There are several factors at play here. One, many of these legacy companies have been absorbed by big conglomerates (Mark Levinson, McIntosh, Harman Kardon, and Martin-Logan come to mind immediately) so they're no longer driven by a few brilliant guys passionate about delivering the best audio possible, regardless of how much profit they can squeeze out of every unit sold. (And, a lot of the legends and pioneers of high-end audio are no longer with us, Those geniuses were the drivers of their brands. Without them, many of their brands are shadows of what they once were.) Two, audio technology hit a plateau years ago. There's only so much audiophile-worthy innovation that's coming forth nowadays, unlike during the golden age of the 70-90s. Three, digital. Streaming audio has more or less killed the notion of audiophile sound. Convenience over quality. Then again, it has driven the vinyl renaissance, so there's the silver lining.
Manufacturers past their heyday
There are many companies that we all recall from years gone by that are gone. There are some companies that while still around, seem be be past their glory days. For instant, while Conrad Johnson is still around, they just don’t seem to be nearly as relevant as they used to be. Of course, my thought on CJ are purely subjective. And yet other companies seem to be as relevant today as they were 20 of more years ago. VPI perhaps? Definitely McIntosh.
Who are the other former high flyers that seem to be operating on an altogether different level these days?
Who are the other former high flyers that seem to be operating on an altogether different level these days?