Does old-fashioned necessarily mean out of date?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

As is so often the case, the best answer is, "It depends." I am still enjoying my Infinity IRS Beta speaker system - I scrounged up the original receipt today and it's dated 11/30/1990. It has needed a bit of service over the years, including replacing the woofer surrounds and recent repair (and mods) to the xover/servo unit. Given its age, it probably qualifies as "vintage."  But it still sounds fantastic and will embarrass many a modern speaker.

The component with the longest continuous use in my system is my McIntosh MR80 tuner, which I bought back on 11/80. Of course, radio isn't what it used to be so it doesn't get nearly the use it did back then. It has also been serviced a few times over the years, but it still performs superbly and I live in a very difficult FM reception area. It would be difficult to improve upon this with a more modern tuner.

I would once again like to thank everyone who responded to my inquiry for their insights and perspectives.  I will add a few more comments myself about the Ars-Sonum Filarmonia amp to help explain why I purchased it, age notwithstanding.  First and foremost, as I have mentioned already, the sound it produces is glorious. I will add that it is also charming to behold (at least to my eyes).  The stainless steel chassis is tastefully understated; the amp employs bespoke hand-wound transformers and other premium parts; it takes inspiration from but (as I understand it with my limited knowledge of electronics) it departs in innovative ways from traditional EL-34 topologies; and it is hand-crafted (in Spain), the latter fact being of particular appeal to me as a professor of Folklore.  Finally, Rich Brkich, who is as venerable as the amp itself, stands behind it and made certain that it performed flawlessly before releasing it to to me, no matter how eager I was to to call it my own.

 

I must say that this Ars-Sonum Filarmonia amp look really beautiful...

It is not my primary desired factor but i dont doubt your appreciation  of his S.Q.

 

I will add a few more comments myself about the Ars-Sonum Filarmonia amp to help explain why I purchased it, age notwithstanding. 

After more than fifty years in this hobby the most important thing that I have learned about it is to trust your own ears over objective testing, and to take audio reviews with a grain of sand, since most are heavily biased for one reason or another.  To thine own ears be true 😊