Exactly...
And not only that, but some design or technology as it was made specifically with his own set of trade-off for sure exist no more ... My 2 Sansui of the golden age as they are made are exemples but more than those my vintage AKG K340 is unique and absolutely not low grade but among the top headphone even today...
For sure many contemporary technologies innovation improve all there is in Audio.... Specially since few years ago....
Then very good vintage exist but it is an exception not a rule... Also there are risks about maintenance of old gear...
Nothing is perfect here ...
Give me the 10,000 dollars i will buy the Immanis headphone, it will probably beat my K340 (100 bucks) on most acoustic count if not all but i am not even sure for that ...
I am completely happy as you are because as wise gentlemen we had learned as you said yourself to appreciate and evaluate what we have ( in my case i modified it )
My very best to you....
@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.