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My dad used to have a monster Sansui AU-20000 integrated amp and, if my memory serves me well, it sounded fantastic: very deep and smooth with no harshness or ear fatigue, yet very detailed and dynamic.
When I listen to modern amps like Cambridge Audio Azur 840A, Denon PMA-1500 or even Marantz PM-15S1, to name a few, I keep comparing them to this old beast and, quite frankly, I often find them lacking something, something important in the way they present the soundstage… Sorry, I cannot even express what it is that I am missing… I have recently had a chance to A-B Sansui AU-919 and Cambridge Audio Azur 740A (DALI Ikon 6 + Pioneer PD-D6-J setup) and I can tell you I definitely preferred the sound of the old guy! Gives one something to think about when shopping for a new amplifier …
I used to believe the technology should have improved substantially over the years (about 35 years or so), but apparently it is not always the case. Could somebody knowledgeable in the “hardware” please explain to me how come all these new transistors and other “parts” did not improve the SOUND? Here I do not even talk about the possible degradation of the “innards” of the monster AU-20000…
When I listen to modern amps like Cambridge Audio Azur 840A, Denon PMA-1500 or even Marantz PM-15S1, to name a few, I keep comparing them to this old beast and, quite frankly, I often find them lacking something, something important in the way they present the soundstage… Sorry, I cannot even express what it is that I am missing… I have recently had a chance to A-B Sansui AU-919 and Cambridge Audio Azur 740A (DALI Ikon 6 + Pioneer PD-D6-J setup) and I can tell you I definitely preferred the sound of the old guy! Gives one something to think about when shopping for a new amplifier …

I used to believe the technology should have improved substantially over the years (about 35 years or so), but apparently it is not always the case. Could somebody knowledgeable in the “hardware” please explain to me how come all these new transistors and other “parts” did not improve the SOUND? Here I do not even talk about the possible degradation of the “innards” of the monster AU-20000…
