When Was The Audio Golden Age?

@mikhailark Well, I guess you had to have a really good relationship with your dealer ( which does relate to whom you were able to get 'great sensimilla' from, which did have it's own 'freight' to procure.... ;)  ) who would cut you a 'personal favor'....

41 years ago, you might have been able to buy the above,

One of a series of 8..

All of which are in museums now, which makes the price of one 'set' likely on the level of MBLs' with all those natty details...amps, pre, source....etc.

What price perfection, and what exactly does that consist of ...?

Joy in what you own....J

Yes....that's concrete....real solid sound.

My system is as follows:

1980s / 1990s / 2020s - Cartridge: Benz Micro, Koetsu Black, Grado 78, Koetsu Rosewood Signature, Koetsu Onyx, Koetsu Leopard

1980s / 2010s - Tonearm: Sumiko MMT, Jelco SA-750EB

1980s - Table: VPI HW MK IV with SAM

2020s - Step-Up Transformer: Pro-Ject Tube Box DS2

1980s - Preamp: Beard P505

2010s - Phase Alignment: BBE282ri sonic maximizer

1990s - Subwoofer: Velodyne ULD-15

1980s / 2020s - Amps: Julius Futterman OTL3s, converted to triode by Jon Specter

1960s - Crossovers: Mastering Lab

1950s - Speakers: Altec Lansing 604C coaxial studio monitors

2020s - Semi-anechoic room design and treatment: by architect C.B. Wayne

I guess that you could say from the above that I am agnostic on the question: if the component fits, you must work with it (apologies to Johnnie Cochran).

That said, today’s technological options are distorted by income and wealth inequality: back in the day when I built my own tube amp from a Dyna Stereo 70 kit by David Hafler, a high quality audio system was within the financial grasp of middle and working class folk, which was David’s intention. Today, I mean, what really is the purpose of a $600,000 pair of speakers other than to compensate for male ego insecurity? Is it any wonder that the majority of people today content themselves with streaming over their earbuds?

+1 @unreceivedogma on the vintage equipment. I’ve a bunch of vintage gear too.