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Hi end audio equip sounds better today than in decades past due to tech - T/F

I am in a hi-end audio store today, speaking with the owner, who has been in the audio business for almost 40 yrs. Super nice guy. Can talk up a storm - but as a good thing... where someone like me can learn a thing or two.

He said something that I found curious... audio equipment (pres, amps, rcvrs, speakers) sound better today than just 20 years ago, b/c ’they didn’t have the same technology back then we have today'. Why? Better materials, better components, better r/d... the stuff just sounds better in today’s world, he is telling me.

Coming from someone who doesn’t know any better.... is there any truth to this?
riffwraith
wspohn's avatar
wspohn
578 posts
 
While the average quality MAY have improved, certain vintage gear still sounds as good, or in some cases better than current stuff.  If you ever have a chance to sit in front of a pair (or even one) original Quad ESL57s driven by original Quad amplification, you can tell us how much progress there has been.

I still run gear that is 40 years old in one system and 20 years old in my main system.
whipsaw
753 posts
 
I love vintage technology, especially watches. But the performance gap between watches produced during the "Golden Era" (i.e. '50s and '60s") and today is far more narrow than that of stereo components, cars, or pretty much anything else.

I was using a re-capped and upgraded Accuphase E-303x integrated amp for about three years, and enjoyed it thoroughly. But when I switched to a used Hegel h160, I was very surprised at how big a step forward it was. 

On an inflation adjusted basis, they were comparable in cost, and yet despite the obvious quality of the Accuphase, it was no match for the Hegel.
fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,499 posts
 
KLH 9s. Artjur Janszen. 
David rebuilds them in 2021 and his modern  designs are fine too.
fiesta75
1,378 posts
 
Well, yes to materials and technology. No to the sound, good vintage is simply good. Individual choice.
antigrunge2
1,331 posts
 
Digital gear today is far and away superior to vintage vinyl, particularly on digital recordings post ca.2000. The same is not true for amps nor speakers, particularly at the high end
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