What brand was better than it is today?

I’d give a nod to the old Sherwood and Fisher electronics, generally but not all tubes. I still have some of my older Sansui equipment, AU-111 tube amp, TU-9900 tuner, SR-929 turntable still making good music with a little TLC once in a while. I wouldn’t expect 50+ years of service from today’s offerings. 

It’s just capitalism, in a free market the inefficient loose market share or go out of business, new more efficient businesses take their place. I just went to Axpona there are plenty of small businesses out there offering quality audio products.

I have a half dozen Sherwood 7100/7100A, Yamaha CR620 receivers that work just fine.  I suspect current electronic equipment built to mid-fi standards should last a long time as well.  The parts quality have improved once you have electronics retailing for $2500+.  Cheapo video/audio equipment probably not. 

Fried speakers