Is hi-fi really getting better? Our technical editor ponders its progression

[What Hi-Fi?]

What Hi-Fi?'s technical editor, Ketan Bharadia, ponders whether hi-fi design is truly progressing...

Is hi-fi really getting better? Our technical editor ponders its progression : Read more

 

[podknocker]

I've questioned whether new HIFI is better than the older stuff. CD does sound better than vinyl and I think the vinyl revival is just people getting on a lifestyle bandwagon, or perhaps is just a rejection of new things as a whole. Some people don't like change. I don't think, however, that new CD players sound much better than older ones. The Red Book stanfard must be over 42 years old now and there's nothing left to add. CD sound quality peaked many decades ago and shoving CD data through a modern DAC won't improve things. You can't add extra bits and quality to the CD format. Speakers are better, but many are still average compared to similar priced offerings years ago. New materials and sophisticated computer modelling has improved sound quality. Internal components have finer tolerances and many speakers can deliver incredibly high quality sound, while being very efficient at the same time.

 

[JFC]

I've questioned whether new HIFI is better than the older stuff. CD does sound better than vinyl and I think the vinyl revival is just people getting on a lifestyle bandwagon, or perhaps is just a rejection of new things as a whole. Some people don't like change. I don't think, however, that new CD players sound much better than older ones. The Red Book stanfard must be over 42 years old now and there's nothing left to add. CD sound quality peaked many decades ago and shoving CD data through a modern DAC won't improve things. You can't add extra bits and quality to the CD format. Speakers are better, but many are still average compared to similar priced offerings years ago. New materials and sophisticated computer modelling has improved sound quality. Internal components have finer tolerances and many speakers can deliver incredibly high quality sound, while being very efficient at the same time.

I totally agree with you that cd sounds better than vinyl, which is incredibly overrated! And I grew up with it in the 60s & 70s! Cd replay has actually come along way since the early days---Denon for example, with their creditable Alpha Processing! DSP room correction has been the game changer, certainly the modern processors available today, allowing you to finally achieve high quality sound in your living room.--- Definitely a route to go down if you have older quality equipment is to have it serviced, and better components fitted inside at the same time. A cost-effective way to hang onto your cherished equipment and to improve the sound of it as well.