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Why are so many companies like harbeth making old speakers designs and charging thousends?

Hi everyone I am a little confused about the speaker market. I had been two dealers that sell totally different products. The one I had been to which I bought my forests from sells Totem And Monitor Audio and B&W. though I went to the other that sells Harbeth And audio note speakers which they recommended me buying. And the problem I have trouble understanding Is when I spend thousands on a speaker. Especially my next big purchase. That has no real new technology and is the size of my dads old conerwalls and never use to cost Thousands to build. With no technological advancements. to a product such as the totem that is small compact and modern for the wife approval , and to be more exact. The new Element line and technologically advanced like the torrent driver. Which I can get the same speaker as the same cost or less of the audio note and Harbeth and dose not need to take up the whole room or look like the 70's. Whats your opinion? Would you buy a product that is a 30 year old design that costs 5 times as more with the only diffinceses as upgraded silver wire and upgraded crossover components. To a thousand dollar woofer that is machined not stamped and has so much magnetic flux that it ca lift a car and no crossover?
128x128jakecanada
rar1's avatar
rar1
1,746 posts
 
Hi Jake -

No, you are not wrong in your observations.  

About 10 years back, I was considering buying the Dragonfly monitors made by Soundsmith, which listed at the time new for $1600.  I had heard the monitors at an audio show and absolutely loved them.  But life got in the way and $1600 was more than I felt comfortable spending at the time.  Fast forward to today and the same speakers cost $6000 ... 3 1/2 times more.  Hell if I can figure out why.  I scratch my head like you are doing now.     

What everyone has said makes sense ... if you don't like the Harbeths or you like some other brand better or the price makes no sense to you ... or whatever ... don't buy them.  

Rich   

charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,233 posts
 
Hi Bill (Grannyring ),
You have extensive experience modifying many different audio products. What do you think of the stock crossover in your Harbeths?  Are you tempted to do any mods on them? 
Charles, 
knghifi
1,668 posts
 
Do you think Harbeth cost to do business has increased past 30 years?  Wages, material, insurance ...

1970's Flashback 

Cost of a new home: $71,800.00
Median Household Income: $16,461.00
Cost of a first-class stamp: $0.15
Cost of a gallon of regular gas: $0.86
Cost of a dozen eggs: $0.85
Cost of a gallon of Milk: $1.62

simple INFLATION!
jakecanada's avatar
jakecanada OP
80 posts
 
I do not have a personal grudge or dislike for harbeths I had personably I demoed and loved sound there sound so much. I almost bought a pair. But my dad was the one who brought up this topic idea. Which had some points to it, and made me think twice would you want to spend money on something that takes quite a bit of real estate in a starter home with older technology. Or a speaker that sounds as good or the same. With the same price smaller foot print and newer technology, that's all. Also person was going to spend 10,000 or more you would want some new technologic advancements with it for that price. But who am I to say, speakers are a on a persons taste and like. It's like what like in the end and personally the sound,do you drink in the morning coffee or tea, or a cappuccino. No one person is the same.
analogluvr
859 posts
 
Don't begrudge the real estate the speakers take up, there is no replacement for displacement. These smaller speakers are much harder to drive, which leaves you using a crappier sounding higher power ss amp.  There have been no technological advances in speakers, in fact most newer designs sound much worse. You can't beat a paper driver  with a high efficiency magnet in a big box.  The advent of the transistor sent speaker development completely in the wrong direction. 
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