Where the 80s really the heyday of 2ch audio?

[Blumenkohl]

I've heard it many times that some audiophiles who've seen or owned it all consider the 1980s to be the era that produced some of the finest 2ch audio gear ever built, while by the mid 90s, multichannel home cinema gear started to gain market share and stereo listening as a quality pastime had lost lots of its former appeal. I am thinking of Sony R-10, Joe Grado HP-2, super tuners (Sansui, Revox, Tandberg), pre/power combos by Accuphase, Rowland, Krell, tape decks like the Nak Dragon, loudspeakers by Apogee, TDL. Do you think that by and large, the top 2 ch audio products (especially amps and speakers) of today are merely sidesteps compared to their ancestral products from yesteryear, due to financial constraints that didn't exist back then?

With so many people on this forum who can proudly be called hifi veterans, I'd really like to hear your opinion....:agree:

[sgb]

The eighties were great; so were the seventies. Can't speak to the business about multi-channel since I still listen to music exclusively in stereo. As far as contemporary audio products, my guess is that there's little ground being broken that would take audio playback to a higher level.

[TONEPUB]

The 80's were great because everything was new, and there was a lot of great sound to be had, however the best the industry has to offer today is considerably better in terms of musical accuracy, dynamics and just about every other parameter.

I don't feel that the cost of things has even gone up all that much, adjusted for the economy.

My system is worth about three times more now than it was then, but so is everything else...

And the modestly priced gear has taken advantage of the advances in technology, so I think right now is really the golden age of 2channel myself...

[LeeS]

I think in some ways today is a Golden Age:

1. New gear is terrific sounding.
2. New remastering technology is good and work by quality folks like Steve is available. Even half speed mastering remains available in quality.
3. The Vinyl Revolution is in full swing and good tables can be found cheap.
4. Older classic gear like C-J, ARC, Quad, Maggie, Wilson, etc. has only gotten better through continual improvement in designs and materials.
5. New brands are very exciting. Look at Ayre and the like!
6. Recording technology has gotten better such as the ADCs I use or generally the redbook DACs out there. Jitter has been largely solved.

I'm having tremendous fun. I think what draws me personally into the hobby is that there is constant innovation and learning and great new (and old!) music to explore. :)

[sgb]

The 80's were great because everything was new, and there was a lot of great sound to be had, however the best the industry has to offer today is considerably better in terms of musical accuracy, dynamics and just about every other parameter.

I don't feel that the cost of things has even gone up all that much, adjusted for the economy.

My system is worth about three times more now than it was then, but so is everything else...

And the modestly priced gear has taken advantage of the advances in technology, so I think right now is really the golden age of 2channel myself...

Gee, I guess I should be dumping my 24 year-old Quicksilver amplifier, based on your comments. The trouble is, though, that it's trounced every other amp that's been put to the test — most recently just a couple of weeks ago when it proved itself against a forum favorite.

My system has gone through several evolutions since the early 80's when I bought this amp, but none of my newer components is based on what I interpret to be the advances in technology you speak of. If I understand this, amplifiers and speakers are still designed and built as they were back then (nobody's come up with some revolutionary design that makes everything else obsolete). I'm running a SOTA Star Sapphire TT that I bought in 1984, and it, too, appears to fare well against many of todays highly overpriced units, BTW.

I have a little trouble, too, accepting that high end audio equipment prices today merely reflect adjustments for inflation. IIRC there weren't any speaker systems in the six-figure price category back then, nor were there any that would have cost that much in today's money.

As for the advances in recording technology, it seems to me that this runs contrary to the essence of this forum, considering that vintage LPs usually get the nod for superior sound over current reissues, and CDs are said to be better before all of the labels started compressing the life out of them.

[fjhuerta]

I think this is the golden age... we have vintage tube gear, new tube gear, great SS stuff, and thousands of choices... we've never had it better.

[ROLO46]

The 80's were expensive for tip top kit

Now the S/H market (The Bay) is excellent

Also DSP active speakers are coming online at amazing prices

And the Mac is a great home for music

So in a nutshell.... No.

Roger IMHO

[Keim]

As for the advances in recording technology, it seems to me that this runs contrary to the essence of this forum, considering that vintage LPs usually get the nod for superior sound over current reissues, and CDs are said to be better before all of the labels started compressing the life out of them.

