What brand was better than it is today?

How about the question in reverse... what brand is better today than it used to be? I'd pick JVC. Known years ago for their crappy VCRs and stereos, today they manufacture some of the best home theater projectors ever made under 40k. 

What brand was better than it is today?
All and every brand sounded better 40 years ago.
It was a new and exciting time with hi-end stereo and quadraphonic equipment easy to purchase. Expensive yes, but, available.
As most of us will agree on, it was speakers that made the system, 2 or 4 channel. The specifications of the pre-amp and amp meant little with bad or low-end speakers at the end of the setup.
Total amplifier distortion cannot be heard with bad speakers.
Total amplifier distortion cannot be heard with good speakers.
Low distortion amplifier with good speakers can be heard. HiFi.
I expect this is my first and last response to a question that I have heard mostly my entire life. I expect anger concerning my simplification of a great question with little support of my view.
Speakers can make a bad amp sound good. Speakers can make a good amp awesome.
What is better and what has lost favor? It is a subjective question at best. Me?
McIntosh tube pre and power amps are better than 40 years ago.
I am running a Sansui QRX-9001 rebuilt by Jim at QRX Restore and Bose 901's front and 301's rear. A classic setup because it is classic.
Back to the question " What brand was better than it is today?"
Sansui and Bose.

Regards to all that read this.
David E. Bruns

As the OP, I did think of the inverse question-what brands are better today than before?  

That’s  a tougher question for me.  Who has increased their overall quality or offer flagship models that are great and push to company above previous performance levels?

Oldsmobile 

It might be easier to answer which companies are better today than they were in the past (much shorter list)..

Many of these great companies have been bought and sold many times over. The corporate model is to maximize profit not necessarily sound quality first. The bean counter accountants run these companies and the values that made the brand great, fade away in many cases.

Not always, but the list is long.