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Amplification: what are the biggest advances of the last 40 years?

As an audiophile most of my adult life but without any engineering expertise, I wonder how amplification has advanced since I started in this hobby as a high school student in the eighties?

Specifically, what has advanced the state of the art and what, specifically, make newer products sound "better" than older ones?

Is it that circuit design has advanced so much?  Or is the bigger difference parts quality and the technology leading to these better parts?

And please, none of the banal "it all matters" comments.  What I'm asking: which of the above matters the most?


bobbydd
bobbydd OP
97 posts
 
Some audiophile friends and sales people are of the opinion that "older amplifiers are outdated' and therefore cannot compete with the better new high end amps".

Personally, I'm skeptical of such statements, hence my original post.

Is it true that the best newer amps always sound better than the best older units?  

Does either technology, better parts, or improved circuitry and engineering make such progress inevitable?

I have not personally compared many units of different vintages in my system to answer that question.  Maybe some here have?




atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,778 posts
 
Some audiophile friends and sales people are of the opinion that "older amplifiers are outdated' and therefore cannot compete with the better new high end amps
Is it true that the best newer amps always sound better than the best older units?  
No. That depends on which new amp as opposed to which older amp. Not all new amps are better.
Does either technology, better parts, or improved circuitry and engineering make such progress inevitable?
If you get rid of 'either' in that question the answer is 'yes'.

millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Ralph is right, of course. The general trend is up. A rising tide lifts all boats. The ones that float, that is. Never forget that one little detail. Makes all the difference in the world.
imhififan's avatar
imhififan
2,180 posts
 
During a recent visit at my local dealer, I inquired as to why the new amplifier we were listening to was so expensive?
An Onkyo Grand Integra M-510 (1984-1992) will cost about $13k today’s dollars.

https://audio-database.com/ONKYO/amp/m-510-e.html

Is it true that the best newer amps always sound better than the best older units?
Compare within the same brand/line, YES!
For example:
Pass Labs XA100 > XA100.5 > XA 100.8
Accuphase E-530 > E-560 > E-600 > E-650

"always" I can’t say...

slvrado's avatar
slvrado
9 posts
 
The Eigentakt modules, the Bryston Salomie circuit, subwoofer amplifiers and speakers with built-in amps with complex DSP room correction. 
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