odler sound

As MillerLiteScot has said; it is the power supply.

One of the most important parts of any receiver/amplifier/integrated amplifier is the power supply. Unfortunately it is also the most expensive. In the old days most every company used toroidal transformers; often massive one’s. The advantage to toroidal power transformers is that the nature of the circular design and construction method ensures proper alignment of the coil. This results in greater efficiency and reduced reluctance (magnetic resistance) thus less likelihood for the dreaded “hum” background noise. However the winding required to construct a Toroidal transformer is complex; and laborious (read expensive) so most mass market manufacturers today simply used cheap laminated steel core transformers instead.

The problem with laminated steel cores is that aside from being less efficient; the lamination itself can be subject to air pockets in the lamination process and this can further degrade performance. Most top end companies today still use toroidal transformers.

The other advantage to toroidal power supplies; especially larger one’s common in older gear is that they in turn would also use larger capacitors to store all of that energy – this helps to keep up with the dynamic peaks of music.

Basically you can summarize the older gear as generally being very overbuilt with fewer sacrifices made and better components being used; not to mention most were hand built so less chance for some of the errors you get with automation. Most mainstream stuff today is not built to the same standards and does not use nearly as high quality parts.

Believe it or not many mainstream receivers you are actually paying more for the various licensing agreements (Dolby; THX, HDMI,DTS) than what you are paying for in parts…

a lot of the old stereo gear was built like a tank.. that's why it's still around. do I think my 2yr old pre amp will still work in 30+ yrs and sound good? :eek: NO!