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Classic gear from yesteryear; vintage audio standing the test of time.

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Re: Perhaps I should restate the question ......

Posted by FlaCharlie on July 17, 2005 at 08:40:30:
What you say about soundstage and imaging might be true if you are listening to stuff recorded in the '50s or '60s - especially small jazz groups - and orchestra stuff too, I suppose, where things are recording live. However, if you listen to anything modern, very few recordings use those techniques today. The location and spacial cues you hear are the result of studio engineering. Most all modern recording is done in studios that are relatively dead acoustically. Modern recordings rarely consist of a group performing at the same time. While different producers and engineers have varying methods, bands typically begin the process by playing a song together live but usually the only part of this that is kept is the drum track. Once a good drum track is put down, the other musicians usually overdub their individual parts one at a time. Vocals are usually the last thing recorded. Even a single musician's performance on a recording is, more often than not, a compilation of several takes which have been overdubbed on other individual performances. Placement side to side is the result of the panning function on the mixing board and what you hear as front to back placement is determined by signal levels and varying amounts of delay, echo, and various reverb settings which are added during mixdown. If you doubt this, post your statements about soundstage and imaging on a board that features discussions by professional recording engineers and watch them, alternately, roll on the floor with laughter and express pride in their ability to make you believe that is actually what you hear.
I've done some production and recording engineering in the past and I learned to analyze and hear all sorts of details. These skills come in handy when I'm rebuilding and amp. On the other hand, when I listen to music I usually find that the less I focus on such details, the more I get into and enjoy the flow of the music. It's one of those left brain/right brain deals.
As for the HF-81, I've been very pleased with mine although I am still in the process of fixing it up. I have quite a few integrated amps that use EL-84 outputs and it's certainly right up there. I'm rebuilding a couple of my other favorites too so I can make a fair comparison. I think you will be pleased but, as someone mentioned, if you don't like it you can always resell it and it won't cost you much, if anything, to find out for yourself.