from Sal Val in early November for $35. That was incredibly expensive for an amp there at the time. Last week I saw a beat to ****, bent chassis R-X40 for $60 and it was gone when I went back yesterday. I just saw it cleaned up on FB marketplace for $120. IMO flipping thrift shop audio gear is a scum way to make a living but they must be making money.

It would be interesting to look at the reason for the demand shift for vintage gear. It could be the fact that people have just gotten used to looking for other used goods instead of new and this has carried over to audio equipment. It could also do with people being stuck inside and looking for stuff to enhance their indoor experience. And a lot of it could be older people looking to relive their youth. My uncle recently dug out all his old records that had sat in a storage unit for over 10 years. He's randomly decided now is the time to get back into vinyl for whatever reason.

The really interesting thing to me is how the appetite for large speakers has started going up. Even just a few months ago, the price of speakers at Sal Val followed a bell curve corresponding to the size of the speaker. Now, the larger it is the more expensive it is, and it is selling almost immediately.

 

[philthympc]

Asking prices have absolutely spiked around here thanks in no small part to resellers. Even Salvation Army has tripled its usual speaker and amp prices since November. A ton of the stuff I see come through Sal Val gets tossed on FB marketplace within a few days for 3x the price.

To illustrate this, I bought a mint JVC R-X500 from Sal Val in early November for $35. That was incredibly expensive for an amp there at the time. Last week I saw a beat to ****, bent chassis R-X40 for $60 and it was gone when I went back yesterday. I just saw it cleaned up on FB marketplace for $120. IMO flipping thrift shop audio gear is a scum way to make a living but they must be making money.

It would be interesting to look at the reason for the demand shift for vintage gear. It could be the fact that people have just gotten used to looking for other used goods instead of new and this has carried over to audio equipment. It could also do with people being stuck inside and looking for stuff to enhance their indoor experience. And a lot of it could be older people looking to relive their youth. My uncle recently dug out all his old records that had sat in a storage unit for over 10 years. He's randomly decided now is the time to get back into vinyl for whatever reason.

The really interesting thing to me is how the appetite for large speakers has started going up. Even just a few months ago, the price of speakers at Sal Val followed a bell curve corresponding to the size of the speaker. Now, the larger it is the more expensive it is, and it is selling almost immediately.

I’d have to disagree about your statement that thrift resellers are scummy. I do it. I find LPs, cassettes, and CDs at the local thrifts all the time that I resell online. It’s just a way resellers can source items. If the thrift store has something priced below market value and I can make money off of it what’s the problem? People want it, I sell it.

Now, if you want to talk about large manufacturers using overseas slave labor to make products for dirt cheap and then sell them for 100x what they cost to make, that’s scummy.

 

[seanserafini]

I’d have to disagree about your statement that thrift resellers are scummy. I do it. I find LPs, cassettes, and CDs at the local thrifts all the time that I resell online. It’s just a way resellers can source items. If the thrift store has something priced below market value and I can make money off of it what’s the problem? People want it, I sell it.

Now, if you want to talk about large manufacturers using overseas slave labor to make products for dirt cheap and then sell them for 100x what they cost to make, that’s scummy.

scum was probably too harsh a word. I think we can all agree exploiting overseas labor is in a different league than reselling.

I agree reselling does not harm anyone really since its a free market. I’m personally not a fan of it though. I prefer to leave “deals” that I don’t want for myself for someone else to hopefully discover for themselves. It’s kind of similar to concert ticket scalpers imo, just because it’s there doesn’t mean you should buy it and charge the next guy more.

 

[Bone Yard]

I've been going through some Chinese Audio Websites, they have a lots of vintage American Made Speakers for sale and they seem to be loved. As an example, it seems like used speakers that would sell for around $1000.00 USD are priced 3-4x more over there. In the early days of the forum some California Members used to talk about containers full of used equipment getting shipped overseas. I have a feeling they don't have a hard time find electronic techs to fix anything either.

As far as the flippers, a lot of these guys saved the hobby, there was a time 20 years ago when most of the equipment was considered boat anchors and getting buried at sea. There is no way there's enough of them to drastically change the hobby, remember they made millions of pieces of equipment. My work gets me into locations where I see vintage equipment; you want to see something sad, go to the dump drop-offs (transfer station) in the city, look in the electronics section, all kinds of equipment that probably didn't get sold at the yard-sale. Of course they won't let you touch, take or buy any of it for some wierd reason unless you have a buddy working there.

