I'd love to see an old vs. new feature.

Unless we are talking speaker packages of course like the B&W 685 theatre which won 2 years on the trot.

...And is still a current product.

Indeed - at least with speakers/speaker packages we're still talking about product lifecycles of several years; unlike the annual model-churn that's now spread as far as AV receivers....

Which has been in effect, forced through due to 3D TV's, internet, streaming & 3D Blu ray players presumably? So causing a faster development.

Not really: even before 3D, IPTV and streaming the product lifecycle on TVs and DVD/BD players was a year or less.

Well, they don't outperform a 34 year old one that's for sure, so I'd suggest not!  Feature-wise, maybe more up to date, but performance, far from it as my own experience tells me.

Sorry Andrew my fault for not being clear, i was referring to the A/V amp situation that Clare mentioned in her post. Thats now also included & added to your list.

Yes, as long as I can remember there's been a new AV amp/receiver range from most major manufacturers each year.

Had to respond seeing you have a Sansui AU-717.  I was once the very proud owner of the AU-919 which was fabulous.  (An integrated class A-style transistor amp, in a huge black box, similar size to a current AV receiver, IIRC.  Mine had a really good MC input which was one reason I got it.)  Only sold it because I won a Meridian/Musical Fidelity system at a Hi-Fi Show in about 1986!

The matching tuners were great too.  So glad yours is still loved!

Its an interesting idea, i was just thinking about blu-ray players I have had - and how they have progressed in a very short space of time from being quite expensive to being quite affordable..

The ps3 was my first blu-ray player.. it was a no brainer.. even at 450 pounds.. it was still the same price as standalone blu-ray machines from the likes of Sony.. the problem with the standalones? They took an age to load discs lots of compatibility issues.. they just didnt seem like a good investment.. the ps3 on the otherhand was lightning quick and upgraded with all the profile changes, even adding 3d to its cannon. Around last year I wanted something else though cause the noise of the ps3 always bugged the nuts off me.. so I bought an Opp BD83. Lovely machine.. but I sold it when I changed my tv and got a 3d Plasman with 3d Panasonic DBT300 blu-ray player.. that was great.. but refused to play a couple of discs even with the latest firmware... my latest player.. a panasonic bdt310.. cost me about 220 pounds.. Its Panasonics flagship player.. i remember buying a Sony flagship dvd player and paying about 400 pounds for it well into the lifecycle of dvd..

The new player? Does everything I want pretty much.. but its a bit noisey loading discs.. doesnt feel like a premium product.

I think an article showing the evolution of Blu-ray players would be interesting.. detailing prices/features/issues etc.. i've promised not to change the bdt310 for a while..

Cheers,
Mick

I still cant make my mind up on a new player and even an av reciever and 5.1 speaker pack still !!!
Im wanting the pana 310 bray player as i like the size and looks but dont need all the bells and whistles including 3d so was thinking the pioneer lx52 , older high end player for similar newer pana money ?
Same with the av reciever , get an older higher end model thats now same money as the newer mid range models ?
been to my local ssav but they dont have a demo room only the shop floor ! i wanted to demo the new canton movie pack with the denon 920 but they had it hooked to the newer onk 609 .
i think i will prob get the lx52 to replace my fat ps3 as dedicated blu ray player and go from there as i cant demo anything where i live .
same as my pana plasma , 3yrs old and still good tv doesnt seem to have the problems that newer models have !!