[morzh]

Honestly, I think that today's good quality digital machines (CD, DAC and even Class D amplifiers, the high end that is) stack up quite well against the tape decks, recorders, vinyl and tube or older solid state amps.

We should not forget that a large part of this love for older technology is our nostalgic feelings for what we were growing up with.
And the Carver challenge successfully proved that solid state can do just about anything, when the pro blind test is conducted.

And, considering that CDs today are on their way out, one day when some quantum dohickey will play through some unimaginable transducer, pulling the music from the Cloud, some folks will be fondly remembering Class D and Marantz reference DAC as "Good old technology with warm sound."