Which country in the 1970s made the best hifi components?

[walpurgis]

Was there a tie up with Goodmans?

Yes. Goodmans handled UK marketing I believe.

[nthall]

I think the 70s were the heyday for all analog gear.

As far as components go I would say the US started strong, but Japan finished off the decade on top.

Speaker wise the US wins.

Great turntables came from a lot of different countries. AR, Linn, Thorens, Technics, Micro, Dual, Lenco. I don't think I can pick a winner. I like them all.

Sent from my Z981 using Tapatalk

[Macca]

There is lots of 'seventies Jap high end that never got out of Japan though. How may of us have heard that? Unknown unknowns, as they say.

[09mike69]

I think the 70s were the heyday for all analog gear.

As far as components go I would say the US started strong, but Japan finished off the decade on top.

Speaker wise the US wins.

Great turntables came from a lot of different countries. AR, Linn, Thorens, Technics, Micro, Dual, Lenco. I don't think I can pick a winner. I like them all.

Sent from my Z981 using Tapatalk

"speaker wise the US wins" surprises me, considering the market for british made speakers in the US and north america...
do you have the lowdown on some "sleeper" american speaks we should look out for ?
or am i just a cheeky limey bastard

[struth]

surprises me too but what do I know

[09mike69]

the beauty is that now... we can afford the high end 70's gear..(well..some of it) but with many thanks to the fellas on here who are prepared to share their knowledge on some of the classics.
lets be honest, do you think that the new amp, TT is still going to be working 30 or 40yrs from now ???
it really is for this reason i value the so called "vintage" gear.
if its still around and gets old enough to be "vintage" it must have been made with some degree of quality.
thanks chaps
all your knowledge is welcome
Mike.

[nthall]

"speaker wise the US wins" surprises me, considering the market for british made speakers in the US and north america...
do you have the lowdown on some "sleeper" american speaks we should look out for ?
or am i just a cheeky limey bastard

AR, Advent, KLH, JBL, Altec Lansing, and even Bose made some decent ones in the 70s. You just needed a monster of an amp to push most of them.

Times have changed.

Sent from my Z981 using Tapatalk

[walpurgis]

AR, Advent, KLH, JBL, Altec Lansing, and even Bose made some decent ones in the 70s. You just needed a monster of an amp to push most of them.

Times have changed.

Sent from my Z981 using Tapatalk

Yes. Those names made some great speakers.

[Marco]

USA - Mark Levinson, Audio Research, Dayton Wright, Magnaplanar

Japan - Accuphase, Nakamichi, Stax, and Sony and Teac R2Rs

UK - Quad, Decca, Garrard

Norway - Electrocompaniet

Switzerland - FM Acoustics, Thorens, Studer, Nagra

Germany - Braun, EMT

How could you leave Techincs and Denon out of the Jap list, Bazza?

Technics, at the very least, for their superb SP10 motor unit, and Denon, at the very least for their iconic DL103 cartridge, which has spanned many decades and is arguably the biggest selling MC cartridge of all time, perhaps second only to the SPU - oh and you've not listed Denmark for that particular triumph either!

For the UK, I'd also add Harbeth and Spendor to your list, as in their heyday, some of which was during the 70s, they also produced some iconic, world-renowned designs.

Marco.

[Arkless Electronics]

the beauty is that now... we can afford the high end 70's gear..(well..some of it) but with many thanks to the fellas on here who are prepared to share their knowledge on some of the classics.
lets be honest, do you think that the new amp, TT is still going to be working 30 or 40yrs from now ???
it really is for this reason i value the so called "vintage" gear.
if its still around and gets old enough to be "vintage" it must have been made with some degree of quality.
thanks chaps
all your knowledge is welcome
Mike.

Yup.... Some of it anyway. The higher the tech the lower the lifespan and serviceability really. CD players, DACs, DAB radios... anything digital really then no. Definitely not. Same for anything microprocessor controlled or with a remote generally. There are plenty of amps, turntables, arms and speakers that I would expect to be around in 30 -40 years though yes.