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Does anything in the audio world, or the rest of the world for that matter, lose it's value more quickly than digital equipment?David
Follow Ups:
I'm not sure if this qualifies as "digital equipment," but CDs depreciate pretty damn fast. Buy a new one at $13-$16, play it once, and turn around and try to sell it. You'll be lucky to get $6 at the music store, and more likely $3-$4 for a used CD.
I used to firmly believe in obsolescence of digital gear, mainly due to the articles in magazines acclaiming 24 bit converters and stuff like that.
Until four months ago, when I replaced my Marantz CD63 KI-Sig player with an Arcam Delta 270 (built around 1994). It was brand new (clearance item). When I auditioned it I liked it immediately. The best came when I a/b auditioned some CDs comparing this Arcam with the Densen Beat B400 CDP. I could not believe it.
I'm (almost) happy now with my digital front end.
I forgot to say. I used the Marantz with the MSB Link III DAC, which I also sold.
With the trade-in of Marantz-MSB I got the Arcam for $60 !!!
I don't think it's so much the obsolescence of digital equipment as much as the ease to sell digital equipment at a higher markup, as well as the ease to hype such products. By and large, CD digital equipment has not really changed that much in the past 10 years. Just the marketing buzzwords ("upsampling", for example) have changed, and since most people are not that familiar with the "science" behind the 0's and 1's, and such changes are not tangible, they assume "technological advancement" and hence keep buying digital equipment. The craze over the buzzwords enable higher mark-ups, which then result in greater depreciation once the equipment is purchased and used.Aside from maybe the Wadia 2000 and JVC XL-Z1050TN, I cannot think of a digital audio component that has attained "classic" status.
And aside from the ART DI/O, I would *never* purchase a piece of digital audio equipment brand-new. Wait for it to come up used, at a substantially lower price.
just a bit of work that one is about as close to a classic piece of digital gear as I have heard....
The Wadia 9 DAC is still the best I've ever heard, yet even it does not really have the popularity that would make it a "classic."My perception of a "classic" is not necessarily what is the best, but what has had sustained popularity long after it was no longer sold, along with the prices these products demand. Many classics have sold for more than their original retail prices.
For digital, if the product commands interest a good five years after it has been off the retail market, I guess it can be considered a "classic," and in that vein, maybe the G&D UTP-1 will qualify. I love the unit personally... It's just a matter of time if there is demand for this transport a few years down the road.
Beg to differ ...
-Marantz CD-12/DA-12
-Marantz CD-80
-CAL Tempest
-Cambridge CD-1 and CD-2
Marantz CD12 for sure - in fact, it`s internal `pudding`s` (layman`s technical phrasiology - trust me) contain classics in their own right, such as the Philips CDM1 Transport mechanism, and the top spec DAC chips (TDA 1541A`s I think - Multi-bit Double Crown?). Arguably, these are still the best (un)available regardless, and so really are classics in my book - not just in the respect that they were the best of their time. However, `Perfect Sound Forever`.......now that definately IS a Digital Classic...:0)
marantz cd63 and/or cd52
rega planetboth reference players in there price range.
I certainly do NOT consider the JVC a classic!
Also - the CD12 is a classic IMO - and still the best redbook player years after it's introduction.
TBone
Note that "classic" does not necessarily equate to "best." I think the price of the Linn CD12 will prevent it from attaining classic status.I only call the JVC XL-Z1050TN a candidate for classic status because every time I see one come up on the used market, it sells *immediately*, and it is one of *very* few digital audio products ever produced that has retained any decent resale value, relative to its original price, over an extended period of time (at least five years). OTOH, most other players made when the 1050 was made are almost worthless, and not being sought-after.
but the CD12 may have been (it was for me) the first cdp that truly revealed what a cd could truly sound like. Prior to the cd12 - i thought that digital had hit a technological ceiling, and that - unfortunatly - we had heard the best that redbook digital could do.It was an eye-opener - and in my mind - an awesome achievement.
Auditioning the CD12 was one of those rare moments that I have come out and been amazed - instead of just impressed. The last time this happened to me was when i heard my first 'high end' tt. I just did not think a tt could sound like that - so many moons ago.
The CD12 is a classic in my mind.
TBone
TBone
I would also nominate the Theta DSPro, the Levinson 30 DAC and the C.E.C. TL-1 Transport (which I owned). All very expensive units. All led the way in what could be done at the time. In fact, I believe the Levinson 30 and the Theta are still in production. Soundslike "classic" to me.Weather_B
.
Of course, I never buy ANYTHING new.David
computers
-p
Computers ARE digital equipment.David
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