Used Nautilus Speakers

[junior77blue]

What are some of the disadvantages of buying used/demo speakers from a dealership? How bulletproof are the drivers? What happens to them over time?

With a car you at least know its mileage....with speakers all you have is what the dealer tells you.

What things do you look for? Are there any tell-tale signs I should look for?

Is it unquestionable to have all the drivers replaced when buying a demo pair?

And lastly, Nautilus series speakers, is the aluminum ring around the FST driver removeable/replaceable?

[weijst]

This thread sheds some light. BTW; it may look familiar to you...

http://www.htguide.com/forum/showthread.php4?t=11516

[junior77blue]

haha....Thank-you Weijst! And yes it does look QUITE familiar.

But it still doesn't answer my last 2 questions.

"Is it unquestionable to have all the drivers replaced when buying a demo pair?

And lastly, Nautilus series speakers, is the aluminum ring around the FST driver removeable/replaceable?"

[OmegaSpeed]

If the speakers are performing correctly I think it would be foolish to replace the drivers.

[junior77blue]

Well, its the 'grass-on-the-other-side-is-greener" syndrome...how do I know with 'USED' drivers that I'm not missing something that NEW drivers would provide?

[OmegaSpeed]

I think you are worry about something needlessly and would think they would either be working right or not, you'd know.

I had an issue with a preamp in the past that would go full volume randomly when chainging the volume, sending the amp into protection; the B&W speakers never missed a beat. This happened maybe 5 times before the problem was resolved.

[Jeff]

Omega, I had the same thing happen with floor demo Harman Kardon which
I purchased. :M It's nice to know I can still move quick. I didn't move more
than 10 feet away from it after that. I returned it to the store for $ back the next day.

Junior, as you know I purchased a used pair of N802's. Frankly, there may be something fishy going on. I heard some sound which I would bet that's
not on the cd. There's nothing blown. However, I just have to wonder
if they haven't been pushed a little on the far side. At present I'm not
up to performing the necessary tests to verify this. I'm far to busy enjoying
them. :B

If there is somethign wrong, I wouldn't return them. Just replace the driver in question. I did some checking on the 802 drivers. In proportion to the speaker, I didn't find the price of drivers prohibitive.

Perhaps in another 5 years I might replace the mids and tweeter anyway.
I know it sounds a little extreme, ok maybe more than a little. I will say they were demos for 4+ years, so there is some definable age on em. But, I intend to have these a LONG time and considering the entire cost of my audio system...well, I see it being an issue I visit down the road.