The Distortion Of Sound -- rise of music accessability, decline of audio quality

[Andrew W]

I get the point you are trying to get across, but in the big picture I don't agree at all.

If you bought a stereo kit in the 80s for £500 it would sounds pretty bad. Today that money gives you some good gear.

Even the earbuds bundled with telephones sound pretty good. When were the last time you guys listened to a set of speakers from the 70s? I think that era get way to hyped today, got to put it into perspective. Play the good old music through modern equipment and it soudns great. Play it through an old stereo from the era and it sounds quite bad. I'd rather listen to a 160kbps mp3 in a modern stereo that a Vinyl through an old one.

Still though, a FLAC through a modern setup is great!

I think, as with all things, it depends on a case by case basis. I used to have some 70s Sonab omnidirectional speakers which were quite decent (and certainly very cool) but not up to modern hi-fi standards. That said, my dad still has Meridian 100 series amp equipment and Celef PE1 speakers, both from the late 70s, that still sound absolutely amazing. At the lower end of the market I agree that modern gear is generally superior to 70s kit, but once you cross into heavier duty hi-fi the distinction between the eras diminishes a lot.

[Philly Q]

My "hi fi" system still includes a NAD 3020A amplifier and KEF Coda III speakers which I bought around 1982.

They don't actually get used any more, though, and I have no idea how they compare with modern kit as I've nothing to reference them against.

[dvorak]

.... but once you cross into heavier duty hi-fi the distinction between the eras diminishes a lot.

Yeah, I was generalizing a little bit. I think during the 70s speaker and amp technology matured into the modern things we have today. Mass production and QC etc etc.

[Plenum n Heather]

My "hi fi" system still includes a NAD 3020A amplifier and KEF Coda III speakers which I bought around 1982.

They don't actually get used any more, though, and I have no idea how they compare with modern kit as I've nothing to reference them against.

They compare just fine. That's a very musical system.
I have a stupid amount of hifi, and have owned many more pieces due to being 'in the biz' -- B&K, Krell, Linn, Cary, Rotel, Arcam, Focal, Wilson Audio, Sonus Faber, Audio Research ... the list goes on and on. I get to play w obscenely expense hifi on a daily basis, as well as crazy hi end pro audio gear.

[AndyR]

My "hi fi" system still includes a NAD 3020A amplifier and KEF Coda III speakers which I bought around 1982.

They don't actually get used any more, though, and I have no idea how they compare with modern kit as I've nothing to reference them against.

They compare just fine. That's a very musical system.

Maybe you ought to get 'em out from under the bed then Philly? 

[Philly Q]

No bed for these, they're actually sitting in a proper hi-fi rack. 

With a lot of dust on it.

[Afghan Dave]

No bed for these, they're actually sitting in a proper hi-fi rack. 

With a lot of dust on it.

You're like a musical Miss Havisham. 

[Philly Q]

I guess so.  I'll take the "musical" bit as a compliment.

[AndyR]

You're like a musical Miss Havisham. 

Ha! Ha! One of the great BKP forum lines... possibly of all time... this had me in hysterics (sorry Philly! )

[Philly Q]

    I wonder if that's lost on our younger readers (if there are any left...) 

[Andrew W]

   I wonder if that's lost on our younger readers (if there are any left...) 

Dickens is MASSIVE with the teenage set you know. ;)

A tip of the hat to Afghan Dave though: a beautiful moment.

[JDC]

It doesn't matter how much expensive pro audio gear you buy if the room acoustics are terrible ;)

Pretty much why I stick to headphones

[Dave Sloven]

A lot of people here probably think 'Great Expectations' is just one of KISS's lamest songs of the '70s.

[Andrew W]

A lot of people here probably think 'Great Expectations' is just one of KISS's lamest songs of the '70s.

I'm more scared of the number who would say, "Who are KISS?"

[Afghan Dave]

  Thank you.. you're too kind.