Re: Back to the future
Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2015 7:05 pm
1974 -1986
HiFi Subjectivist ¦ Audio Forum ¦ NVA User Group
Audiophile discussion, articles, bake-offs, Doc-Mods, music. NVA reviews, loan scheme, orders & support. Phono stages, amplifiers, semi-omni speakers, cables, headphone amps, digital, vinyl.
https://www.hifisubjectivist.org/
Back to the future
Page 6 of 6
Re: Back to the future
Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2015 7:12 pm
What were the best years for Whiskey then Jammy.
Re: Back to the future
Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2015 7:53 pm
1484 - 1537
Re: Back to the future
Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2023 1:08 pm
This is a point that can be illustrated by picking specific examples.Dr Bunsen Honeydew wrote: ↑Sat Jan 17, 2015 1:53 am The point is that the last twenty years have been about making it smaller and cheaper so *they* can make more money out of it and in the process a lot of what made things good is no longer available.
Altec Model 19's.
Retailed for 399,000 yen in Japan in 1977.
https://audio-heritage.jp/ALTEC/speaker/model19.html
At 476 yen to the pound on June 1st 1977, that was £838.
https://www.poundsterlinglive.com/bank- ... o-JPY-1977
Adjust for inflation and that's the equivalent of £6785 in today's money.
http://www.wolfbane.com/rpi.htm
Have a look at the Peter Tyson and Sevenoaks Hi-fi websites. What sort of speakers can you buy today for £7000ish? And how would they stack up, sound quality wise against fully working Model 19's?
https://www.sevenoakssoundandvision.co. ... rt=highlow
Re: Back to the future
Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2023 1:12 pm
With more 'mainstream' items, lower volume of sales is a factor that pushes prices upward, but I'm not sure that the Altecs ever sold in large volumes? I could be wrong - US houses were more accommodating to larger speakers.
Re: Back to the future
Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2023 10:10 pm
My understanding is that Altec Model 19's sold well for speakers that sold for the same sort of money as Linn Isobariks (give or take a bit)... in America. In the UK in the late 70's to early 80's I'd expect Briks to have outsold them. By a large margin.
Since the 1977, we have had the introduction of relatively affordable CNC machines - which have helped keep manufacturing costs down for low volume items, such as £7000 speakers.
Model 19's were designed to be used with their backs close to the wall. Unlike, for example the £8950 Sonus faber Olympica Nova II's sold by Sevenoaks, that are supposed placed well out into the room. It's a triumph of fashion and emotions over logic when the Olympica's are seen as more desirable in a medium sized UK room than Altec 19's.
Since the 1977, we have had the introduction of relatively affordable CNC machines - which have helped keep manufacturing costs down for low volume items, such as £7000 speakers.
Model 19's were designed to be used with their backs close to the wall. Unlike, for example the £8950 Sonus faber Olympica Nova II's sold by Sevenoaks, that are supposed placed well out into the room. It's a triumph of fashion and emotions over logic when the Olympica's are seen as more desirable in a medium sized UK room than Altec 19's.
Re: Back to the future
Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2023 10:34 pm
Perhaps, the Altec accountants were distracted from the pure pursuit of cash...Lindsayt wrote: ↑Mon Jul 24, 2023 10:10 pm My understanding is that Altec Model 19's sold well for speakers that sold for the same sort of money as Linn Isobariks (give or take a bit)... in America. In the UK in the late 70's to early 80's I'd expect Briks to have outsold them. By a large margin.
Since the 1977, we have had the introduction of relatively affordable CNC machines - which have helped keep manufacturing costs down for low volume items, such as £7000 speakers.
Model 19's were designed to be used with their backs close to the wall. Unlike, for example the £8950 Sonus faber Olympica Nova II's sold by Sevenoaks, that are supposed placed well out into the room. It's a triumph of fashion and emotions over logic when the Olympica's are seen as more desirable in a medium sized UK room than Altec 19's.
Re: Back to the future
Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2023 9:34 am
Sod the speakers. That's a magnificent arse.
Re: Back to the future
Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2023 9:57 am
