Still happily using vintage gear?


I was sitting listening to my main system consisting of an Audio Research SP8 preamp, NYAL Moscode 600 Maxi, Vandersteen 5 speakers, Thorens TD126MkIII with Sumiko Blue Point, VPI HW16, and was completely satisfied, again, with the experience. (Kimber 12TC, Morrow, Straightwire, AQ and Furman accessories)
All the equipment has been well cared for and kept in good repair: caps replaced, TT overhauled etc.
But it has an average age of about 30 years!
I love reading about all the latest gear, and lust after some of it dearly, but... I'm satisfied with what I have.
I'm playing with digital and having my fun with that, but I was wondering:
Is anyone else still happy with equipment that is now considered "vintage"?
(I don't think of it as "vintage", I just think of it as long-lasting!)
So... what's the oldest piece in your rig?
Mine is the Moscode. 40 years young.

fredapplegate

Showing 5 responses by asvjerry

@dabel....Yeah, sometimes you've got to be a dolt to comprehend what it feels like..*L*
Good of you to post the link to lights....when they go *foom*, we're in the dark and guessing about such.....loved the 4300 on his site, a subtle beast that one could fondle until the salesfolk chased you off.....

Oh, one vintage' item not remembered but assigned to the 'shop audio'; an SAE 2 band parametric EQ that makes whatever can survive 'being in a wood shop and the abuse thereof'....a Sony rcvr and CD changer for tunes to drown out the chop and other saw breeds....
The speakers?
Anything that survives....hung from the beams, where relative safety from dust exists....*L*

I recall from the early '70's a bud working at a t-shirt printing shop had an air-driven 4-color printer that was Loud as F when 'engaged'....so they'd slung a pair of old JBL's aimed at the operator 8' away running at 9+ on the knob....don't recall what drove it 8+hr./6days/monthly/yearly (since I didn't work there), but it apparently didn't implode from the 'enthusiasm' required to overcome the racket.
It had to....once you started that machine, it ran until that 'run' of prints was either completed, or something went awry....
The latter was not a pleasant occurrence....ink drying in 4 aligned silkscreens, potentially 'blocking' the images and/or sticking to a shirt in the middle of the sequence?
Like stuffing a large firecracker into a large ant mound and watching the frenzy wrought....*L*

Headphones were popular, even with the JBL's. ;)
I assume that most of the operators wear hearing aids like moi'....but I never worked there, instead into other loud environs....like a panel saw, cutting aluminum or brass sheets @ 1" a minute....

"Hey, Jer'!"

"HUH?!"

"I SAID..."

"WHAT?! (Stop saw...)

"The office wonders when you'll be done...."

"Within your lifetime..."  (Hit the switch...deadlines is deadlines....)
*S* Some things just follow one around like puppies....;)

Recent "new"/old in the house, a pair of SMGa Maggie's that spouse has taken a shine to, Garrard Z-100 for vinyl (Shure, of course...), a Rabco SL-8 just because it is (and we're running the calendar backwards now), a pair of 12" Utah's with their matching horns (just because they're fun to play the latter's LOUD *L*)....a pair of older ESS large amt dipoles (like the Utah's horns.....Loud, but Better....*S*

...but the widget that's still in near daily use....

A Niles Audio CPM-31 6in/6out switch bay.  'Very analog.'  *G*
A>D>C>E.....or whatever combination you'd prefer.....A>A even, but why?

....or the other 'twins', for that matter...*shrug*

@dabel....My 1st 'serious receiver' was a 2270...driving a pair of 901B's.
Cranked, the dial lights would dim on the bass lines.
Refused to implode.  Kept until I opted up to the Kenwood separates that I kick self harder for leaving get away....

@1971gto455ho....I had a serious case of lust for 4 Infinitesimal 0.1's when I first heard them....Those and a nice sub of the era "coulda' been a contenda' "....their Watkins' double drive woofers, woofwoofwow *L*

"Next up on the History Channel...." ;)
*L*  "Inquiring minds"....

"You can't Handle the Truth!"

...well....we shall see. ;)

*Big Sigh, mostly stage-unworthy*  I'm not so reminded of some words of wizdum I heard, so very long ago....

Be assured that a walk through the ocean of most souls
Would scarcely get your feet wet.
Fall not in love therefore. It will stick to your face.

Of course, I ignored it and a hellva lot more...🤪
@jin78, the A-25's would 'round it all out, in a 'species sort of fashion'.

Not a bad thing, that.  It's not bad when one still enjoys ones' 'roots', so to speak.  And it gives a taste of what the designers had in mind and ears. ;)

Happy shopping. *S*