2. speakers
  3. 1305154194

Old vs. New

I see a lot of threads on various audiophile forums that basically go like this: I sold my 5-6-10 year old speakers, amp etc. and bought new this or that and it kills the old stuff and sounds so much better.

I have listened to a lot of classic hi-end speakers, amps and preamps and also listen to a lot of FOTM stuff and to my ears a lot of the "old junk" sounds better, sometimes a lot better. Don't get me wrong a lot of the new gear on the market sounds very good.

So let me ask a question, why do so may people automatically assume that older gear sounds inferior to new stuff? Audio tech did not really changed that much in 10 y. We still have the same two ears now as we did 10 y ago? If something was good 10 years go why is it no good now?
128x128faust3d
timlub
2,039 posts
 
Agree with Faust3d about some new gear being very analytical, Measurements are the place to start, should never be the place you end. Listening prevails.
wolf_garcia
6,631 posts
 
Older gear (within 15 years or so), if not abused, can save you a pile of money...I use a new preamp with a well regarded circa 1997 or so power amp and it sounds amazing and cost a LOT less than a new amp with similar specs and build quality. Plus, the amp can be upgraded easily if need be. Also, talk to a musician about "older" stuff...a 1955 Fender guitar amp with its original speaker? Oh yeah...
6bq5
62 posts
 
I have an RM-9 MK1, Audible Illusions M3. ProAc response 3s, a VPI jr with an SME 309 arm and Rega cart. that sounds wonderful, and can disappear with aplomb. I often dream of newer or different pieces of equipment; however when I fire this system up and enjoy the music - my want evaporates.
One of these days, I'll rebuild my father's MC30s and C8s to connect with an original AR TT and some Shahanian Elfs...
tubegroover
2,320 posts
 
"If you consider Miller Sound an expert on speakers then you would find Bill's speakers compete exceptionally with today's speakers once Bill performs a little magic on them. Just find an old pair of large Advents and have Bill work on them, then see what happens!"

Bill Legall is some kind of magician for real. Talk about vintage gear I visited him many years back and he had no less than 5 vintage systems in various rooms in his home, a kind of audio boutique if you will. All were musically delightful.
br3098
971 posts
 
I am a big fan of vintage gear. Lot's of it (but not all) does sound warm, lush and less detailed than new gear. I believe that this is mainly due to three factors, listed in order of least to most importance:
1- Newer phono cartridges are designed to sound more detailed and neutral then cartridges from the thrilling days of yesteryear.
2- Speakers are made of faster responding materials. Frankly, there is not a lot of new information on speaker design since the early 1960s, but materials technology has changed substantially.
3- Most of the improvement in new systems with regard to detail and neutrality comes from electrolytics - better capacitors. IMHO the cheapest caps available today are much better then the best stuff that was available even 20 years ago, not to mention the cans they used in the early '60s. Also diode and resistor technology has improved a great deal.
More to discover