What improvements have we seen in high end audio in the last 25 years?

[caesar]

Gentlemen,

Per request in the other thread, I am starting a new one.

So what improvements have we seen in high end audio in the last 25 years?

 

[rockitman]

Gentlemen,

Per request in the other thread, I am starting a new one.

So what improvements have we seen in high end audio in the last 25 years?

gear generally sounds better...Dac's, Speakers, TT's, amps, ect. There are exceptions I suppose.

 

[Atmasphere]

one thing we have seen is the rise of reliable OTLs.

ClassD would be another- that certainly was not around in the late 1980s. CDs are sounding much better too, since they sorted out that it was possible to record at a higher data rate and then divide down without an algorithm. Another digital improvement is the importation of CDs onto music servers- in this way the playback is robust, as it certainly is not with Redbook specs.

There are now premium vacuum tubes available whereas in the late 1980s the premium tubes were all NOS. SWPSs have gotten a lot better... nowadays there is 200gr vinyl... we also have nearly pure beryllium diaphragms available for horn loudspeakers, so its possible to build horns without modal breakups... field coil speakers are now available- they offer less dynamic compression and lower distortion...

There are bearing systems in addition to the ubiquitous points used to reduce airborne vibration (and if you think that is some sort of joke, consider that all LP mastering lathes have used 'tip-toe' points since the 1940s- audiophiles simply borrowed the technique).

The first balanced line preamplifier was offered in 1989. Before that they did not exist.

SETs are now common- in the 1989s they were considered quaint, but hardly hifi and no-one made them. There are now plenty of horns out there than rival the best of ESLs and magnetic planar, not to mention conventional box speakers. In the 1980s they were not considered 'high end' by a good portion of the market.

Spice and other modeling systems actually work nowadays. That certainly was not true 25 yeas ago! We started using AutoCad for circuit boards in 1989- it took 15 minutes to regenerate the drawing. Now it take a second. ARC finally moved from hand-taping their boards to CAD in 1996. Hardly anyone uses hand-taped artwork for boards these days. And of course:

The Internet and All it Entails.
​

 

[Ronm1]

And of course:

The Internet and All it Entails.
​

Thank God for Al Gore and the ArpaNet ;•)

 

[BlueFox]

Thank God for Al Gore and the ArpaNet ;•)

Agreed. If we had more politicians with foresight I believe we, as a society, would be much better served. (Is the truth considered political?)


http://www.snopes.com/quotes/internet.asp

 

[treitz3]

gear generally sounds better...Dac's, Speakers, TT's, amps, ect. There are exceptions I suppose.

These are my observations as well. IMO, the best improvement lies within speaker technology. Others here may disagree.

Tom

 

[BlueFox]

So what improvements have we seen in high end audio in the last 25 years?

Based solely on my personal experience, I would say cables (signal and power), along with power conditioners is what has given me the biggest bang for the buck over the last 25 years. I expect HW to improve over time, but I also suspect 25 year old gear sounded pretty darn good at the time. It would be an interesting experiment to have gear considered good at that time reconditioned to original specs, used with modern cables and power conditioners, and compared to today's equivalent with lamp cord, Radio Shack RCA cables, and stock power cables plugged directly into a shared circuit. That would be an A/B test I would love.

 

[treitz3]

You and me both Bud. Maybe with not all of the criteria you stated but with some of what you had mentioned.

<snip>....but I also suspect 25 year old gear sounded pretty darn good at the time. It would be an interesting experiment to have gear considered good at that time reconditioned to original specs, used with modern cables and power conditioners, and compared to today's TOL......<snip>

THAT would be an interesting challenge. Even for the discriminating ear I would suspect, at least IMO.

Tom

 

[Ronm1]

I agree with Blue that an accumulation of a number of things has lowered noise floor significantly compared to my H/W years ago. Changes are not just noticed as a difference but whether its for the better. Noise floor is so low, music comes from an incredible blackness. All I hear is music, such a joy.

 

[RogerD]

Great equpment has been made from 1950's on up. I would say the quality of components and computer modeling have made a difference. I am not convinced wholly of the need for specialised cables except for PC's and speakers. I think noise reduction is where it's at and buyer beware because some solutions do carry ridiculous prices and have limited methodology.

 

[cpp]

The DAC wars, new DACS are coming out in every flavor and price and reminds me of the continued introductions of smart phones models...

 

[BiggusD]

Gentlemen,

Per request in the other thread, I am starting a new one.

So what improvements have we seen in high end audio in the last 25 years?

One word - MAGICO

 

[LL21]

One word - MAGICO

Are high-powered, super-dynamic panels something that came within the last 25 years...not sure? IRS V/Genesis 1, Apogee Grands, Soundlabs, ML Statements, CLX & Neoliths, Gryphon Pendragon, Maggie 3 and 20?

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

Turntables....we're not only seeing improvements, but also a drive to create beautiful art. It fascinates me!

 

[PeterA]

One word - MAGICO

Agreed. From boutique to major player in ten years. They are really exploring driver technology and cabinet resonances.

A convergence in sound of good solid state and good tube amplification.

A resurgence in the development of all things analog - turntables, tonearms and cartridges. Who would have thought that 25 years ago?

 

[tony ky ma]

But recording's quality (digital )is going back ward compare to analog
tony ma

 

[rockitman]

But recording's quality (digital )is going back ward compare to analog
tony ma

Post deleted

That was trolling somewhat I would say Christian. No need to start another war

 

[jeromelang]

The more we learnt, the more we discover how much we don't yet know....

I'd like to see more audio hardware designers being made aware of some issues

- Magnetic field and how it affects sound reproduction application.
- physical changes in optical disc media after each successive spin/read in a transport/ player.
- physical changes on the surface of various disc media after coming in contact with other materials and how it subsequently affect sound reproduction application.
- dynamic compression & RF pollution, and why more audiophiles prefer them, subconsciously.

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

The more we learnt, the more we discover how much we don't yet know....

I'd like to see more audio hardware designers being made aware of some issues

- Magnetic field and how it affects sound reproduction application.
- physical changes in optical disc media after each successive spin/read in a transport/ player.
- physical changes on the surface of various disc media after coming in contact with other materials and how it subsequently affect sound reproduction application.
- dynamic compression & RF pollution, and why more audiophiles prefer them, subconsciously.

So tell us more about these four issues.

Tim

 

[XV-1]

Higher Prices at ever increasing rates

200gm vinyl an improvement - absolutely NOT.
Give me nice flat quiet 120gm vinyl from any day. The cutting lathe, nor any stylus cares about the thickness of the vinylvinyl, only the quality of the grooves.

DSP room eq