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Surprise when revisiting your older gear. Ever happen to you?

Thought I'd share a surprise and ask if others have experienced something similar when revisiting old gear.

So, my dad visited and commented on my much improved and evolving gear.  He mentioned that he was considering new speakers--he's using some reasonably nice, but now old, three-way JBLs I gave him over a decade ago when I was heavily flirting with multi-channel/surround.  He's not crazy about this stuff and had allocated a fairly limited budget.  He also expressed disappointment in the dwindling number of B&Ms for decent lower-priced gear.

I told him I had a couple of extra sets he could listen to, and, if he liked a pair, he could have them.  He resisted, but I insisted.  I dug out a pair of lightly used B&W 602s3 that I acquired in a bad trade a long time ago.  I used them for very brief periods of time, here and there, would like them for a short while, but found them fatiguing at times and always found some need to rotate/upgrade them out.  There is a chip in the plastic front from the guy I got them from and, so, audiofolk being a picky lot, never thought I'd get enough for them to justify selling them.  Doesn't affect the sound, though.  They went into the "collection."  I downplayed them and gave him my mixed review.

Plopped them on some plant stands almost in the middle of a large room, unhooked a pair of, IMO, very nice towers, and hooked the B&Ws to one of the Cary setups, and we were both blown away.  I had never heard these things even sound close to good as they did.  Never had anywhere near the imaging, bass, non-fatigue-y-ness, or generalized room-filling goodness in any prior setup.  Not that these things all of sudden became the best thing ever, but they sounded many times better than they ever did before and quite livable.  Sure, the gear in front is better than what the B&Ws were usually with, but damn.  I might not have swung for the expensive towers, just lived with these, and bought a nice motorcycle or two with the money saved.

Anyway, dad loved them.  I'll get them boxed up this weekend to ship to him, but they are getting some very enjoyable playtime until then.

Anyone have a similar experience when revisiting old, long upgraded out, gear?  Especially something "below" the level of the new gear?


stfoth
gregkohanmim
153 posts
 
When I was a kid back in the late 70s and 80s I used to drool over Bang and Olufsen systems that were designed by Jacob Jensen.  Jump forward a few decades and I started collecting (hoarding) some of their iconic systems merely as a hobby.  

Studying service manuals, replacing electronic components myself and even re-foaming speaker surrounds, I'm down to a couple of pristine systems that I'm proud of.  

And while they don't sound as good as my main system (B&W speakers), they perform far better than they did when new and are so much fun to use with all the touch sensors, displays, two way remotes, etc. so I still enjoy them very much.

As for the Bowers and Wilkins (I've owned so many in their lineup over the years), I can completely relate to your experience as I have been been very impressed with a few garage sale finds hooked up to killer amps and front ends - particularly the Nautilus 704s and DM604s considering what I paid for them.  And like you, I turned my dad on to great music and gear and he's been hooked ever since.

Nice of you to pass them along to your dad!

Greg
mapman's avatar
mapman
15,679 posts
 
A good modern high quailty amp and front end can easily make older speakers that sounded meh back then sing.  What you feed speakers makes all the difference in the world.   
kdude66
1,198 posts
 
Mapman,

+1 on that.
jerry_gt3rs's avatar
jerry_gt3rs
57 posts
 
I had a similar experience. While waiting on my current speakers that back ordered, I dug out a old pair of sealed box black B&W bookshelf speakers. I had purchased them (used) over 2.5 decades ago for use in my office. They were sitting in my attic for many years, so I dusted them off, placed them on a pair of backless stools and hooked them up. I was truly amazed by the results. They were incredibly smooth and relaxing with excellent imaging. No they were not the most detailed or extended set up that I have ever heard, but they were wonderfully musical and totally enjoyable. I have since moved them to a little bedroom system and they just might be one the best "hi fi" ?) investment I have ever made,,,
kalali's avatar
kalali
1,645 posts
 
Another reason for these unexpected "surprises" is we sometime get the itch to "upgrade" just for the sake of getting something new and the new gear is not necessarily better than what we already had but might sound better initially.
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