My take on this, is that current gear, for the most part, is very good.
The designers are more talented and educated and experienced. The technology to build these and test them is much better. The parts quality is better. This is the 21st Century.
I think it would be rather hard to really make a bad sounding piece of audio gear nowadays.
Also, high-end audio, (like most other hobbies) has and will always be subjective. Everyone hears differently, has different rooms, and listen to different source material.
This is just my opinion, but after almost 40 years in this hobby, (and business), I think year after year, this industry just gets better.
The designers are more talented and educated and experienced. The technology to build these and test them is much better. The parts quality is better. This is the 21st Century.
I think it would be rather hard to really make a bad sounding piece of audio gear nowadays.
Also, high-end audio, (like most other hobbies) has and will always be subjective. Everyone hears differently, has different rooms, and listen to different source material.
This is just my opinion, but after almost 40 years in this hobby, (and business), I think year after year, this industry just gets better.