Recording technologies have improved. But, not necessarily the implementation thereof...
:p

[shokhead]

70's over the 80's as far as i'm concerned but i understand the high for the 80's.

[Steve G]

the seventies were better

reasons: the Lexicon Prime Time, the Aphex Aural Exciter

(they didn't use them in the 70s)

-s

[LeeS]

Recording technologies have improved. But, not necessarily the implementation thereof...


Quite true.

[soundQman]

I think in terms of sales and popularity of hi fi equipment, and economic viability for retail outlets, yes it was the heyday. In terms of absoulte quality of equipment or performance, maybe not, because refinements and improvements have been continuing and ongoing. I wonder if there will be enough people buying products to keep the industry going forward in the future as it has in the past, though.

[Ski Bum]

The 80's were great because everything was new, and there was a lot of great sound to be had, however the best the industry has to offer today is considerably better in terms of musical accuracy, dynamics and just about every other parameter.
I agree with this. I bought great gear in the 80s, but today's gear is better -- both electronics and speakers.

OTOH, there were a lot more people buying 2 channel audio gear in the 80s than today. In the 60s, 70s and 80s, many consumers had audio only receivers and gave some serious attention to speaker selection. This is no longer true. People are devoting their time and dollars to the internet, video games, cable tv, etc. rather than audio. Audio is lucky just to get some spillover from home theatre purchases.

The lower volume of 2-channel audio sales is IMO largely the reason that the price of quality gear has gone up much more steeply than inflation.

[Gary]

I dunno, man... I think these might turn out to be the "good old days" of two channel vinyl (thinking of WB reissues)!

[Dan C]

I think this is the golden age... we have vintage tube gear, new tube gear, great SS stuff, and thousands of choices... we've never had it better.

IMHO you are totally right. Speakers alone are a great example. An audiophile on a budget has an insane amount of choices for superb speakers under $1,000. In fact, you can get a really great pair of audiophile speakers for under $300. When in history was that ever possible?

Plenty of good to awesome turntables to choose from, plenty of quality digital sources, and still a surprising amount of dedicated 2-channel audiophile amps of all price ranges.

For all the crying about the death of HiFi that goes on here sometimes ('kids these days and their iPods...AAAAAAH!':eek: ) audiophiles sure have a lot of stuff to choose from. :D

dan c

[Done A Ton]

the seventies were better

reasons: the Lexicon Prime Time, the Aphex Aural Exciter

(they didn't use them in the 70s)

-s

I don't know what a Lexicon Prime Time is, but they were definitely using the Aphex Aural Exciter in the seventies.

[Rachael Bee]

I think that the 70's were better. I think that the equipment got better in the 80's. However, the quality of the records went so far down hill that it negated the 80's potential. By the 80's so many records were on inferior vinyl, had the spindle hole off-centre, or the grooves were too shallow from using the same stamper way, way too long.

The 80's were agrivating to me. I finally broke down and got a CD player in '88. I was less than thrilled with CD sound. The records had become so pathetic, the tinny CD's seemed the lesser of two evils.

[jt1stcav]

I also tend to agree with the majority that today could very well be the golden age of 2-channel hi-fi with the ongoing development and improvement in both digital and analog technology.

Although, advances in analog tape (both cassette and reel to reel), and later with DAT and other digital mediums, proved to be exciting times back in the late '70s thru the '80s...

My only concern now is the overall build quality and reliability of some of today's audio components...as an example even the entry-level stereo receivers from such firms as Marantz and Sansui totally blow away today's low-end AV receivers from firms like Sony and Yamaha IMO. Technology wise, today's gear may be far superior in terms of overall sound, features, and specifications, but when I look at my kid brother's near-mint late '70s Marantz stereo receiver and how it was built, as opposed to a brand new flimsy plastic Sony AV receiver he just bought two days ago (and it totally died on him tonight)...it makes me appreciate the '70s and '80s so much more.

