I understand people feeling nostalgic. That is all this is. Young hormone filled people get emotionally attached to people, events, music and sounds. If old equipment, in general, sounded better than new high end equipment, then the price on the old stuff would rise above new stuff. The reviewers and serious amateurs would get rid of the new stuff. There would be a blossoming industry with The Absolute Vintage Sound magazine leading the way. You can fool the mid-FI folks with buttons and new looks... you can fool the high end folks for a short time, but not for long. I bought a CD player when they came out... but sure didn’t get rid of my turntable. The idea that there is a lot of old equipment that sounds better than equivalent equipment today is nonsense. That sounds pretty good for it’s age, or better than infirm or equipment today... sure maybe.
Old Amps that can still Kick Butt
Not being a believer that time necessarily = progress, I would like to offer the following example of a sonic gem that has transcended time and can totally kick butt in a modern milieu:
The Robertson 4010. I got one of these about two years ago because it was in immaculate condition, the price was so low and I was inquisitive. I hooked it up and let it warm up for a couple of days. OMG this thing was in the super amp league: Transparency to die for, slam that you couldn‘t‘ believe for for a 50W amp.. Peter Moncrieffe wasn‘t wrong in his review of this amp: this thing is in the Sterreophile Class A component category hands down. Even after all these years.
What amps have you encountered that have defied time and can still kick butt today?
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