2. amps-preamps
  3. 191808-197360

Does old-fashioned necessarily mean out of date?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

Showing 1 response by cleeds

cleeds
6,123 posts
 

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.

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