One can (depends on the circuit, and more) modernize the parts in a vintage amplifier and make it sound superior to just about anything else. Parts quality can be half the battle, if not more.
But that would be called a ’ringer’, and it’s not a truly fair test.
I re-did a NAD 3120, with premium non-magnetic resistors, film and foil caps, and 3 or 4 bits of unreleased technology, more actually (eg our unreleased fuse technology, for one..)..and I keep it around to mess with people. To hook it up and feign innocence, when it is compared to a $5-10k integrated.
To sit there and say ’gosh, it’s amazing how good that old stuff is and how new stuff isn’t all it’s cracked up to be’. Or some other such stuff.
All while I’m sitting beside some poor unsuspecting person, who is listening to this NAD 3120... who’s just blown $7k on an integrated, or what not. All while the little NAD is hanging in there and literally tripping up some sonic aspects of the $7k integrated.
Oh yes, it still has the $14.99 Value Village price sticker on it. Icing on the cake.
Oh, that such fun can be had in this world.
Of course I let them in on the joke. It wouldn’t be right to let it continue..