On Tue, 03 Feb 2004 06:19:54 GMT, "James Sweet"
wrote:


"tweak" wrote in message
.. .
On 2 Feb 2004 21:24:03 -0800, (Jeff Strieble)
wrote:

Well said. Most youngsters don't realize that in day gone by we had
just as much quality in our entertainment technology as we do today.
Yes digital does do better in many respects, exceptionally in visual
media. But it falls short in the audio department with 16 bit
technology just not living up to the quality of the better anaog hifi
gear, which can be gotten in thrift shops and second hand stores for
next to nothing.(If you ever listen to a stereo system that uses
valved amps you'll never pass a signal through a transistor again.)


That's very subjective, I've listened to a $10k tube (valve) amp and
honestly I can't say it sounded any better than my $150 Leach amp that I
built from someone else's abandoned project, or a number of other large
nicely made solid state amps. I guess I just don't have "golden ears" but
then at least I don't have to waste my money on all the other audiophoolery.
I've heard a number of relatively inexpensive tube amps as well, and they
generally have sounded either a bit distorted or just weren't very powerful.
Tubes have their place, and in some situations can provide a unique sound,
but I can't say I prefer them overall.

I have some old tube stuff, Macintosh and the like that spec out on a
scope much better than most of my solid state stuff.
True it's a highly subjective subject but one doesn't have to have
golden ears. In fact valves amp do their best work in the low and mid
end of the spectrum. A lot of the descriptive terms that are used are
"more robust", fuller sound, smoother etc...
and I find that to be mostly true which is why I use them on my
theatre setup. And hey they're lower in cost as well.



Some of the old analog VCR's do indeed have excellent sound, and believe me
I'll hang onto my 13 year old Sony HiFi's until they crumble, but I find
that having DVD players, I almost never turn on the VCR's. My only wish is
for one that's built like the old stuff, but then again it'd probably cost
$1500.

Not really. I have a fair amount of broadcast video gear with hifi
that cost less than comparable consumer stuff.
I have a Sanyo broadcast quality vhs editor that has all kinds of neat
audio functions.
It's a s-vhs machine with 4 channel stereo options.(instead of
tracking down video signal it can burn down four fm audio channels
with better specs than cd audio. 105 dbs dynamic range vs 90 for cd
and signal to noise and w&f unmeasurable.)
I picked it up for 270 bucks and it is built like a tank with 6 heads
and something like 8 heavy duty servo motors.
Check on e-bay in the professional video/audio sections.
Great deals to be had.