[www.records]

I really don't know that there is a concrete answer to the question. There has been some outstanding gear produced since at least the 50's. The trick is to find what you like and can afford and then it is all good baby!!:edthumbs:

My budget and preference only has its priority to me. If it gets my toes to tappin and causes me to break out the air guitar, then it is good nuff. No matter what decade it was produced in.:agree:

[Dan C]

I also tend to agree with the majority that today could very well be the golden age of 2-channel hi-fi with the ongoing development and improvement in both digital and analog technology.

Although, advances in analog tape (both cassette and reel to reel), and later with DAT and other digital mediums, proved to be exciting times back in the late '70s thru the '80s...

My only concern now is the overall build quality and reliability of some of today's audio components...as an example even the entry-level stereo receivers from such firms as Marantz and Sansui totally blow away today's low-end AV receivers from firms like Sony and Yamaha IMO. Technology wise, today's gear may be far superior in terms of overall sound, features, and specifications, but when I look at my kid brother's near-mint late '70s Marantz stereo receiver and how it was built, as opposed to a brand new flimsy plastic Sony AV receiver he just bought two days ago (and it totally died on him tonight)...it makes me appreciate the '70s and '80s so much more.

Of course 70s-era Marantz and Sansui gear still looks and sounds great, it was pretty darn expensive back in the day. Around $500 in 1975 money is, what, at least two grand today? Not fair to compair an old Marantz to a new mass market Sony. A better comparison is here:
http://www.musicdirect.com/product/73353

dan c

[TONEPUB]

Gee, I guess I should be dumping my 24 year-old Quicksilver amplifier, based on your comments. The trouble is, though, that it's trounced every other amp that's been put to the test — most recently just a couple of weeks ago when it proved itself against a forum favorite.

My system has gone through several evolutions since the early 80's when I bought this amp, but none of my newer components is based on what I interpret to be the advances in technology you speak of. If I understand this, amplifiers and speakers are still designed and built as they were back then (nobody's come up with some revolutionary design that makes everything else obsolete). I'm running a SOTA Star Sapphire TT that I bought in 1984, and it, too, appears to fare well against many of todays highly overpriced units, BTW.

I have a little trouble, too, accepting that high end audio equipment prices today merely reflect adjustments for inflation. IIRC there weren't any speaker systems in the six-figure price category back then, nor were there any that would have cost that much in today's money.

As for the advances in recording technology, it seems to me that this runs contrary to the essence of this forum, considering that vintage LPs usually get the nod for superior sound over current reissues, and CDs are said to be better before all of the labels started compressing the life out of them.

The question was do you think the 80s was the golden era for 2channel...

My answer was no and I stand by that.

There is nothing wrong with your 24 year old Quicksilver amplifier or your SOTA. It is a testament to good design that those products still stand up well, just as a 20 some year old Porsche is still a great car, though it is no longer the state of the art.

Even most of the gear of the 80s was an evolution of the 50's and 60's.

Regardless, the best gear the high end has to offer today is far more musically revealing than the gear of the 80's. If we listen to anyone's gear from that period (major mfrs like ARC, levinson, CJ, etc etc) compared to their current stuff, it's not even close.

In the end, who cares? If your quicksilver still sounds good, that's great. I still like my 87 BMW enough that I don't really want to sell it and get a new one, but the new one is a WAY better car. I just still have plenty of fun and enjoyment with this one and that's all that matters.

The only reason to dump your quicksilver is if you feel the need...

[LeeS]

If we listen to anyone's gear from that period (major mfrs like ARC, levinson, CJ, etc etc) compared to their current stuff, it's not even close.


:agree:

[tommy-thewho]

Most of the major improvements in solid state design came in the mid 70's. That's where they started making direct coupled amplifiers with extremely low distortion figures and very high power. Many of those high powered receivers and amplifiers are drawing big bucks on ebay...

In the 80's they started cheapening the products especially the middle of the road stuff switching from Japan to cheaper labor markets like Taiwan, Malaysia, etc...

[Jay F]

the seventies were better

reasons: the Lexicon Prime Time, the Aphex Aural Exciter

(they didn't use them in the 70s)

-sTell that to Linda Ronstadt

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphex_Systems

[LeeS]

That's where they started making direct coupled amplifiers with extremely low distortion figures and very high power.

A lot of those low distortion amps sound horrible though. The silver lining is this led to the high end business.