When did the Hi-Fi sound mature?

I think that Shadorne makes some very valid observations with respect to the equipment that is sold to the majority of consumers (who may have vaguely heard of Bose and believe it to be the ne plus ultra), but the answer is very different with respect to "the average Audiogon system" that you refer to.

With respect to that kind of system, I don't think it's possible to define a clear answer on a system "end to end" basis.

For digital sources I would say that today's average high-end sound began to be approached in the early to mid 90's.

For amplifiers, preamplifiers, turntables, cartridges, and speakers, I would say the early to mid 80's.

For amplifiers and preamplifiers, though, a case could be made for some of the tube designs of the 1960's. And some would even argue that a case could be made for the Western Electric theatre amplifiers of the 1930's (with modifications for home use), if horn speakers (that don't require much power) are being used.

For FM tuners, I would argue 1954, when the REL Precedent was introduced. It was a mono tuner, but usable in stereo in conjunction with separate multiplex adapters that were introduced a few years later.

Regards,
-- Al

It depends.

If you want to play pipe organ or marching band music at volume approaching the live performance a good 1960's system with its 15 or 18 inch woofers will blow away today's tweeky high end system.

If you want to play a female vocalist with "you are there" imaging, today's system is better.

Sounds like well before I was born....

The high point of maturation for my ears was the 2C3D system heard in the late 90s at Progressive Audio in Columbus OH. First time I can remember hearing life size vocal height and separation around audience members as they were clapping. It was as impressive with Thiel as it was with Avalon, and that system is still help as a bench mark for mine and others I design today.

The true Audiophile system of the mid to late 1950's surpasses in quality of audio reproduction the "state-of-the art" digital system in use today. Tube amplifiers, based on the Williamson stereo design, and others, together with reel-to-reel tape decks were the standard for recording and playback. Modernly, recording engineers try to imitate the 1950's recordings using digital equipment. Unfortunately, without much success. Audiophiles in the 1950's - 1960's had many choices of speakers, tube amplifiers, preamplifiers, turntables, all made specifically for the Audiophile market. Most of that equipment is scarce and expensive today. As a matter of economics, the audio and music industries require periodic renewal to survive. That means "new state-of-the-art" products to sell to a new generation. Perhaps the "new generation" doesn't require audio perfection with the forms of music popular today. Who can hear the difference in the dynamics of a recording played at 108dB??. All of the new forms of media lack the dynamics of well recorded 1950's performances. Hi-Fi sound never "got close to where it is now", it far surpassed where we are now 50 years ago and everything since has tried to replicate the peak once reached.