State of the industry...

I think the basic problem in the HIFI industry is that in a lot of areas such as stereo amplifiers there is not a lot that can move on. My sisters 1970's Pioneer amp prooves this, it sounds very good and drive any speakers with great accuracy due do its 80wpc. Its not HIFI pursim but considiering they go for like £20 on ebay its a bargain, I think it terms of sound it can compete with any new £100 amp.

Speakers have moved on quite a bit with smaller designs being produced which can still deliver the big sound of the huge beasts of the 70's from the likes of TDL.

I think this is why I have kept my 4 year old CD player, when I bought it new I intended to hae it for about 2 years maxiumum until I got a better one, but the sad fact it is I can't find any £200-£300 CD players that sound £100/£200 better than my exisiting one but if I had money then I probably would upgrade.

I think the magazines and people like Russ Andrews have fed a lot of stupid myths about HIFI to the public and we of course beleieve them. The MDF speaker cabinets would be a good example.

These play on the imaginary sound effect, the sub concious thing in the brain that makes you think somthing sounds better just because you have paid £30 on a tweak etc.

Most of my HIFI components are no longer produced but I am pretty confident that it will match any newer components at the the same price.

Also I feel the Marantz PM4400OSE is a desperate attempt of cost cutting but I suppose I should listen to one first.

 

living voices are made of chipboard:nuno:

actually, I have the circuit diagram of a pioneer amp from the 70s, no break throughs in design today, design has hardly altered...only differences is I think the transistors have got a bit better...but amp evolution is stagnant for 20 +yrs...

I have said it before, but the naim circuit is from the 1969 rca transistor manual...

 

Agreed Steve. I was thinking of products that had a profound affect on the hifi industry rather than specific technological breakthroughs.

The LP12 did lead to the appreciation of the source, which at the time changed the direction of most audiophiles.

Data, as far as I am concerned, they could be made of my Aunt Sally's soiled underware if they sounded good. That is the job of the designer, after all your computer programs have given a base line

 

Everything vibrates.
Maybe the hoover dam doesn't (then again maybe it does)
Instruments vibrate, too.
So what anyway...
As I said, the *real* reason MDF is looked down upon is becuae it's cheap, easy to use and reliable.
As Merlin says, it's results that count...

 

The LP12 also had the benefit of being a good turntable, demonstrably better to any of the then competition. I'd delete Apogee and Krell from the innovators list, proving something can be done doesn't make it worth doing.

If you take almost any audio 'innovation' you can find a 50 year old patent or Gilbert Briggs book explaining why it would be a good idea...

I really don't understand 'Son of Sam', a distasteful name (what is wrong with using ones actual name on fora? I seem to be almost alone nowadays. It still seems deceitful to hide behind 'handles'.) he moans about people changing kit all the time, which is a symptom of the hobby of hifi rather than music, and about the lack of innovation. Then he admits to using valve amps, which is one of the clearest signs of a hifi enthuiast rather than a hifi user.

Paul

 

Absolutely right. Before the LP12 we had figures for wow and flutter. No one listened to the damn things. Once we did some of us found other TTs that sounded better (to our ears).

Hmmm, have you been memorizing paragraphs from my home page.

As for materials, well as you know I'm always looking out for innovation in this area. How much do you know about this ASSU material (and why)?

 

Doh, I think maybe that was the point of your little quip, you sly dog. Sorry for being a bit dense (like my Mini Gruesomes)

 

I was about to say I remembered Mr Merlin saying a few things different when you first joined steve, about poor practice to not use software or something. Was a little while back now, and I can't be bothered reading the thread again but....

Sarcasm?

 

Steve, the problem is a commercial one. I understand the drying process is quite lengthy, and getting the finish domestically acceptable is highly labour intensive.