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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?
faust3d
uru975
684 posts
 
Garrard,Micro-Seiki, Lenco, and other turntables are still highly regarded, some think they might still be amongst the best and were built in the 70's and 80's.
Quality does not age nearly as much as the latest thing on the shelf.
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,424 posts
 
I do not want categorically dismiss quality vintage equipment but a significant part is bias based on long-term adaptation to old equipment.

Kal
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
THe mystique of old stuff is strong.
Some folks just like it better. Others hear what the new stuff offers and want that more.
To each his own.
The one way i would describe old stuff is it has a warmer, romantic sounnd. Not very clear, nor pristine, but it has the belly of the beast in it, and sounds wonderful to some.
Then modern gear is clearer, have great response, true to the musical imput. but it may (and in fact probably does not) not have that warm glow.
So some folks like the new, some the old.

The best comparison IMO is the change in Audio Research from the warmish sound os the Sp-10 to the clear sound osf the later models. Some folks say the last good ARC product was the Sp-10. Other are glad they changed to being clearer.
Plenty of equipment makers have been making strides in clarity and performance, and the old soft warm sound is gone.
If you like the old sound, you have plenty of company, and plenty of stuff to buy that still is like that used.
I am in the 'modern sound' camp. And thought when i auditioned some MAC stuff it was right off just old fashioned sounding, and no way do i want it. So I bought Bryston.
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