2. amps-preamps
  3. 191808-197360

Does old-fashioned necessarily mean out of date?

Having recently purchased an amplifier that I expect would not command the attention it might have a decade or so ago, it leads me to the following observation and question.

While technological innovation in the design and construction of audio equipment continues admirably unabated, I would assert that there are venerable products still being manufactured whose qualities seem to remain not only undiminished but unsurpassed regardless of the "cutting edge" products they are juxtaposed to.  I believe that one such product is the Ars-Sonum Filarmonia XP Universum.  It is meticulously--in fact, lovingly--constructed.  It utilizes high quality components assembled in an effective architecture to produce its modest but robust output of 28 wpc. Most importantly, the sound it produces, in conjunction with the right equipment, can only be described as glorious.  

So what I am wondering  is whether there are others who agree that the best way to go forward sometimes is to stay deliberately still.  And if so, to which pieces of equipment would this thinking apply.

Thanks.

mew2150
ghdprentice
6,967 posts
 

High end audio continues to advance in all tiers. One of my observations has been that really high end stuff tends to remain exceptional for very long periods of time… ten years or more. The other individual issue is how well the product fits your taste. If you have a really good fit, then going around sampling other flavors is going to reveal increased prices and less performance for your tastes.

If on the other hand you are choosing among (and newer / higher tier) other components that are perfectly meeting your tastes you are likely to be really impressed by the progress made..

yyzsantabarbara
4,815 posts
 

Finally, my list must include some model of vintage amplifier. For a couple months now I’ve been using a Coda Technologies Model 11, and I’ve been so satisfied -- no, thrilled -- with its performance that I’ve found myself asking: How much better can it get? I’ve paraded expensive amplifiers through the Music Vault for many years, and now, with this 20-something-year-old amp, I’m not missing any of them? What gives? The whole experience has got me thinking about other vintage amps, perhaps with a couple grand invested for new capacitors and a thorough tune-up.

Jeff's Getting a New Stereo System: Part Five

mahgister's avatar
mahgister
13,012 posts
 

Acoustics dont age...

My vintage piece are good and flexible in a way many contemporary are not...Or the price gap is so huge that i dont bother with new because of the S.Q. at my hand right now... cool

ghdprentice
6,967 posts
 

@mahgister 

 

Interesting observation / perspective. It makes some sense… that as performance has increased different sound quality paths have emerged… with greater detail, transparency… etc. different companies have taken different directions. So, yes, in a sense vintage has a flexibility you generally do not get today.

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