Vintage vs New


My children growing older and leaving home has allowed me to get back into our common interest. I find myself wanting a new pair of speakers and I’m torn between some vintage models that interested me in easier times, but were not obtainable due to budgetary limitations, and current models with their state of the art drivers.  Case in point: B&W 801 Matrix Anniversary vs. anything in the 702/703.
I would like to hear people’s thoughts.  
mjjw

tomic601
8,396 posts07-05-2021 4:15pmwell….a properly upgraded (Mike Samra )and maintained MC240 with the right tubes ( Andy at VTS ) is probably as far as ya can get a transformer tube amp. The MC240 xformer one of the best ever.

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I looked at your page. I could see the Samra’s PS upgrade in your 240..
He sure could get a 240 to sing.. You should hear the way he does up a C20 NOW.. He did up the phono stage like I’ve NEVER heard on a Mac..
I added Super Hexfreds and Vishay copper resistors.. after he did his magic..

I have to many irons in the fire and ZERO energy to get er done.. :-(

I have a C11 (Samra) I’ve never pulled out of the box. I have new glass for it to boot.. Fixed a Bass pot too.

REMOTES.. that is my problem.. a darn remote.. I use a Parasound Zpre3 in the tape loop on the Mac valve preamps... Very nice.. and adds a little DAC with sub out and remote sub volume control.. Nifty little preamp and a C20 to boot.. I LOVE IT.. You should hear what a C20 (S) does to ANY class d.. It’s like magic.. MX110z for that matter..

Have you tinkered with any of the class ds, Electro-stats and that MX110z. I bet it would blow your mind too..
Nothing like a planar designs and Ribbons.. I keep looking at Sound Labs and Apogee :-). Before I kick.. LOL
Ya the 110Z was hot Rod  by two guys Modeferi of Mac fame and a great tech w ears here in WA - Elite Audio Tech only works on Mac, logging road for driveway to shop..  
the Apogees are wonderful, but so are my ESL 63… nothing in that room is stock… well the NAIM is…
good on ya Heavy
aspiration should always exceed energy
Poking my head back in this forum once every 6 months and nothing has changed just like a 40 yr running soap opera.  Same characters, same script, same drama....

In many instances, vintage speakers took a completely different approach than modern design.  Designed for a higher, steady impedance, they could coax gorgeous sonics from tube amps.  Why do you think Art Dudley coveted the sound of both his 1966 Altec Valencia's and newer Flamenco's?  It depends on the amp you're pairing with and the type of music you appreciate most.  With 300b's or really any SET circuit the sound can be texturally gorgeous.  Certainly much more to my liking than the sound produced by some bright blue 4 ohm clunky box that looks like a DIY job made in someone's garage.