Stereophile most important product since 1962

Posted by: Dr. Exotica on 23 October 2002

The latest issue of Stereophile, in celebration of its 40 years of publication, composed a ranking of what they (i.e., John Atkinson) believes are the 100 most important audio products since 1962 (yeah, yeah, Stereophile is a rag, but a stupidly entertaining rag at times). To their credit, the LP12 was judged the most significant of all. They note that
quote:
it has brought the sonic benefits of belt drive and a suspended subchassis to more audiophiles that all other high-end 'tables combined.

Other interesting inclusions:

On a related note, former Listener editor Art Dudley will now be a reviewer and columnist with Stereophile starting in January.

Que sera ...

Erik
Posted on: 24 October 2002 by Eric Barry
Surprised to seen the Nap250 on the list.

The biggest gaffe was how low the LS3/5a was--that plus the Kan and the Tablette should have been in the top 10 for sure, given how they pioneered the high end mini market which has been so important in the last 20 years. And the Vandersteen #4? It's sold a lot, but it hasn't influenced anything.

--Eric

[This message was edited by Eric Barry on THURSDAY 24 October 2002 at 17:55.]
Posted on: 24 October 2002 by graphoman
my twopence is that it was more about than just belt drive etc. The thinking behind LP12 (the fact that turntables do have their own sounds) as well as Linn’s suggestion to use the things on light coffee-tables rather than on big heavy stuff — no doubt it was the birth of modern Hi-Fi.

The date given (1962) brings me into uncertainty because that time worked another pioneer of this movement, Ed Villchur, founder of Acoustic Research (AR) in USA. He gave the world three all-important things: the 3-point-suspended (belt drive) turntable, the dome tweeter and, first of all: the air-pistone woofer that now dominates the market, both on the high and the low sides. Villchur’s activity was dated to the early ’60s. The AR set consisted of the little turntable (cartridges were Shure and Empire models), the AR60 amp and the famous AR3a speaker that has only 1/3th of the volume of that time’s monster boxes and made stereophony possible even in modern little flats. This set made wonderful music, not far from today’s standard.

graphoman
Posted on: 24 October 2002 by Dr. Exotica
I forgot to include AR - as graphoman points out, they were quite significant.

  • 5. AR XA turntable
  • 18. AR SP10 preamp
  • 22. AR D-150 amp
  • 97. AR 3A loudspeaker

Finally, I completely missed the LS3/5A - it ranked 24.

Erik

Erik
Posted on: 24 October 2002 by Justin
The Spica Tc-50 at number 75. I believe it is one of the cheapest (if not the cheapest) items on the list.

Despite having tried many MANY much more expensive designs (including the sbl's and expensive Proacs) these are still the speakers I listen to.

I have an Lp12 too, but I think its inclusion is just a bit "too easy". Don't you think. It's like thinking that Claudia Schiffer is the most beautiful woman in the world. For god sakes, have some ambition, man!!

Judd
Posted on: 25 October 2002 by JohanR
Didn't HiFi Choice have something like that recently? And the LP12 took topp honours there to. Or is it my Ahlzheimer that are confusing things?
Naim was there to, and LS3/5A and Qued ES and NAD 3020.
Is the 3020 in Stereophiles list? I think it should be, the first cheap amp that didn't sound totally crap.

JohanR
Posted on: 25 October 2002 by Phil Barry
Given the pages Stereophile wastes on speakers, I might have been surprised that the LP12 was named most significant. These guys certainly don't publish 'source first' ideas.

Still, with all its problems, Stereophile has passed a significant milestone. Too bad JGH got old.

Phil
Posted on: 25 October 2002 by graphoman
while I appreciate many of the items listed (Quad, of course, then Spendor BC1 or the Dynaco Stereo 70 I once had), for me the most important thing is not the product itself but rather the thinking behind it.

From this aspect I see a gap between Mr. Tiefenbrunn’s (or, if we like it, the Linn/Naim fraternity) as well as Ed Villchurch’s activity on one side and all that you have listed on the other side.

graphoman