Producing audio equipment has a long tradition. In the most case innovation relates to application of a new design or using new materials.

The relation between innovation and the quality of the sound is ambiguous. For instance, take a good sounding (pre) amplifier which is build, say, ten years ago. It is my experience that the following question arises: has modern innovation in the audio-industry really bettered the quality of the sound? We think: much factual innovation is meaningless from the perspective of the quality of the sound and/or durability of the equipment. with nowadays equipment?

As said, the quality of is determined by the quality of the design in relation to the quality of the parts. A older design in combination of the selection of special selected parts can be as good or even better as a new design. This will surely be the case when (f.i.) a business strategy of quick selling of equipment with fabulous specifications forms the background of designing. So selected pre-owned audio-equipment can be attractive. Above that, 'High-End' equipment is mostly constructed as if it has a live of eternity.

For us this implies that a critical attitude to new developments in the audio-industry is desired. We think the answer of the following question is important in the decision to buy (some special) new, 'innovative' audio-products.