 

[seanserafini]

I've been going through some Chinese Audio Websites, they have a lots of vintage American Made Speakers for sale and they seem to be loved. As an example, it seems like used speakers that would sell for around $1000.00 USD are priced 3-4x more over there. In the early days of the forum some California Members used to talk about containers full of used equipment getting shipped overseas. I have a feeling they don't have a hard time find electronic techs to fix anything either.

As far as the flippers, a lot of these guys saved the hobby, there was a time 20 years ago when most of the equipment was considered boat anchors and getting buried at sea. There is no way there's enough of them to drastically change the hobby, remember they made millions of pieces of equipment. My work gets me into locations where I see vintage equipment; you want to see something sad, go to the dump drop-offs (transfer station) in the city, look in the electronics section, all kinds of equipment that probably didn't get sold at the yard-sale. Of course they won't let you touch, take or buy any of it for some wierd reason unless you have a buddy working there.

I appreciate the different perspective on this. my experience is limited by what I have observed in my not so long time in this hobby. I can see that being the case on both counts. Flippers and resellers of the world, though I’m still not the biggest fan of the practice, I apologize for calling you scum!

It does seem that a common thread throughout my various hobbies is that vintage made in the USA stuff is constantly getting bought and shipped overseas. That’s a whole different discussion though and I’ve derailed this thread enough lol.

 

[Bone Yard]

Just to be clear, I don't sell, usually trade or give away but I've been following prices forever. 20 years ago there was a little tiny Ebay and Craigslist was still just a few lines of text. With all of the information available on the internet it's easier to do research anything, get a dollar value for it and go from there. I do think a lot of equipment is priced at crazy money but most of it never sells. A lot of the flippers around here do it for a living, either they own a record shop or they're retired guys repairing and selling equipment. I would have an issue with someone who buys it at the thrift, posts it for sale online, doesn't get the sale and then returns it before 30 days are up.

I also dabble in tools and equipment, you can buy an old mill, use it for years and then sell it for more than you paid, same with old woodworking equipment. It was made to be serviced and run for a long time. USA Equipment is popular but lots of other countries have collectable equipment. The nice thing is, like audio, you can still use this stuff and it can be really robust but there is now a world-wide demand for it.

Tokyo is a great place to visit and shop, we love their vintage audio, they love any Americana from the 60's-80's right now. Clothing, industrial office decor, toys, bikes, etc. We are shipping tons of it over there, think what that's doing for prices.

Vintage is hot right now because the buyers are in the right age range, in most cases mass-manufacturing made newer products more generic and throw-away and it would take a lot of money to buy something similar brand new today. Throw in oversea buyers and we're seeing the explosive growth.

 

[mythless]

Now, if you want to talk about large manufacturers using overseas slave labor to make products for dirt cheap and then sell them for 100x what they cost to make, that’s scummy.

I don't necessarily disagree with you. But, this is only the half truth (of sorts). Price is always a huge selling point. I will use Canada as an example. If say Canadians were wanting a Canadian made product (say 80% had to be manufactured, designed, etc..) and willing to pay Canadian wages to make such product, it would be expensive (e.g. Bryston/Axiom) especially where the company needs to make a profit and be competitive. Not an economist.

 

[NickCas]

You know there will always be people willing to pay insane prices for "vintage", no matter what we're talking about.

 

[BilboBaggins]

Hmmm, lets see now. I buy vintage furniture because it is well made and has lasted, plus I like how it looks. I buy vintage enamelware for the same reasons, and it seems to work better than modern. I buy vintage clothing for much of the same reasons. You have to pay some pretty good money to get a coat comparable to a well made vintage item. The theme is that it is well made, has lasted, and is much cheaper than new. I think those are good enough reasons for people to buy it. I don't pay insane prices for any of it, but I will pay up to its value if I can get specifically what I want.

 

[MaxP]

Hmmm, lets see now. I buy vintage furniture because it is well made and has lasted, plus I like how it looks. I buy vintage enamelware for the same reasons, and it seems to work better than modern. I buy vintage clothing for much of the same reasons. You have to pay some pretty good money to get a coat comparable to a well made vintage item. The theme is that it is well made, has lasted, and is much cheaper than new. I think those are good enough reasons for people to buy it. I don't pay insane prices for any of it, but I will pay up to its value if I can get specifically what I want.

Damn well said!

 

[andy]

I don't see a problem with reselling as long as the reseller adds some value. A clean, working, guaranteed item is worth a lot more to most people than an untested/broken item. People who restore these things for fun can easily forget how much their labor is worth. Just finding an honest, competent repair shop willing to work on a vintage item is difficult in most places.