Hello Walt,
As you've probably noticed, I posted to your topic and then erased it. I said some things that I thought later may offend. But since you brought it up yourself, I'll repost some of it.
Quote: "yamaha pioneer marantz sony. they used to sound good. what the f*** happened?"
This is what happened: Any of these brands made from about 1980 to the present are pure crap, and not worth your time & money, and I'll tell you why.
These units are VOLTAGE DRIVEN amps. The one's you probably grew up with, (I assume you're talking about the "good stuff" from the 1970's on back) was CURRENT DRIVEN amp's. Thats why these newer amps sound so weak.
I have several older systems in my home, including a 1974 Bang & Olufsen system (Beomaster 4000 reciever, Beogram 4004 turntable, Beocord 2200 cassette deck). It's only 60wpc. It it CURRENT DRIVEN.
I also have a Carver (Bob Carver, Owner of Sunfire) MXR-130 reciever.
It is 130 wpc but it's VOLTAGE DRIVEN. The B&O out performs the Carver in EVERY way.
I DeeJayed my 20th year high school reunion with my McIntosh. It was held outdoors, and rocked the entire park. McIntosh C-22 tube preamp, MC-240 tube poweramp. It's only 40wpc.
I have a Marantz model 7 tube preamp, & 8B tube poweramp, 35 wpc.
Both the McIntosh (40wpc)m the Marantz (35wpc) and the B&O (60wpc) all put this new crap to shame.
The manufacturers use different measuring standards than they used to.
It's a rip off plain and simple. But they advertise it as being a "600 watt system". No, if you're lucky, your're only getting about 45 watts by the "former" standard. And even that's stretching it!
There is more than one way of arriving at say, "100 watts".
QUOTE: "yamaha pioneer marantz sony. they used to sound good."
Walt, this is your "garden variety crap". 1980's to the present that is. In the 1970's on back, these were brands of quality.
For example, Marantz. "Marantz" as a company, for the most part doesn't even exist anymore. Marantz has been sold from one company to another. Last I knew, Marantz was owned by Philips. God only knows who owns it now..... It's like this: These companies are buying a well established name. Thats all.
Sadly, The stuff that goes under the Marantz name today, is not a true Marantz. For example: Marantz "SR" series...it's nothing more than a cheap Philips badged as Marantz. They are "coasting on a name".
I'm sure that if Saul Marantz knew what Marantz has become, the poor man would be spinning in his grave!
What you want is gear that is BUILT! Remember how heavy stereo gear used to be? Thats because they had quality transformers in them. They had quality parts. Gear back then had "point to point" wiring. Todays stuff uses PC boards & integrated circuits. It's "cost effective".
You sacrifice sound quality for "savings".
If you want good quality gear, you're going to have to pay out some real bucks. No, I'm not saying that just because it's expensive it's good. NO! But I would recomend McIntosh as a good starting point.
I've owned Mac for years. It's quality gear.
Or, just find a nice piece from the 1970's or earlier that you like, and have it rebuilt. You won't have the "bells & whistles" of todays gear, but you'll have the sound quality that they can't give you.
So here's the question:
Do you want a great HiFi system that will kick some serious butt, or you want some piece of crap with bells & whistles?
Doug (TRC)
