What brand was better than it is today?

Heh, I'm going to throw out a brand from left field.  Emotiva.  Even though their preamp/dac have been pretty steady (okay but nothing special), their amplifier design has slowly taken a nose dive over the years due to compromises in design.  The latest Gen 3 stuff is the worst because of that damn switching power supply and, based on the bias resistors, they are running with a lower Class A bias, making their amps close to a Class AB/B type.  Nothing as good as their Gen 1 XPA or XPR series.

Altec Lansing! Now reduced to sell desktop speakers! So pitiful! Glad I have my vintage Santana's, Segovia's and Stonehenge's! 

This usually happens when the original designers/owners decide to sell the business and the new buyers are only interested in the "name".