2. amps-preamps
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Bringing back the dead?

After reading the recent Stereophile's annual recommended components issue gave an idea for this thread. What are some of the best designed and produced audio products that is no longer in production? Apparently, I can't get this answer from reading new press. I am asking this question because I have only been in this hobby for about 10 years off and on. 10 years is not very long and I feel that I cannot not really appreciate this hobby without really understanding the past. Perhaps going forward, I can compare what's new to what I have been exposed to this past 10 years, but it would be nice to know what other products that was available before I started my audiophile journey. Is the best really yet to come or we have achieved the apex of hifi and we're all heading back down? Thanks for reading this thread and I look forward to reading your comments.
3chihuahuas

Showing 1 response by gregm

gregm
3,414 posts
 
Nice post, "3", takes us down memory lane! Following on from Peter (definitely, the Quads) I would add Apogee Scintillas: difficult to drive, but offering magic when well set up -- also a newish design concept at the time... and the little BBC LS3/5As monitors on stands (stands were a relatively new idea at the time, too). I'm sure someone can propose horn-loaded speakers as well...

TTs: the AR 101 (#?), the Linn LP12/Ittok (that's still in production)and the Goldmund Reference, could also fit the bill. Linn set the "start from your source" trend and, indeed, the TT was (still is) a good performer...
Old media: anyone remember the Nakamichi Dragon cassette player (then the "ultimate" in cassette reproduction), the old Revox R-to-R (can't remember the model #), and the open reel Nagras of the '60s?? Regarding the latter, sound reproduction was phenomenal (master tape level).
Tuner: the 1st Marantz stereo (made in the US). This had good reception AND great sound, by far superior to what radio had to offer at the time.
Amplification: MacIntosh 75 (I used to dream about that one), AR SP6 pre, the first classA Krells (by commercial standards of the time, they had super power reserves). M Levinson pre-amps: I remember the ML-6 (made before ML sold his name to Madrigal).
These come to mind now...
More to discover