The Ugly Truth Behind Hi-Fi's Growing Infatuation For Nostalgia

[A-Line]

"The Ugly Truth Behind Hi-Fi's Growing Infatuation For Nostalgia"​

I'm a little late to this post but was wondering what exactly is the fascination with hifi nostalgia? Is it a snap-in ceramic phono stylus for stereo consoles from the 1950's - mid 1960's, point to point wiring, vacuum tubes, AM radio, or what... ?

Vacuum tubes have made a huge come back into the modern era with great success. I have several tube components for my digital playback setup.

People in certain hifi forums seem to be interested in the original Garrard 301/401 or Thorens TD124. These tables in their original form would be considered low fi by today's standards. A lot of people modify these tables to the point that there little semblance between the original and the newer heavily modded version.

I remember back in the 1960's - 1970's that record stores would sell pre-recorded analog tape of various artists on major labels at a reasonable price. Today you can order pre-recorded tape online for between €400-600, hardly a reasonable price now...

Maybe brick & mortar record stores can have a tube tester available on site so people can check their tubes while shopping for music.
Back in the 1960's some apothecarys(pharmacy) would have on site tube testers also....that was a long time ago...

So what's being considered nostalgic in hifi these days?

 

[ssfas]

"The Ugly Truth Behind Hi-Fi's Growing Infatuation For Nostalgia"​

I'm a little late to this post but was wondering what exactly is the fascination with hifi nostalgia? Is it a snap-in ceramic phono stylus for stereo consoles from the 1950's - mid 1960's, point to point wiring, vacuum tubes, AM radio, or what... ?

Vacuum tubes have made a huge come back into the modern era with great success. I have several tube components for my digital playback setup.

People in certain hifi forums seem to be interested in the original Garrard 301/401 or Thorens TD124. These tables in their original form would be considered low fi by today's standards. A lot of people modify these tables to the point that there little semblance between the original and the newer heavily modded version.

I remember back in the 1960's - 1970's that record stores would sell pre-recorded analog tape of various artists on major labels at a reasonable price. Today you can order pre-recorded tape online for between €400-600, hardly a reasonable price now...

Maybe brick & mortar record stores can have a tube tester available on site so people can check their tubes while shopping for music.
Back in the 1960's some apothecarys(pharmacy) would have on site tube testers also....that was a long time ago...

So what's being considered nostalgic in hifi these days?

Quite a lot of the good old stuff never went away. Quad II have been in production since 1948, with a TDeP upgrade. Many Quad amps from the 1970s onwards remain in use as they are cheap and easy to service. EAR amps haven't changed in decades, the EAR 834P was in production for 50 years and replaced with only minor changes. I have a CTC Garrard 301, all the linkage and motor are original (I bought an old original unit and sent it to them), the base is new (CNC aluminium vs. steel). I have a bearing and plinth upgrade, but many people fit original oil bearings and plinth. There are lots of products that have just had upgrades over the years but are basically the same products, the Harbeth SHL5plus XD is about 10 generations on from the original Harbeth HL from about 1978. The BBC LS3/5a has been licensed and cloned for 50 years, there must be millions of pairs around.

 

[PeterA]

"The Ugly Truth Behind Hi-Fi's Growing Infatuation For Nostalgia"​

I'm a little late to this post but was wondering what exactly is the fascination with hifi nostalgia? Is it a snap-in ceramic phono stylus for stereo consoles from the 1950's - mid 1960's, point to point wiring, vacuum tubes, AM radio, or what... ?

Vacuum tubes have made a huge come back into the modern era with great success. I have several tube components for my digital playback setup.

People in certain hifi forums seem to be interested in the original Garrard 301/401 or Thorens TD124. These tables in their original form would be considered low fi by today's standards. A lot of people modify these tables to the point that there little semblance between the original and the newer heavily modded version.

