Vintage hi-fi enthusiasts often swear by “the sound of the good old days,” while others dismiss the idea altogether. But what happens when classic and modern equipment are compared in a true double-blind listening test?
Headphonesty recently published an interesting article describing such an experiment, in which, among other components, a modern Yamaha RX-V1800 was compared with a vintage Pioneer SX-1980 from 1978.
Although the two amplifiers differ dramatically in terms of their technical specifications, the listening test produced a rather surprising—and convincing—winner: the Pioneer.
The article does not make it entirely clear whether the Pioneer had been fully restored with fresh components. Even so, that does little to diminish the broader point. Outstanding measurements and impressive specifications do not necessarily tell the whole story when it comes to how people actually hear—and perhaps more importantly, experience—music. After all, listening to music is as much about emotion as it is about technical performance.
That is not to say you should rush to throw all modern hi-fi equipment out of the window. The vast majority of contemporary hi-fi—and especially high-end systems—both measures and sounds better than equipment produced forty or fifty years ago.
Even so, it may be wise not to dismiss some of those vintage classics too quickly. They can still have plenty to offer.