Bought some `Vintage Gear`


On a whim and a hunch, I bought some old gear locally. 

Marantz 500 Amp
Marantz 3300 preamp
JBL L200B Speakers

The gear is 46 years be old!!!

It sounds WAY better than I thought. I had a blast tonight. Played it for wife and kids (who think this hobby is rediculous) and they were super impressed.

Anyone every had a similar experience? 


Maybe bc will get a reel to reel next

pawlowski6132
I have tons of vintage gear and get the best results from combining pieces that complement each other for a particular listening purpose like classical, jazz, rock, low volume late night tube sound, etc. What has surprised me the most is the dramatic effect of inserting a single modern piece in with a vintage system such as a preamp, modern cartridge, etc. These combos for me always surpass the all modern system. It takes hours of listening and combination changes to settle in with a system and which for me is a continuous work in process and is the real fun of the hobby.
My current system is a mix of vintage and modern and it sounds awesome! Acoustic Research ES-1, Ortofon 2M Bronze, Ayre C-5xemp disc player, Adcom GFT 555 II, Dynaco SCA-35 (updated and modified), Dynaco ST-70 (updated and modified), Revel performa M20
Still use my B&O Beogram Turntable. Works like the day it was made, which was a long long time ago ...
I enjoyed my Harman Kardon PM 665 VIXI integrated, Sansui TU717 and AU717 tuner/integrated, and Boston Acoustics A100 for 25+ years.  Still got the Bostons, the HK and Sansui are in need of repairs that are prohibitive ...but I must say, after listening to the newer equipment (KEF R100, Focal, Dynaudio along with NAIM power) I miss the friendlier sound of the vintage stuff.  My ears aren't that refined that I want to chase the last electron of musical information so hats off to the folks that have the ability to discern such minute differences.  I still prefer the older equipment - maybe it's the build quality and heft of the controls, the visual reinforcement of heavy, solid equipment.