I remember back in the 1960's - 1970's that record stores would sell pre-recorded analog tape of various artists on major labels at a reasonable price. Today you can order pre-recorded tape online for between €400-600, hardly a reasonable price now...

Maybe brick & mortar record stores can have a tube tester available on site so people can check their tubes while shopping for music.
Back in the 1960's some apothecarys(pharmacy) would have on site tube testers also....that was a long time ago...

So what's being considered nostalgic in hifi these days?

I’m not sure it’s about nostalgia. It might well be about sound quality and listening experience. Have you heard an original American sound turntable from 1970?

I think much of the interest in vintage audio is for quality and value.

 

[A-Line]

Quite a lot of the good old stuff never went away. Quad II have been in production since 1948, with a TDeP upgrade. Many Quad amps from the 1970s onwards remain in use as they are cheap and easy to service. EAR amps haven't changed in decades, the EAR 834P was in production for 50 years and replaced with only minor changes. I have a CTC Garrard 301, all the linkage and motor are original (I bought an old original unit and sent it to them), the base is new (CNC aluminium vs. steel). I have a bearing and plinth upgrade, but many people fit original oil bearings and plinth. There are lots of products that have just had upgrades over the years but are basically the same products, the Harbeth SHL5plus XD is about 10 generations on from the original Harbeth HL from about 1978. The BBC LS3/5a has been licensed and cloned for 50 years, there must be millions of pairs around.

I wouldn't mind if Spendor brought back the BC-1.
Indeed there are a few vintage products from the 60's - 70's that are nice and worth restoring.

I have a set of vintage McIntosh tuners mostly from 70's, one from the 1980's and even one from the mid-1990's.

My ReVox receiver & tape deck are from 1983.

My current LP12 is much better sounding than the previous one that I had from 1983-2006.
My dad has a Garrard 301 that he bought new. My current LP12 stomps on that with combat boots with regards to the sound.

Some things from hifi history are worth preserving, most of it isn't though due to progress in technology.

 

[microstrip]

Nostalgia at its best ...

 

[A-Line]

I’m not sure it’s about nostalgia. It might well be about sound quality and listening experience. Have you heard an original American sound turntable from 1970?

I think much of the interest in vintage audio is for quality and value.

I've not heard any component from American Sound. I've looked at a few tables over the years but always favored the LP12 modular system turntables.

 

[A-Line]

Nostalgia at its best ...

View attachment 142835

All mono?

 

[PeterA]

Nostalgia at its best ...

View attachment 142835

This classic image is about more than nostalgia. This is about lifestyle and music being a part of it. Large wooden English speakers that look like furniture. I love it.

 

[Al M.]

I don't understand why vacuum tubes are considered retro or out-dated, when resistors, capacitors or transformers are not. Afterall, these other electronic components have been around for even longer, and all hi fi components use them. Transistors are not direct replacements for vacuum tubes, since they have different electrical characteristics, any more than batteries are replacements for capacitors. That's why tubes are used in many industrial applications. If you need to achieve a certain result that only tubes can give, you use tubes. Simple as that.

Well said. I have tube amplification, in a modern implementation. There is not a single component in my system that is vintage or retro. I have no desire for that, and prefer modern technology and design.

 

[ChasFreeland]

Some views on vintage components/trend :

SoundStage! Access | SoundStageAccess.com (GoodSound.com) - Why Is Vintage Audio So Hot Right Now?

Going to the main menu of the magazine in which the above cited article appeared, I see they have an essay on how CDs are making a comeback, enjoying increased sales. There was an article over at another magazine about this. Record shop owner reports the same thing. Youngsters coming back for LPs and CDs. Cassettes tapes, too. Seems many of the buyers are kids whose parents still own CD players. CDs can be relatively cheap and there's a lot of funky old music out there on CD that made it to vinyl. Is this nostalgia?

 

[PYP]

Nostalgia at its best ...

View attachment 142835

we see what we see...did you notice that he is on his cell (look closely)? He is bidding on a piece of art in the catalog.

