"Bret Ludwig" wrote in message
oups.com...

Pooh Bear wrote:

snip

It's not improved transistors but improved *circuits* using transistors
that's the
reason. Early transistors were still quite expensive whereas I can source
good
'small signal' devices in quantity now for 2 cents each. Hence early
transistor
circuits used them sparingly with attendant defects. Modern usage is
quite
different.

The figures for op-amps are also representative only of first-generation
examples.

Very dated and quite irrelevant to today.

Among the most esteemed solid state designs today are Nelson Pass and
Rupert Neve designs from the general era as Hammm et al. To say nothing
of the Deane Jensen designed op amp module, a discrete affair almost
the size of early solid state Philbricks.

Youi seem to think that because a bunch of wannbe's at Stereophile and other
assorted geeks worship Pass that somehow makes his designs sound better, it
doesn't, they sound like all other similar spec'd devices, and would not be
able to stand out in an ABX comparison.

Once the threshold of audiblity is reached it doesn't make any difference
how you design it, it passes the straightwire test or not. If it does,
which is pretty easy, then it's good, if not it probably has tubes.