Think your old stuff was better?

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Comments

  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited September 2008
    If "better" is measured by purely sound quality, then absolutely not. If "better" is measured by an emotional attachment to the sound being produced, then the question is not so easily answered.
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited September 2008
    gidrah wrote: »
    Which HPM'S? You trashed my hopes. I've been expecting some 60's from a quy for some time now.

    HPM 40's, they're darn near mint sans a little ruffage on the bottoms. Don't get me wrong, they sound sweet, very satisfying--as I stated in the first message, the wide-front/larger woofer bookshelves have some very redeeming qualities. I wish more companies would go back to this design instead of these narrow, mini-woofer turds they have now. The HPM's don't go very deep, but because they have alot of slam, the bass is more than adequate. The lower midrange is nicely brought forward as well, something that usually suffers in recent bookshelves, and makes them sound anemic in comparison.

    If I were to compare, say my Energy C-3 bookshelves (6" woof/1" tweeter) with the HPM; the Energy would be described as very accurate/neutral--where the HPM would be energetic/fun. The HPM would have a more satisfying (albeit less accurate) bass and better midrange. The C-3's far smoother tweeter would have it all over the HPM's. The C-3 more reserved/civilized in presenation, the HPM a ROCKER with visceral punch.

    So pick your poison.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited September 2008
    ...The HPM is like chocolate; you know it's not good for you, but you love it anyway.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited September 2008
    While my current rig is more accurate and powerful,I got just as much musical enjoyment from my Dual 505-2 ,NAD 3020A, Mirage 100 back in 80's.The NAD was a little sweetie and sonically trounced the Technics SU-V6 amp it replaced.
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited September 2008
    One of those 3020's did a lot of time in both daughter's bedrooms here. All through the 90's.
  • BjornB17
    BjornB17 Posts: 752
    edited September 2008
    Face wrote: »
    Yes, it does a better job covering up bad recordings.

    I personally prefer to have speakers that make bad recordings sound like utter crap. It's more enjoyable that way :D
    KEF Q150 | Rythmik F12 | Yamaha Aventage RX-A780
  • ajanzalone
    ajanzalone Posts: 128
    edited September 2008
    I am still using my old stuff!
    The 1st Stereo I ever owned and it still makes me smile.:)
    well I did add a sub.....

    Was I supposed to upgrade?
    Tony
    Audio Research SP5 Preamp
    Quad 405 Amp
    Pioneer Elite DV-48AV -
    Outlaw 950 preamp/processor
    Polk Monitor 10's
    Velodyne VRP 1200 Sub Woofer

    Success is having what you want ... but Happiness is wanting what you have!
  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,338
    edited September 2008
    I have some vintage Marantz, Scott and Fisher equipment that sells for more now than when it was new. Does it sound better? Better than what? Better than my big rig? NO! Better than a Circuit City or Best Buy system? Hell yes!
    Carl

  • mrbigbluelight
    mrbigbluelight Posts: 9,731
    edited September 2008
    Used to have, way back in the 70's, a pair of HPM-100's and, like Steve mentioned, you know they weren't "good" for you but ...... darn it, they were fun !

    I still have a lust for the Sansui Au-11000A (the "A" had 120 watts/channel instead of the 110 watts/channel of the AU-11000 ..... thank you very much !) and the TU-9900 tuner that I had back in the day. Time has probably "enhanced" my memory, but gd that was one nice little rig. It'll be interesting to see what it'll sound like when I eventually hook up with one again.

    The "thing" back in the early 70's seemed to be how many crossovers you could jam into a speaker cabinet; "3-way speakers" were less adequate than "4-way" speakers, of course. :rolleyes:
    Also, there was the race on woofer size; I think it topped out at 16" on some Sansui speakers; heck, it might have been 18", I cant' recall exactly. Bigger was definitely "better", though. "Whooooomp" was King.

    And does anyone else recall Koss Pro4 headphones ? Those were "it" back then; definitely better stuff out now.
    Sal Palooza
  • rru2s
    rru2s Posts: 90
    edited September 2008
    I think the bass on my 1979 vintage Model 10s was better than in my 2007 Monitor 70s. The 6 inch drivers were coupled to a 10 inch passive radiator that did a great job with an equalizer. I used that setup until 2006, although a lot of repairs were done over the years.

    The Monitor 70s are kind of cheap sounding -- bass is very light and highs are kind of under-represented. I'm hoping to make up for it by using them in a surround system, so the total number of tweaters is greater and with a separate sub.
    Living Room system: 52"HDTV, 4 Mon.70s, Epik Valor, Outlaw RR2150
    Bedroom System: 2 Mon.60s,Velo VRP1200, HK3490
  • ESavinon
    ESavinon Posts: 3,066
    edited September 2008
    My new "old stuff" is :cool:.
    SRT For Life; SDA Forever!

    The SRT SEISMIC System:
    Four main satellite speakers, six powered subs, two dedicated for LFE channel, two center speakers for over/under screen placement and three Control Centers. Amaze your friends, terrorize your neighbors, seize the audio bragging rights for your state. Go ahead, buy it; you only go around once.
  • polkie4life
    polkie4life Posts: 231
    edited September 2008
    ESAVINON wrote: »
    My new "old stuff" is :cool:.

    +1. Hehehe
    In terms of audio, i truly feel sorry for the visually impaired. How can they know what they like if they cant read google?


    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=86838
  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited September 2008
    Then again, my mains are from 1980...
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche