Vintage Asylum

Posted by Todd Krieger (A) on August 03, 2005 at 20:28:05

In Reply to: vintage v contemporary high end amp posted by Tadlo on August 3, 2005 at 08:28:34:

I have a simple question (although the answer may not be so simple). How much better sounding are modern high end amplifiers than the best vintage receivers?
a. Way better
b. A lot better
c. Slightly better
d. Barely noticable difference if you strain your ears for hours
e. Indistinguishable

For solid-state, actually none of the above... My answer is merely different, but not necessarily better... (I've never experienced an amplifier comparison where the units compared were indistinguishable.) I personally think the proliferation of digital and RF devices in our environment has made it much more difficult to design decent-sounding solid-state amplifiers.

I do think the budget amplifiers have improved (I'll take a Samson Servo 260 over entry-level B&K...) but the expensive gear is awash.

And for tube gear?? This is the one part of audio where I think today's products trounce vintage products.