Finding the right semiconductors can be a real challenge, in addition to all the failing electrolytic capacitors, of which there can be upwards of 100 in a larger receiver! There are a lot of Chinese knock-offs flooding ebay these days; these are parts that look correct (right down to the logos printed on them) but don't meet the minimum spec! So you have to be really careful and picky when rebuilding a vintage receiver- it will be an act of love and nothing else, since you will never get the cost of doing so out of the result, nor will it ever perform at the level that modern equipment does.
Old Classic Receivers: A Mistake to Buy?
I was contemplating purchasing a 70's receiver, as I used to love the construction and appearance of the Sansui, Kenwood, Pioneer, Marantz. However, when I ran this by an audio friend, he said, "Forget it."
He says: They sound terrible. The caps & resistors used before the early 90s' were dreadful. The electrolytics are drying up and will start crackling and substantially degrade the sonics. The switches and controls used were almost never sealed, so they deteriorate and make noise and can't be fixed even by taking them apart and cleaning them.
Tuners: He says that nearly all non-digital tuners used varactors, which go out of alignment and cause problems, so no old tuners, with the exception of the Mac MR-78 and possibly a few others, are worth dealing with.
I am tempted to believe all that he is saying is true, but I see a market for these items, and also know that people claim they are still using these pieces for 25 years.
What's the truth here? Can some of the techies enlighten me?
He says: They sound terrible. The caps & resistors used before the early 90s' were dreadful. The electrolytics are drying up and will start crackling and substantially degrade the sonics. The switches and controls used were almost never sealed, so they deteriorate and make noise and can't be fixed even by taking them apart and cleaning them.
Tuners: He says that nearly all non-digital tuners used varactors, which go out of alignment and cause problems, so no old tuners, with the exception of the Mac MR-78 and possibly a few others, are worth dealing with.
I am tempted to believe all that he is saying is true, but I see a market for these items, and also know that people claim they are still using these pieces for 25 years.
What's the truth here? Can some of the techies enlighten me?
102 responses Add your response
@kleer Interesting your take on the equipment comparison and liking the AR3a paired with the Sansui. I had a pair of refurbished 3a's up until the end of April last year that were sadly lost in the fire that claimed my home. I also had a Carver M-500 that had been refurbished that had a prominent place in my secondary system. I loved the sonic signature of the 3a's and their honest presentation. They are long gone but not forgotten. Vintage gear can hold its own against modern equipment when properly maintained, but clearly it becomes a labor of love to keep it functioning properly. Many times the cost of maintenance is minimal when compared with buying a new piece. As I am finding out more about old vs new than I ever wanted to know...it has been quite eye opening and while I am recreating the several systems that I owned that are now gone with new replacements, its more than a little challenging to find true quality replacements for the old vintage gear now gone. I have largely been successful in doing so but I have a long way to go in that effort. I don't know if newer is better or not, but I can say for sure that its at least different. I envy your collection of fine old gear and wish I had most of what I had back again in the same state of repair. |