Speakers to hang on to for LIFE


After 9 years with my Proac Response 3s, I recently decided to change speakers. As you can tell, I'm not an upgrade fever patient. I want something I can live with for years & I think the best advice I'm gonna get will be from those who have & are still living with their speakers for an extended period of time. Please tell me why too. Thanks.Bob.
ryllau
I will hang onto my Proac Super Tabs.. I've had these for maybe 15 yrs. This was some of the best 500 I ever spent. I'm looking for speakers right now and I will find another use for the proacs. I recently upgraded to CJ tube gear and they sound great. I'm also using a velodyne sub with them but it is had to get attached to a sub.

It funny, I just purchased some speakers (Snell K.5mkII)for HT and have been swapping back and forth. They are both great in there own way but have a different flavor. The Snell are merlot with the Proacs are a pinot noir.. I like the taste of both.. Now to find a nice cab..
Interesting post. I support two of the points made here, first older speakers probably cannot beat the (best of the) newer speakers, and second, the "best" manufacturers (designers) seem to come out with the designs having the most longevity. I owned ADS L810's for 17 years and wish I hadn't sold them. They were designed (I believe) by Michael Kelly of Aerial fame. I currently have Alon V MkII's (an open baffle MF/HF-enclosed LF design) and really enjoy the detailed, open, yet dynamic sound. Since the basic sound quality is what I like, I plan to keep them and upgrade drivers with Alnico magnet models from Alon. These were designed by Carl Marchisotto, who also designed the Dahlquist DQ20's (mentioned several times on this post), and continues to gain fame with his new Exotica Grand Reference ($125,000)and Lotus Elite Signatures, both also open baffle designs, with lineage to the DQ20's. I know less about the ProAcs, but weren't these mostly designed by the same guy (a Stewart Tyler?). Also Isreal Blume-Coincident and Alan Yun-Silverline, and others. Some guys just know what they are doing.
I recently moved my Martin Logan SL3s to make room for a pair of Sonas Faber Cremona. WOW! They are staying right where they are. Well, except for the small repositioning during the upcoming Sumiko speaker setup. I have heard the Amati & although the Cremona are not Amati, they are astounding. I will have these for a long, long time.
While older designs may not be able to beat the best of today's speakers, who can afford them? Having said that, I'd put my eighteen year old Apogee Scintillas up against all comers, new or old. I should add, Ken Kessler, the reviewer, does just that.
I have Apogee Centaur Major for the last 14 years. I would admit that after I listen Schntillas I fallen in love with Apogees, but at the time could not afford them, including very demanding amplifiers, so I settled for my speakers. I would not change them unless I can get Scintillas, which is doubtfull. But in my system, Stereo/HT set up there are the best in my opinion.