The Studer/Revox B7-- series, all of them, but especially the tuner and the tape machines (cassette and open)
For speakers the Tannoy SuperRed range (especially the beautiful FSM), the Klipsch K-Horns or Quad ESL's(of course all of these have their roots in the '40's and '50's and still have only barely, if at all, been bettered today. So much for 'progress'!)
Phase Linear amps.
EMT turntables or Thorens TD126 and the directdrive models (TD535or 52?, I think) for the cost-conscious.
And and honorary mention for the Yamaha A960/2 a truly great piece of budget hifi that put many pre/power combos to shame, unfortunately Yamaha replaced it with rubbish.
I do agree that from that period onwards its been a downward spiral for serious, accurate high end audio.
This year I replaced my Arcam system with some lucky finds which were made in the early 80's and the old stuff is lightyears ahead. Now searching for a Revox tuner and saving up for an EMT, Thorens or maybe a Technics SP10 or SL1000....oops forgot to mention that one earlier...
For speakers the Tannoy SuperRed range (especially the beautiful FSM), the Klipsch K-Horns or Quad ESL's(of course all of these have their roots in the '40's and '50's and still have only barely, if at all, been bettered today. So much for 'progress'!)
Phase Linear amps.
EMT turntables or Thorens TD126 and the directdrive models (TD535or 52?, I think) for the cost-conscious.
And and honorary mention for the Yamaha A960/2 a truly great piece of budget hifi that put many pre/power combos to shame, unfortunately Yamaha replaced it with rubbish.
I do agree that from that period onwards its been a downward spiral for serious, accurate high end audio.
This year I replaced my Arcam system with some lucky finds which were made in the early 80's and the old stuff is lightyears ahead. Now searching for a Revox tuner and saving up for an EMT, Thorens or maybe a Technics SP10 or SL1000....oops forgot to mention that one earlier...