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...do great speakers increase in value over time in the vintage market?

Hello to all...

I have a pair of JBL L25 "PRIMA" speakers, made 1972, case in 7/10 shape (not repainted), surrounds on woofers reformed several years ago, grill cloth replaced several years ago, includes JBL badges on speakers. Original 1972 price $169/ea. 

Recent searches of this speaker in the vintage market show prices 50% OR MORE than the origional issue price: ???

Is this that good a speaker design? - I have read comments saying it his/was one of the best speakers ever made by JBL (at that time?) - and I do luv their sound (which I now wonder if I've ever really heard them?) especially with well-recorded jazz and have the ability with little power to ROCK OUT!

(Would greatly appreciate any comments by those who have/had these over the years...)

DO GREAT SPEAKERS INCREASE IN VALUE OVER TIME, or do/should all depreciate in value...
insearchofprat
insearchofprat OP
189 posts
 
millercarbon

My JBL L25s are creamy white with (new fabric) orange grills, always listen with grills off, set at zero on the High Frequency level. Speakers were reformed several years ago; using 14g solid core copper wire twisted, with bare ends, as speaker wire (may experiment with lampcord at your suggestion... )

Wonder how not being mirror-image affects sound dispersion. 

Presently powered with a low-powered tube intergrated by Monoprice (alternates: use the integrated as a pre, with a Parasound HCA-750A, and play around with the Parasound direct with the output controls on the back of the unit)

douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
Anyone want to buy a mint pair of Realistic Minimus 7 Speakers in white for $700? They were such GREAT compact monitors! So much better than all the wooden boxes now! Guarantee you would like the sound better than Harbeth! Use lamp cord to put them with a Realistic era receiver and you'll be living the dream (in more ways than one)!  ;) 

 
cd318
2,636 posts
 
Depends upon 2 things I think.

1 The rate of inflation

2 The size of the loudspeaker - large speakers will always tend to cost more as cabinet construction costs usually far exceed driver costs.

Their comparitive replacements in say 15-20 years time will cost an awful lot more.

Hence large Tannoys, JBLs, Harbeth’s, Spendor's etc can never be bought for less than their original sale price.
chorus
976 posts
 
They actually shrink over time in size and massively in value.
petg60
1,486 posts
 
HI 
Some vintage speakers can hold very high value and not only due to nostalgia.
They still make great sounds, but the problem comes when you have to refurbish as newer replacing materials should be carefuly matched if to sound close to original. 
Quads, AR, Spendor, KEF, Rogers, Celestion, JBL, Pioneer, Sony, Tanoy's...all have some vintage propositions for modern systems and good ears.
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