I think that the system CwLondon described would actually blow away many modern systems, especially those using less than the best digital front ends. On the other hand, with the advances made over the last couple of decades, it is now possible to assemble systems that will soundly trounce the best older systems. I am particularly impressed with the most recent advances in digital technology, such as upsampling. With affordable digital speaker and room correction just around the corner, I think we are on the verge of taking things to the next level, and I'm very encouraged by these developments. The potential of vinyl-based systems is virtually maxed out, while things in the digital arena are just starting to cook. If this offends anyone, I apologize, but it's the truth.
Idealism, Audio and Lost Youth
Do any of you yearn for the magic of systems that you may have owned many years ago -- or still cherish older components when you could afford to replace them with supposedly more sophisticated, newer designs? Is is possible that they actually sounded better, or am I just romanticising my youth? I would swear that my heavily modified Kenwood KD 500 with SME III and Dynavector Ruby into an Audio Research pre amp and Hafler DH 500 and Magneplanar MG-1bs in 1980 sounded better than several mega buck systems I have had recently. I have similarly blissful memories of a Nakamich 250 (!) and bi-amped ADS "Mobile Fidelity System" circa 1975 even over the road noise roar of my cheap first car. Maybe it's all about analogue but I just don't listen to music as much anymore.