How old is too old?

@nonoise 

Whatever disadvantage my age gives me, it also gives me an advantage: having had to take music courses and classes in school back in the ’60s, so I actually know what the instruments of the orchestra sound like, something the younger set is woefully oblivious about.

So far, from what I’ve heard from younger guys who play in bands, their friends know NOTHING about an instrument. They can’t even identify it by sight. One guy who plays in a band told me that not one of his friends could identify an instrument. NOT ONE. It is not surprising that one is lectured by someone with half their knowledge (if that much).

I did not initially pay attention to the fact that the younger people seem to have no idea what acoustic instruments sound like (aside from guitar - if that!). I asked my niece one time, while we were listening to solo saxophone, what she thought the instrument was.  She guessed a clarinet.

I suspect the further one starts from actuallyt knowing what instruments sound like, the harder it is to tell what is better and what is just different when buying components. How would one evaluate a speaker, unless it’s a case of this-sounds-good-to-me-so-that-means-it’s-great. Fine. If that’s all someone knows, then that’s their thing. It sure isn’t mine.

I play flute, so I can listen to any recording while using a flute (or piano) recording and being able to tell which flute sounds like a Yamaha (flute or piano). How others decide which component is better without any knowledge of acoustic instruments is beyond me.

I have one friend who minored in music in college, and we have great talks  about classical pieces. He knows more than I do, so he’s the one who will get the DCS system when I die (my spouse would likely throw all the audio components away.)

I suppose one could just buy what one likes (and should), but when I have people telling me I have this thing they call ’confirmation bias,’ I usually ask what instruments they play, and the answer (if they bother) is usually: "none." At that point, I stop taking anything they write seriously. It is not ’confirmation bias’ when one OWNS an instrument(s) and knows what it sounds like. Any recording that I know the flutist used a certain brand of flute can be used (if it is a good recording) to determine accurate tonality. I don’t need the "blind test/A-B" rigamarole. I already know what the flute (and piano and cello) sound like. 

So, my age hasn’t affected my knowledge, which includes 60+ years of classes, band practice, symphonies, operas,  and the like. When I cannot identify a Yamaha piano from a Steinway - in ANY room that exists - THEN, I will know. But given how little others know of acoustic instruments? Baby, I got NOTHING to worry about. They can’t advise me about my "delusions" when they hardly known the objective reality.

Easier just to say inside my head, "Bless their hearts," and keep on with my own life.

@nonoise and @billpete 

If you're looking to reduce your caffeine intake, consider experimenting with teas.  In approximate order from most to least caffeine/drink:

expresso
coffee
mate and tereré
black tea
green tea
white tea

The first 2 of these get their caffeine from coffee beans; the last 3 from tea plant leaves.  Mate and tereré are produced from yerba mate leaves.  It's a good time of our life for less ambitious explorations.  You might try a variety of these beverages for both flavor & kick.  The further down the list you go, the more you can drink!

Ah, and your question was, I realize, about the equipment, not us, but it was fun answering anyway.

I have DCS gear which will be approaching 2 decades in a few years. It plays fantastically well. No complaints. And I have an Arcam FMJ CD23 as well. Still plays great. I think any gear that is well-cared for will be fine, but CD players have the most (continually)moving parts, so perhaps be careful with those. Cartridges, too. Amps? No. I still have my Antique Sound Lab Hurricanes, 22 years later, and no complaints about them either. So amps should be fine, so should preamps. The only things you bay want to know about used is: 1) are they the original owner and 2) has the unit been modified in any way. 

I see some interesting things that I would love to have, but many are 10 to 20+ years old. 

We ALL see things we’d love to have- that’s what endangers our wallets.

Bottom line, it’s your money- what would please YOU  more:

1. Buy, hold, store, spend the money now OR
2. Wait until needed

If you buy now, should you spend additional time, resources, effort to assure it’s in good working condition now? Yes- so can use when asap when needed

If you wait, there will likely be better offerings at reduced prices as digital audio technology quickly advances.  This is the more practical budgetary choice.

BUT if you LOVE the vintage component, well…it’s your money.

Happy Pre-Birthday, @mahgister .....You're just that later in the year 'cuz I beat you to it.....;)  Not that an additional digit yields much any more...😏

Speakers are such a personal sort of purchase, like getting used to a new pet.  It's going to have it's own sort of 'personality' that you either accept or loathe the details of......
Reminds of of the 'marriage/divorce' cycles, in terms of time involved....*L*

Most times hopefully doesn't occur, or strikes like a head-on.

At this time I've enough items linked together to amuse for awhile....the only thing that (other than listening to it) is of interest is my Alt Walsh endeavor and keeping an eye/ear open for vintage 'raw' speakers that are 'repurposed' beyond their original intents....but 'rationally' priced.
Nothing physically done to the original structure, but done differently in intent.

Just because I can, and it amuses me.
"Call me....irresponsible...."
But call me....*L*