The speaker isn't connected. It is just for show. At least he is into art...

 

[A-Line]

Here's some vintage ReVox from the 1982/1983 era. Looks nostalgic to me now...
I'm partial to the B780 receiver.

 

[DasguteOhr]

Right, and just how much more musical enjoyment does one get when paying so much more for today's combinations? Combine those, the Sansui/Luxman with a Denon DD vintage table or one of the idlers, and you could be a very happy music listener.

I think that in terms of fun and music enjoyment, it's hard to beat that, no matter how much money you spend these days. But is that always the main reason or does the prestige factor also play a big role in choosing a device, e.g. look, I have device X. I wish everyone success in life, but I can also listen to music without supporting today's completely out-of-the-ordinary price structure. There are so many older devices that sound great after a refresh at affordable prices. That's my hunting ground. I'm hardly interested in new things anymore.

P.S
Unfortunately, the prices are also rising because there are now a lot of people who see things the same way as me. But maybe I'm just crazy

 

[Tangram]

This classic image is about more than nostalgia. This is about lifestyle and music being a part of it. Large wooden English speakers that look like furniture. I love it.

It’s funny, but I suspected this a modern photo and it is:

Tannoy | Product | PRESTIGE GRF 90

www.tannoy.com

 

[Gregm]

It’s funny, but I suspected this a modern photo and it is:

Tannoy | Product | PRESTIGE GRF 90

www.tannoy.com

It is indeed (see mobile phone etc). However I like the atmosphere of upmarket, stylish, coziness it tries to convey

 

[mtemur]

I've not heard any component from American Sound.

No worries, you’re not alone. Almost 99.9999% never heard it either.

 

[ssfas]

I wouldn't mind if Spendor brought back the BC-1.
Indeed there are a few vintage products from the 60's - 70's that are nice and worth restoring.

I have a set of vintage McIntosh tuners mostly from 70's, one from the 1980's and even one from the mid-1990's.

My ReVox receiver & tape deck are from 1983.

My current LP12 is much better sounding than the previous one that I had from 1983-2006.
My dad has a Garrard 301 that he bought new. My current LP12 stomps on that with combat boots with regards to the sound.

Some things from hifi history are worth preserving, most of it isn't though due to progress in technology.

Spendor still do a Classic range, always have, BC1 lineage.

I hope a rebuilt 301 sounds better than one with 60-70 years of use. A new LP12 costs between $5,000 and $65,000. My CTC 301 unit is price/performance very competitive with modern turntables.

 

[nirodha]

Nostalgia at its best ...

View attachment 142835

I object that house slave is sitting higher than the Master

 

[PeterA]

It’s funny, but I suspected this a modern photo and it is:

Tannoy | Product | PRESTIGE GRF 90

www.tannoy.com

Yes, I agree the photo is modern as the speaker is modern. I refer to it as “classic” because it often comes up as an example of something in a discussion. It is a speaker in a context, but it is not just a speaker in a room like in the Wilson ads. This one sets a mood. It is aspirational. A gentleman should own these speakers. That kind of thing.

 

[PeterA]

I think that in terms of fun and music enjoyment, it's hard to beat that, no matter how much money you spend these days. But is that always the main reason or does the prestige factor also play a big role in choosing a device, e.g. look, I have device X. I wish everyone success in life, but I can also listen to music without supporting today's completely out-of-the-ordinary price structure. There are so many older devices that sound great after a refresh at affordable prices. That's my hunting ground. I'm hardly interested in new things anymore.

P.S
Unfortunately, the prices are also rising because there are now a lot of people who see things the same way as me. But maybe I'm just crazy

I agree. You are not crazy. Look at prices of SME 3012R and some old cartridges. They have gone up in the past 5-10 years. Same with some vintage speakers and turntables. I think it is about sound quality and value rather that nostalgia, at least in large part.