"Fleetie" wrote in message
...
All right, enough already.

I think "Jem" is getting a bit too much of a hard time here.
I think some of the things he says are worthy.


Par for the course in ukra - any 'enthusiasm' here is bound to attract a
quick slapping from certain quarters. Best ignored......


And let's face
it, he's right about a few things. Like the fact that many
amplifiers are just old, old designs re-worked to look
pretty, and sold for a lot of dosh.

And yes, I'll hold my hand up: I really really want a valve
amplifier


Yes, you do.


and I know that probably all the budget ones are
re-worked designs from the 50s and 60s.


So what? I've got a pair of 60's monos that sound superb and it looks like
I'm about to embark on a 1930 design under Nick G's tutelage! Good basic
design/construction doesn't 'go off' with ageing (although some components
can, obviously)!

:-)


But now I've grown old
enough to admit to myself that as long as an amp sounds okay,


Okay???

Jeez, let's not get *too* optimistic here - if a valve didn't sound better
than its SS equivalent by several thousand % then I wouldn't bother with
it.....


I'm happy to take one that glows prettily and doesn't make a
mess of my music,


Again with the optimism....!!


because the thrill of having a valve amp
contributed to my enjoyment of the experience. I would never
have admitted that when I was younger.


Valves are your friends....



So people are still making money out of very old designs,
but as long as people are willing to buy them, why not?

As for solid-state amps, yes, the parts price is probably
way, way lower than the sale price for most of them.


I believe summat like 60% of the cost price of a fancy SS amp (of
modest/mediocre spec.) is in the casework, but if that's what people want
and what sells.....???