|   Vintage audio for dummies... | 2channel
Apr 12, 2001 12:43 PM | | OK, I'm new so can someone please tell me in simple terms why vintage stuff sounds better than the modern equipment? I am considering buying a Pioneer SX 950 from a store that has it on consignment (150.00) and I was just wondering why it sounds so much better than my Yamaha.
Thanks in advance, I HAVE THE VINTAGE BUG!!! |
| High quality Analog beats low quality Digital any day!!!! | Dougman
Apr 12, 2001 1:46 PM | | Most of today's mainstream gear is designed to reproduce digital audio. Stuff from more than 12-15 years ago was optimized for analog, and stuff from 20+ years ago didn't even comprehend the existence of digital technology.
What does this mean? Well, for one thing, when reproducing Analog audio, the quality of every circuit in the system contributes to the overall signal quality out of the system. In the case of digital, you can skimp in many places and not get too badly burned. The problem, though, is that EVERY circuit in the low-mid range digital gear tends to get skimped on. When you aggregate together a bunch of individual components where quality has been compromised for cost, especially at the critical stages where A/D and D/A conversion is taking place, you get an assemblage of garbage. The general level of ICs used in mainstream commercial product today is much lower than it was 15-20 years ago. Nowadays, to get to as high a level of circuit quality that was provided routinely in mid-range gear 15-20 years ago, you have to buy exotic specialty gear. At that point, you'll have significantly better gear than the mainstream vintage stuff , but at a HUGE increase in the cost outlay. However the vintage gear will significantly outperform the newer low/mid range stuff.
This is also why there used to be a much more subtle difference in sound quality between a $1500 system and a $10,000 one, but that Today, there is a VAST difference. |
| High quality Analog beats low quality Digital any day!!!! | estan
Apr 12, 2001 3:21 PM | | the big digital gremlin is JITTER and because it causes time domain problems based on the delays of converting the 1's and 0's and the fact that it comes from many sources from power supply modulation to room vibration to cable mismatches and a long list of other stuff it will keep the engineers busy for years to find an inexpensive way of reducing it to acceptable levels for the average system. Today you have to spend a fortune to even get close. A decent analog front end can be had for a whole lot less money and will sound far superior to a poorly designed digital circuit. We have had to accept a major degradation of sound with the advent of cd's but it is getting better and someday maybe soon there will be some breakthroughs in power supply design and IC's especially Op Amps that will give us the what the promise of digital was.
Stan |
| re: Vintage audio for dummies... | mOOn
Apr 12, 2001 1:53 PM | | Hey 2channel! Welcome to the land that time forgot. To say that Vintage sounds better is not what it's all about. Although in some cases it does... There are other reasons people get into vitage gear. One of my favorite answers to that very question was just posted yesterday by our Good Buddy Buzz.
Read what he has to say about it. It's a beautiful description of the addiction that we all seem to share here. Happy Listening!
http://forums.consumerreview.com/crforum?14@@.ee85cfc/19 |
| re: Vintage audio for dummies... | estan
Apr 12, 2001 3:02 PM | | how do you know it sounds so much better? did you take it home and use it in your system? Chances are it does but I hope you are not making an assumption based on hearing it on different speakers in a different room than your own...perhaps you can get a trial period.
Stan |
| re: Vintage audio for dummies... | 2channel
Apr 12, 2001 3:11 PM | | Thanks for the advice, I do know how speakers and room dimention can alter the sound of a system. I did bring the Pioneer home for a trial. Wow, what a diff! That is why I posted here. And I have to agree with an earlier post, Theres nothing like spinning the flywheel tuning knob!
Thanks for the help! |
| re: Vintage audio for dummies... | estan
Apr 12, 2001 3:23 PM | | than buy it and love it because for $150 bucks you can't buy dinner for four in a decent restaurant in my town. |
| I'm starting a 12-Step Program called Flywheel Tuners Anonymous | Dougman
Apr 12, 2001 5:52 PM | | We meet on Ebay on Sunday afternoon :-) |
| re: Vintage audio for dummies... | Jetsons
Apr 13, 2001 8:36 AM | | Sad but true that a 22 year old receiver is far more musical and powerful than the new modern wonders. I have the new and a vintage 1979 Pioneer SX 1250 (for one year) and the SX is much, much better with two channel anything. All one has to do is open the covers of both units and the difference in build quality is stunning with the SX being the superior unit.
BTW, the tuner sections have not been mentioned here but these old receivers also have excellent reception. I do ocassionaly listen to FM now and before acquiring the SX, I never did.
Jet |
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