What's improved the most?


A simple question that has often been the subject of debate: if we were to take the various components that contribute to music reproduction, the actual recording, then the turntable/CD player, cartridge, cabling, amplifier, and finally the speakers, then which of these components have improved the most over, say, the last forty years?
Or, another way of putting it: suppose we could assemble a 'super-system' from each of the last four decades, what would the difference be?
To be frivolous, I would say things are potentially more expensive than ever before, but if we eliminate the systems for the uber-rich, what would the results be?
57s4me
Your question doesn't change for the uber- rich vs. the peasants. It's always relative. Imo, it would be speakers just because they are after all the weakest link.
Obvously all have improved greatly and the best stuff from 40 years ago would still sound good if properly maintained. That said, I agree with Csontos, its probably speakers but you'd be surprised to learn that things like the plamsa tweeter were already developed.
I would have to say LOUDSPEAKERS.
Look at old designs.. hit or miss, basic wood boxes..
Then the Small Thiel parameters came along. then computer work..
So all in all I would give the nod to speakers.
Yes there are great designs from early years.. but those were just luck. Now, even inexpensive speakers can sound really good. Because of all the work that went before.

Though all electronics have also gotten better.. no question. (except maybe some old tube designs.. with updated parts they can still be great.
First of all, forgive me Elizabeth. Computer-aided design is just that, an aid. Ts parameters have been probably the most important factor in speaker design for a very long time. So they've been getting it right for just about as long, the main limiting factor being speaker driver design and the limitations of the materials themselves. Probably what you meant to say. The level of hit and miss you alluded to is relatively constant in comparison.
There were always good speakers, just not so many of them.
There were NO good IC's and speaker cables.
Right now, this very day, a pr of KLH 17's with the Dynaco tube stuff available then, hooked up with oh, Analysis Plus Copper oval wire, would make music on a very high level
and satisfy any rational person, if not a audiopile.