As we do have the "vintage / modern" speaker thread and the "natural sound" thread it becomes difficult to write new arguments than the already discussed in the Graham 5/5 thread. From there I like to start my story the following way.
Comparing gear can follow at least the following theoretical structured way ( I am an Engineer, I like structured processes..):
Comparing by difference
If I listen to at 3 to 5 different records, I am focussing on the biggest difference in sound of the records.
Every component, which gives to the records a constant signature is easy identified, a transparent component will give you the character of the record without adding or loosing any information.
Comparing by reference
If the "master" is available, you can compare every individual component against the master. I did this prior choosing a DAC. Using a master tape playing on a modified Telefunken M15 and doing A/D conversion direct into a DAC, doing the D/A conversion. It was possible to swap between original master Tape and DAC. It was easy to identify, which DAC is more close to the master Tape.
Doing so, I was ending with High End Studio gear, very very transparent ro the given material. In theory the "perfect" reproduction chain.
Unfortunately my listening hours were becoming less and less....
My next step was, to understand my hearing preferences better. If I do not like the objective "best" and "neutral" gear to enjoy music with pleasure, it seems, that my hearing brain is biased in a personal way. Without going too much into the mechanism of the human brain and the hearing as such, it can be said, that the personal bias is a partially result of the individual hearing history. Understanding this, I wrote down all my gear, mainly the speakers, which gave me for many hours hearing / listening fun and satisfaction. This list than, I added some live music events, should list the major influences, which has driven the character of my "personal master". This "personal master" or "personal reference" prefers different sound, gear, than identified with the structured methods above.
One of the major milestones of programming my brain to built my personal reference were the years of listening to the
BBC LS 3/5a speakers.
This little ones gave me hours of enjoyed music.
My first Avalon was chosen, because I travelled with this little speakers from shop to shop and compared the offer with the performance of LS 3/5a. Avalon was the winner that time
Listening now to my main set up (again with Avalon speakers) I arrived at a point, where a "better" for me is difficult to imagine,
all changes in the last time were more "different" than "better" and it became more and more difficult to decide, which gear should stay and which gear should go.
Than I decided to go back to my listening roots and to train my brain to develop a better "master reference".
I bought a pair of Graham LS 3/5A as a starting point and listened to the roots of my personal reference imprint.
Training means also, to stretch the borders of the comfort zone and to listen to different set ups and to learn to enjoy them.
as an example:
Inspired by the "Natural" and "Vintage" threads in this Forum, I became more and more interested to spice up the German winter time with some Tube & Horn components. My current set up, using Audionet Solid state and Avalon Acoustic speakers is benefitting from tube capabilities in the front...
www.whatsbestforum.com
The BBC LS 3/5a is a very good documented speaker development.
Reading their findings on the BBC homepage, my personal vintage starts, as all the papers were written in the 60's,
which is like 50 years ago. But their understanding of the human hearing seems to match my personal needs and has developed my personal reference in sound in a dominant way.
In 1967 they developed a speaker concept, which should be the reference for voice and classic music reproduction, the LS 5/5.
One of the main drivers was the legendary Spencer Hughes (who founded later on the Spendor company). His sun Derek Hughes is now a speaker designer as well and works for different companies, like Sterling and Graham.
He has a deep understanding of his fathers work and he translated the 1967 white paper into a modern physical product,
the Graham LS 5/5. Listening to the LS5/5 immediately shows, that they have fulfilled their goal of realistic voice reproduction.
I had the chance to listen to the Graham LS 5/5 in direct comparison to the Magico A5 (driven by NAT Magma amps) and my preference was easily the LS 5/5. Much more records were enjoyable for me. The A5 might be the "better" and "transparent" speaker according to the above mentioned criteria, but the A5 does not connect me to the music as such, as the LS 5/5 can do.
The development engineers of the BBC laboratory seem to have a better understanding to satisfy my hearing demand.
(I would say, classic "hen and egg" situation, as my hearing reference was built with the help of BBC speakers)
On the pictures above you can see behind the LS 5/5 a pair of vintage IMF TLS80 speaker, which are using similar drivers, than the classic BBC speakers. The old IMF Designs combine the BBC philosophy with a transmission line.
IMF Electronics and later TDL & Fried Transmission Lines loudspeakers website.
www.imf-electronics.com
The IMF TLS80 was my hearing sense training speaker before, now being replaced by the Graham LS 5/5 (which is the better speaker)
Listening to this different set ups in my home (fortunately I can fill up three rooms with gear) is now stretching my comfort zone, that I am becoming better in this regard, that I can identify more easy, what is missing in may main set up and where to find the areas of improvement (within my given financial capabilities)
"What is your "vintage sound" like?"
My personal vintage sound is focussed on a real /authentic sounding midrange as first priority.
SPL and total frequency range comes second.
" In your definition what characterize modern sound that is different from your "vintage sound."
Modern sound tries to have a flat frequency, phase, time response for the complete audible band, trying to be "correct",
but mostly resulting in a boring, non lively sounding reproduction of music. Vintage Speaker Designer follow more of a Company Sound DNA according to the defined scope of usage, their speakers (like Altec, WE, BBC, Siemens) sound more different than modern speakers, it is more easy to identify a sound character which fits to your personal reference and room.
"What year do you consider gears to be vintage? "
Designs prior 1970 to my understanding, speakers can be built today, but still Design Vintage
(like some Tannoy, Graham, Klitsch and more)
I hope, that my thoughts have helped to answer your question.