Can a Amp be "timeless" and compete with todays amps?


I’ve been into hi resolution audio for 20+ years, well longer than that but acquired high quality gear about that time. I veered off into other interests for 15 years but still had my system sitting idle in it’s dedicated room. I became interested in it again 6 months ago and began to update it. I still have my Rega Planar 25 table and a Dragon phono stage.  I retained my CEC TL1 transport, but replaced my DAC with a Dinafrips Venus II, I also have the Hermes DDC which I feed my CEC into as well as my Cambridge Streamer. I sold my Genesis V speakers because they were having an issue with the left channel bass and since they were out of business I had no way to fix them, it was over my head. I found someone that wanted them and was willing to repair them himself. (he is very happy with them) I replaced them with some Goldenear Triton 1.r’s which I love. So here is the nostalgia part. I still have my VAC Cla 1 Mk II pre amp and my VAC Renaissance 70/70 Mk II amp. I feel they still hold up well sonically, so my thoughts are to send them both to VAC for the Mk III updates this fall of 2022, which includes replacing any necessary parts and "voicing" them back to new as intended when they were first made. I really believe these pieces are worthy of the restoration, are newer pieces today really going to make much headway? I cannot afford to replace these items with "like" items as I am retired and the discretionary income isn’t there anymore. I just feel like they are still really good and offer a very high quality sound. I mean 8- 300 B tubes can’t be all that bad can they? I’ve voiced the pre amp with with Telefunken 12AX7’s and I have a small stash of them. Tube sound is still great right?

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Showing 9 responses by mahgister

In the end, considering price, the real question is personal. I am not sure moving over makes much sense. Moving up yes. So if you have a piece of gear you are happy with change for change’s sake doesn’t make sense to me especially in Audio.

The most important factor in a good audio system are the synergies among amplifier, speakers and room.

Finally. 
We audiophiles tend to get buried in the technology weeds. The key numbers/measurements for amplifiers are those that indicate how they will drive your speakers.(power, current, impedance etc etc etc).

The technology or design philosophy that achieves those numbers is at best secondary at worst a red herring. And really what counts is how it all sounds to you.

 

 

Wise post.... Thanks....

theaudioatticvinylsundays.com

Thanks for the link to your site  it seems very interesting...

 

A listener would have to compare them in a direct A/B setting.

i think so also...

At the end acoustic/psycho-acoustic experience in a room decide what will be our choices, because nevermind the theoretical level of improvement, no ears and no room are exactly the same ...

The law of hearing are the same but the ears differ...The needs of people differ too...

And if technoloy improve always with time, there is a plateau of maturity where new technological improvement rival other different technological  advantages improvement with different trade-off...

 

 

 

 

You are right...

When people dont understand something they search for simplistic  explanation and they mob together...

I don't think accusing people of audiophile heresy is productive.

 

 

People can argue about design in amp, and i am with atmasphere about the evident technical progress that have been made here like in any other field...

But dont forgot that the sound impression is not only created by the design of an amplifier but also with the speakers relation to a room...

And our preference each of us differ much because our listening history differ also...And our acoustic condition differ too...

There is no ABSOLUTE here...

The only rule is the ratio S.Q. /price for most of us....And the way we can optimize some system to reach the minimal satisfaction threshold...

Here acoustic control help a lot....More than upgrades half of the time...

I will live happy with my 1978 Sansui and will nor buy the superior Berning or any other very superior new design...

😁😊

 

«Why do you keep this old gramphone Groucho? Acoustic is timeless brother»-Groucho Marx audiophile 🤓

«Music too brother»-Harpo Marx

I agree too because he know what he is talking about ...

We cannot reduce technology progress to embellishment only for sure...

 

 

My Sansui Au 7700 so good it was and so good it is right now will not compete in sound quality ( his versatility is unmatched though) with the Berning ZOTL technology which is  a bargain it seems in Audio offerings...

My exemple is valuable for other brand name for sure...

But my Sansui is enough for me twenty times less costly .... 😁😊

It was a legendary product and it is enough to reach heaven  especially in a controlled  acoustic ...