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Do you stream hi-res music or download hi-res tracks? We want your opinions!
Define a classic component
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barcpc
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In my humble opinion, it has a high percentage of "media hype" but, I would define classic as something that most of the people remember very quickly. For example, Queen is a classic, everybody knows the band, Freddy Mercury, their songs, etc.
Marantz of the 80s looks like a classic (to me) in Hi-fi, it captured the imagination, it was something I wanted badly at that time, you look at the designs of that time and they look even today just great.
Marantz of the 80s looks like a classic (to me) in Hi-fi, it captured the imagination, it was something I wanted badly at that time, you look at the designs of that time and they look even today just great.
davidf
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I’d see it as a product that changed the industry in some way, or the buying habits of the public. I guess a little bit like the Mission Cyrus 753 speakers - to my mind, the first slimline floorstander that started the trend which still continues today. KEF KHT (egg) systems - really kicked off the sub/sat speaker system boom, despite this type of speaker system having been developed a good 20+ years previously by Ken Kreisel. Audiolab 8000a. Jim Rogers JR149 speakers.
Not sure anything this century is quite old enough to be classic yet.
Not sure anything this century is quite old enough to be classic yet.
Al ears
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To my mind something is a classic if it is good enough to remain being manufactured for years virtually unchanged irrespective of how old it is.
Perhaps that or something that was so good for the money when first released that they sold thousands.....
Perhaps that or something that was so good for the money when first released that they sold thousands.....
matthewpianist
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I'd define 'classic' as a component which has changed things or become something which people have come back to again and again. I would include:
Linn LP12
Thorens TD150
Rega Planar 3
Naim Nait
Pioneer PL12D
Pioneer A400
Rotel RCD965BX
Marantz CD52
Marantz CD63 KI-Signature
Denon TU260L
Mission 760
Mission 753
Rogers LS3/5A
KEF LS50
etc. etc.
Linn LP12
Thorens TD150
Rega Planar 3
Naim Nait
Pioneer PL12D
Pioneer A400
Rotel RCD965BX
Marantz CD52
Marantz CD63 KI-Signature
Denon TU260L
Mission 760
Mission 753
Rogers LS3/5A
KEF LS50
etc. etc.
Al ears
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i would tend to agree although I would leave out the LP12...... 🙂
Include Heybrook HB1 and Quad Electrostatic speakers, Denon 103 cartridge etc.
The list could get quite large
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Al ears
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That makes the original NAD 3020 the ultimate classic product.
Bought by thousands, loved for its price and sound - still plenty in service today.
davidf
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I think some things will be, but just need to stand the test of time a little longer.
Al ears
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twinkletoes
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"A classic is an outstanding example of a particular style/something of lasting worth or with a timeless quality; of the first or highest quality, class, or rank – something that exemplifies its class."
So a modern piece can be classed as a classic but generally, normally has to be a trendsetter as mentioned eg the Sugden a21 deemed the father of class A, B&W nautilus, technology developed for these paved the way for their speaker ranges going forward and still do. Klipsch horns are still made today and remain pretty much unchanged.
So a modern piece can be classed as a classic but generally, normally has to be a trendsetter as mentioned eg the Sugden a21 deemed the father of class A, B&W nautilus, technology developed for these paved the way for their speaker ranges going forward and still do. Klipsch horns are still made today and remain pretty much unchanged.
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So it needs to steep for a few years longer. 😁
I would see the original Quad Electrostatics as a classic.
MUSICRAFT
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Not sure about classic, but QED 79 strand has got a lot to answer for.
Al ears
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record_spot
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Something that has quality, longevity and widely recognised as a great product. Whether that's the old Quad amps, NAD's 3020, the Acoustic Energy AE1 speaker, or Linn's Sondek (yes, I know about the Ariston it was based on!), or something from the other side of the pond in one of the great McIntosh amps, they've all got that special something that makes them standout.
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Is it though? Whilst hailed as a 'giant killer' at the time it was never manufactured for a long time unlike things like Rogers LS3/5A or the LP12 . The A-400 is also available cheaply s/h these days. I'd put it in the same bracket as the various KI Marantz implementations. Competent at the time but not really a classic and now mostly forgotten.
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Al ears
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probably why they produced the A400X ..... 🙂
matthewpianist
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...which wasn't as good 🙂
The A400 sits head an shoulders above the Kenwood KA3020SE, another high lauded amplifier of the time.
Al ears
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And some suggest that the A300R was even better....
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