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Did the Old Receivers Sound Good?

Before the high end started, we had all these receivers and integrated amps from Pioneer, Kenwood, Sansui, Sherwood, etc., all with incredible specs.  Then somehow we decided that specs didn't matter and we started moving to the more esoteric stuff from Ampzilla, Krell and whoever, but the specs were not as good.  My question is - Did the old Japanese stuff with the great specs sound better? I don't remember.  I'm asking because many seem to be moving back to the "specs are everything" mindset and I was thinking about all that old stuff with so many zeros to the right of the decimal point. 

chayro
phd
1,282 posts
 

If you're driving an old gas-guzzler, your going to like them old receivers. Yes they look cool and have substance but they are not going to measure up to modern electronics. Starting in the early 90's well designed amplifiers took a big leap in sound quality. I bought a Tandberg receiver because I liked the way it looked and it was refurbished. I put it in the den. It sounded decent but it wasn't as good as what it replaced.

russ69's avatar
russ69
3,360 posts
 

Before the high end started...

The high end started long before there were receivers. 

ditusa's avatar
ditusa
1,746 posts
 

@russ69 +1

petg60
1,486 posts
 

I have the feeling that those old receivers are still wanted for reasons like, nostalgia, looks, plenty of frills but not for the so many zeros. Could still serve for a vintage second system though.

akg_ca's avatar
akg_ca
2,175 posts
 

 

carlsbad’s avatar

@carlsbad

“ …. not by today’s standards ….”

+1

They sounded good FOR THEIR TIME (/emphasis added).


I had the MARANTZ 2245 receiver with JBL L100’s back in the Jurassic Age of this hobby (the 70’s) that was considered a high-end unit for its time. It was a hit in the college dorm with floating wisps of Maui Wowee rocking out Doobie Bros, Jethro Tull, Moody Blues etc. etc. .it was a heavily coloured and exaggerated “California Sound” ( Google it ..” ) with a skewed roller coaster curve frequency response with pumped up bottom end bass and top end treble geared to the rock and pop recordings of its time.

Yep…it sounded “fine” under the wafting sedation veil of the Maui Wowee after the Coors or Molson’s beer and pizza.

The unvarnished truth is that it and all its peer “vintage” units get smoked by a modest integrated amp today.

The term “vintage” is just code for “old”, and its appeal today is just nostalgia appeal by a limited cohort reliving the fond memories of a misspent youth, but certainly NOT for any premium / “good” audio performance.

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