I purchased a pair of the original, Acoustic Research Powered Partners 570 in the fall of 1991. I have had 14+ years of excellent, uninterupted service from them (15+ years of ownership). Last year, I had a circuit board replaced, one DC power input connection and one audio input connection repaired. Not bad for all of the connecting and disconnecting done in that 14+ year period, not to mention the regular high volume levels used which would produce higher levels of heat for the amplifiers and on the circuitboard. I use them daily, at home or in hotels (AC power) and on the road in automobiles (DC power adapter). Believe me, after 14+ years I could have just thrown them away and considered it a "job well done"! For me, it was money well spent to preserve such a remarkable product. Many friends have heard their sound from afar, assuming they were a much larger speaker system. The high frequencies are bright and clear, while the low frequencies will astonish you. The only "slightly negative" comment I have is, when using the DC power adapter (at high volume levels), they tend to clip or distort at a lower volume level than when AC powered, which may relate to DC power conversion inefficiency in meeting the peak power demands of the amplifier at high volume levels. Finding them again, now under the Advent brand name (AdventAV570), I am not hesitating to purchase another pair. You should not hesitate either!!!