Looking to start a discussion on integrated Amplifiers. I would love to hear both arguments. Is modern technology (outside of dacs) superior? Or is a 20 year old similarly spec’d amplifier just as good? Is a 20 year old high end amp just as capable of a high end amp today?
All technology has improved over time. You can scale this to computers, phones, audio/video, cameras etc.
That said you can find high end amplifiers from decades past restored or maintained that still sound amazing. They won’t be as reliable and improvements in components, headroom, distortion, etc. usually are better in the more modern designs.
With integrated this effect gets much more pronounced. Since many of the manufacturers are cramming all the things in the box, making a Swiss Army knife if you will, you may be more prone to failures and certainly the phono stage and DAC will edge towards obsolescence.
Still, they can sound great. I’d easily jump on a older model Pass INT (he excludes DACS and phono), a Luxman, or an Integrated tube amplifier from years back. I’d aim to exclude the other stuff like phono and definitely a DAC (as you mentioned).
One persons opinion.